We probe for operators occurring in the APQCD(``abelian-projected QCD'') action by evaluating abelian-projected $1$-plaquette spectral densities in pure gauge $SU(3)$ fixed to maximal abelian gauge. Couplings $B_{ APQCD}(q,L)$ are extracted from the spectral densities for each representation $q$, $L\times L$ plaquette. While APQCD is dominated by a $q=L=1$ resonance, we also find evidence for weakly coupled $L=2$ plaquettes. Moreover, since $B_{ APQCD}(1,1) > B_{ QED}(1,1)$ even if $\beta_{ QED} > \beta_c$, $L>1$ plaquettes must be significant since APQCD is confining.
Categories: hep-lat hep-ph