I present a calculation of the topological susceptibility ${\chi }_T$ in $SU(N_c)$ gauge theory with $N_c=3–5$ colors and $N_f=2$ degenerate flavors of fermions. The results lie on a common curve when expressed in terms of the combination $N_c{m}_{PS}^2{t}_0$ where $m_{PS}$ is the pseudoscalar meson mass and $t_0$ is the flow parameter. ${\chi }_T$ approaches its quenched value as the pseudoscalar mass becomes large. The lattice simulations use clover fermions. They are done at a single lattice spacing, roughly matched across $N_c$, and over a restricted range of fermion masses.

• Received 29 April 2020
• Accepted 12 June 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.114509

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Published by the American Physical Society