Coherent center domains from local Polyakov loops

We analyze properties of local Polyakov loops using quenched as well as dynamical SU(3) gauge configurations for a wide range of temperatures. It is demonstrated that for both, the confined and the deconfined regime, the local Polyakov loop prefers phase values near the center elements 1,e ^±i2π/3. We divide the lattice sites into three sectors according to these phases and show that the sectors give rise to the formation of clusters. For a suitable definition of these clusters we find that in the quenched case deconfinement manifests itself as the onset of percolation of the clusters. A possible continuum limit of the center clusters is discussed.