Z(N) dependence of the pure Yang-Mills gluon propagator in the Landau gauge near Tc

The Z(N) dependence of the pure Yang-Mills gluon propagator, in the Landau gauge, is investigated at finite temperature for N=3. Special attention will be given to the behaviour near the critical temperature $T_c$. Our simulations show a complex pattern as expected in a first order phase transition. Furthermore, we identify an order parameter directly associated with the breaking of the SU(3) center symmetry.