  We estimate the momentum diffusion coefficient of a heavy quark within a pure
SU(3) plasma at a temperature of about 1.5Tc. Large-scale Monte Carlo
simulations on a series of lattices extending up to 192^3*48 permit us to carry
out a continuum extrapolation of the so-called colour-electric imaginary-time
correlator. The extrapolated correlator is analyzed with the help of
theoretically motivated models for the corresponding spectral function.
Evidence for a non-zero transport coefficient is found and, incorporating
systematic uncertainties reflecting model assumptions, we obtain kappa = (1.8 -
3.4)T^3. This implies that the "drag coefficient", characterizing the time
scale at which heavy quarks adjust to hydrodynamic flow, is (1.8 - 3.4)
(Tc/T)^2 (M/1.5GeV) fm/c, where M is the heavy quark kinetic mass. The results
apply to bottom and, with somewhat larger systematic uncertainties, to charm
quarks.
