Strong-coupling expansions for the off-axis glueball masses

Strong-coupling expansions, up to order g^?4, for the off-axis glueball masses are developed in four-dimensional spacetime for lattice gauge theories with gauge groups SU(2), SU(3), Z₂, Z₃. Glueball mass spectra for the states 0⁺⁺, 2⁺⁺, 1^+? are obtained. Restoration of Lorentz invariance is discussed.     

Vortex free energy and string tension at strong and intermediate coupling

We present results of high temperature expansions up to order g^?24 for the vortex free energy respectively string tension in pure lattice gauge theories with gauge groups SU(2) and Z₂ in 3 and 4 dimensions. For SU(2) in 4 dimensions the result is compared with Monte Carlo calculations of Creutz and is in good agreement. An intermediate coupling region is seen, where the string tension smoothly interpolates between strong coupling and weak coupling behaviour.     

Roughening transition in lattice gauge theories in arbitrary dimension: (II). The groups Z3, U(1), SU(2), SU(3)

Strong coupling expansions for the string tension and other quantities in lattice gauge theories are computed in arbitrary dimension for the groups Z₃, U(1), SU(2), SU(3). This enables us to determine the location of the roughening transition, which seems to be group independent when measured in an appropriate variable. In four dimensions, the strong coupling expansion of string tension calculated up to fourteenth order for SU(2), and twelfth order for SU(3) agrees nicely with Monte Carlo data up to the roughening point.     

Transition from strong to weak coupling in SU(N) lattice gauge theories

A possible explanation is proposed for the crossover from strong to weak coupling region in SU(N) lattice gauge theories. We predict the pointswhere the crossover takes place for all SU(N)M: For example, g² ≈ 2.0 for SU(2), g² ≈ 1.0 for SU(3) and lim_N→∞Ng²(SU(N) ≈ 2.0.     

On the roughening transition in abelian lattice gauge theories

We study the width of the confining string between static quarks in abelian lattice gauge theories using strong coupling expansions. We consider gauge groups Z_n and U(1) in 3 and 4 dimensions. This extends previous work with Lüscher, where SU(2) and Z₂ were studied. In ν = 3 dimensions we find evidence for a roughening transition. It is characterized by a divergence of the string width for an infinitely far separated quark-antiquark pair, while the string tension remains non-zero. In ν = 4 dimensions for the abelian groups we do not have evidence for a roughening transition away from a phase transition.     

A disorder parameter that test for confinement in gauge theories with quark fields

We propose to use a suitably defined vortex free energy as a disorder parameter in gauge field theories with matter fields. It is supposed to distinguish between the confinement phase, massless phase(s) and Higgs phase where they exist. The matter fields may transform according to an arbitrary representation of the gauge group. We compute the vortex free energy by series expansion for a Z₂ Higgs model and for SU(2) lattice models with quark or Higgs fields in the fundamental representation at strong coupling (confinement phase), and for the Z₂ Higgs model in the range of validity of low-temperature expansions (Higgs phase). The results are in agreement with the expected behavior.     

Progress in lattice gauge theory

Two topics of lattice gauge theory are reviewed. They include string tension and β-function calculations by strong coupling Hamiltonian methods for SU(3) gauge fields in 3 + 1 dimensions, and a 1/N-expansion for discrete gauge and spin systems in all dimensions. The SU(3) calculations give solid evidence for the coexistence of quark confinement and asymptotic freedom in the renormalized continuum limit of the lattice theory. The crossover between weak and strong coupling behavior in the theory is seen to be a weak coupling but non-perturbative effect. Quantitative relationships between perturbative and non-perturbative renormalization schemes are obtained for the O(N) nonlinear sigma models in 1 + 1 dimensions as well as the range theory in 3 + 1 dimensions. Analysis of the strong coupling expansion of the β-function for gauge fields suggests that it has cuts in the complex 1/g²-plane. A toy model of such a cut structure which naturally explains the abruptness of the theory's crossover from weak to strong coupling is presented. The relation of these cuts to other approaches to gauge field dynamics is discussed briefly.The dynamics underlying first order phase transitions in a wide class of lattice gauge theories is exposed by considering a class of models-P(N) gauge theories - which are soluble in the N → ∞ limit and have non-trivial phase diagrams. The first order character of the phase transitions in Potts spin systems for N #62; 4 in 1 + 1 dimensions is explained in simple terms which generalizes to P(N) gauge systems in higher dimensions. The phase diagram of Ising lattice gauge theory coupled to matter fields is obtained in a $\text{1}\text{N}$ expansion. A one-plaquette model (1 time-0 space dimensions) with a first-order phase transitions in the N → ∞ limit is discussed.     

Monte Carlo studies of SU(N)/ZN lattice gauge theories in four dimensions

Using Monte Carlo techniques on a four-dimensional space-time lattice, we study SU(N)/Z_N gauge theories for N = 3, 4, 5 and 6. We find first-order phase transitions at critical inverse temperatures of β_c = 6.40, 12.0, 19.5 and 32.0 and SU(3)/Z₃,SU(4)/Z₄,SU(5)/Z₅and SU (6)Z₆, respectively.     

High-temperature expansions for the free energy of vortices and the string tension in lattice gauge theories

We derive high-temperature cluster expansions for the free energy of vortices in SU(2) and Z₂ lattice gauge theories in 3 and 4 dimensions. The expected behaviour of the vortex free energy is verified. It obeys an area law behaviour. The coefficient of the area is shown to be equal to the string tension between static quarks. We calculate its expansion up to 12th order. For SU(2) in 4 dimensions the result is compared with Monte Carlo calculations of Creutz and is in good agreement at strong and intermediate coupling.     

A study of 't Hooft and Wilson loops

An investigation is undertaken for 't Hooft loop operators in four-dimensional gauge theories. For the first time, a perimeter law is shown to be their behavior in weak coupling Wilson lattice (and continuum) non-abelian SU(N) gauge theories for all N. However, it is also argued that this perimeter law is poor criterion for quark confinement. Rather, it is suggested that non-leading long-distance behavior is what is crucial and relevant in distinguishing non-abelian from abelian (and hence confining from non-confining) theories. A new object, “the 't Hooft line”, is introduced to measure this non-leading behavior and is computed in strong coupling on the lattice. There, one finds magnetic screening characterized by a magnetic screening mass, m_s. It is shown to all orders in strong coupling that m_s is the glueball mass, a result which is expected to persist in weak coupling and in the continuum. Two further consequences of this work are that pure non-abelian gauge theories cannot be in a Higgs phase and that in such models that absence of massless physical particles implies confinement.Finally, non-leading behavior in Wilson loops is examined. The present picture of confinement suggests the absence of van der Waals forces in Yang-Mills theories.     

Phase structure of QCD at high temperature with massive quarks and finite quark density: A Z(3) paradigm

The confinement/deconfinement phase transition in SU(3) lattice gauge theories at high temperatures is analogous to that of the Z(3) gauge theories. We study various Z(3) gauge-matter theories that result from replacing the gauge group SU(3) with its center Z(3). We include large-mass fermions in the Wilson formulation and allow a chemical potential. We show that in the limit of strong coupling and high temperature the (3 + 1)-dimensional theory becomes a three state, three-dimensional Potts model with uniform external fields of real and imaginary strengths related to the fermion mass and chemical potential. By studying the phase structure of the q = 3, d = 3 Potts model with external fields we argue that the confinement/deconfinement phase transition is first order, but highly sensitive to external fields, and that it does not occur at “strong coupling” in a Z(3) gauge theory if there is a light enough fermion present. We discuss the consequences of this result for QCD.     

Correlation inequalities and quark confinement in lattice gauge theories

Some inequalities for the Wilson loop for Z₂ and U(N) lattice gauge theories are derived. They are used to show the area decay of the Wilson loop above a certain temperature. Possible use of such inequalities to prove the absence of a phase transition for the SU(2) case is discussed.     

Large dimensional lattice gauge theories: (I). Z2 pure gauge system

The transition pattern of lattice gauge theories can be stydied by a variational method based on strong coupling series. For large space-time dimension d, this leads to a 1/d expansion when the parameter βd is kept fixed. The first-order phase transition of the Z₂ pure gauge system is studied here.     

The phase structure of SU(N)/Z(N) lattice gauge theories

The phase structure of pure SU(N)/Z(N) lattice gauge theories in four dimensions is discussed. The presence of ZN monopoles plausibly leads to a phase transition. A Monte Carlo simulation of SO(3) shows the presence of a very strong, may be first order, phase transition.     

Energy-momentum dispersion of glueballs and the restoration of Lorentz invariance in lattice gauge theories

The strong-coupling expansion for the energy-momentum dispersion of the scalar glueball is carried out for euclidean Z₂ and SU(2) lattice gauge theories up to 10th order in 3 dimensions and to 8th order in 4 dimensions. The results are used to study the restoration of Lorentz invariance in the continuum limit.     

Grand unification of effective gauge theories

An effective non-renormalizable SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) invariant gauge theory results at ordinary energies when superheavy fields are integrated out from a grand unified theory based on a simple gauge group G. The solutions of the second-order renormalization-group equations for the gauge coupling constants of the effective theory are examined. General formulae for the superheavy vector boson mass and for sin²θ near M_W are given in this approach to grand unification. The superheavy vector boson mass is plotted against the QCD scale parameter Λ for a certain set of grand unified models. Corrections to the prediction when the set of models is enlarged are discussed, and illustrated with examples from G≡SU(5) and O(10).     

SU(2) ⊗ U(1) gauge theories of the generalized σ model for π0, η, η' → γγ decays

By embedding the chiral current-mixing gauge theories in the SU(2)_L ? SU(2)_R generalized σ model, it is shown that the correct sign and magnitude for π⁰ → γγ decay, as well as the SU(3) relation of π⁰, η, η' → γγ decays can be obtained within the framework of SU(2) ? U(1) gauge theories of weak and electromagnetic interactions.     

Strong coupling versus large N in σ-models

We show that the lattice CP^(N?1) model does not have a phase transition at N = ∞, of the type proposed for SU(N) gauge theories, despite having instantons. It does, however, have non-commuting large-N and strong coupling expansions. This rather unique situation is associated with the screening properties of the model.     

On the mass and mixings of the ZE

The experimental data on the neutral current couplings are used to derive lower bounds on the mass of Z_E, the extra neutral gauge boson appearing in the minimal ‘beyond the standard model’ scenario favoured in superstring compactifications. This is based on the gauge group SU(3)_c×SU(2)_L×U(1)_Y×U(1)_E. Taking sin²θ_w=0.229, m_W=80.76 GeV and m_Z=91.59 GeV it is found that the mixing angle θ between Z and Z_E must satisfy −0.136<sin θ<−0.007 corresponding to m_ZE>152 GeV or, assuming E₆ unification m_ZE>155 GeV.