Gribov ambiguity in gauge theories

Gribov ambiguity in gauge field theories is discussed and it is shown that such an ambiguity exists even for Abelian theories in covariant gauge at finite temperature. Both geometric and algebraic proofs are presented. In view of the importance of non-perturbative methods, some special gauges are given in which such ambiguities do not exist or are not relevant. The significance of these in the study of confinement in QCD is pointed out.     

On Gribov ambiguity in finite temperature Abelian gauge theory

It is shown that there is Gribov ambiguity in finite temperature Abelian gauge theory if the gauge theory is defined on the full gauge orbit space. This is demonstrated geometrically and by an explicit construction of solutions to the Gribov equation. Its effects on the evaluation of the temperature-dependent partition function are noted using the Faddeev-Popov procedure.     

Strong-coupling study of the Gribov ambiguity in lattice Landau gauge

We study the strong-coupling limit β=0 of lattice SU(2) Landau gauge Yang–Mills theory. In this limit the lattice spacing is infinite, and thus all momenta in physical units are infinitesimally small. Hence, the infrared behavior can be assessed at sufficiently large lattice momenta. Our results show that at the lattice volumes used here, the Gribov ambiguity has an enormous effect on the ghost propagator in all dimensions. This underlines the severity of the Gribov problem and calls for refined studies also at finite β. In turn, the gluon propagator only mildly depends on the Gribov ambiguity.     

Covariant quantization of non-Abelian antisymmetric tensor gauge theories

The non-Abelian Freedman-Townsend gauge tensor model is quantized in large class of covariant gauges using the geometrical reinterpretation of the BRS equations. In addition to the now usual pyramid of gauge and ghost states, a pyramid of auxiliary fields is found in our construction. These fields enforce the consistency of equations of motion and the integrability of the BRS equations.     

Degenerate gauge conditions,generalized Gribov ambiguity and BRST symmetry

The BFV-BRST approach to gauge theories is considered. It is argued that the BRST-invariant boundary conditions ordinarily used do not maintain the necessary degeneracy in the gauge fixing. As a by-product of this discussion, the existence of a generalized Gribov-like ambiguity is suggested. This ambiguity is, however, shown to be just a particular BRST transformation.     

Covariant canonical quantization of fields and Bohmian mechanics

We propose a manifestly covariant canonical method of field quantization based on the classical De Donder-Weyl covariant canonical formulation of field theory. Owing to covariance, the space and time arguments of fields are treated on an equal footing. To achieve both covariance and consistency with standard non-covariant canonical quantization of fields in Minkowski spacetime, it is necessary to adopt a covariant Bohmian formulation of quantum field theory. A preferred foliation of spacetime emerges dynamically owing to a purely quantum effect. The application to a simple time-reparametrization invariant system and quantum gravity is discussed and compared with the conventional non-covariant Wheeler-DeWitt approach.Received: 11 October 2004, Published online: 6 July 2005PACS: 04.20.Fy, 04.60.Ds, 04.60.Gw, 04.60.-m     

Lorentz gauge and Gribov ambiguity in the compact lattice U(1) theory

The Gribov ambiguity problem is studied for compact U(1) lattice theory within the Lorentz gauge. In the Coulomb phase, it is shown that apart from double Dirac sheets Gribov copies originate mainly from zero-momentum modes of the gauge fields. The removal of the zero-momentum modes is necessary for reaching the absolute maximum of the Lorentz gauge functional.     

Covariant canonical quantization

We present a manifestly covariant quantization procedure based on the de Donder–Weyl Hamiltonian formulation of classical field theory. This procedure agrees with conventional canonical quantization only if the parameter space is d=1 dimensional time. In d>1 quantization requires a fundamental length scale, and any bosonic field generates a spinorial wave function, leading to the purely quantum-theoretical emergence of spinors as a byproduct. We provide a probabilistic interpretation of the wave functions for the fields, and we apply the formalism to a number of simple examples. These show that covariant canonical quantization produces both the Klein–Gordon and the Dirac equation, while also predicting the existence of discrete towers of identically charged fermions with different masses. Covariant canonical quantization can thus be understood as a “first” or pre-quantization within the framework of conventional QFT. PACS 04.62.+v; 11.10.Ef; 12.10.Kt     

Some remarks on the Gribov ambiguity

The set of all connections of a principal bundle over the 4-sphere with compact nonabelian Lie group under the action of the group of gauge transformations is studied. It is shown that no continuous choice of exactly one connection on each orbit can be made. Thus the Gribov ambiguity for the Coloumb gauge will occur in all other gauges. No gauge fixing is possible.     

A modification of Faddeev-Popov approach free from Gribov ambiguity

We propose a modified version of the Faddeev-Popov (FP) quantization approach for non-Abelian gauge field theory to avoid Gribov ambiguity. We show that by means of introducing a new method of inserting the correct identity into the Yang-Mills generating functional and considering the identity generated by an integral through a subgroup of the gauge group, the problem of Gribov ambiguity can be removed naturally. Meanwhile by handling the absolute value of the FP determinant with the method introduced by Williams and collaborators, we lift the Jacobian determinant together with the absolute value and obtain a local Lagrangian. The new Lagrangian will have a nilpotent symmetry which can be viewed as an analog of the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin symmetry.     

On the Gribov ambiguity in the Faddeev-Popov procedure

The standard Faddeev-Popov procedure for quantization of a gauge theory is modified so as to be valid even when the Gribov problem is present. The hamiltonian is employed and a definite expression for the path integral is obtained for a wide class of gauges.     

Every gauge orbit passes inside the Gribov horizon

TheL ² topology is introduced on the space of gauge connectionsA and a natural topology is introduced on the group of local gauge transformationsGT. It is shown that the mappingGT×AA defined byAA ^g=g^*Ag+g^*dg is continuous and that each gauge orbit is closed. The Hilbert norm of the gauge connection achieves its absolute minimum on each gauge orbit, at which point the orbit intersects the region bounded by the Gribov horizon.CNR, GNFMResearch supported in part by the National Science Foundation under grant no. PHY 87-15995