Generalized measures in gauge theory

LetP M be a principalG-bundle. We construct well-defined analogs of Lebesgue measure on the spaceA of connections onP and Haar measure on the groupG of gauge transformations. More precisely, we define algebras of cylinder functions on the spacesA,G, andA/G, and define generalized measures on these spaces as continuous linear functionals on the corresponding algebras. Borrowing some ideas from lattice gauge theory, we characterize generalized measures onA,G, andA/G in terms of graphs embedded inM. We use this characterization to construct generalized measures onA andG whenG is compact. The uniform generalized measure onA is invariant under the group of automorphisms ofP. It projects down to the generalized measure onA/G considered by Ashtekar and Lewandowski in the caseG = SU(n). The generalized Haar measure onG is right- and left-invariant as well as Aut(P)-invariant. We show that averaging any generalized measure onA against generalized Haar measure gives aG-invariant generalized measure onA.     

Classical solutions to a quadratically nonlinear gauge theory

We present some classical solutions to a gauge theory based on quadratically nonlinear Lie algebras without a central term. We observe that instanton-like and meron-like solutions force the internal fields to behave like solitons.     

Functional integration and gauge ambiguities in generalized abelian gauge theories

We consider the covariant quantization of generalized abelian gauge theories on a closed and compact n$n$-dimensional manifold whose space of gauge invariant fields is the abelian group of Cheeger–Simons differential characters. The space of gauge fields is shown to be a non-trivial bundle over the orbits of the subgroup of smooth Cheeger–Simons differential characters. Furthermore each orbit itself has the structure of a bundle over a multi-dimensional torus. As a consequence there is a topological obstruction to the existence of a global gauge fixing condition. A functional integral measure is proposed on the space of gauge fields which takes this problem into account and provides a regularization of the gauge degrees of freedom. For the generalized p$p$-form Maxwell theory closed expressions for all physical observables are obtained. The Green’s functions are shown to be affected by the non-trivial bundle structure. Finally the vacuum expectation values of circle-valued homomorphisms, including the Wilson operator for singular p$p$-cycles of the manifold, are computed and selection rules are derived.     

U(2) four-dimensional simplicial lattice gauge theory

Monte Carlo simulations for pureU (2) gauge theory on a four-dimensional simplicial lattice with six sites in each direction are reported. Wilson loops and the string tensions for squares and triangles are presented. A first-order phase transition, similar to that found for the hypercubical lattice, is observed and found to confineSU (2) colour and deconfineU (1) charge.     

Comparison of the simplicial method with Wilson's lattice gauge theory for U(1)3

In the simplicial version of lattice gauge theory, euclidean path integrals are approximated by tiling spacetime with simplexes and by linearly interpolating the fields throughout each simplex from their values at the vertices. This method is compared with Wilson's lattice gauge theory for U(1) in three dimensions. As a standard of comparison, the exact values of Creutz ratios of Wilson loops in the continuum theory are computed. Monte Carlo computations using the simplicial method give Creutz ratios within a few percent of the exact values for reasonably sized loops at β = 1,2,and10. Similar computations using Wilson's method give ratios that typically differ from the exact values by factors of two or more for 1 ⩽ β ⩽ 3.5 and that have the wrong β dependence. The better accuracy of the simplicial method is due to its use of the action and domain of integration of the exact theory, unaltered apart from the granularity of the simplicial lattice. Data on the action density and the mass gap are also presented.     

Proof of chiral symmetry breaking in lattice gauge theory

Using the method of infrared bounds and partial-integration formulas, we prove that there is a chiral phase transition in four-dimensional strongly coupled lattice gauge theory with gauge group U(N) and staggered fermions for all N5.     

The finite gauge transformations in closed string field theory

The finite gauge transformations for the classical nonpolynomial closed string field theory are constructed by iteration of infinitesimal transformations. A simple rule for the determination of the coefficients of the arising series is found.Supported by funds provided by the Max Kade Foundation.     

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.     

Testing two versions of lattice gauge theory: Creutz ratios inU(1)3

In our simplicial version of lattice gauge theory, we approximate Euclidean path integrals by tiling space-time with simplexes and by linearly interpolating the fields throughout each simplex from their values at the vertices. We compare this method with Wilson's lattice gauge theory forU(1) in three dimensions. As a standard of comparison, we compute the exact values of Creutz ratios of Wilson loops in the continuum theory. Monte Carlo computations using the simplicial method give Creutz ratios within a few percent of the exact values for reasonably sized loop atβ=1, 2, and 10. Similar computations using Wilson's method give ratios that typically differ from the exact values by factors of 2 or more for 1⩽β⩽3.5 and that have the wrongβ dependence. The better accuracy of the simplicial method is due to its use of the action and domain of integration of the exact theory, unaltered apart from the granularity of the simplicial lattice. We also present data on the action density and the mass gap. Research supported by the U.S. epartment of Energy under grant DE-FG04-84ER40166.     

A note on gauge symmetry breaking

We show that the breaking of Abelian gauge symmetry implies the existence of dipole singularities in the correlation functions of the (Abelian) Higgs model. We also show that the noninvariance of the Wightman functions does not preclude the implementability of the global gauge symmetry. An explicit example of gauge symmetry breaking (Ferrari's model) is discussed.     

Reformulation of general relativity as a gauge theory

The starting point is a spinor affine space-time. At each point, two-component spinors and a basis in spinor space, called “spin frame,” are introduced. Spinor affine connections are assumed to exist, but their values need not be known. A metric tensor is not introduced. Global and local gauge transformations of spin frames are defined with GL(2) as the gauge group. Gauge potentials B_μ are introduced and corresponding fields F_μν are defined in analogy with the Yang-Mills case. Gravitational field equations are derived from an action principle. Incases of physical interest SL(2, C) is taken as the gauge group, instead of GL(2). In the special case of metric space-times the theory is identical with general relativity in the Newman-Penrose formalism. Linear combinations of B_μ are generalized spin coefficients, and linear combinations of F_μν are generalized Weyl and Ricci tensors and Ricci scalar. The present approach is compared with other formulations of gravitation as a gauge field.     

Second order gauge theory

A gauge theory of second order in the derivatives of the auxiliary field is constructed following Utiyama’s program. A novel field strength G = ∂F + fAF arises besides the one of the first order treatment, F = ∂A − ∂A + fAA. The associated conserved current is obtained. It has a new feature: topological terms are determined from local invariance requirements. Podolsky Generalized Eletrodynamics is derived as a particular case in which the Lagrangian of the gauge field is L_P ∝ G². In this application the photon mass is estimated. The SU (N) infrared regime is analysed by means of Alekseev-Arbuzov-Baikov’s Lagrangian.     

Quantization of gauge theories with global anomalies

Global anomalies, which obstruct the quantization of certain gauge theories in the temporal gauge, get bypassed in canonical quantization.     

Remarks on the thermodynamics and the vacuum energy of a quantum Maxwell gas on compact and closed manifolds

The quantum Maxwell theory at finite temperature at equilibrium is studied on compact and closed manifolds in both the functional integral and Hamiltonian formalism. The aim is to shed some light onto the interrelation between the topology of the spatial background and the thermodynamic properties of the system. The quantization is not unique and gives rise to inequivalent quantum theories which are classified by θ-vacua. Based on explicit parametrizations of the gauge orbit space in the functional integral approach and of the physical phase space in the canonical quantization scheme, the Gribov problem is resolved and the equivalence of both quantization schemes is elucidated. Using zeta-function regularization the free energy is determined and the effect of the topology of the spatial manifold on the vacuum energy and on the thermal gauge field excitations is clarified. The general results are then applied to a quantum Maxwell gas on an n-dimensional torus providing explicit formulae for the main thermodynamic functions in the low- and high-temperature regimes, respectively.     

Abelian gauge theories on homogeneous spaces

An algebraic technique of separation of gauge modes in Abelian gauge theories on homogeneous spaces is proposed. An effective potential for the Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory on S ³ is calculated. A generalization of the Chern-Simons action is suggested and analyzed with the example of SU(3)/U(1) X U(1).     

Phase structure of a U(1) lattice gauge theory with dual gauge fields

We introduce a U(1) lattice gauge theory with dual gauge fields and study its phase structure. This system is partly motivated by unconventional superconductors like extended s-wave and d  -wave superconductors in the strongly-correlated electron systems and also studies of the t–J$t\text{–}J$ model in the slave-particle representation. In this theory, the “Cooper-pair” (or RVB spinon-pair) field is put on links of a cubic lattice due to strong on-site repulsion between original electrons in contrast to the ordinary s  -wave pair field on sites. This pair field behaves as a gauge field dual to the U(1) gauge field coupled with the hopping of electrons or quasi-particles of the t–J$t\text{–}J$ model, holons and spinons. By Monte Carlo simulations we study this lattice gauge model and find a first-order phase transition from the normal state to the Higgs (superconducting) phase. Each gauge field works as a Higgs field for the other gauge field. This mechanism requires no scalar fields in contrast to the ordinary Higgs mechanism. An explicit microscopic model is introduced, the low-energy effective theory of which is viewed as a special case of the present model.     

Coulomb gauge vacua of SU(3) gauge theory

SU(3) gauge field theory is studied in the Coulomb gauge, and the topologically distinct, but gauge equivalent, vacuum configurations are analysed. Considering the gauge transformations of the form U ε U(2) ?SU(3)/U(2), we have obtained a new class of vacuum fields characterized by the topological quantum number η = ±1.     

Adjoint sources in lattice gauge theory

Variance reduction techniques for the evaluation of Wilson loops in lattice gauge theory are analysed. The method is extended to Wilson loops in the adjoint representation. Variational methods are also applied to adjoint sources. The combination of these techniques allows the potential V(R) between two static adjoint sources to be determined in SU(2) gauge theory. One isolated static adjoint source is also studied and the energy and distribution of the gluon field of this “glue-lump” is obtained. This is relevant to the saturation of the adjoint potential V(R) at large R.