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.     

Duality for Z(N) gauge theories

The duality properties of simple Z(N) gauge theories are discussed. For N ? 4 we find self duality in four dimensions and we give the transition points. For N > 4 these systems are not self dual. Also, the order parameter is discussed. The general Z(N) gauge theory is found to be self dual for all N.     

Non-planar diagrams in the large N limit of U(N) and SU(N) lattice gauge theories

It is shown that the limit as N → ∞ with g²N fixed of the strong coupling expansion for the vacuum expectation values of a U(N) or SU(N) lattice gauge theory is not given by a sum of planar diagrams. This contradicts a result claimed by De Wit and 't Hooft.     

Gaussian fluctuations to U(N) and SU(N) lattice gauge theories in the mean field approximation

The mean field can be considered as a classical solution of an appropriately reformulated version of lattice gauge theories. Axial gauge fixing renders it stable. The quadratic forms for the fluctuations in the gaussian approximation are analyzed. The gaussian correction to the mean field free energy is expressed for all U(N) and SU(N) in terms of structure functions that are explicitly calculated for U(N), SU(∞, and SU(∞) numerical calculations are performed for the phase transition point, its latent heat, and some correlation lengths that are characteristic for this kind of mean field approach.     

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.     

Mean-field approach to Z(N) gauge systems with generalized action

The phase diagram of Z(N) lattice gauge theories with generalized action is examined in the mean-field approach. The phase diagram is well reproduced, with the exception of the Coulomb phase, which is absent. A previously identified mechanism that dynamically generates the Coulomb phase from quantum fluctuations is shown to give agreement with Monte Carlo data in four dimensions.     

The large-N phase transition in the U(N) lattice gauge theory

We present an outline for a proof (the precise details of which will be presented in a follow-up paper) of a large-N phase transition in dimensions greater than two. The critical couplings are calculated in d=3 and d=4 and are found to be β=0.44 and β=0.40, respectively.     

Dynamical equations and a new analytical approach in lattice gauge theories

A new analytical approach in lattice gauge theories is presented. It is based on the use of the dynamical equations of the theory. The new method is used to discuss the phase structure of abelian lattice gauge systems, the results show that the new approach is an effective one.     

Nonconvergence of the 1/N expansion for SU(N) gauge fields on a lattice

We present specific examples that demonstrate the non-convergence of the 1/N expansion for the lattice theory of SU(N) gauge fields.     

Kinematics of periodic structures in SU(N) gauge theories

We study periodicity by use of the holonomy group. For a general field configuration, which spans the whole SU(N) group, we show that periodicity of gauge-invariant quantities implies that either the flux is quantized or that there is no flux at all. Finally we show that in a special gauge, the quantized 't Hooft flux can be expressed as a line integral over one of the components of the vector potential. The other components then have “Higgs-like” zeros, with winding numbers related to the 't Hooft flux.     

Comparing O(N) and SU(N) × SU(N) spin systems in 1 + 1 dimensions to SU(N) gauge theories in 3 + 1 dimensions

We have computed the scale breaking Λ parameters of the euclidean and hamiltonian formulations of the lattice regulated O(N) and SU(N) × SU(N) spin systems in 1 + 1 dimensions in terms of the Λ_PV parameters of the Pauli-Villars regulated continuum models. Using lattice perturbation theory, the renormalized mass gap has been determined in terms of Λ_PV for each model. These results are compared to analogous calculations in SU(N) gauge theories.     

Comparison of lattice gauge theories with gauge groups Z2 and SU(2)

We study a model of a pure Yang Mills theory with gauge group SU(2) on a lattice in Euclidean space. We compare it with the model obtained by restricting variables to $\text{Z}$₂. An inequality relating expectation values of the Wilson loop integral in the two theories is established. It shows that confinement of static quarks is true in our SU(2) model whenever it holds for the corresponding $\text{Z}$₂-model. The SU(2) model is shown to have high and low temperature phases that are distinguished by a qualitatively different behavior of the 't Hooft disorder parameter.     

Inequalities for order and disorder parameters in SU(N) gauge theories

We discuss inequalities of the Mack-Fröhlich type in SU(N) gauge theories and their possible implications for the various phases of those theories.     

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.     

Spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking for a U(N) gauge theory on a lattice

We study the breakdown of chiral invariance by calculating, in the infinite coupling, large-N limit, the generating functional of a U(N) gauge theory with one fermion, expressed on a lattice with the naive, chiral symmetric action. We compute the link integral over the gauge fields and the expression obtained after the integration over the fermions is recast under the form of a generating functional for bosonic fields. Then, a saddle-point method allows the calculation of the order parameter $\text{〈}\text{ψ}\text{ψ〉}$ for which a non-zero value signals the spontaneous breakdown of chiral symmetry. The analysis of the fluctuations around the saddle point allows one to exhibit the Goldstone modes corresponding to those global symmetries of the fermionic lattice action which are simultaneously broken.     

High precision mean-field results for lattice gauge theories: with special attention paid to the gauge dependence of mean-field perturbation theory to finite order

We do mean-field perturbation theory for U(1) lattice gauge theory in the axial gauge, and evaluate corrections from fluctuations up to fourth order for the free energy and plaquette energy. Comparing with similar results previously obtained in the Feynman gauge we find, to those orders studied, a gauge dependence of the size of the first correction term neglected with one exception. This gauge dependence decreases rapidly as the order of the approximation is increased. To any finite order, results in axial gauge are better approximations than results in the Feynman gauge. We speculate why. Assuming it to be generally true, we evaluate the first correction beyond the one-loop mean-field approximation to the free energy of SU(2) gauge theory with Wilson action in the axial gauge. This correction brings the mean-field result very close to Monte Carlo results for β > 1.6. It also makes the mean-field result identical, within a narrow margin, to ressumed strong coupling results in the interval 1.6 < β < 2.4, thus showing the absence of a phase transition.For both groups studied, we find that the asymptotic series of mean-field perturbation theory give much better approximations than do ordinary weak coupling series.     

Dynamical supersymmetry breaking in two-dimensional N = 1 supergravity theories

We investigate a possible dynamical mechanism for spontaneous supersymmetrybreaking in N = 1 supergravity theories in 1 + 1 space-time dimensions. It will be shown that supersymmetry is never broken at the tree level, but it can be broken for a certain class of models by quantum effects due to trace anomalies of the energy-momentum tensor and the supercurrent.     

Dynamical symmetry breaking in SO(4n+2) and E(6) gauge theories

We find that SO(4n+2) and E(6) gauge theories with fermions in the complex spinor representation (and no scalar fields at all) undergo dynamical breaking of the gauge symmetry, according to the rules of Raby, Dimopoulos, and Susskind.     

On the characterization of the higgs phase in lattice gauge theories

We consider Higgs models on a lattice in 3 or 4 dimensions. Higgs scalars are assumed to transform trivially under a finite subgroup Γ of the compact gauge groupG. We adopt 't Hooft's definition of the Higgs phase, it is characterized by a nonvanishing free energy per unit length (area) of a vortex in 3 (4) dimensions. By using a Peierls argument we show that the models are in the Higgs phase in this sense for suitable coupling constants.