Topological gauge theories and group cohomology

We show that three dimensional Chern-Simons gauge theories with a compact gauge groupG (not necessarily connected or simply connected) can be classified by the integer cohomology groupH ⁴(BG,Z). In a similar way, possible Wess-Zumino interactions of such a groupG are classified byH ³(G,Z). The relation between three dimensional Chern-Simons gauge theory and two dimensional sigma models involves a certain natural map fromH ⁴(BG,Z) toH ³(G,Z). We generalize this correspondence to topological spin theories, which are defined on three manifolds with spin structure, and are related to what might be calledZ ₂ graded chiral algebras (or chiral superalgebras) in two dimensions. Finally we discuss in some detail the formulation of these topological gauge theories for the special case of a finite group, establishing links with two dimensional (holomorphic) orbifold models.     

Renormalization group equations in lattice gauge theories

New recursion equations for renormalization group transformations of the Migdal-Kadanoff type are obtained for gauge systems including fermion variables on a d-dimensional Euclidean space-time lattice. It is shown that in the weak gauge coupling region these equations have β-functions similar to those of continuum field theories in the case of U(1), SU(2) gauge groups (QED, QCD). On the other hand in the strong-coupling limit there is an infrared attractive fixed point corresponding to a color-confining effective system in both groups. A possible entire trajectory of the non-Abelian system is briefly conjectured.     

Internal space decimation for lattice gauge theories

By a systematic decimation of internal space lattice gauge theories with continuous symmetry groups are mapped into effective lattice gauge theories with finite symmetry groups. The decimation of internal space makes a larger lattice tractable with the same computational resources. In this sense the method is an alternative to Wilson's and Symanzik's programs of improved actions. As an illustrative test of the method U(1) is decimated to Z(N) and the results compared with Monte Carlo data for Z(4)- and Z(5)-invariant lattice gauge theories. The result of decimating SU(3) to its 1080-element crystal-group-like subgroup is given and discussed.     

Renormalization group constraints on unified gauge theories

Renormalization group constraints on the behavior of Yukawa and scalar quartic couplings in unified gauge theories are examined. Yukawa couplings are generally asymptotically free whenever the gauge couplings are, but scalar quartic couplings can be asymptotically free only for simple scalar multiplets in large groups with large fermion content. The infrared behavior of Yukawa and scalar quartic couplings implied by the renormalization group equations has interesting and phenomenologically useful consequences: infrared fixed points (or quasifixed points) lead to bounds on masses of fermions and scalars, while scalar quartic couplings can be driven out of the domain of positivity of the classical potential, with possible implications for patterns of symmetry breaking.     

Renormalization group and dynamical symmetry breakdown in abelian gauge theories

Generalized renormalization group equations are used to analyze the dynamical mechanism of particle mass generation in terms of the Cornwall-Norton model both with and without cut-off. We look for solutions which contain non-zero physical masses of the two fermions (m₁, m₂) and of one of the vector bosons (μ) when the bare masses m_1Λ, m_2Λ, μ_Λ approach zero. For a theory without cut-off we obtain results which are similar to those of Cornwall. For a theory with cut-off the mass generation mechanism may only occur when a bare coupling constant α_Λ of the A_μ vector boson, which remains massless, exceeds some critical value α_c. In this case the fermion masses turn out to be of the superconductivity type.The model's “memory” of the nature of spontaneous symmetry breaking lim_{m1Λ, m2Λ → 0}m_1Λ/m_2Λ ≠ 1 is an indispensible factor for the vector boson to acquire a mass.     

Renormalization group approach to lattice gauge field theories

We study four-dimensional pure gauge field theories by the renormalization group approach. The analysis is restricted to small field approximation. In this region we construct a sequence of localized effective actions by cluster expansions in one step renormalization transformations. We construct also -functions and we define a coupling constant renormalization by a recursive system of renormalization group equations.     

Renormalization group approach to lattice gauge field theories

The fluctuation field integral, constructed in Part I, is represented by the exponentiated cluster expansion. It is proved that the terms of the expansion satisfy the inductive assumptions. This completes the construction of the sequence of effective actions in the small field approximation.Work supported in part by the Air Force under Grant AFOSR-86-0229 and by the National Science Foundation under Grant DMS-86-02207     

Perturbative vacuum wavefunctional for gauge theories in the Milne space

The spectrum of vacuum fluctuations in the Milne space (i.e. the τ−η$\tau -\eta$ coordinate system) is an important ingredient in the thermalization studies in relativistic heavy ion collisions. In this paper, the Schrödinger functional for the gauge theory perturbative vacuum is derived for the Milne space. The Wigner-transform of the corresponding vacuum density functional is also found together with the propagators. We finally identify the fluctuation spectrum in vacuum, and show the equivalence between the present approach and the symplectic product based method (Dusling et al., 2011; Epelbaum and Gelis, 2013).     

Trace anomaly for gauge theories in a conformally flat space

We study the trace anomaly of the energy-momentum tensor for gauge theories coupled to massless fermions in the context of a self-consistent cooperative phenomenon for the creation of the universe.     

The action of the group of bundle-automorphisms on the space of connections and the geometry of gauge theories

Some aspects of the geometry of gauge theories are sketched in this review. We deal essentially with Yang-Mills theory, discussing the structure of the space of gauge orbits and the geometrical interpretation of ghosts and anomalies. Occasionally we deal also with classical gauge theories of gravitation and in particular we study the action of the group of diffeomorphisms on the space of linear connections. Finally we comment on the mathematical interpretation of anomalies in field theories.     

Anomaly matching conditions and the moduli space of supersymmetric gauge theories

The structure of the moduli space of N = 1 supersymmetric gauge theories is analyzed from an algebraic geometric viewpoint. The connection between the fundamental fields of the ultraviolet theory, and the gauge-invariant composite fields of the infrared theory is explained in detail. The results are then used to prove an anomaly matching theorem. The theorem is used to study anomaly matching for supersymmetric QCD, and can explain all the known anomaly matching results for this case.     

The riemannian geometry of the configuration space of gauge theories

We state some new results about the configuration space of pure Yang-Mills theory. These results come from the study of the kinetic energy term of the Lagrangian of the theory. This term defines a riemannian metric on the space of non-equivalent gauge potentials. We develop a riemannian calculus on the configuration space, compute the riemannian connection, the curvature tensor, and solve for the geodesics, etc. We show that the Gribov ambiguity is more than an artefact of the choice of a gauge condition, and is related to the existence of conjugate points on the geodesics, and is thus an intrinsic feature of the theory.Laboratoire associé au CNRS     

Gauge dependence of renormalization group parameters in ghost-free non-abelian gauge theories

We discuss the gauge dependence of the renormalization group parameters in a class of ghost-free non-abelian gauge theories. We show, using the n-dimensional regularization with the “minimal” renormalization procedure, that these parameters are gauge independent.     

Loop space Hamiltonians and numerical methods for large-N gauge theories

We consider large-N gauge theories in the hamiltonian, collective field approach. We derive an alternative collective representation which leads to significant reduction when translation invariance is invoked. It allows for a simplified computer simulation of loop rearrangements and the development of numerical techniques in the hamiltonian, loop space formalism. We proceed to give numerical evidence for validity of our representation and outline a general numerical approach for solving large-N QCD in terms of gauge-invariant Wilson loop variables.