Magnetic monopoles in SU(N) gauge theories

The potential $\text{A}\text{(}\text{r}\text{) ≡}\text{M}\text{(}\text{r}\text{?}\text{×}\text{n}\text{?}\text{)(r?}\text{r}\text{·}\text{n}\text{?}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ is a static solution to the classical theory of non-abelian gauge fields coupled to a point magnetic source, for any matrix $\text{M}$ in the Lie algebra of the gauge group G. This solution is rotationally invariant if the eigenvalues of $\text{M}$ in the adjoint representation of G are quantized in half-integer units, but is stable to small perturbations only if all non-vanishing eigenvalues are $\text{±}\text{1}\text{2}$. In this paper, for the gauge groups G = SU(N), it is shown which sets of eigenvalues of $\text{M}$ are consistent with the group structure, which consistent sets are gauge inequivalent, and which consistent gauge inequivalent sets correspond to stable monopoles. It is found that there are N inequivalent stable monopoles, including the trivial case $\text{M}\text{=}\text{0}$. Equivalence here is with respect to non-singular gauge transformations—the symmetry transformations of the classical theory. Singular gauge transformations are, in contrast, not symmetries but they are nevertheless useful for classifying solutions and for relating the above concept of local stability to the global, or topological, stability associated with the Dirac strings. In this context, it is shown that there are N distinct topological classes of monopoles, with the group structure of the center $\text{Z}{}_{\mathrm{N}}\text{?Π}{}_1\text{(}\text{SU}\text{(N)/}\text{Z}{}_{\mathrm{N}}\text{)}$ of SU(N), that each class contains exactly one stable monopole, and that any other monopole in the same class has a strictly larger value of the magnetic charge magnitude $\text{tr}\text{M}{}^2$. This leads to an interesting physical picture of local stability as a consequence of the minimization of magnetic energy. The paper concludes with some comments on related topics: the empirical absence of magnetic charge, `t Hooft's calculation of magnetic energy, magnetic confinement, and spontaneously broken theories.     

Magnetic monopoles in gauge theories

Magnetic monopoles in gauge theories are investigated. Let G be the gauge group and H the group of symmetries which are not spontaneously broken. The existence of magnetic monopoles is proved in the case when the group G has a compact covering group but the covering group of H is non-compact.     

Magnetic monopoles and non-Abelian gauge theories

We review some properties of magnetic monopoles in non-Abelian gauge theories. Removal of Dirac string singularities and generalizations of the Wu-Yang solution that follow from this procedure are described. A discussion of the possible relevance of monopoles in strong interaction models and their role in quark confinement schemes is given. The magnetic monopole soliton discovered by 't Hooft and Polyakov, the first order formalism developed by Bogomolny, and extensions of these ideas are illustrated.Work supported in part by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration under Contract No. EY-76-C-02-2232B^*000.     

Phase structure of SU(2) and SU(3) lattice gauge theories

Using a mean field we obtain the phase diagrams for SU(2) and SU(3) with a mixed fundamental-adjoint representation action.     

Cylindrically and spherically symmetric monopoles in SU(3) gauge theory

We apply to the Atiyah-Ward ansätze a systematic procedure locating symmetric monopoles in SU(3) gauge theory broken to U(1) × U(1). In particular we recover the known spherically symmetric monopole as a limit of a cylindrically symmetric separated two monopole solution in SU(3). We also discuss the spherically symmetric monopole in SU(n). This latter is the only instance where we have properly shown the smoothness of the Higgs and gauge fields.     

Thermal monopoles in the SU(2) gauge theory on a lattice

Color-magnetic thermal monopoles in SU(2) lattice gluodynamics with improved Simanzik action were studied. The density of the monopoles, the monopole chemical potential, the cluster susceptibility, and the cluster magnetization were studied. These results were compared with results that were reported elsewhere.     

Instantons in SU(4) gauge theories

A complete set of solutions of SU(4) invariant gauge fields with SO(4) spherical symmetry (euclidian metric in space time) is obtained. It is shown that the solutions fall into two non equivalent classes following a spinor or vector decomposition of the four dimensional representation of SU(4) in SO(4). The energy of the first case and hence the topological quantum number are twice those of the second case.     

Finite-energy SU(3) monopoles

Classical SU(3) Yang-Mills-Higgs theory with the Higgs field in the adjoint representation is studies, when the SU(3) symmetry is broken down to U(3) and U(1)×U(1). Spherically symmetry equations of motion are solved for various boundary conditions. The finite-energy solutions correspond to magnetic monopoles and isopoles.     

Set of solutions of SU(2) gauge theories

We present the most general solutions of Yang-Mills SU(2) equations which are invariant under a non trivial subgroup of the gauge group.     

The deconfinement transition in SU(2) lattice gauge theories

Using Monte Carlo techniques we study the SU(2) Yang-Mills system at finite temperatures for two different forms of lattice action, proposed by Villain and Monton respectively. In both cases the energy density ε exhibits a similar behaviour to the case of the Wilson action, being an order of magnitude smaller at lower temperatures and approaching the Stefan-Boltzmann limit for a free gluon gas at higher temperatures. The transition between these two temperature regimes appears rather abrupt and the specific heat of gluon matter exhibits a sharp peak at the transition point. The transition temperature, expressed in MeV, is found to be consistent in both the cases with that obtained by using the Wilson action, although in the natural units of the corresponding Λ-parameters it differs substantially, being 10.7, 27.3 and 42.8 for Manton, Villain and Wilson actions, respectively.     

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.     

SU(2) monopoles of charge 2

Using the methods of Hitchin, the moduli space of SU(2) monopoles of charge two is computed.     

Crossover and scaling in SU(3) lattice gauge theories with Susskind fermions

The phase diagram of SU(3) lattice gauge theories with Susskind fermions is investigated by Monte Carlo methods. For three flavors in the continuum a significant shift in the location of the peak in the specific heat is found, as compared to the pure gauge case. These results suggest that the crossover region moves to smaller β when fermion polarization effects are included.     

Instantons and monopoles in Yang-Mills gauge field theories

This is a survey article on instantons and monopoles and is intended for those who have no prior knowledge of Yang-Mills gauge field theories. With minimal amount of physical motivation and mathematical apparatus, the basic field equations and their solutions, wherever known, are presented. Particular emphasis is put on those problems which are as yet unsolved.     

Polynomial invariants for SU(2) monopoles

We present an explicit expression for the topological invariants associated to SU(2) monopoles in the fundamental representation on spin four-manifolds. The computation of these invariants is based on the analysis of their corresponding topological quantum field theory, and it turns out that they can be expressed in terms of Seiberg-Witten invariants. In this analysis we use recent exact results on the moduli space of vacua of the untwisted N = 1 and N = 2 supersymmetric counterparts of the topological quantum field theory under consideration, as well as on electric-magnetic duality for N = 2 supersymmetric gauge theories.