Gauge theories in the many-gluon limit

We argue that the idea that the dynamics of a gauge theory simplifies in the limit N → ∞, where N is the number of colors, can be invoked even if the gauge group is an exceptional Lie group, rather than one of the classical groups. We also point out that quantum tunneling phenomena can in some cases survive in the N → ∞ limit, contrary to the usual claim that the N → ∞ limit is “classical.”