Surface description of gauge theories

The partition function of non-abelian gauge theory is expressed, in the continuum limit, as a sum over surfaces which are swept out by the propagation of electric flux rings. Each flux surface is described by a two-dimensional continuum gauge theory, confined to that particular surface. The gauge field can then be integrated out; however, for closed and intersecting surfaces interesting complications arise, which reveal an algebraic structure typical of strong-coupling lattice gauge theory.