Gauge invariant investigation of the nature of Confinement

We observe a strong correlation between the decrease in the number of action density peaks in SU(2) Yang-Mills configurations with cooling and that of the string tension. The nature and distribution of these peaks is investigated. The relationship with monopole currents after the abelian projection is also considered.Comment: uuencoded and Z-compressed file of the Postcript version of our contribution to LATTICE 95. 4 pages of text and 4 figure

Self-dual vortex-like configurations in SU(2) Yang-Mills Theory

We show that there are solutions of the SU(2) Yang-Mills classical equations of motion in R^4, which are self-dual and vortex-like(fluxons). The action density is concentrated along a thick two-dimensional wall (the world sheet of a straight infinite vortex line). The configurations are constructed from self-dual R^2 x T^2 configurations.Comment: latex2e file. 10 pages 2 figure

Combinatorics of lattice paths with and without spikes

We derive a series of results on random walks on a d-dimensional hypercubic lattice (lattice paths). We introduce the notions of terse and simple paths corresponding to the path having no backtracking parts (spikes). These paths label equivalence classes which allow a rearrangement of the sum over paths. The basic combinatorial quantities of this construction are given. These formulas are useful when performing strong coupling (hopping parameter) expansions of lattice models. Some applications are described.Comment: Latex. 25 page

Large N reduction on a twisted torus

We consider SU(N) lattice gauge theory at infinite N defined on a torus with a CP invariant twist. Massless fermions are incorporated in an elegant way, while keeping them quenched. We present some numerical results which suggest that twisting can make numerical simulations of planar QCD more efficient.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl

Large NN reduction with the Twisted Eguchi-Kawai model

We examine the breaking of $Z_N$ symmetry recently reported for the Twisted Eguchi-Kawai model (TEK). We analyse the origin of this behaviour and propose simple modifications of twist and lattice action that could avoid the problem. Our results show no sign of symmetry breaking and allow us to obtain values of the large $N$ infinite volume string tension in agreement with extrapolations from results based upon straightforward methods.Comment: latex file 14 pages, 4 figure