3,718 research outputs found
Quantum Chromodynamics and Other Field Theories on the Light Cone
We discuss the light-cone quantization of gauge theories as a calculational
tool for representing hadrons as QCD bound-states of relativistic quarks and
gluons, and also as a novel method for simulating quantum field theory on a
computer. The light-cone Fock state expansion of wavefunctions provides a
precise definition of the parton model and a general calculus for hadronic
matrix elements. We present several new applications of light-cone Fock
methods, including calculations of exclusive weak decays of heavy hadrons, and
intrinsic heavy-quark contributions to structure functions. Discretized
light-cone quantization, is outlined and applied to several gauge theories. We
also discuss the construction of the light-cone Fock basis, the structure of
the light-cone vacuum, and outline the renormalization techniques required for
solving gauge theories within the Hamiltonian formalism on the light cone.Comment: 206 pages Latex, figures included, Submitted to Physics Report
(1+1)-Dimensional Yang-Mills Theory Coupled to Adjoint Fermions on the Light Front
We consider SU(2) Yang-Mills theory in 1+1 dimensions coupled to massless
adjoint fermions. With all fields in the adjoint representation the gauge group
is actually SU(2)/Z_2, which possesses nontrivial topology. In particular,
there are two distinct topological sectors and the physical vacuum state has a
structure analogous to a \theta vacuum. We show how this feature is realized in
light-front quantization, with periodicity conditions used to regulate the
infrared and treating the gauge field zero mode as a dynamical quantity. We
find expressions for the degenerate vacuum states and construct the analog of
the \theta vacuum. We then calculate the bilinear condensate in the model. We
argue that the condensate does not affect the spectrum of the theory, although
it is related to the string tension that characterizes the potential between
fundamental test charges when the dynamical fermions are given a mass. We also
argue that this result is fundamentally different from calculations that use
periodicity conditions in x^1 as an infrared regulator.Comment: 20 pages, Revte
Light-Front QCD(1+1) Coupled to Adjoint Scalar Matter
We consider adjoint scalar matter coupled to QCD(1+1) in light-cone
quantization on a finite `interval' with periodic boundary conditions. We work
with the gauge group SU(2) which is modified to by the
non-trivial topology. The model is interesting for various nonperturbative
approaches because it is the sector of zero transverse momentum gluons of pure
glue QCD(2+1), where the scalar field is the remnant of the transverse gluon
component. We use the Hamiltonian formalism in the gauge .
What survives is the dynamical zero mode of , which in other theories
gives topological structure and degenerate vacua. With a point-splitting
regularization designed to preserve symmetry under large gauge transformations,
an extra dependent term appears in the current . This is reminiscent
of an (unwanted) anomaly. In particular, the gauge invariant charge and the
similarly regulated no longer commute with the Hamiltonian. We show that
nonetheless one can construct physical states of definite momentum which are
not {\it invariant} under large gauge transformations but do {\it transform} in
a well-defined way. As well, in the physical subspace we recover vanishing {\it
expectation values} of the commutators between the gauge invariant charge,
momentum and Hamiltonian operators. It is argued that in this theory the vacuum
is nonetheless trivial and the spectrum is consistent with the results of
others who have treated the large N, SU(N), version of this theory in the
continuum limit.Comment: LaTex, 13 pages. Submitted to Physics Letters
Non-Perturbative Spectrum of Two Dimensional (1,1) Super Yang-Mills at Finite and Large N
We consider the dimensional reduction of N = 1 SYM_{2+1} to 1+1 dimensions,
which has (1,1) supersymmetry. The gauge groups we consider are U(N) and SU(N),
where N is a finite variable. We implement Discrete Light-Cone Quantization to
determine non-perturbatively the bound states in this theory. A careful
analysis of the spectrum is performed at various values of N, including the
case where N is large (but finite), allowing a precise measurement of the 1/N
effects in the quantum theory. The low energy sector of the theory is shown to
be dominated by string-like states. The techniques developed here may be
applied to any two dimensional field theory with or without supersymmetry.Comment: LaTex 18 pages; 5 Encapsulated PostScript figure
Quantum Mechanics of Dynamical Zero Mode in on the Light-Cone
Motivated by the work of Kalloniatis, Pauli and Pinsky, we consider the
theory of light-cone quantized on a spatial circle with periodic
and anti-periodic boundary conditions on the gluon and quark fields
respectively. This approach is based on Discretized Light-Cone Quantization
(DLCQ). We investigate the canonical structures of the theory. We show that the
traditional light-cone gauge is not available and the zero mode (ZM)
is a dynamical field, which might contribute to the vacuum structure
nontrivially. We construct the full ground state of the system and obtain the
Schr\"{o}dinger equation for ZM in a certain approximation. The results
obtained here are compared to those of Kalloniatis et al. in a specific
coupling region.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX file, no figure
Spontaneous symmetry breaking of (1+1)-dimensional theory in light-front field theory (III)
We investigate (1+1)-dimensional field theory in the symmetric and
broken phases using discrete light-front quantization. We calculate the
perturbative solution of the zero-mode constraint equation for both the
symmetric and broken phases and show that standard renormalization of the
theory yields finite results. We study the perturbative zero-mode contribution
to two diagrams and show that the light-front formulation gives the same result
as the equal-time formulation. In the broken phase of the theory, we obtain the
nonperturbative solutions of the constraint equation and confirm our previous
speculation that the critical coupling is logarithmically divergent. We discuss
the renormalization of this divergence but are not able to find a satisfactory
nonperturbative technique. Finally we investigate properties that are
insensitive to this divergence, calculate the critical exponent of the theory,
and find agreement with mean field theory as expected.Comment: 21 pages; OHSTPY-HEP-TH-94-014 and DOE/ER/01545-6
Renormalization of Tamm-Dancoff Integral Equations
During the last few years, interest has arisen in using light-front
Tamm-Dancoff field theory to describe relativistic bound states for theories
such as QCD. Unfortunately, difficult renormalization problems stand in the
way. We introduce a general, non-perturbative approach to renormalization that
is well suited for the ultraviolet and, presumably, the infrared divergences
found in these systems. We reexpress the renormalization problem in terms of a
set of coupled inhomogeneous integral equations, the ``counterterm equation.''
The solution of this equation provides a kernel for the Tamm-Dancoff integral
equations which generates states that are independent of any cutoffs. We also
introduce a Rayleigh-Ritz approach to numerical solution of the counterterm
equation. Using our approach to renormalization, we examine several ultraviolet
divergent models. Finally, we use the Rayleigh-Ritz approach to find the
counterterms in terms of allowed operators of a theory.Comment: 19 pages, OHSTPY-HEP-T-92-01
The Light-Cone Vacuum in 1+1 Dimensional Super-Yang-Mills Theory
The Discrete Light-Cone Quantization (DLCQ) of a supersymmetric SU(N) gauge
theory in 1+1 dimensions is discussed, with particular emphasis given to the
inclusion of all dynamical zero modes. Interestingly, the notorious `zero-mode
problem' is now tractable because of special supersymmetric cancellations. In
particular, we show that anomalous zero-mode contributions to the currents are
absent, in contrast to what is observed in the non-supersymmetric case. We find
that the supersymmetric partner of the gauge zero mode is the diagonal
component of the fermion zero mode. An analysis of the vacuum structure is
provided and it is shown that the inclusion of zero modes is crucial for
probing the phase properties of the vacua. In particular, we find that the
ground state energy is zero and N-fold degenerate, and thus consistent with
unbroken supersymmetry. We also show that the inclusion of zero modes for the
light-cone supercharges leaves the supersymmetry algebra unchanged. Finally, we
remark that the dependence of the light-cone Fock vacuum in terms of the gauge
zero is unchanged in the presence of matter fields.Comment: REVTEX, 15 page
Vacuum Structure of Two-Dimensional Gauge Theories on the Light Front
We discuss the problem of vacuum structure in light-front field theory in the
context of (1+1)-dimensional gauge theories. We begin by reviewing the known
light-front solution of the Schwinger model, highlighting the issues that are
relevant for reproducing the -structure of the vacuum. The most
important of these are the need to introduce degrees of freedom initialized on
two different null planes, the proper incorporation of gauge field zero modes
when periodicity conditions are used to regulate the infrared, and the
importance of carefully regulating singular operator products in a
gauge-invariant way. We then consider SU(2) Yang-Mills theory in 1+1 dimensions
coupled to massless adjoint fermions. With all fields in the adjoint
representation the gauge group is actually SU(2), which possesses
nontrivial topology. In particular, there are two topological sectors and the
physical vacuum state has a structure analogous to a vacuum. We
formulate the model using periodicity conditions in for infrared
regulation, and consider a solution in which the gauge field zero mode is
treated as a constrained operator. We obtain the expected vacuum
structure, and verify that the discrete vacuum angle which enters has no effect
on the spectrum of the theory. We then calculate the chiral condensate, which
is sensitive to the vacuum structure. The result is nonzero, but inversely
proportional to the periodicity length, a situation which is familiar from the
Schwinger model. The origin of this behavior is discussed.Comment: 29 pages, uses RevTeX. Improved discussion of the physical subspace
generally and the vacuum states in particular. Basic conclusions are
unchanged, but some specific results are modifie
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