The pseudoparticle approach for solving path integrals in gauge theories

We present a numerical technique for calculating path integrals in non-compact U(1) and SU(2) gauge theories. The gauge fields are represented by a superposition of pseudoparticles of various types with their amplitudes and color orientations as degrees of freedom. Applied to Maxwell theory this technique results in a potential which is in excellent agreement with the Coulomb potential. For SU(2) Yang-Mills theory the same technique yields clear evidence of confinement. Varying the coupling constant exhibits the same scaling behavior for the string tension, the topological susceptibility and the critical temperature while their dimensionless ratios are similar to those obtained in lattice calculations.Comment: Talk presented at Lattice 2005 (Topology and Confinement), 6 pages, 4 figure

Topological Concepts in Gauge Theories

In these lecture notes, an introduction to topological concepts and methods in studies of gauge field theories is presented. The three paradigms of topological objects, the Nielsen-Olesen vortex of the abelian Higgs model, the 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole of the non-abelian Higgs model and the instanton of Yang-Mills theory, are discussed. The common formal elements in their construction are emphasized and their different dynamical roles are exposed. The discussion of applications of topological methods to Quantum Chromodynamics focuses on confinement. An account is given of various attempts to relate this phenomenon to topological properties of Yang-Mills theory. The lecture notes also include an introduction to the underlying concept of homotopy with applications from various areas of physics.Comment: Lecture note

Chiral Condensate and Short-Time Evolution of QCD(1+1) on the Light-Cone

Chiral condensates in the trivial light-cone vacuum emerge if defined as short-time limits of fermion propagators. In gauge theories, the necessary inclusion of a gauge string in combination with the characteristic light-cone infrared singularities contain the relevant non-perturbative ingredients responsible for formation of the condensate, as demonstrated for the 't Hooft model.Comment: 4 pages, Revtex

Phases and Residual Gauge Symmetries of Higgs Models

After elimination of the redundant variables, gauge theories may still exhibit symmetries associated with the gauge fields. The role of these residual gauge symmetries is discussed within the Abelian Higgs model and the Georgi-Glashow model. In the different phases of these models, these symmetries are realized differently. The characteristics of emergence and disappearance of the symmetries are studied in detail and the implications for the dynamics in Coulomb, Higgs, and confining phases are discussed.Comment: 30 pages, LaTeX with amsmath macros; updated to include minor corrections in proof; email correspondence to J.W. Negele, [email protected]

The Casimir Effect on the Light-Cone

The Casimir effect is investigated in light-cone quantization. It is shown that for spacelike separation of the walls enclosing the system the standard result for the pressure exerted on the walls is obtained. For walls separated in light-cone space direction no regularization of the quantum fluctuations exists which would yield a finite pressure. The origin of this failure and its implications for other vacuum properties are discussed by analyzing the Casimir effect as seen from a moving observer approaching the speed of light. The possibility for calculation of thermodynamic quantities in light-cone quantization via the Casimir effect is pointed out

Magnetic and Thermodynamic Stability of SU(2) Yang-Mills Theory

SU(2) Yang-Mills theory at finite extension or, equivalently, at finite temperature is probed by a homogeneous chromomagnetic field. We use a recent modified axial gauge formulation which has the novel feature of respecting the center symmetry in perturbation theory. The characteristic properties of the Z_2-symmetric phase, an extension-dependent mass term and antiperiodic boundary conditions, provide stabilization against magnetic field formation for sufficiently small extension or high temperature. In an extension of this investigation to the deconfined phase with broken center symmetry, the combined constraints of thermodynamic and magnetic stability are shown to yield many of the high temperature properties of lattice SU(2) gauge theory.Comment: 27 pages, LATEX, 7 postscript figures, corrected typo

Chiral Condensates in the Light-Cone Vacuum

In light-cone quantization, the standard procedure to characterize the phases of a system by appropriate ground state expectation values fails. The light-cone vacuum is determined kinematically. We show that meaningful quantities which can serve as order parameters are obtained as expectation values of Heisenberg operators in the equal (light-cone) time limit. These quantities differ from the purely kinematical expectation values of the corresponding Schroedinger operators. For the Nambu--Jona-Lasinio and the Gross-Neveu model, we describe the spontaneous breakdown of chiral symmetry; we derive within light-cone quantization the corresponding gap equations and the values of the chiral condensate.Comment: Latex, 9 pages, no figur