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

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

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

Peeping into the SU(2) Gauge Vacuum

We study thermalised configurations of SU(2) gauge fields by cooling. An analysis of the effect of cooling is presented and global and statistical information is extracted.Comment: 3 pages, uuencoded compressed postscript file, contribution to LAT 9

Adjoint modes as probes of gauge field structure

We show how zero-modes and quasi-zero-modes of the Dirac operator in the adjoint representation can be used to construct an estimate of the action density distribution of a pure gauge field theory, which is less sensitive to the ultraviolet fluctuations of the field. This can be used to trace the topological structures present in the vacuum. The construction relies on the special properties satisfied by the supersymmetric zero-modes.Comment: Latex file. 29 pages and 12 figure

Gauge invariant structures and Confinement

By looking at cooled configurations on the lattice, we study the presence of peaks in the action density, or its electric and magnetic components, in the SU(2) gauge vacuum. The peaks are seen to be of instanton-like nature and their number variation takes care of the drop in the string tension observed when cooling. Possible explanations of this finding are analysed.Comment: uuencoded and compressed file of the Postcript file newpaper.ps, fig1.ps,fig2.eps,fig3.ps and fig4.ps. 13 pages of text and 4 figures Style modifications and misprints correcte

On Nahm's transformation with twisted boundary conditions

Following two different tracks, we arrive at a definition of Nahm's transformation valid for self-dual fields on the 4-dimensional torus with non-zero twist tensor.The transform is again a self-dual gauge field defined on a new torus and with non-zero twist tensor. It preserves the property of being an involution.Comment: 18 page