The Structure of the Gauge Theory Vacuum

The finite action Euclidean solutions of gauge theories are shown to indicate the existence of tunneling between topologically distinct vacuum configurations. Diagonalization of the Hamiltonian then leads to a continuum of vacua. The construction and properties of these vacua are analyzed. In non-abelian theories of the strong interactions one finds spontaneous symmetry breaking of axial baryon number without the generation of a Goldstone boson, a mechanism for chiral SU( N ) symmetry breaking and a possible source of T violation.

GAUGE FIELD THEORY: YANG-MILLS
GAUGE FIELD THEORY: EUCLIDEAN
GAUGE FIELD THEORY: VACUUM STATE
GAUGE FIELD THEORY: PATH INTEGRAL
CHARGE: TOPOLOGICAL
EFFECT: TUNNELING
APPROXIMATION: semiclassical
FIELD EQUATIONS: INSTANTON
FERMION
BARYON NUMBER: SPONTANEOUSLY BROKEN

References(7)

Figures(0)

Compact Gauge Fields and the Infrared Catastrophe

Alexander M. Polyakov
(
- Landau Inst.
)

- Phys.Lett.B 59 (1975) 82-84,
•
DOI:
- 10.1016/0370-2693(75)90162-8

How to Solve the eta --> 3 pi Problem by Seizing the Vacuum

John B. Kogut
(
- Cornell U., LNS
)
,
Leonard Susskind
(
- Yeshiva U. and
- Tel Aviv U.
)

- Phys.Rev.D 11 (1975) 3594,
- Phys.Rev.D11 (1975) 3594-3610 and Cornell Univ Ithaca - CLNS-290 (74,REC.JAN 75) 44p
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.11.3594

Pseudoparticle Solutions of the Yang-Mills Equations

A.A. Belavin
(
- Landau Inst.
)
,
Alexander M. Polyakov
(
- Landau Inst.
)
,
A.S. Schwartz
(
- Landau Inst.
)
,
Yu.S. Tyupkin
(
- Landau Inst.
)

- Phys.Lett.B 59 (1975) 85-87,
- Also in *Rebbi, C. (ed.), Soliani, G. (ed.): Solitons and Particles*, 739-741, and in *Mohapatra, R. N. ( Ed.), Lai, C. H. ( Ed.): Gauge Theories Of Fundamental Interactions*, 371-373,
•
DOI:
- 10.1016/0370-2693(75)90163-X