2004/08/03 by Jan Govaerts, Govaerts, Jan
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th) #Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.hep-th/0408023
openalex publication_date 2004/08/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
By considering specific limits in the gauge coupling constant of pure Yang--Mills dynamics, it is shown how there exist topological quantum field theory sectors in such systems defining nonperturbative topological configurations of the gauge fields which could well play a vital role in the confinement and chiral symmetry breaking phenomena of phenomenologically realistic theories such as quantum chromodynamics, the theory for the strong interactions of quarks and gluons. A general research programme along such lines is outlined. A series of other topics of possible relevance, ranging from particle phenomenology to the quest for the ultimate unification of all interactions and matter including quantum gravity, are raised in passing. The general discussion is illustrated through some simple examples in 0+1 and 1+1 dimensions, clearly showing the importance of properly accounting for quantum topological properties of the physical and configuration spaces in gauge theories based on compact gauge groups.