1999/10/31 by Daniel Kabat, Gilad Lifschytz · 4 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/s0550-3213(99)00818-4
published as Nucl.Phys.B571:419-456,2000 · LaTeX, 46 pages, 7 eps figures. v2: added references
arxiv created 2000/01/05 · openalex publication_date 2000/04/01 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We advocate a set of approximations for studying the finite temperature behavior of strongly-coupled theories in 0+1 dimensions. The approximation consists of expanding about a Gaussian action, with the width of the Gaussian determined by a set of gap equations. The approximation can be applied to supersymmetric systems, provided that the gap equations are formulated in superspace. It can be applied to large-N theories, by keeping just the planar contribution to the gap equations. We analyze several models of scalar supersymmetric quantum mechanics, and show that the Gaussian approximation correctly distinguishes between a moduli space, mass gap, and supersymmetry breaking at strong coupling. Then we apply the approximation to a bosonic large-N gauge theory, and argue that a Gross–Witten transition separates the weak-coupling and strong-coupling regimes. A similar transition should occur in a generic large-N gauge theory, in particular in 0-brane quantum mechanics.