Hamiltonian approach to Z(N) lattice gauge theories
Abstract
We develop a Hamiltonian formalism for Z(N) lattice gauge theories. Duality is expressed by algebraic operator relations which are the analog of the interchange of electric and magnetic fields in D=3 space dimensions. In D=2 duality is used to solve the gauge condition. This leads to a generalized Ising Hamiltonian. In D=3 our theory is self-dual. For N-->∞ the theory turns into "periodic QED" in appropriate limits. This leads us to propose the existence of three phases for N>Nc~=6. Their physical properties can be classified as electric-confining, nonconfining, and magnetic-confining.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- June 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.19.3715
- Bibcode:
- 1979PhRvD..19.3715H