Numerical studies of gauge field theories
Abstract
The application of Monte Carlo simulation to quantized gauge field theories is described. Strong numerical evidence that the standard SU(3) non-Abelian gauge theory of the strong interaction is capable of simultaneously confining quarks into the physical hadrons and exhibiting asymptotic freedom is presented. In four dimensions, confinement is a nonperturbative phenomenon. Essentially all models of confinement the widely separated quarks together with strings of gauge field flux. This gives rise to a linear potential at long distances. A Monte Carlo program generates a sequence of field configuration by a series of random changes of the fields. The algorithm is so constructed that ultimately the probability density for finding any given configuration is proportional to the Boltzmann weighting. The lattices are brought into thermal equilibrium with a heat bath at a temperature specified by the coupling constant, performing computer experiments with four dimensional crystals stored in a computer memory. As the entire field configuration is stored, any correlation function desired is accessible. The kinds of experiments being done and the implications of these results for strong interaction physics are described.
- Publication:
-
Presented at the 19th Intern. School of Subnucl. Phys
- Pub Date:
- June 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981suph.conf.....C
- Keywords:
-
- Elementary Particle Interactions;
- Field Theory (Physics);
- Gauge Theory;
- Strong Interactions (Field Theory);
- Computerized Simulation;
- Confinement;
- Crystal Lattices;
- Flux Density;
- Hadrons;
- Monte Carlo Method;
- Quarks;
- Physics (General)