Related papers: The large $N$ limit from the lattice
We present a major update on the spectrum of closed flux tubes in $D=3+1$ $SU(N)$ gauge theories. We measure the excitation spectrum of confining strings wound around a spatial dimension of a size $R$. We do so for the $SU(N)$ Yang-Mills…
We discuss the physical picture of thick vortices as the mechanism responsible for confinement at arbitrarily weak coupling in SU(2) gauge theory. By introducing appropriate variables on the lattice we distinguish between thin, thick and…
We study Little String Theories (LST) with ${\cal N}=(1,0)$ supersymmetry arising, in a suitable double scaling limit, from 5-branes in heterotic string theory or in the heterotic-like type II/$(-)^{F_L}\times {\rm shift}$. The limit in…
We explore the string spectrum in the Witten QCD model by considering classical string configurations, thereby obtaining energy formulas for quantum states with large excitation quantum numbers representing glueballs and Kaluza-Klein…
In the context of four-dimensional SU(N) gauge theories, we study the spectrum of the confining strings. We compute, for the SU(6) gauge theory formulated on a lattice, the three independent string tensions sigma_k related to sources with…
Sources in higher representations of SU(N) gauge theory at T=0 couple with apparently stable strings with tensions depending on the specific representation rather than on its N-ality. Similarly at the deconfining temperature these sources…
We present recent results on the spectrum of a confining flux tube that is closed around a spatial torus as a function of its length as well as the spectrum of glueballs. The extraction of the spectra has been realized by simulating four…
We perform lattice calculations of the lightest J=0,2,4,6 glueball masses in the D=3+1 SU(3) gauge theory and extrapolate to the continuum limit. Assuming that these masses lie on linear Regge trajectories we find a leading glueball…
Confining gauge theories contain glueballs and mesons with arbitrary spin, and these particles become metastable at large $N$. However, metastable higher spin particles, when coupled to gravity, are in conflict with causality. This tension…
In the low-energy limit, string theory has two remarkable symmetries, O(d,d+p) and SL(2,R). We illustrate the use of these transformations as techniques to generate new solutions by applying them to the Taub--NUT metric.
The screening of magnetic Z(N)-monopoles and the associated screening length in SU(N) gauge theories are analyzed theoretically, and computed numerically in the 3d SU(2) theory. The nature of the screening excitations as well as their mass…
We study the effective bosonic string that describes confining flux tubes in three-dimensional SU(N) Yang--Mills theories. Although the low-energy properties are universal and well described by the Nambu--Got\=o action, the subtle…
We use solvable two-dimensional gauge theories to illustrate the issues in relating large N gauge theory to string theory. We also give an introduction to recent mathematical work which allows constructing master fields for higher…
The interpretation of the apparent unification of gauge couplings within supersymmetric theories depends on uncertainties induced through heavy particle thresholds. While in standard grand unified theories these effects can be estimated…
The large $N$ limit of SU($N$) gauge theories is well understood in perturbation theory. Also non-perturbative lattice studies have yielded important positive evidence that 't Hooft's predictions are valid. We go far beyond the statistical…
We study the closed-string spectrum of SU(N) gauge theories in the fundamental representation in 2+1 dimensions. We calculate the energies of the lowest lying ~ 30 states using a large variety of operators characterised by the quantum…
We review recent progress in the study of the large $N_c$ limit of gauge theories from lattice simulations. The focus is not only the planar limit but also the size of ${\mathcal O}(N_c^{-1})$ corrections for values of $N_c\gtrsim 3$. Some…
We analyze instantons in the very strongly coupled large-$N$ limit ($N\to\infty$ with $g^2$ fixed) of large-$N$ gauge theories, where the effect of the instantons remains finite. By using the exact partition function of four-dimensional…
We study Z_N strings in nonabelian gauge theories, when they can be considered as domain walls compactified on a cylinder and stabilized by the flux inside. To make the wall vortex approximation reliable, we must take the 't Hooft large N…
We study the effective string corrections to the inter-quark potential at finite temperature by simulating the SU(2) lattice gauge theory in four dimensions. We provide the first numerical evidence that the logarithmic correction to the…