Related papers: Wilson loops in the adjoint representation and mul…
Two-dimensional SU(N) Yang-Mills theory is endowed with a non-trivial vacuum structure (k-sectors). The presence of k-sectors modifies the energy spectrum of the theory and its instanton content, the (Euclidean) space-time being…
The exact Wilson loop expression for the pure Yang-Mills U(N) theory on a sphere $S^2$ of radius $R$ exhibits, in the decompactification limit $R\to \infty$, the expected pure area exponentiation. This behaviour can be understood as due to…
We address the issue of topological angles in the context of two dimensional SU(N) Yang-Mills theory coupled to massive fermions in the adjoint representation. Classification of the resulting multiplicity of vacua is carried outin terms of…
The exact expression for Wilson loop averages winding n times on a closed contour is obtained in two dimensions for pure U(N) Yang-Mills theory and, rather surprisingly, it displays an interesting duality in the exchange $n \leftrightarrow…
A closed expression of the Euclidean Wilson-loop functionals is derived for pure Yang-Mills continuum theories with gauge groups $SU(N)$ and $U(1)$ and space-time topologies $\Rl^1\times\Rl^1$ and $\Rl^1\times S^1$. (For the $U(1)$ theory,…
The uniquess of the effective actions describing 4D SU(2) and SU(3) continuum, infinite-volume Yang-Mills thermodynamics in their deconfining and preconfining phases is made explicit. Subsequently, the spatial string tension is computed in…
We show that the large N partition functions and Wilson loop observables of two-dimensional Yang-Mills theories admit a universal functional form irrespective of the gauge group. We demonstrate that U(N) QCD_2 undergoes a large N,…
Quantum Yang-Mills theory and the Wilson loop can be rewritten identically in terms of local gauge-invariant variables being directly related to the metric of the dual space. In this formulation, one reveals a hidden high local symmetry of…
The vacuum expectation value of the Wilson loop functional in pure Yang-Mills theory on an arbitrary two-dimensional orientable manifold is studied. We consider the calculation of this quantity for the abelian theory in the continuum case…
We consider pure $SU(2)$ Yang-Mills theory when the space is compactified to a 3-dimensional sphere with finite radius. The Euclidean classical self-dual solutions of the equations of motion (the instantons) and the static finite energy…
We investigate the spectral flows of the hermitian Wilson-Dirac operator in the fundamental and adjoint representations on two ensembles of pure SU(2) gauge field configurations at the same physical volume. We find several background gauge…
We study the quantum properties of certain BPS Wilson loops in ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. They belong to a general family, introduced recently, in which the addition of particular scalar couplings endows generic loops on…
It is argued that whereas supersymmetry requires the instanton contribution to the expectation value of a straight Wilson line in the N=4 supersymmetric SU(2) Yang-Mills theory to vanish, it is not required to vanish in the case of a…
When the magnetic sector of hot QCD, 3D SU(N) Yang-Mills theory, is described as a dilute gas of non-Abelian monopoles in the adjoint representation of the magnetic group, Wilson loops of N-ality k are known to obey a periodic k(N-k) law.…
We study four dimensional $SU(2)$ Yang-Mills theory with two massless adjoint Weyl fermions. When compactified on a spatial circle of size $L$ much smaller than the strong-coupling scale, this theory can be solved by weak-coupling…
By using the gauge/gravity duality and the Maldacena prescription we compute the expectation values of the Wilson loops in noncommutative Yang-Mills (NCYM) theory in (3+1) dimensions. We consider both the time-like and the light-like Wilson…
Phase and modulus of an energy- and pressure-free, composite and adjoint field in an SU(2) Yang-Mills theory are computed. This field is generated by trivial holonomy calorons of topological charge one. It possesses nontrivial $S_1$-winding…
$SU(N)$ Yang-Mills theory in three dimensions, with a Chern-Simons term of level $k$ (an integer) added, has two dimensionful coupling constants, $g^2 k$ and $g^2 N$; its possible phases depend on the size of $k$ relative to $N$. For $k \gg…
This Ph.D. thesis reaches two main results. The first one is represented by a detailed study, in Feynman gauge, of the perturbative ${\cal O}(g^4)$ contribution to a space-time Wilson loop, with respect to its (expected) Abelian-like time…
A self-dual, localized solution to the classical SU(2) Yang-Mills equation in Euclidean spacetime, which formally possesses infinite action, is investigated in view of its U(1) charge content after Abelian projection. This is suggested by…