On the spectrum of pure Yang-Mills theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the spectrum of pure Yang-Mills theory in 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions using a wave functional approach, addressing mass generation and comparing results with lattice simulations.

Contribution

It extends previous analysis from 2+1 to 3+1 dimensions and employs a quasi-Gaussian vacuum wavefunctional for preliminary spectral predictions.

Findings

The approach reproduces lattice results for glueball spectra.

Highlights the role of the kinetic term in mass generation.

Provides a heuristic method for studying Yang-Mills spectra.

Abstract

In this note we discuss the wave functional approach to the spectrum of pure Yang-Mills theory in 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions by highlighting the issues of dynamical mass generation and the role played by the kinetic term. We extrapolate our recent analysis of 2+1 Yang-Mills theory to 3+1 dimensions, and under certain heuristic assumptions use a simple quasi-Gaussian vacuum wavefunctional for 3+1 Yang-Mills theory for a preliminary study of the spectrum of glueballs which nicely fits the available lattice simulations.