The lattice and quantized Yang-Mills theory

TL;DR

This paper reviews the use of lattice techniques to study quantized Yang-Mills fields, crucial for understanding the strong nuclear force, especially in the non-perturbative, strong coupling regime.

Contribution

It discusses the historical development and success of lattice methods in demonstrating quark confinement and deriving properties of strong interactions from first principles.

Findings

Lattice techniques effectively study non-perturbative Yang-Mills theories.

Demonstration of quark confinement through lattice methods.

First-principles calculations of strong interaction properties.

Abstract

Quantized Yang-Mills fields lie at the heart of our understanding of the strong nuclear force. To understand the theory at low energies, we must work in the strong coupling regime. The primary technique for this is the lattice. While basically an ultraviolet regulator, the lattice avoids the use of a perturbative expansion. I discuss the historical circumstances that drove us to this approach, which has had immense success, convincingly demonstrating quark confinement and obtaining crucial properties of the strong interactions from first principles.