New Ghost States in SU(3) Gauge Field Theory

TL;DR

This paper identifies unique BRST-invariant ghost states in SU(3) gauge theory, which are absent in other SU(N) theories, and discusses their potential implications for QCD confinement.

Contribution

It introduces new ghost states specific to SU(3) gauge theory, revealing a novel aspect of the ghost sector not seen in other gauge groups.

Findings

New BRST-invariant ghost states in SU(3)

States form ghost doublets or triplets

Potential link to QCD confinement

Abstract

The ghost sector of SU(3) gauge field theory is studied, and new BRST-invariant states are presented that do not have any analog in other SU(N) field theories. The new states come in either ghost doublets or triplets, and they appear exclusively in SU(3) due to the fact that the non-Abelian part of the BRST charge has 3 ghost operators, while SU(3) has 3 pairs of off-diagonal gauge constraints. The states have finite, positive norms even though the triplet states do not have well-defined ghost numbers. It is speculated that this special nature of the ghost sector of SU(3) could play some role in QCD confinement.