Quantum Field Theory of Nonabelian Strings and Vortices

TL;DR

This paper develops an operator formalism within quantum field theory to analyze nonabelian cosmic strings and vortices, exploring their interactions, charge screening, and phase distinctions in gauge theories.

Contribution

It introduces a novel operator approach for nonabelian strings, explicitly describes lattice gauge theory implementation, and investigates their long-range interactions and phase distinctions.

Findings

Correlation functions computed in strong and weak coupling limits

Analysis of Aharonov--Bohm interactions and charge screening effects

Proposal to use Aharonov--Bohm effect for phase identification

Abstract

We develop an operator formalism for investigating the properties of nonabelian cosmic strings (and vortices) in quantum field theory. Operators are constructed that introduce classical string sources and that create dynamical string loops. The operator construction in lattice gauge theory is explicitly described, and correlation functions are computed in the strong--coupling and weak--coupling limits. These correlation functions are used to study the long--range interactions of nonabelian strings, taking account of charge--screening effects due to virtual particles. Among the phenomena investigated are the Aharonov--Bohm interactions of strings with charged particles, holonomy interactions between string loops, string entanglement, the transfer of ``Cheshire charge'' to a string loop, and domain wall decay via spontaneous string nucleation. We also analyze the Aharonov--Bohm interactions of magnetic monopoles with electric flux tubes in a confining gauge theory. We propose that the Aharonov--Bohm effect can be invoked to distinguish among various phases of a nonabelian gauge theory coupled to matter.