Updating QCD$_2$

TL;DR

This comprehensive review of two-dimensional QCD explores its theoretical foundations, string theory connections, phase structure, and integrability properties, providing insights into its spectrum, gauge interactions, and large-N behavior.

Contribution

It offers a detailed synthesis of QCD$_2$'s field theory aspects, string interpretation, and algebraic structures, highlighting new perspectives on its integrability and phase transitions.

Findings

Large-N limit elucidates string interpretation of QCD$_2$

Identification of phase transitions and Hagedorn behavior

Connection between algebraic structures and integrability

Abstract

We review two-dimensional QCD. The report contains: 1. Introduction. 2. QCD$_2$ as a field theory 2.1 The 1/N expansion and spectrum, 2.2 Ambiguity in the self-energy of the quark, 2.3 Polyakov--Wiegmann formula and gauge interactions, 2.4 Strong coupling analysis, 2.5 A Lagrangian realization of the coset construction, 2.6 Chiral interactions. 3. Pure QDC$_2$ and string theory, 3.1 Introduction, 3.2 Wilson loop average and large-N limit, 3.3 String interpretation, 3.4 Collective coordinates approach, 3.5 Phase structure of QCD$_2$, 4. Generalized QCD$_2$ and adjoint-matter coupling, 4.1 Introduction and motivation, 4.2 Scalar and fermionic matter coupling; quantization 4.3 The Hagedorn transition; supersymmetry 4.4 Landau--Ginzburg description; spectrum and string theory 5. Algebraic aspects of QCD$_2$ and integrability 5.1 $W_\infty$ algebras for colourless bilinears 5.2 Integrability and duality 5.3 Constraint structure of the theory 5.4 Spectrum and comparison with the 1/N expansion 5.5 Integrability conditions and Calogero-type models 5.6 QCD at high energies and two-dimensional field theory 6. Conclusions, 3 appendices.