We argue that open N = 2 string theory on spacetime with signature (2, 2), when covariantized with respect to SO(2, 2) and supersymmetrized a la Siegel, becomes equivalent to the topological A model on CP3|4 with branes wrapped on RP3|4. Worldsheet instantons ending on the branes deform the self-dual Yang-Mills to ordinary Yang-Mills. Moreover, we propose that mirror symmetry may explain the re...

We consider certain vacua of four-dimensional SU(N) Yang-Mills gauge theory with the same field content as the N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, resulting from potentials which break the N = 4 supersymmetry as well as its global SO(6) symmetry down to SO(3)×SO(3). We show that the theory behaves at intermediate scales as Yang-Mills theory on M × S L × S 2 R with magnetic fluxes on the ext...

We discuss an analytic approach towards the solution of pure Yang-Mills theory in 3+1 dimensional spacetime. The approach is based on the use of local gauge invariant variables in the Schrödinger representation and the large N , planar limit. In particular, within this approach we point out unexpected parallels between pure Yang-Mills theory in 2+1 and 3+1 dimensions. The most important paralle...

A center vortex model for the infrared sector of SU(4) Yang-Mills theory is constructed such as to reproduce both the ratio between the zero-temperature quark and diquark string tensions known from lattice Yang-Mills theory, as well as the properties of the deconfinement transition. On this basis, the temperature dependence of the spatial quark and diquark string tensions is predicted. Though s...

A globally converging numerical method to solve coupled sets of non-linear integral equations is presented. Such systems occur e.g. in the study of Dyson-Schwinger equations of Yang-Mills theory and QCD. The method is based on the knowledge of the qualitative properties of the solution functions in the far infrared and ultraviolet. Using this input, the full solutions are constructed using a gl...

Light–like Wilson loops and gauge invariance of Yang–Mills theory in 1+1 dimensions Abstract A light-like Wilson loop is computed in perturbation theory up to O(g 4) for pure Yang–Mills theory in 1+1 dimensions, using Feynman and light–cone gauges to check its gauge invariance. After dimensional regularization in intermediate steps, a finite gauge invariant result is obtained, which however doe...

Quantum Yang–Mills theory and the Wilson loop can be rewritten identically in terms of local gauge-invariant variables being directly related to the metric of the dual space. In this formulation, one reveals a hidden high local symmetry of the Yang–Mills theory, which mixes up fields with spins up to J = N for the SU(N) gauge group. In the simplest case of the SU(2) group the dual space seems t...

We provide an action for self-dual Yang-Mills theory which is a simple truncation of the usual Yang-Mills action. Only vertices that violate helicity conservation maximally are included. One-loop amplitudes in the self-dual theory then follow as a subset of the Yang-Mills ones. In light-cone gauges this action is almost identical to previously proposed actions, but in this formulation the vanis...

By regarding gravity as the convolution of left and right Yang-Mills theories together with a spectator scalar field in the biadjoint representation, we derive in linearized approximation, the gravitational symmetries of general covariance, p-form gauge invariance, local Lorentz invariance, and local supersymmetry from the flat space Yang-Mills symmetries of local gauge invariance and global su...

We determine the nilpotent BRST and anti-BRST transformations for the Cho–Faddeev-Niemi variables for the SU(2) Yang-Mills theory based on the new interpretation given in the previous paper of the Cho–Faddeev-Niemi decomposition. This gives a firm ground for performing the BRST quantization of the Yang–Mills theory written in terms of the Cho–Faddeev-Niemi variables. We propose also a modified ...