Periodic instantons and the loop group (Q1583868)

Periodic instantons, also called calorons, are instantons on \({\mathbb R}^3\times S^1\). The structure group \(G\) is taken to be a compact Lie group. Until recently it was not known whether periodic instantons existed, even for \(G={\text{SU}}(2)\). The author proves existence and, indeed, provides a construction of many (conjecturally all) calorons for arbitrary~\(G\). Specifically, for each holomorphic map from the Riemann sphere into a suitable homogeneous space for the loop group of~\(G\), he constructs a corresponding periodic instanton. Moreover, he shows that this association is injective. This is one direction of a conjecture of \textit{H. Garland} and \textit{M. K. Murray} [Commun. Math. Phys. 120, 335-351 (1988; Zbl 0699.53094)]. Garland and Murray based their conjecture on the corresponding statement for monopoles, in which case the holomorphic mapping from the Riemann sphere has values in a homogeneous space for \(G\) itself. This is a subtle piece of work. The main tool is an adaptation of Donaldson's heat flow method. This flow moves an `approximate' periodic instanton into an exact one. It is more difficult than in Donaldson's original setting because the manifold in question is no longer compact. Some questions remain, especially concerning boundary behaviour. The periodic instantons that the author constructs have finite energy but their behaviour at infinity in \({\mathbb R}^3\) is unclear. He suggests that his heat flow technique may establish the natural boundary behaviour.