QCD on an infinite lattice (Q1944839)

In this paper the authors consider Hamiltonian QCD on an infinite lattice in \({\mathbb R}^3\) within the context of \(C^\ast\)-algebras. In lattice QCD fermions (quarks) live on the lattice points, while gauge fields (gluons) are associated with the links between two neighbouring lattice points. Classically, each lattice point carries a representation \(V\) of a gauge group \(G\) and each link carries an element of \(G\) (the parallel transport along the link). In a quantum system one replaces the representation \(V\) at each lattice point and \(G\) at each link by a suitable \(C^\ast\)-algebra with appropriate (anti-)commutation relations. This has been done for a finite lattice in the past. In this article the authors consider an infinite lattice. There are a few complications due to this infinite lattice, which the authors carefully discuss. The above mentioned \(C^\ast\)-algebra is called the kinematic field algebra. The authors discuss the effect of local and global gauge transformations and define the full field algebra as the crossed product of the kinematic field algebra with the local gauge transformations. The second half of the paper is devoted to the issue on how to implement the Gauß law constraint in this framework.