On diagonalization in map(M,G)

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On diagonalization in map(\(M\),G)




Abstract: Motivated by some questions in the path integral approach to (topological) gauge theories, we are led to address the following question: given a smooth map from a manifold M to a compact group G, is it possible to smoothly `diagonalize' it, i.e.~conjugate it into a map to a maximal torus T of G? We analyze the local and global obstructions and give a complete solution to the problem for regular maps. We establish that these can always be smoothly diagonalized locally and that the obstructions to doing this globally are non-trivial Weyl group and torus bundles on M. We show how the patching of local diagonalizing maps gives rise to non-trivial T-bundles, explain the relation to winding numbers of maps into G/T and restrictions of the structure group and examine the behaviour of gauge fields under this diagonalization. We also discuss the complications that arise for non-regular maps and in the presence of non-trivial G-bundles. In particular, we establish a relation between the existence of regular sections of a non-trivial adjoint bundle and restrictions of the structure group of a principal G-bundle to T. We use these results to justify a Weyl integral formula for functional integrals which, as a novel feature not seen in the finite-dimensional case, contains a summation over all those topological T-sectors which arise as restrictions of a trivial principal G bundle and which was used previously to solve completely Yang-Mills theory and the G/G model in two dimensions.




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