1992 Trieste Lectures on Topological Gauge Theory and Yang-Mills Theory

Abstract

In these lecture notes we explain a connection between Yang-Mills theory on arbitrary Riemann surfaces and two types of topological field theory, the so called $BF$ and cohomological theories. The quantum Yang-Mills theory is solved exactly using path integral techniques. Explicit expressions, in terms of group representation theory, are obtained for the partition function and various correlation functions. In a particular limit the Yang-Mills theory devolves to the topological models and the previously determined correlation functions give topological information about the moduli spaces of flat connections. In particular, the partition function yields the volume of the moduli space for which an explicit expression is derived. These notes are self contained, with a basic introduction to the various ideas underlying the topological field theories. This includes some relatively new work on handling problems that arise in the presence of reducible connections which in turn forms the bridge between the various models under consideration. These notes are identical to those made available to participants of the 1992 summer school in Trieste, except for one or two additions added circa January 1993.