Order Parameters for Non-Abelian Gauge Theories

Abstract

Owing to subtle issues concerning quantum fluctuations and gauge fixing, a formulation of a general procedure to specify the realization of non-Abelian gauge symmetry has evaded all earlier attempts. In this Letter, we discuss these subtleties and present two sets of order parameters for non-Abelian gauge theories. Such operators directly probe the manifest low energy symmetry group and are crucial for the study of the phase diagram of a non-Abelian gauge theory.