Non-Abelian Finite-Element Gauge Theory

Abstract

We complete the formulation of the equations of motion of a non-Abelian gauge field coupled to fermions on a finite-element lattice in four space-time dimensions. This is accomplished by a straightforward iterative approach, in which successive interaction terms are added to the Dirac and Yang-Mills equations of motion, and to the field strength, in order to preserve lattice gauge invariance exactly, yielding a series in powers of $ghA$. Here $g$ is the coupling constant, $h$ is the lattice spacing, and $A$ is the gauge potential. Gauge transformations of the potentials are determined simultaneously. The interaction terms in the equations of motion are nonlocal, and can be expressed either by an iterative formula or by a difference equation. On the other hand, the field strength is locally constructed from the potentials in terms of a path-ordered product of exponentials.