Discretized Light-Cone Quantization: Solving a 1+1 dimensional field theory (QED)

Abstract

We describe the programming method for generating the spectrum of bound states for relativistic quantum field theories using the nonperturbative Hamiltonian approach of Discretized Light-Cone Quantization. The method is intended for eventual application to quantum chromodynamics in 3+1 dimensions. Here the fundamental principles are illustrated concretely by treatment of QED in two dimensions. The code is intended as a basis for extensions to include more complicated gauge symmetry groups, such as SU(3) color, and other quantum numbers. The code was written in Fortran 77 and implemented on a DEC 5000-260 workstation with a typical runtime of 0.2s at total momentum 10.