On the Stratified Classical Configuration Space of Lattice QCD

Abstract

The stratified structure of the configuration space $\mb G^N = G \times ... \times G$ reduced with respect to the action of $G$ by inner automorphisms is investigated for $G = SU(3) .$ This is a finite dimensional model coming from lattice QCD. First, the stratification is characterized algebraically, for arbitrary $N$. Next, the full algebra of invariants is discussed for the cases $N = 1$ and $N =2 .$ Finally, for $N = 1$ and $N =2 ,$ the stratified structure is investigated in some detail, both in terms of invariants and relations and in more geometric terms. Moreover, the strata are characterized explicitly using local cross sections.

42 pages, 1 figure