The Quantum Effective Action, Wave Functions and Yang-Mills (2+1)

Abstract

We explore the relationship between the quantum effective action and the ground state (and excited state) wave functions of a field theory. Applied to the Yang-Mills theory in 2+1 dimensions, we find the leading terms of the effective action from the ground state wave function previously obtained in the Hamiltonian formalism by solving the Schrodinger equation.

Comments: 16 pages, expanded discussion section, added references, version accepted for Phys. Rev. D