Unstable Modes in Three-Dimensional SU(2) Gauge Theory

Abstract

We investigate SU(2) gauge theory in a constant chromomagnetic field in three dimensions both in the continuum and on the lattice. Using a variational method to stabilize the unstable modes, we evaluate the vacuum energy density in the one-loop approximation. We compare our theoretical results with the outcomes of the numerical simulations.

Comments: 24 pages, REVTEX 3.0, 3 Postscript figures included. (the whole postscript file (text+figures) is available on request from cosmai@bari.infn.it)