Partition function for the eigenvalues of the Wilson line

Abstract

In a gauge theory at nonzero temperature the eigenvalues of the Wilson line form a set of gauge invariant observables. By constructing the corresponding partition function for the phases of these eigenvalues, we prove that the trivial vacuum, where the phases vanish, is a minimum of the free energy.

Comments: LaTeX, 13 pages, BNL--GP--1/93