Large-N gauge theories: lattice perspectives and conjectures

Abstract

I summarise what recent lattice calculations tell us about the large-N limit of SU(N) gauge theories in 3+1 dimensions. The focus is on confinement, how close SU(oo) is to SU(3), new stable strings at larger N, deconfinement, topology and theta-vacua. I discuss the effective string theory description, as well as master fields, space-time reduction and non-analyticity.

Comments: 18 pages. Based on talks at `Large N QCD', ECT July 2004, `Hadrons and Strings', ECT July 2004, `QCD and String Theory', KITP UCSB Sept 2004. To appear in `Large N QCD' Proceedings