Topological Charge of Lattice Abelian Gauge Theory
arXiv:hep-lat/0001029 · doi:10.1143/PTP.105.789
Abstract
Configuration space of abelian gauge theory on a periodic lattice becomes topologically disconnected by excising exceptional gauge field configurations. It is possible to define a U(1) bundle from the nonexceptional link variables by a smooth interpolation of the transition functions. The lattice analogue of Chern character obtained by a cohomological technique based on the noncommutative differential calculus is shown to give a topological charge related to the topological winding number of the U(1) bundle.
20 pages, latex, nofigure