Hamiltonian Formulation of Two-Dimensional Gauge Theories on the Light-Cone

Abstract

In Quantum Chromodynamics, the theory of strong interactions, gluons and quarks are the microscopic degrees of freedom. Hadrons constitute the effective degrees of freedom in terms of which hadronic and nuclear reactions as well as nuclear structure are traditionally described. The fundamental problem of low energy strong interaction theory is to understand, within the framework of QCD, the transition from microscopic to phenomenological degrees of freedom. Quark models have been important in clarifying this relation between microscopic and effective degrees of freedom as far as the structure of single hadrons is concerned. As the historical development already indicates, compositeness together with a simple picture about the underlying confining dynamics is sufficient for a qualitative understanding of hadronic properties in terms of “constituent” quarks.