Semiclassical functional integrals for self-dual gauge fields

Abstract

The semiclassical approximation to the functional integral for four-dimensional Euclidean gauge theories is discussed in detail for general stationary points of the action. It is shown how to take the limit from a compact space to flat space, and the zero modes corresponding to global gauge transformations are carefully discussed. The results are specialised to general self-dual multi-instanton gauge fields given by the general construction of Atiyah et al. It is shown how the normalization matrix of the zero modes can be determined and the complete expression for the functional measure is given for the two instanton case. This is shown to factorise for well-separated instantons. Some technical matters are discussed in an appendix and a resume of results for multi-instanton functional determinants is included.