The interface between statistical mechanics and high energy physics: lattice gauge theory

An introduction to the field of lattice gauge theory is presented. The lectures stress the similarities, both formal and physical, between lattice gauge theory as applied to relativistic quantum field theories and statistical mechanics. To begin with a review of the correspondences between classical statistical mechanics and Euclidean field theories of bosons is presented. Lattice gauge theory is introduced and non-abelian SU(2) fields are discussed in detail. Asymptotic freedom and the relativistic continuum limit of lattice thoeries are illustrated for two dimensional spin models. The transfer matrix and Hamiltonian formulation of the theory are presented and are illustrated with lattice strings. (Auth.)