Numerical studies of fermionic field theories at large-N

A description of an algorithm, which may be used to study large-N theories with or without fermions, is presented. As an initial test of the method, the spectrum of continuum QCD in 1 + 1 dimensions is determined and compared to previously obtained results. Exact solutions of 1 + 1 dimensional lattice versions of the free fermion theory, the Gross-Neveu model, and QCD are obtained. Comparison of these exact results with results from the numerical algorithm is used to test the algorithms, and more importantly, to determine the errors incurred from the approximations used in the numerical technique. Numerical studies of the above three lattice theories in higher dimensions are also presented. The results are again compared to exact solutions for free fermions and the Gross-Neveu model; perturbation theory is used to derive expansions with which the numerical results for QCD may be compared. The numerical algorithm may also be used to study the euclidean formulation of lattice gauge theories. Results for 1 + 1 dimensional euclidean lattice QCD are compared to the exact solution of this model