SO(3) Versus SU(2)Lattice Gauge Theory
We consider the SO (3) lattice gauge theory at weak coupling, in the Villain action. We exhibit an analytic path in coupling space showing the equivalence of the SO (3) theory with SU (2) summed over all twist sectors. This clarifies the “mysterious phase” of SO (3). As order parameter, we consider the dual string tension or center vortex free energy, which we measure in SO (3) using multicanonical Monte Carlo. This allows us to set the scale, indicating that O(700)4 lattices are necessary to probe the confined phase. We consider the relevance of our findings for confinement in other gauge groups with trivial center.

title: The ground state of three quarks
abstract: We measure the static three-quark potential in SU(3) lattice gauge theory with improved accuracy, by using all available technical refinements, including Luscher-Weisz exponential variance reduction. Together with insight gained from 3-state Potts model simulations, our results allow us to sort out the merits of the Delta- and Y-ansaetze.

title: Vortex free energies in SO(3) and SU(2) lattice gauge theory
abstract: Lattice gauge theories with gauge groups SO(3) and SU(2) are compared. The free energy of electric twist, an order parameter for the confinement- deconfinement transition which does not rely on centre-symmetry breaking, is measured in both theories. The results are used to calibrate the scale in SO(3).

title: The baryon static potential from lattice QCD
abstract: Lattice QCD simulations offer the possibility of determining the potential between three static quarks from first principles. We review the status of such simulations, and the relative standing of the two theoretical proposals for the baryonic potential: the Delta law (sum of two-body terms) and the Y law (length of three flux strings joined together at a junction). We also present new results on the leading Luscher-like corrections to the asymptotic linear potential.

title: Fuzzy Complex Grassmannian Spaces and their Star Products
abstract: We derive an explicit expression for an associative star product on noncommutative versions of complex Grassmannian spaces, in particular for the case of complex 2-planes. Our expression is in terms of a finite sum of derivatives. This generalises previous results for complex projective spaces and gives a discrete approximation for the Grassmannians in terms of a non-commutative algebra, represented by matrix multiplication in a finitedimensional matrix algebra. The matrices are restricted to have a dimension which is precisely determined by the harmonic expansion of functions on the commutative Grassmannian, truncated at a finite level. In the limit of infinitedimensional matrices we recover the commutative algebra of functions on the complex Grassmannians.

title: Center vortices, instantons, and confinement☆
abstract: We study the relation between center vortices and instantons in lattice QCD.

title: Compton scattering from the free and bound proton above π-threshold
abstract: The differential cross sections for Compton scattering from the proton have been measured at MAMI with three different detector setups. There is a good agreement among all the results. The theoretical calculation based on dispersion relations shows that there is no drastic change necessary in the parameters of this approach.

title: Helicity dependence of the total inclusive cross section on the deuteron
abstract: A measurement of the helicity dependence of the total inclusive photoabsorption cross section on the deuteron was carried out at MAMI (Mainz) in the energy range 200 E γ 800 MeV . The experiment used a 4 π detection system, a circularly polarized tagged photon beam and a frozen spin target which provided longitudinally polarized deuterons. These new results are a significant improvement on the existing data and allow a detailed comparison with state-of-the-art calculations.

title: Compton scattering from the free and bound proton at backward angles above π-threshold
abstract: Differential cross sections for Compton scattering from the free proton at Theta(gamma)(lab) = 130.7 degrees in the energy region from 200 MeV to 410 MeV and far quasi-free Compton scattering from the proton bound in the deuteron at Theta(gamma)(lab) = 148.8 degrees in the energy region from 200 MeV to 290 MeV have been measured. The free proton data are in agreement with dispersion-theory predictions based on standard parameters. The difference of the proton polarizabilities has been extracted from the quasi-free data. Our result, - = [9.1 +/- 1.7(stat + syst) +/- 1.2(mod)] x 10(-4) fm(3), is in reasonable agreement with the world average of the free proton data if the backward spin polarizability gamma(pi) is taken to be -37.6 x 10(-4) fm(4) as predicted by dispersion theory in agreement with many theoretical calculations. This implies that quasi-free Compton scattering may also be used to determine the electromagnetic polarizabilities of the neutron. No indication has been found of a recently suggested new contribution to gamma(pi).

title: Search for the charge-conjugation-forbidden decay omega ->eta pi(0)
abstract: A new upper limit of 2.3x10(-4) on the branching ratio of the decay omega -<eta pi(0) has been obtained using the Crystal Ball multiphoton spectrometer at the Mainz Microtron MAMI. This decay is forbidden by charge-conjugation invariance of the strong and electromagnetic interactions. We have also obtained the upper limit of 2.3x10(-4) for the forbidden decay omega -< 3 pi(0) and the upper limit of 2.4x10(-4) for omega -< 2 pi(0).

title: Study of the $\gamma p -> \eta p$ reaction with the Crystal Ball detector at the Mainz Microtron(MAMI-C)
abstract: Here we correct a factor of 2 missed in one of figures and the corresponding sentence in the text. It does not change any conclusions.