Comparison of SO(3) and SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory
The Villain form of SO (3) lattice gauge theory is studied and compared to Wilson's SU (2) theory. The topological invariants in SO (3) which correspond to twisted boundary conditions in SU (2) are discussed and lattice observables are introduced for them. An apparent SO (3) phase with negative adjoint Polyakov loop is explained in terms of these observables. The electric twist free energy, an order parameter for the confinement–deconfinement transition, is measured in both theories to calibrate the temperature. The results indicate that lattices with about 700 4 sites or larger will be needed to study the SO (3) confined phase. Alternative actions are discussed and an analytic path connecting SO (3) and SU (2) lattice gauge theory at weak coupling is exhibited. The relevance for confinement of the centre of the gauge group is discussed.

title: SO(3) Versus SU(2)Lattice Gauge Theory
abstract: 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: 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: 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: Monte Carlo Overrelaxation for SU(N) Gauge Theories
abstract: The standard approach to Monte Carlo simulations of SU(N) Yang-Mills theories updates successive SU(2) subgroups of each SU(N) link. We follow up on an old proposal of Creutz, to perform overrelaxation in the full SU(N) group instead, and show that it is more efficient.

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.

title: STATUS OF THE GDH EXPERIMENT ON THE DEUTERON AT MAMI

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: Study of the gamma p --> pi0 pi0 p reaction with the Crystal Ball/TAPS at the Mainz
abstract: The gamma p --> pi0 pi0 p reaction has been measured from threshold to 1.4 GeV using the Crystal Ball and TAPS photon spectrometers together with the photon tagging facility at the Mainz Microtron. The experimental results include total and differential cross sections as well as specific angular distributions, which were used to extract partial-wave amplitudes. In particular, the energy region below the D13(1520) resonance was studied.

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.