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We build nearly topological quantum field theories in various dimensions. We give special attention to the case of 8 dimensions for which we first consider theories depending only on Yang-Mills fields. Two classes of gauge functions exist which correspond to the choices of two different holonomy groups in SO(8), namely SU (4) and Spin(7). The choice of SU (4) gives a quantum field theory for a Calabi-Yau fourfold. The expectation values for the observables are formally holomorphic Donaldson invariants. The choice of Spin(7) defines another eight dimensional theory for a Joyce manifold which could be of relevance in M -and F -theories. Relations to the eight dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory are presented. Then, by dimensional reduction, we obtain other theories, in particular a four dimensional one whose gauge conditions are identical to the non-abelian Seiberg-Witten equations. The latter are thus related to pure Yang-Mills self-duality equations in 8 dimensions as well as to the N=1, D=10 super Yang-Mills theory. We also exhibit a theory that couples 3-form gauge fields to the second Chern class in eight dimensions, and interesting theories in other dimensions. *

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Restricting the functional integral to the Gribov region Ω leads to a deep modification of the behavior of Euclidean Yang-Mills theories in the infrared region. For example, a gluon propagator of the Gribov type, k 2 k 4 +γ 4 , can be viewed as a propagating pair of unphysical modes, called here i-particles, with complex masses ±iγ 2 . From this viewpoint, gluons are unphysical and one can see them as being confined. We introduce a simple toy model describing how a suitable set of composite operators can be constructed out of i-particles whose correlation functions exhibit only real branch cuts, with associated positive spectral density. These composite operators can thus be called physical and are the toy analogy of glueballs in the Gribov-Zwanziger theory.

We introduce special supersymmetric gauge theories in three, five, seven and nine dimensions, whose compactification on two-, four-, six-and eight-folds produces a supersymmetric quantum mechanics on moduli spaces of holomorphic bundles and/or solutions to the analogues of instanton equations in higher dimensions. The theories may occur on the worldvolumes of D-branes wrapping manifolds of special holonomy. We also discuss the theories with matter.

The possibility of introducing non-perturbative infrared effects leading to a modification of the long distance behavior of gauge theories through a soft breaking of the BRST invariance is investigated. The method reproduces the Gribov-Zwanziger action describing the restriction of the domain of integration in the Feynman path integral to the Gribov region and a model for the dynamical quark mass generation is presented. The soft symmetry breaking relies on the introduction of BRST doublets and massive physical parameters, which allow one to distinguish the infrared region from the ultraviolet one, within the same theory. * baulieu@lpthe.jussieu.fr † sorella@uerj.br ‡

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