The winding number of three complexes in SU(3)

Abstract

The Phillip-Stone algorithm for the topological charge of a lattice gauge field requires the computation of the winding number of certain 3-complexes in the space of the group. The extension of the computational procedure for the SU(2) gauge group to SU(3) requires an understanding of the SU(3) geometry. An important issue is the behavior of a 3-cell in SU(3) as it approaches a critical configuration, i.e., one at which the cell is a discontinuous function of its vertices. A measure of the proximity of a cell to critically is found and a method for computing its contribution to the winding number is recommended. © 1989.