(1-DIMENSIONAL YANG-MILLS THEORY COUPLED TO ADJOINT FERMIONS ON THE LIGHT-FRONT(1))

We consider SU(2) Yang-Mills theory in 1 + 1 dimensions coupled to mas sless adjoint fermions. With all fields in the adjoint representation the gauge group is actually SU(2)/Z(2), which possesses a nontrivial t opology. In particular, there are two distinct topological sectors and the physical vacuum state has a structure analogous to a theta vacuum . We show how this feature is realized in light-front quantization, wi th periodicity boundary conditions in x(+/-) used to regulate the infr ared behavior of the theory. The gauge held zero mode is treated as a dynamical quantity. We find expressions for the degenerate vacuum stat es and construct the analogue of the theta vacuum. We then calculate t he bilinear condensate in the model. We argue that the condensate does not affect the spectrum of the theory, although it is related to the string tension that characterizes the potential between fundamental te st charges when the dynamical fermions are given a mass. We also argue that this result is fundamentally different from calculations that us e periodicity conditions in x(1) as an infrared regulator.