AHARONOV-BOHM ORDER PARAMETERS FOR NON-ABELIAN GAUGE-THEORIES

The Aharonov-Bohm effect has been invoked to probe the phase structure of a gauge theory. Yet in the case of non-Abelian gauge theories, it proves difficult to formulate a general procedure that unambiguously s pecifies the realization of the gauge symmetry, e.g., the unbroken sub group. In this paper we propose a set of order parameters that will do the job. We articulate the fact that any useful Aharonov-Bohm experim ent necessarily proceeds in two stages: calibration and measurement. W orld sheets of virtual cosmic string loops can wrap around test charge s, thus changing their states relative to other charges in the univers e. Consequently, repeated flux measurements with test charges will not necessarily agree. This was the main stumbling block to previous atte mpts to construct order parameters for non-Abelian gauge theories. In those works, the particles that one uses for calibration and subsequen t measurement are stored in separate ''boxes.'' By storing all test pa rticles in the same ''box'' we show how quantum fluctuations can be ov ercome. The importance of gauge fixing is also emphasized.