Topological phase states of the SU(3) QCD

Abstract

We consider the topologically nontrivial phase states and the corresponding topological defects in the SU(3) d-dimensional quantum chromodynamics (QCD). The homotopy groups for topological classes of such defects are calculated explicitly. We have shown that the three nontrivial groups are π3SU(3) = Z, π5SU(3) = Z, and π6SU(3) = Z6 if 3 ≤ d ≤ 6. The latter result means that we are dealing exactly with six topologically different phase states. The topological invariants for d=3,5,6 are described in detail.