Asymptotic freedom in the infinite-momentum frame

Abstract

We study the renormalization of $\mathrm{SU}\mathrm{}\left(N\right)\mathrm{}$ Yang-Mills theory through one loop in the null-plane gauge. We choose as a measure of the effective coupling the off-shell four-gluon correlation function with all legs having zero transverse momentum. We find that, in addition to self-energy and vertex corrections, two-gluon exchange contributes to coupling-constant renormalization in an essential way. In this gauge, asymptotic freedom is due to a residual attraction between two gluons in the ultraviolet domain.