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Yang-Mills Instantons are defined as finite action solutions to the corresponding Euclidean equation of motion. If I understood it correct, then instantons are those classical gauge field configurations $A_\mu(x)$, for which $S_E[A_\mu(x)]<\infty$. Is this statement correct?

There are many such instanton configurations possible, and one configuration cannot be smoothly deformed into another because they belong to distinct topological classes. How many such solutions are possible?

How does a generic instanton solution $A_\mu(x)$ (belonging to a generic class) look like in pure Yang-Mills theory?

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    $\begingroup$ David Tong's lectures on solitons includes a neat introduction to instantons and the stringy perspective on the ADHM construction of the instanton moduli space, if you are interested in a little details. $\endgroup$
    – nio
    Commented Dec 19, 2016 at 20:14

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Yes, an instanton is a classical solution to the Euclidean equations of motion with finite action. Its topological charge is given by $k = \frac{1}{8\pi}\int \mathrm{tr}(F\wedge F)$ which is the integral of the divergence of the Chern-Simons current.

There are many different instantons possible. A generic instanton for $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ and topological charge 1 is given by the BPST instanton $$ A_\mu^a(x) = \frac{2}{g}\frac{\eta_{\mu\nu}^a(x-x_0)^\nu}{(x -x_0)^2 - \rho ^2}$$ where $x_0$ is the "center" of the instanton and $\rho$ its scale, also called the radius. The $\eta$ is the 't Hooft symbol.

A large class of instantons of topological charge $k$ may be described as follows: Transforming the BPST instanton by the singular transformation $x^\mu \mapsto \frac{x^\mu}{x^2}$ leads to the expression $$ A_\mu^a(x) = -\eta_{\mu\nu}^a \partial^\nu\left(\ln\left(1+\frac{\rho^2}{(x-x_0)^2}\right)\right)$$ for the transformed instanton, and one now makes the more general ansatz $$ A_\mu^a(x) = -\eta_{\mu\nu}^a \partial^\nu\left(\ln\left(1+\sum_{l=1}^k \frac{\rho_l^2}{(x-x_{0,l})^2}\right)\right)$$ which leads to an instanton solution of topological charge $k$. This construction can be generalized to other non-Abelian gauge groups.

The generic construction of all instantons on four-dimensional spacetimes of gauge group $\mathrm{SU}(N)$ is given by the ADHM instanton, see also the original paper "Construction of instantons" by Atiyah, Drinfeld, Hitchin and Manin.

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    $\begingroup$ "Yes, an instanton is a classical solution to the Euclidean equations of motion with finite action". Therefore, they need no minimize the action. But in the answer here you said that instantons are local minima of the action. Confused. physics.stackexchange.com/questions/159014/… @ACuriousMind $\endgroup$
    – SRS
    Commented Jan 8, 2018 at 21:49
  • $\begingroup$ @SRS If you tell me what specifically you're confused about I could perhaps help... $\endgroup$
    – ACuriousMind
    Commented Jan 8, 2018 at 23:29
  • $\begingroup$ What are instantons? Finite action solutions or solutions which not only keep the action finite but also minimize it? I hope that the question makes sense. @ACuriousMind $\endgroup$
    – SRS
    Commented Jan 9, 2018 at 16:55
  • $\begingroup$ @SRS I believe the two are equivalent - there are no extremal points of finite action that are not minimal. $\endgroup$
    – ACuriousMind
    Commented Jan 9, 2018 at 17:19

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