First-principles explanation of confinement and mass gap in non-Abelian gauge theories

Establish a first-principles theoretical explanation for color confinement and the existence of a mass gap in non-Abelian gauge theories such as quantum chromodynamics, clarifying whether and why these phenomena occur.

Background

In discussing applications of the possifold program beyond gravity, the authors highlight phenomena in non-Abelian gauge theories—specifically confinement and mass gaps—that are expected but lack a satisfactory theoretical derivation.

They explicitly label the theoretical explanation of these phenomena as an open problem in the literature, suggesting that the possifold framework may help illuminate their origin, potentially in connection with insights from AdS/CFT.

References

In quantum theories of non-Abelian gauge theories, one expects the phenomenon of confinement as well as the existence of a mass gap. An explanation whether and as to why this is the case is still an open problem in the literature.

— Microscopic Origin of Page Curve  (2603.29872 - Averin, 31 Mar 2026) in Section 2 (Question of Swampland or Swampland of Questions?), concluding discussion of gauge theories