On finite-volume gauge theory partition functions

We prove a Mahoux-Mehta-type theorem for finite-volume partition functions of SU(N-c greater than or equal to 3) gauge theories coupled to fermions in the fundamental representation. The large-volume limit is taken with the constraint V much less than 1/m(pi)(4). The theorem allows one to express any k-point correlation function of the microscopic Dirac operator spectrum entirely in terms of the 2-point function. The sum over topological charges of the gauge fields can be explicitly performed for these k-point correlation functions. A connection to an integrable KP hierarchy, for which the finite-volume partition function is a tau-function, is pointed out. Relations between the effective partition functions for these theories in 3 and 4 dimensions are derived. We also compute analytically, and entirely from finite-volume partition functions, the microscopic spectral density of the Dirac operator in SU(N-c) gauge theories coupled to quenched fermions in the adjoint representation. The result coincides exactly with earlier results based on Random Matrix Theory. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.