Gribov ambiguity

In gauge theory, especially non-abelian gauge theories, we often encounter global problems when gauge fixing. Gauge fixing means choosing a representative from each gauge orbit. The space of representatives is a submanifold and represents the gauge fixing condition. Ideally, every gauge orbit will intersect this submanifold once and only once. Unfortunately, this is often impossible globally for non-abelian gauge theories because of topological obstructions and the best that can be done is make this condition true locally. A gauge fixing submanifold may not intersect a gauge orbit at all or it may intersect it more than once. This is called a Gribov ambiguity.

Gribov ambiguities lead to a nonperturbative failure of the BRST symmetry, among other things.