The Schrödinger functional: a renormalization probe for non-abelian gauge theories

Following Symanzik we argue that the Schr\"odinger functional in lattice gauge theories without matter fields has a well-defined continuum limit. Due to gauge invariance no extra counter terms are required. The Schr\"odinger functional is, moreover, accessible to numerical simulations. It may hence be used to study the scaling properties of the theory and in particular the evolution of the renormalized gauge coupling from low to high energies. A concrete proposition along this line is made and the necessary perturbative analysis of the Schr\"odinger functional is carried through to 1-loop order.