Non-integrable aspects of the multi-frequency sine-Gordon model

We consider the two-dimensional quantum field theory of a scalar field self-interacting via two periodic terms of frequencies alpha and beta. Looking at the theory as a perturbed sine-Gordon model, we use form factor perturbation theory to analyse the evolution of the spectrum of particle excitations. We show how, within this formalism, the non-locality of the perturbation with respect to the solitons is responsible for their confinement in the perturbed theory, The effects of the frequency ratio alpha/beta being a rational or irrational number end the occurrence of massless flows from the gaussian to the Ising fixed point are also discussed. A generalisation of the Ashkin-Teller model and the massive Schwinger model are presented as examples of application of the formalism. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.