A {bf Z₂} Structure in the Configuration Space of Yang-Mills Theories

We argue for the presence of a ${\bf Z}_2$ topological structure in the space of static gauge-Higgs field configurations of $SU(2n)$ and $SO(2n)$ Yang-Mills theories. We rigorously prove the existence of a ${\bf Z}_2$ homotopy group of mappings from the 2-dim. projective sphere ${\bf R}P^2$ into $SU(2n)/{\bf Z}_2$ and $SO(2n)/{\bf Z}_2$ Lie groups respectively. Consequently the symmetric phase of these theories admits infinite surfaces of odd-parity static and unstable gauge field configurations which divide into two disconnected sectors with integer Chern-Simons numbers $n$ and $n+1/2$ respectively. Such a ${\bf Z}_2$ structure persists in the Higgs phase of the above theories and accounts for the existence of $CS=1/2$ odd-parity saddle point solutions to the field equations which correspond to spontaneous symmetry breaking mass scales.