The variational method allows one to study the mixing of interpolators with different chiral transformation properties in the nonperturbatively determined physical state. It is then possible to define and calculate in a gauge-invariant manner the chi
ral as well as the partial wave content of the quark-antiquark component of a meson in the infrared, where mass is generated. Using a unitary transformation from the chiral basis to the $^{2S+1}L_J$ basis one may extract the partial wave content of a meson. We present results for the $rho$- and $rho$-mesons using a simulation with $N_f=2$ dynamical quarks, all for lattice spacings close to 0.15 fm. Our results indicate a strong chiral symmetry breaking in the $rho$ state and its simple $^3S_1$-wave composition in the infrared. For the $rho$-meson we find a small chiral symmetry breaking in the infrared as well as a leading contribution of the $^3D_1$ partial wave, which is contradictory to the quark model.
We simulate two dynamical, mass degenerate light quarks on 16^3x32 lattices with a spatial extent of 2.4 fm using the Chirally Improved Dirac operator. The simulation method, the implementation of the action and signals of equilibration are discussed
in detail. Based on the eigenvalues of the Dirac operator we discuss some qualitative features of our approach. Results for ground state masses of pseudoscalar and vector mesons as well as for the nucleon and delta baryons are presented.
We review our results for the simulation of the 2--d lattice Gross--Neveu model in a fermion loop representation. Possible extensions of our techniques to other models and higher dimensions are discussed, as well as the limitations of loop--type representations.
