Chemical potentials in gauge theories

One-loop calculations of the thermodynamic potential Ω are presented for temperature gauge and non-gauge theories. Prototypical formulae are derived which give Ω as a function of both (i) boson and/or fermion chemical potential, and in the case of gauge theories (ii) the thermal vacuum parameter A₀=const (A_μ is the euclidean gauge potential). From these basic abelian gauge theory formulae, the one-loop contribution to Ω can readily be constructed for Yang-Mills theories, and also for non-gauge theories.     

Greens functions of 2-dimensional Yang-Mills theories on nonorientable surfaces

By using the path integral method, we calculate the Green functions of the field strength of Yang-Mills theories on arbitrary nonorientable surfaces in Schwinger-Fock gauge.We show that the non-gauge invariant correlators consist of a free part and an almost x-independent part. We also show that the gauge invariant n-point functions are those corresponding to the free part, as in the case of orientable surfaces.     

Non-supersymmetric vacua and the D-flatness condition

Some N = 1 gauge theories, including SQED and N_F = 1 SQCD, have the property that, for arbitrary superpotentials, all stationary points of the potential V = F + D are D-flat. For others, stationary points of V are complex gauge transformations of D-flat configurations. As an implication, the technique to parametrize the moduli space of supersymmetric vacua in terms of a set of basic holomorphic G invariants can be extended to non-supersymmetric vacua. A similar situation is found in non-gauge theories with a compact global symmetry group.     

Dynamical supersymmetry breaking and gauge anomalies

Some aspects of supersymmetric gauge theories and discussed. It is shown that dynamical supersymmetry breaking does not occur in supersymmetric QED in higher dimensions. The cancellation of both local (perturbative) and global (non-perturbative) gauge anomalies are also discussed in supersymmetric gauge theories. We argue that there is no dynamical supersymmetry breaking in higher dimensions in any supersymmetric gauge theories free of gauge anomalies. It is also shown that for supersymmetric gauge theories in higher dimensions with a compact connected simple gauge group, when the local anomaly-free condition is satisfied, there can be at most a possibleZ ₂ global gauge anomaly in extended supersymmetricSO(10) (or spin (10)) gauge theories inD=10 dimensions containing additional Weyl fermions in a spinor representation ofSO(10) (or spin (10)). In four dimensions with local anomaly-free condition satisfied, the only possible global gauge anomalies in supersymmetric gauge theories areZ ₂ global gauge anomalies for extended supersymmetricSP(2N) (N=rank) gauge theories containing additional Weyl fermions in a representation ofSP(2N) with an odd 2nd-order Dynkin index.     

Gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for various higher-spin fields from string field theory

We propose a systematic procedure for extracting gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for various higher-spin gauge field theories from covariant bosonic open string field theory. By identifying minimal gauge invariant part for the original free string field theory action, we explicitly construct a class of covariantly gauge fixed actions with BRST and anti-BRST invariance. By expanding the actions with respect to the level N   of string states, the actions for various massive fields including higher-spin fields are systematically obtained. As illustrating examples, we explicitly investigate the level N?3$N?3$ part and obtain the consistent actions for massive graviton field, massive 3rd rank symmetric tensor field, or anti-symmetric field. We also investigate the tensionless limit of the actions and explicitly derive the gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for general rank n symmetric and anti-symmetric tensor fields.     

Ghost-free non-Abelian gauge theory: renormalization and gauge-invariance

Although it has been known for a long time that the special case n^μA_μ = 0 for an axial gauge of a vector field A_μ, characterized by a direction n_μ, is free from the peculiar loop complications inherent in all other known gauges of non-Abelian gauge theories, practical use of this ghost-free gauge has often met with some reserve. The reasons were always difficulties in the development of the theoretical formalism, all of which can be traced back to a singularity at n^μp_μ = 0 where p is some four-momentum. This paper, which is a sequel to an earlier one by one of the authors, is intended to show that within the functional integration formalism a consistent field theory can be developed. Here we first prove the gauge invariance of the renormalized theory, allowing for the presence of an arbitrary number of scalar and fermion fields with spontaneous symmetry breaking. Then it is shown that all on-shell elements for the physical S-matrix between properly selected physical sources are independent of n_μ (gauge invariant) and so are the renormalized masses.     

N = 4 Yang-Mills theory on the light cone

The 10-dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory is constructed in the light-cone gauge. When the theory is dimensionally reduced to four dimensions it is shown that the corresponding N = 4 theory is conveniently described in terms of a scalar superfield. This formalism avoids the problem of auxiliary fields but is Lorentz invariant only on the mass shell. Similar formalisms in terms of scalar superfields are also sketched for the other supersymmetric Yang-Mills as well as for N = 8 supergravity.     

Superalgebras in N = 1 gauge theories

N = 1 supersymmetric gauge theories with global flavor symmetries contain a gauge invariant W-superalgebra which acts on its moduli space of gauge invariants. With adjoint matter, this superalgebra reduces to a graded Lie algebra. When the gauge group is SO(n_c), with vector matter, it is a W-algebra, and the primary invariants form one of its representation. The same superalgebra exists in the dual theory, but its construction in terms of the dual fields suggests that duality may be understood in terms of a charge conjugation within the algebra. We extend the analysis to the gauge group E₆.     

Symmetry preserving regularization with a cutoff

A Lorentz and gauge symmetry preserving regularization method is proposed in 4 dimensions based on a momentum cutoff. We use the conditions of gauge invariance or equivalently the freedom to shift the loop momentum to define the evaluation of the terms carrying even number of Lorentz indices, e.g. proportional to k _μ k _ν . The remaining scalar integrals are calculated with a four dimensional momentum cutoff. The finite terms (independent of the cutoff) are free of ambiguities coming from subtractions in non-trivial cases. Finite parts of the result are equal to that of dimensional regularization.     

Antisymmetric tensor gauge theories and non-linear σ-models

Antisymmetric tensor fields B_μν subject to the gauge transformation δB_μν = ?_μξ_ν ? ?_νξ_μ can describe spinless particles. We investigate the properties of field theories with a “non-abelian generalization” of this invariance. One class of such theories is equivalent to non-linear principal chiral σ-models, another to massive Yang-Mills theories. A supersymmetric analogue in 2 + 2 superspace is constructed and leads to the supersymmetric σ-model defined on a general riemannian manifold.     

Renormalizable asymptotically free quantum theory of gravity

We prove that higher derivative quantum gravity is asymptotically free in all essential coupling constants by the calculation of one-loop counterterms (correcting the previous result of Julve and Tonin) and the solution of the corresponding renormalization group (RG) equations. Strong arguments are presented in favour of the possibility that renormalizable asymptotically free gravity establishes asymptotic freedom for the effective mass parameters and non-gauge couplings in grand unified gauge theories. We also analyse the RG equations in the Einstein theory with Λ term and in the higher derivative conformal invariant theories. Among other topics discussed are the algorithm for the divergences of the determinant of the fourth-order differential operator, the consistent renormalization of the boundary terms in the action, the one-loop β-function in the fourth derivative vector gauge theory and the RG equations in the $\text{“gφ}{}^4\text{+ ηRφ}{}^2\text{”}$ theory.     

Anomalous generation of Chern-Simons terms in D=3, N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories

Parity-invariant three-dimensional gauge theories with N=2 extended supersymmetry are studied by the heat kernel method. The parity-anomalous part of the one-loop effective action is exactly found. It is expressed in terms of the N=2 supersymmetric Chern-Simons term and is identified as a N=2 superspace Atiyah-Patodi-Singer eta-invariant.     

Soft gauge algebras

Gauge transformations whose algebra closes only modulo field dependent terms (soft gauge algebras) are studied in detail. The results are explicitly applied to a supersymmetric gauge theory, to gravity and to conformal gravity, all seen as gauge theories overx-space; the obvious applications to supergravity are pointed out. A consistency requirement for the gauge transformations of those fields which appear in the algebra is seen to rule out “local translations” as independent gauge transformations.     

A superloop approach to supersymmetric gauge theories

A supersymmetric extension of the loop equations of motion in gauge theories is presented. The ansatz used for solving these superloop equations has the form of an average of the superloop product — supersymmetric path-dependent phase factor. The averaging action is determined by the superloop equations themselves. An example of the abelian spinor gauge superfield is considered in some detail.     

Gauge transformations and quantum mechanics II. Physical interpretation of classical gauge transformations

New gauges are introduced. The potentials, vector and scalar, in these gauges are obtained in closed forms by the Green's function method. These closed form solutions are explicity expressed only in terms of the charge and current densities. The physical interpretation is on how potentials propagate from the charge and current densities. The Coulomb gauge and the Lorentz gauge are special cases of a new gauge defined in this paper. It is called the complete α-Lorentz gauge. The scalar potential propagates at speed αc from the charge density for any positive α. When α is one, the usual solutions for the Lorentz gauge are recovered. When α is not one, our results show that, in order to satisfy the requirement that electromagnetic fields be gauge invariant and in order to conform to Maxwell's interpretation that electromagnetic fields propagate at speed c from the charge and current densities (we only consider the vacuum), the vector potential must contain two mathematically and physically independent gradient components. Furthermore, one such component must propagate at speed αc while the other must at speed c from charge and current densities. Our discussions on the Coulomb gauge are based on the results obtained by letting α go to (positive) infinity. Guided by Maxwell's interpretation, we introduce a new decomposition of the vector potential in the Lorentz gauge into a longitudinal and a transverse component. For an arbitrary charge and current distribution, it is shown that the transverse component will generate all the fields only in the radiation zone. However, for a point charged particle, the transverse component only generates the “free fields”everywhere in the instantaneous rest frame of the charged particle.     

Finite Group Discretization of Yang-Mills and Einstein Actions

Discrete versions of the Yang-Mills and Einstein actions are proposed for any finite group. These actions are invariant respectively under local gauge transformations and under the analogues of Lorentz and general coordinate transformations. The case Z_n×Z_n×···×Z_n is treated in some detail, recovering the Wilson action for Yang-Mills theories and a new discretized action for gravity.     

Improved methods for supergraphs

We introduce some new techniques into superfield perturbation theory which allow considerable simplifications in calculations. As a result, we show that all contributions to the effective action can be written as integrals over a single d⁴θ. We also give the background group field formalism for supersymmetric non-abelian gauge theories. To illustrate our methods, we give examples of loop calculations: in particular, we show that in O(4) extended supersymmetric non-abelian gauge theories all one-loop propagator corrections cancel identically (both infinite and finite parts) and that these theories, at one loop, are finite and have no renormalizations (in the Fermi-Feynman gauge).