Hamiltonian BRST and Batalin-Vilkovisky Formalisms for Second Quantization of Gauge Theories

Gauge theories that have been first quantized using the Hamiltonian BRST operator formalism are described as classical Hamiltonian BRST systems with a BRST charge of the form and with natural ghost and parity degrees for all fields. The associated proper solution of the classical Batalin-Vilkovisky master equation is constructed from first principles. Both of these formulations can be used as starting points for second quantization. In the case of time reparametrization invariant systems, the relation to the standard master action is established.Research Associate of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium)Postdoctoral Visitor of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium)     

Spacetime locality of the BRST formalism

The spacetime locality of the BRST formalism is investigated. The analysis covers gauge theories with either closed or open algebras and is undertaken in the explicit context of the antifield formulation of the BRST theory. Under appropriate conditions, the homology of the Koszul-Tate differential modulo the spacetime exterior derivative is shown to be trivial in the space of non-integrated densities with positive antighost and pure ghost numbers. As a result: (i) the solution of the master equation can be taken to be a local functional; (ii) the gauge fixed action is also a local functional provided one takes the gauge fixing fermion to be a local functional as well; and (iii) the BRST transformation is local.     

On the reanimation of a local BRST invariance in the (Refined) Gribov–Zwanziger formalism

We localize a previously established nonlocal BRST invariance of the Gribov–Zwanziger (GZ) action by the introduction of additional fields. We obtain a modified GZ action with a corresponding local, albeit not nilpotent, BRST invariance. We show that correlation functions of the original elementary GZ fields do not change upon evaluation with the modified partition function. We discuss that for vanishing Gribov mass, we are brought back to the original Yang–Mills theory with standard BRST invariance.     

BRST invariance and the conical pendulum

The Hamiltonian formulation of the BRST method for quantizing constrained systems developed recently by Nemeschanskyet al is applied to the well-known problem of the conical pendulum in classical mechanics. The similarity of the system to a gauge theory wherein the two constraints serve as generators of local Abelian gauge transformations is also pointed out. The definition of the physical states of the system as a gauge theory and also as a BRST invariant theory is then discussed in some detail.     

From the BRST invariant Hamiltonian to the field-antifield formalism

We study the relation between the Lagrangian field-antifield formalism and the BRST invariant phase-space formulation of gauge theories. Starting from the Batalin-Fradkin-Vilkovisky unitarized action, we demonstrate in a deductive way the equivalence of the phase-space, and the Lagrangian field-antifield partition functions for the case of irreducible first rank theories.     

Conformal invariance and the six-dimensional formalism

Conformal invariance is discussed assuming the equations are well defined in arbitrary coordinate systems. This assumption leads to some constraints on scale dimensions of terms, and constraints on the introduction of ‘conformally invariant massive equations’. The six-dimensional formalism is then discussed, and is generalized to project to all conformally flat spaces. Finally the imbedding of Minkowski space equations is studied.SO(4, 2) breaking is seen to enter due to the presence of a non-invariant scalar field, and a non-invariant vector field. The theorem relating invariance of the six-space equations underSO(4, 2) to the invariance of their corresponding four-space equations under the conformal group is carefully stated and proved.     

BRST invariance of the measure in string field theory

The BRST transformations, given by gauge-fixing Witten's string field theory in the Seigel gauge, are applied to the string measure. It is shown that the simple measure (just the product of differentials of all the fields) is BRST invariant, thus maintaining the invariance of the gauge-fixed action at the quantum level.     

Gauge invariance for extended objects

Just as the vector potential (one-form) couples to charged point-particles, antisymmetric tensor fields of higher rank (p-forms) couple to elementary objects of higher dimensionality (strings, membranes, …). It is shown that the only possible gauge invariant interaction of such an extended object with a gauge field in spacetime is based on the abelian group U(1). This is unlike the situation for particles where Yang-Mills actions based on any gauge group may be written down. The properties of the abelian theory are explored. It is pointed out that a compact object is analogous to a particle-antiparticle pair and its quantum rate of production in a constant external field is calculated semiclassically. The analysis is performed keeping generic both the dimension of the object and that of spacetime.     

D-dimensional massless particle with extended gauge invariance

We propose the model ofD-dimensional massless particle whose Lagrangian is given by theN-th extrinsic curvature of world-line. The system hasN+1 gauge degrees of freedom constitutingW-like algebra; the classical trajectories of the model are space-like curves which obey the conditionsk _N+a=k_N−a, k_2N =0,a=1, ...,N−1,N≤[(D−2)/2], while the firstN curvaturesk _i remain arbitrary. We show that the model admits consistent formulation on the anti-DeSitter space. The solutions of the system are the massless irreducible representations of Poincaré group withN nonzero helicities, which are equal to each other. Presented at the 9th Colloquium “Quantum Groups and Integrable Systems”, Prague, 22–24 June 2000.     

Superspace formulation of the dynamical symmetries of the Dirac magnetic monopole

The superspace formulation for the dynamical supersymmetry of the Pauli system in the presence of a Dirac magnetic monopole is presented. It is used to prove that Osp(1, 1) is the largest dynamical invariance group of this system. The action of finite transformations on the parameters of superspace and on the supervariables is given.     

Local BRST cohomology in the antifield formalism: I. General theorems

We establish general theorems on the cohomologyH ^* (s/d) of the BRST differential modulo the spacetime exterior derivative, acting in the algebra of localp-forms depending on the fields and the antifields (=sources for the BRST variations). It is shown thatH ^–k (s/d) is isomorphic toH _k (/d) in negative ghost degree–k (k>0), where is the Koszul-Tate differential associated with the stationary surface. The cohomology groupH ₁ (/d) in form degreen is proved to be isomorphic to the space of constants of the motion, thereby providing a cohomological reformulation of Noether's theorem. More generally, the groupH _k (/d) in form degreen is isomorphic to the space ofn–k forms that are closed when the equations of motion hold. The groupsH _k (/d)(k>2) are shown to vanish for standard irreducible gauge theories. The groupH ₂ (/d) is then calculated explicitly for electromagnetism, Yang-Mills models and Einstein gravity. The invariance of the groupsH ^k (s/d) under the introduction of non-minimal variables and of auxiliary fields is also demonstrated. In a companion paper, the general formalism is applied to the calculation ofH ^k (s/d) in Yang-Mills theory, which is carried out in detail for an arbitrary compact gauge group.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Superspace formulation of the Chern character of a theta-summable Fredholm module

We apply the concepts of superanalysis to present an intrinsically supersymmetric formulation of the Chern character in entire cyclic cohomology. We show that the cocycle condition is closely related to the invariance under supertranslations. Using the formalism of superfields, we find a path integral representation of the index of the generalized Dirac operator.Supported in part by the Department of Energy under grant DE-FG02-88ER25065     

Generalised BRST symmetry and gaugeon formalism for perturbative quantum gravity: Novel observation

In this paper the novel features of Yokoyama gaugeon formalism are stressed out for the theory of perturbative quantum gravity in the Einstein curved spacetime. The quantum gauge transformations for the theory of perturbative gravity are demonstrated in the framework of gaugeon formalism. These quantum gauge transformations lead to renormalised gauge parameter. Further, we analyse the BRST symmetric gaugeon formalism which embeds more acceptable Kugo–Ojima subsidiary condition. Further, the BRST symmetry is made finite and field-dependent. Remarkably, the Jacobian of path integral under finite and field-dependent BRST symmetry amounts to the exact gaugeon action in the effective theory of perturbative quantum gravity.     

Shape invariance and the exactness of the quantum Hamilton-Jacobi formalism

Quantum Hamilton-Jacobi theory and supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM) are two parallel methods to determine the spectra of a quantum mechanical systems without solving the Schrödinger equation. It was recently shown that the shape invariance, which is an integrability condition in SUSYQM formalism, can be utilized to develop an iterative algorithm to determine the quantum momentum functions. In this Letter, we show that shape invariance also suffices to determine the eigenvalues in quantum Hamilton-Jacobi theory.     

Local BRST cohomology in the antifield formalism: II. Application to Yang-Mills theory

Yang-Mills models with compact gauge group coupled to matter fields are considered. The general tools developed in a companion paper are applied to compute the local cohomology of the BRST differentials modulo the exterior space-time derivatived for all values of the ghost number, in the space of polynomials in the fields, the ghosts, the antifields (=sources for the BRST variations) and their derivatives. New solutions to the consistency conditionssa+db=0 depending non-trivially on the antifields are exhibited. For a semi-simple gauge group, however, these new solutions arise only at ghost number two or higher. Thus at ghost number zero or one, the inclusion of the antifields does not bring in new solutions to the consistency conditionsa+db=0 besides the already known ones. The analysis does not use power counting and is purely cohomological. It can be easily extended to more general actions containing higher derivatives of the curvature or Chern-Simons terms.Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and by the research council (DOC) of the K.U. Leuven.     

Canonical formalism and relativistic invariance of the Grossman-Peres classical electron model

The Grossman — Peres classical electron model is not explicitly a relativistic invariant. The relativistic invariance of the Grossman — Peres model is proved in this paper by the direct construction of Poincaré-group generators from integrals of the motion of the model under consideration. The generators found afford the possibility of obtaining also an expression for the 4-vector of coordinate-time.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 81–86, October, 1977.