Parent Field Theory and Unfolding in BRST First-Quantized Terms

For free-field theories associated with BRST first-quantized gauge systems, we identify generalized auxiliary fields and pure gauge variables already at the first-quantized level as the fields associated with algebraically contractible pairs for the BRST operator. Locality of the field theory is taken into account by separating the space–time degrees of freedom from the internal ones. A standard extension of the first-quantized system, originally developed to study quantization on curved manifolds, is used here for the construction of a first-order parent field theory that has a remarkable property: by elimination of generalized auxiliary fields, it can be reduced both to the field theory corresponding to the original system and to its unfolded formulation. As an application, we consider the free higher-spin gauge theories of Fronsdal.Senior Research Associate of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium).Postdoctoral Visitor of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium).     

Nilpotent symmetry invariance in the non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory: Superfield formalism

We demonstrate that the nilpotent Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry invariance of the Lagrangian density of a four (3 + 1)-dimensional (4D) non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory with Dirac fields can be captured within the framework of the superfield approach to BRST formalism. The above 4D theory, where there is an explicit coupling between the non-Abelian 1-form gauge field and the Dirac fields, is considered on a (4,2)-dimensional supermanifold, parametrized by the bosonic 4D spacetime variables and a pair of Grassmannian variables. We show that the Grassmannian independence of the super-Lagrangian density, expressed in terms of the (4,2)-dimensional superfields, is a clear signature of the presence of the (anti-)BRST invariance in the original 4D theory.      

Gauge invariant Lagrangian formulation of higher spin massive bosonic field theory in AdS space

In this work we develop the BRST approach to Lagrangian construction for the massive integer higher spin fields in an arbitrary dimensional AdS space. The theory is formulated in terms of auxiliary Fock space. Closed nonlinear symmetry algebra of higher spin bosonic theory in AdS space is found and a method of deriving the BRST operator for such an algebra is proposed. A general procedure of Lagrangian construction, describing the dynamics of a bosonic field with any spin is given on the base of the BRST operator. No off-shell constraints on the fields and the gauge parameters are used from the very beginning. As an example of general procedure, we derive the Lagrangians for massive bosonic fields with spin 0, 1 and 2, containing the total set of auxiliary fields and gauge symmetries.     

BRST quantization of superstring field theory

We write the gauge fixed action which arises in the quantization of Witten's string field theory in a linear gauge, in a form which applies to both the superstring and the bosonic string. The corresponding BRST transformation is nilpotent only on-shell. We construct also an off-shell nilpotent BRST transformation which formally leaves invariant the quantum effective action. This BRST transformation has a geometrical interpretation which could allow to describe the gauge anomalies of the superstring field theory as the nontrivial cohomology of the BRST charge via the Wess-Zumino consistency condition.     

A one-dimensional invariance principle for gauge fields of integer spin

A relativistic two-particle system is analyzed in which the particles are bound by an harmonic oscillator potential. The system is invariant under τ-reparametrizations as well as under two gauge transformations of the coordinates. The corresponding first-class constraints give a BRST charge which can be used to construct a classical field theory action for all integer spin gauge fields.     

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 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.     

Weil algebra structure and geometrical meaning of BRST transformation in topological quantum field theory

The Weil algebra structure of the BRST transformation of topological quantum field theory is investigated. This structure appears in the gauge and ghost fields sector and is common to both topological quantum field theory and BRS gauge fixed non-abelian gauge theory. By the Weil algebra structure, we can derive the descent equations of topological quantum field theory which generate the Donaldson polynomials. The algebraic structure also reveals the geometrical meaning of the ghost fields ψ and ? in topological quantum field theory as the components of the total curvature.     

An alternative to the horizontality condition in the superfield approach to BRST symmetries

We provide an alternative to the gauge covariant horizontality condition, which is responsible for the derivation of the nilpotent (anti-) BRST symmetry transformations for the gauge and (anti-) ghost fields of a (3+1)-dimensional (4D) interacting 1-form non-Abelian gauge theory in the framework of the usual superfield approach to the Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) formalism. The above covariant horizontality condition is replaced by a gauge invariant restriction on the (4,2)-dimensional supermanifold, parameterised by a set of four spacetime coordinates, x^μ(μ=0,1,2,3), and a pair of Grassmannian variables, θ and θ̄. The latter condition enables us to derive the nilpotent (anti-) BRST symmetry transformations for all the fields of an interacting 1-form 4D non-Abelian gauge theory in which there is an explicit coupling between the gauge field and the Dirac fields. The key differences and the striking similarities between the above two conditions are pointed out clearly. PACS 11.15.-q; 12.20.-m; 03.70.+k     

Gauge invariant Lagrangian construction for massive bosonic higher spin fields in D dimensions

We develop the BRST approach to Lagrangian formulation for massive higher integer spin fields on a flat space–time of arbitrary dimension. General procedure of gauge invariant Lagrangian construction describing the dynamics of massive bosonic field with any spin is given. No off-shell constraints on the fields (like tracelessness) and the gauge parameters are imposed. The procedure is based on construction of new representation for the closed algebra generated by the constraints defining an irreducible massive bosonic representation of the Poincaré group. We also construct Lagrangian describing propagation of all massive bosonic fields simultaneously. As an example of the general procedure, we derive the Lagrangians for spin-1, spin-2 and spin-3 fields containing total set of auxiliary fields and gauge symmetries of free massive bosonic higher spin field theory.     

Topological field theories,Nicolai maps and BRST quantization

We establish a connection between topological field theories, Nicolai maps, BRST quantization and Langevin equations. In particular we show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between global unbroken supersymmetric theories which admit a Nicolai map and theories which arise as the BRST quantization of the square of the Langevin equation, setting the random field to zero. As such they are topological in nature. As an example we consider the topological quantum field theory of Witten in the Labastida-Pernici form and show that it is the first example of a theory admitting a complete Nicolai map in four dimensions. We also consider the topological sigma models of Witten and show that they too arise from the BRST quantization of the square of the Langevin equation.     

Notoph gauge theory: Superfield formalism

We derive absolutely anticommuting Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry transformations for the 4D free Abelian 2-form gauge theory by exploiting the superfield approach to BRST formalism. The antisymmetric tensor gauge field of the above theory was christened as the “notoph” (i.e. the opposite of “photon”) gauge field by Ogievetsky and Palubarinov way back in 1966–67. We briefly outline the problems involved in obtaining the absolute anticonimutativity of the (anti-) BRST transformations and their resolution within the framework of geometrical superfield approach to BRST formalism. One of the highlights of our results is the emergence of a Curci-Ferrari type of restriction in the context of 4D Abelian 2-form (notoph) gauge theory which renders the nilpotent (anti-) BRST symmetries of the theory to be absolutely anticommutative in nature.     

BRST quantization of the string model with extrinsic curvature

The string model proposed by Polyakov is investigated as a two-dimensional field theory with higher-order derivatives. We reduce the model lagrangian to a simple useful form and achieve the BRST quantization. We show the nilpotence of the BRST charge under certain conditions, and discuss the unitarity of the theory.     

Hamiltonian BRST interactions in Abelian theories

Consistent couplings between an Abelian gauge field and three types of matter fields are investigated by means of the Hamiltonian BRST deformation theory based on cohomological techniques. In this manner, scalar electrodynamics, the Stuckelberg theory for Abelian zero- and one-forms, respectively, spinor electrodynamics, are inferred. Received: 6 December 2000 / Published online: 23 February 2001     

Relating the generating functionals in field/antifield formulation through finite field dependent BRST transformation

We study the field/antifield formulation of pure Yang Mills theory in the framework of the finite field dependent BRST transformation. We show that the generating functionals corresponding to different solutions of the quantum master equation are connected through the finite field dependent BRST transformations. We establish this result with the help of several explicit examples.     

Higher spin fields and gravity

We analyze the coupling to gravity of massless bosonic gauge fields of any spin starting from a free theory formulated in terms of a nilpotent BRST operator.     

Canonical BRST quantisation of worldsheet gravities

We reformulate the BRST quantisation of chiral Virasoro and W₃ worldsheet gravities. Our approach follows directly the classic BRST formulation of Yang-Mills theory in employing a derivative gauge condition instead of the conventional conformal gauge condition, supplemented by an introduction of momenta in order to put the ghost action back into first-order form. The consequence of these simple changes is a considerable simplification of the BRST formulation, the evaluation of anomalies and the expression of Wess-Zumino consistency conditions. In particular, the transformation rules of all fields now constitute a canonical transformation generated by the BRST operator Q, and we obtain in this reformulation a new result that the anomaly in the BRST Ward identity is obtained by application of the anomalous operator Q², calculated using operator products, to the gauge fermion.     

Augmented superfield approach to unique nilpotent symmetries for complex scalar fields in QED

The derivation of the exact and unique nilpotent Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetries for the matter fields, present in any arbitrary interacting gauge theory, has been a long-standing problem in the framework of the superfield approach to the BRST formalism. These nilpotent symmetry transformations are deduced for the four (3+1)-dimensional (4D) complex scalar fields, coupled to the U(1) gauge field, in the framework of an augmented superfield formalism. This interacting gauge theory (i.e. QED) is considered on a six (4,2)-dimensional supermanifold parametrized by four even spacetime coordinates and a couple of odd elements of the Grassmann algebra. In addition to the horizontality condition (that is responsible for the derivation of the exact nilpotent symmetries for the gauge field and the (anti-)ghost fields), a new restriction on the supermanifold, owing its origin to the (super) covariant derivatives, has been invoked for the derivation of the exact nilpotent symmetry transformations for the matter fields. The geometrical interpretations for all the above nilpotent symmetries are discussed, too. PACS 11.15.-q, 12.20.-m, 03.70.+k     

BRST symmetry for finite-dimensional invariances: Applications to global zero modes in string theory

We show that the BRST formalism which is commonly used for infinite-dimensional gauge symmetries is also of interest in the case of continuous finite-dimensional symmetries stemming from global properties. We give as examples the simple case of a massless field on a finite-volume space and the less trivial one of the ghost lagrangian in string theory. In the latter case, we obtain an alternative way to derive the integration measure on moduli space. We also exhibit the BRST type invariance which is hidden in the collective coordinate method.     

Abelian 3-form gauge theory: Superfield approach

We discuss a D-dimensional Abelian 3-form gauge theory within the framework of Bonora-Tonin’s superfield formalism and derive the off-shell nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry transformations for this theory. To pay our homage to Victor I. Ogievetsky (1928–1996), who was one of the inventors of Abelian 2-form (antisymmetric tensor) gauge field, we go a step further and discuss the above D-dimensional Abelian 3-form gauge theory within the framework of BRST formalism and establish that the existence of the (anti-)BRST invariant Curci-Ferrari (CF) type of restrictions is the hallmark of any arbitrary p-form gauge theory (discussed within the framework of BRST formalism).