Electrodynamics in an LTB scenario

In this paper we investigate the Yokoyama gaugeon formalism for perturbative quantum gravity in a general curved spacetime. Within the gaugeon formalism, we extend the configuration space by introducing vector gaugeon fields describing a quantum gauge degree of freedom. Such an extended theory of perturbative gravity admits quantum gauge transformations leading to a natural shift in the gauge parameter. Further we impose the Gupta–Bleuler type subsidiary condition to remove the unphysical gaugeon modes. To replace the Gupta–Bleuler type condition by a more acceptable Kugo–Ojima type subsidiary condition we analyze the BRST symmetric gaugeon formalism. Further, the physical Hilbert space is constructed for the perturbative quantum gravity which remains invariant under both the BRST symmetry and the quantum gauge transformations.     

Fedosov Deformation Quantization as a BRST Theory

The relationship is established between the Fedosov deformation quantization of a general symplectic manifold and the BFV-BRST quantization of constrained dynamical systems. The original symplectic manifold ℳ is presented as a second class constrained surface in the fibre bundle ?^* _ρℳ which is a certain modification of a usual cotangent bundle equipped with a natural symplectic structure. The second class system is converted into the first class one by continuation of the constraints into the extended manifold, being a direct sum of ?^* _ρℳ and the tangent bundle Tℳ. This extended manifold is equipped with a nontrivial Poisson bracket which naturally involves two basic ingredients of Fedosov geometry: the symplectic structure and the symplectic connection. The constructed first class constrained theory, being equivalent to the original symplectic manifold, is quantized through the BFV-BRST procedure. The existence theorem is proven for the quantum BRST charge and the quantum BRST invariant observables. The adjoint action of the quantum BRST charge is identified with the Abelian Fedosov connection while any observable, being proven to be a unique BRST invariant continuation for the values defined in the original symplectic manifold, is identified with the Fedosov flat section of the Weyl bundle. The Fedosov fibrewise star multiplication is thus recognized as a conventional product of the quantum BRST invariant observables. Received: 28 April 2000 / Accepted: 6 December 2000     

On free 4D Abelian 2-form and anomalous 2D Abelian 1-form gauge theories

We demonstrate a few striking similarities and some glaring differences between (i) the free four- (3+1)-dimensional (4D) Abelian 2-form gauge theory, and (ii) the anomalous two- (1+1)-dimensional (2D) Abelian 1-form gauge theory, within the framework of Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) formalism. We demonstrate that the Lagrangian densities of the above two theories transform in a similar fashion under a set of symmetry transformations even though they are endowed with a drastically different variety of constraint structures. With the help of our understanding of the 4D Abelian 2-form gauge theory, we prove that the gauge-invariant version of the anomalous 2D Abelian 1-form gauge theory is a new field-theoretic model for the Hodge theory where all the de Rham cohomological operators of differential geometry find their physical realizations in the language of proper symmetry transformations. The corresponding conserved charges obey an algebra that is reminiscent of the algebra of the cohomological operators. We briefly comment on the consistency of the 2D anomalous 1-form gauge theory in the language of restrictions on the harmonic state of the (anti-) BRST and (anti-) co-BRST invariant version of the above 2D theory.     

Infrared saturation and phases of gauge theories with BRST symmetry

We investigate the infrared limit of the quantum equation of motion of the gauge boson propagator in various gauges and models with a BRST symmetry. We find that the saturation of this equation at low momenta distinguishes between the Coulomb, Higgs and confining phase of the gauge theory. The Coulomb phase is characterized by a massless gauge boson. Physical states contribute to the saturation of the transverse equation of motion of the gauge boson at low momenta in the Higgs phase, while the saturation is entirely due to unphysical degrees of freedom in the confining phase. This corollary to the Kugo–Ojima confinement criterion in linear covariant gauges also is sufficient for confinement in general covariant gauges with BRST and anti-BRST symmetry, maximal Abelian gauges with an equivariant BRST symmetry, non-covariant Coulomb gauge and in the Gribov–Zwanziger theory.     

Unique nilpotent symmetry transformations for matter fields in QED: augmented superfield formalism

We derive the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for the interacting U(1) gauge theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) in the framework of the augmented superfield approach to the BRST formalism. In addition to the horizontality condition, we invoke another gauge invariant condition on the six (4,2)-dimensional supermanifold to obtain the exact and unique nilpotent symmetry transformations for all the basic fields present in the (anti-)BRST invariant Lagrangian density of the physical four (3+1)-dimensional QED. The above supermanifold is parametrized by four even space–time variables (with μ=0,1,2,3) and two odd variables (θ and ) of the Grassmann algebra. The new gauge invariant condition on the supermanifold owes its origin to the (super) covariant derivatives and leads to the derivation of unique nilpotent symmetry transformations for the matter fields. The geometrical interpretations for all the above off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST transformations are also discussed. PACS 11.15.-q, 12.20.-m, 03.70.+k     

On the Gauge and BRST Invariance of the Chiral QED with Faddeevian Anomaly

Chiral Schwinger model with the Faddeevian anomaly is considered. It is found that imposing a chiral constraint this model can be expressed in terms of chiral boson. The model when expressed in terms of chiral boson remains anomalous and the Gauss law of which gives anomalous Poisson brackets between itself. In spite of that a systematic BRST quantization is possible. The Wess-Zumino term corresponding to this theory appears automatically during the process of quantization. A gauge invariant reformulation of this model is also constructed. Unlike the former one gauge invariance is done here without any extension of phase space. This gauge invariant version maps onto the vector Schwinger model. The gauge invariant version of the chiral Schwinger model for a=2 has a massive field with identical mass however gauge invariant version obtained here does not map on to that.     

BV formulation of higher form gauge theories in a superspace

We discuss the extended BRST and anti-BRST symmetry (including shift symmetry) in the Batalin–Vilkovisky (BV) formulation for 2- and 3-form gauge theories. Further we develop the superspace formulation for the BV actions for these theories. We show that the extended BRST invariant BV action for these theories can be written manifestly covariant manner in a superspace with one Grassmann coordinate. On the other hand a superspace with two Grassmann coordinates is required for a manifestly covariant formulation of the extended BRST and extended anti-BRST invariant BV actions for higher form gauge theories.     

General Formalism for the BRST Symmetry

In this paper we will discuss Faddeev-Popov method for gauge theories with a general form of gauge symmetry in an abstract way. We will then develope a general formalism for dealing with the BRST symmetry. This formalism will make it possible to analyse the BRST symmetry for any theory.     

Investigation of the vacuum structure of the Georgi-Glashow model on the lattice

In this paper the BKS kernels of BRST bosonic strings are given. And from the kernels the relationships between geometric quantization and path integral quantization of bosonic strings with BRST symmetry are established. At the classical level, we also prove that the symplectic form in the phase space of bosonic strings is BRST invariant and nondegenerate.     

BRST Cohomology and Phase Space Reduction in Deformation Quantization

In this article we consider quantum phase space reduction when zero is a regular value of the momentum map. By analogy with the classical case we define the BRST cohomology in the framework of deformation quantization. We compute the quantum BRST cohomology in terms of a "quantum" Chevalley-Eilenberg cohomology of the Lie algebra on the constraint surface. To prove this result, we construct an explicit chain homotopy, both in the classical and quantum case, which is constructed out of a prolongation of functions on the constraint surface. We have observed the phenomenon that the quantum BRST cohomology cannot always be used for quantum reduction, because generally its zero part is no longer a deformation of the space of all smooth functions on the reduced phase space. But in case the group action is "sufficiently nice", e.g. proper (which is the case for all compact Lie group actions), it is shown for a strongly invariant star product that the BRST procedure always induces a star product on the reduced phase space in a rather explicit and natural way. Simple examples and counterexamples are discussed.     

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.     

BRST and Anti-BRST Symmetries in Perturbative Quantum Gravity

In perturbative quantum gravity, the sum of the classical Lagrangian density, a gauge fixing term and a ghost term is invariant under two sets of supersymmetric transformations called the BRST and the anti-BRST transformations. In this paper we will analyse the BRST and the anti-BRST symmetries of perturbative quantum gravity in curved spacetime, in linear as well as non-linear gauges. We will show that even though the sum of ghost term and the gauge fixing term can always be expressed as a total BRST or a total anti-BRST variation, we can express it as a combination of both of them only in certain special gauges. We will also analyse the violation of nilpotency of the BRST and the anti-BRST transformations by introduction of a bare mass term, in the massive Curci-Ferrari gauge.     

Geometric quantization of the BRST charge

In the first half of this paper (Sects. 1–4) we generalise the standard geometric quantization procedure to symplectic supermanifolds. In the second half (Sects. 5, 6) we apply this to two examples that exhibit classical BRST symmetry, i.e., we quantize the BRST charge and the ghost number. More precisely, in the first example we consider the reduced symplectic manifold obtained by symplectic reduction from a free group action with Ad^*-equivariant moment map; in the second example we consider a foliated configuration space, whose cotangent bundle admits the construction of a BRST charge associated to this foliation. We show that the classical BRST symmetry can be described in terms of a hamiltonian supergroup action on the extended phase space, and that geometric quantization gives us a super-unitary representation of this supergroup. Finally we point out how these results are related to reduction at the quantum level, as compared with the reduction at the classical level.Research supported by the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)     

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.     

A superspace formulation of the BV action for higher derivative theories

We first analyse the anti-BRST and double BRST structures of a certain higher derivative theory that has been known to possess BRST symmetry associated with its higher derivative structure. We discuss the invariance of this theory under shift symmetry in the Batalin–Vilkovisky (BV) formalism. We show that the action for this theory can be written in a manifestly extended BRST invariant manner in superspace formalism using one Grassmann coordinate. It can also be written in a manifestly extended BRST invariant manner and on-shell manifestly extended anti-BRST invariant manner in superspace formalism using two Grassmann coordinates.     

Homological perturbation theory and the algebraic structure of the antifield-antibracket formalism for gauge theories

The algebraic structure of the antifield-antibracket formalism for both reducible and irreducible gauge theories is clarified. This is done by using the methods of Homological Perturbation Theory (HPT). A crucial ingredient of the construction is the Koszul-Tate complex associated with the stationary surface of the classical extremals. The Koszul-Tate differential acts on the antifields and is graded by the antighost number. It provides a resolution of the algebraA of functions defined on the stationary surface, namely, it is acyclic except at degree zero where its homology group reduces toA. Acyclicity only holds because of the introduction of the ghosts of ghosts and provides an alternative criterion for what is meant by a proper solution of the master equation. The existence of the BRST symmetry follows from the techniques of HPT. The classical Lagrangian BRST cohomology is completely worked out and shown to be isomorphic with the cohomology of the exterior derivative along the gauge orbits on the stationary surface. The algebraic structure of the formalism is identical with the structure of the Hamiltonian BRST construction. The role played there by the constraint surface is played here by the stationary surface. Only elementary quantum questions (general properties of the measure) are addressed.     

On BRST quantization of second class constraint algebras

A BRST quantization of second-class constraint algebras that avoids Dirac brackets is constructed, and the BRST operator is shown to be related to the BRST operator of first class algebra by a nonunitary canonical transformation. The transformation converts the second class algebra into an effective first class algebra with the help of an auxiliary second class algebra constructed from the dynamical Lagrange multipliers of the Dirac approach. The BRST invariant path integral for second class algebras is related to the path integral of the pertinent Dirac brackets, using the Parisi-Sourlas mechaism. As an application the possibility of string theories in subcritical dimensions is considered.     

Front-Form Hamiltonian, Path Integral, and BRST Formulations of the Nonlinear Sigma Model

The nonlinear sigma model in one-space one-time dimension is considered on the light-front. The front-form theory is seen to possess a set of three first-class constraints and consequently it possesses a local vector gauge symmetry. This is in contrast to the usual instant-form theory, which is well known to be a gauge noninvariant theory possessing a set of four second-class constraints. The front-form Hamiltonian, path integral, and BRST formulations of this theory are investigated under some specific gauge choices.     

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).     

BRST symmetry for Regge–Teitelboim-based minisuperspace models

The Einstein–Hilbert action in the context of higher derivative theories is considered for finding their BRST symmetries. Being a constraint system, the model is transformed in the minisuperspace language with the FRLW background and the gauge symmetries are explored. Exploiting the first order formalism developed by Banerjee et al. the diffeomorphism symmetry is extracted. From the general form of the gauge transformations of the field, the analogous BRST transformations are calculated. The effective Lagrangian is constructed by considering two gauge-fixing conditions. Further, the BRST (conserved) charge is computed, which plays an important role in defining the physical states from the total Hilbert space of states. The finite field-dependent BRST formulation is also studied in this context where the Jacobian for the functional measure is illustrated specifically.