On the anti-symmetric vierbein in quantum supergravity

We consider the BRS identities for N = 1 supergravity in a covariant gauge. It is shown that, as in the axial gauge, the anti-symmetric part of the vierbein does contribute to the BRS identities, even though one can choose a gauge in which it does not propagate.     

Superspace approach to quantum gauge theories

We present an approach to quantum gauge theories formulated entirely on a superspace. We show that at the classical level the field equations are the same as in the usual Minkowski-space approach. In particular the a-flatness conditions, which represent the BRS and anti-BRS covariance in the usual approach, appear as field equations. We show that the theory is renormalizable and the a-flatness conditions are stable under renormalization. We speculate about the relevance of this approach to the confinement problem.     

Finite BRST Mapping in Higher-Derivative Models

We continue the study of finite field-dependent BRST (FFBRST) symmetry in the quantum theory of gauge fields. An expression for the Jacobian of path integral measure is presented, depending on a finite field-dependent parameter, and the FFBRST symmetry is then applied to a number of well-established quantum gauge theories in a form which incudes higher-derivative terms. Specifically, we examine the corresponding versions of the Maxwell theory, non-Abelian vector field theory, and gravitation theory. We present a systematic mapping between different forms of gauge-fixing, including those with higher-derivative terms, for which these theories have better renormalization properties. In doing so, we also provide the independence of the S-matrix from a particular gauge-fixing with higher derivatives. Following this method, a higher-derivative quantum action can be constructed for any gauge theory in the FFBRST framework.     

The axial gauge BRS identities in supergravity

The BRS identities for supergravity in the axial gauge are derived and an identity involving the graviton self energy is verified to one-loop. It is demonstrated that even in a gauge where the anti-symmetric part of the vierbein field does not propagate, it does not decouple from the BRS identities.     

Cornwall-Jackiw-Tomboulis Effective Potential for Quark Propagator in Real-Time Thermal Field Theory and Landau Gauge

We complete the derivation of the Cornwall-Jackiw-Tomboulis effective potential for quark propagator at finite temperature and finite quark chemical potential in the real-time formalism of thermal field theory and in Landau gauge. In the approximation that the function A(p2) in inverse quark propagator is replaced by unity, by means of the running gauge coupling and the quark mass function invariant under the renormalization group in zero temperature Quantum Chromadynamics (QCD), we obtain a calculable expression for the thermal effective potential, which will be a useful means to research chiral phase transition in QCD in the real-time formalism.     

Flow equations for the relevant part of the pure Yang—Mills action

Wilson’s exact renormalization group equations are derived and integrated for the relevant part of the pure Yang-Mills action. We discuss in detail how modified Slavnov—Taylor identities control the breaking of BRST invariance in the presence of a finite infrared cutoff k through relations among different parameters in the effective action. In particular they imply a nonvanishing gluon mass term for nonvanishing k. The requirement of consistency between the renormalization group flow and the modified Slavnov—Taylor identities allows to control the self—consistency of truncations of the effective action.     

Cornwall-Jackiw-Tomboulis Effective Potential for Quark Propagator in Real-Time Thermal Field Theory and Landau Gauge

We complete the derivation of the Cornwall-Jackiw-Tomboulis effective potentiM for quark propagator at finite temperature and finite quark chemical potential in the real-time formalism of thermal field theory and in Landau gauge. In the approximation that the function A（p^2） in inverse quark propagator is replaced by unity, by means of the running gauge coupling and the quark mass function invariant under the renormalization group in zero temperature Quantum Chromadynamics （QCD）, we obtain a calculable expression for the thermal effective potential, which will be a useful means to research chiral phase transition in QCD in the real-time formalism.     

Gauge fixing,BRS invariance and Ward identities for randomly stirred flows

The Galilean invariance of the Navier–Stokes equation is shown to be akin to a global gauge symmetry familiar from quantum field theory. This symmetry leads to a multiple counting of infinitely many inertial reference frames in the path integral approach to randomly stirred fluids. This problem is solved by fixing the gauge, i.e., singling out one reference frame. The gauge fixed theory has an underlying Becchi–Rouet–Stora (BRS) symmetry which leads to the Ward identity relating the exact inverse response and vertex functions. This identification of Galilean invariance as a gauge symmetry is explored in detail, for different gauge choices and by performing a rigorous examination of a discretized version of the theory. The Navier–Stokes equation is also invariant under arbitrary rectilinear frame accelerations, known as extended Galilean invariance (EGI). We gauge fix this extended symmetry and derive the generalized Ward identity that follows from the BRS invariance of the gauge-fixed theory. This new Ward identity reduces to the standard one in the limit of zero acceleration. This gauge-fixing approach unambiguously shows that Galilean invariance and EGI constrain only the zero mode of the vertex but none of the higher wavenumber modes.     

A stagnant gauge for QCD

It is shown that the gauge-fixing parameter α of standard covariant gauges may legitimately be replaced by an operator α(□). In particular, α may be chosen so that the gluon propagator has a “stagnant” tensor structure proportional to g_ην for all momenta. This choice of gauge simplifies explicit calculations and leads to renormalization group equations with no $\text{?}\text{?α}$ term.     

BRS ‘Symmetry’, prehistory and history

Prehistory ?C Starting from ??t Hooft??s (1971) we have a short look at Taylor??s and Slavnov??s works (1971?C72) and at the lectures given by Rouet and Stora in Lausanne (1973) which determine the transition from pre-history to history. History ?C We give a brief account of the main analyses and results of the BRS collaboration concerning the renormalized gauge theories, in particular the method of the regularization-independent, algebraic renormalization, the algebraic proof of S-matrix unitarity and that of gauge choice independence of the renormalized physics. We conclude this report with a suggestion to the crucial question: what could remain of BRS invariance beyond perturbation theory.     

Nontrivial quadratic gauge-fixing in Yang-Mills theories

We study renormalizability of a quadratic gauge-fixing choice involving gauge fields. We show that this can be renormalized simultaneously maintaining the BRS invariance since this respects the underlying global SU(n) invariance. However, this choice, too, induces quartic ghost terms in conformity with our earlier results. Physics Publication No. 81-099     

Explicit two-loop calculation of decoupling in unbroken gauge theories with fermions

Unbroken gauge theories containing light as well as heavy fermions are considered in the limit of the mass of the heavy fermions tending to infinity. The effective coupling constant of the decoupled low-energy theory thus obtained, has been calculated up to two-loop level using the light particle irreducible vertex function and the background field formalism. In addition, to simplify the computation, a background field gauge-fixing term has been used, because in such a gauge the effective coupling constant can be calculated from a two-point function only. Our analysis reveals that in the non-abelian theory, the simple algorithm proposed by Ovrut and Schnitzer for computing the effective coupling constant up to the two-loop level is valid only in the α = 0 or α = ?3 background field gauge. A general procedure correct for all values of α is described.     

One-loop leading logarithms in electroweak radiative corrections

We discuss the evaluation of the collinear single-logarithmic contributions to virtual electroweak corrections at high energies. More precisely, we prove the factorization of the mass singularities originating from loop diagrams involving collinear virtual gauge bosons coupled to external legs. We discuss, in particular, processes involving external longitudinal gauge bosons, which are treated using the Goldstone-boson equivalence theorem. The proof of factorization is performed within the 't Hooft–Feynman gauge at one-loop order and applies to arbitrary electroweak processes that are not mass-suppressed at high energies. As basic ingredients we use Ward identities for Green functions with arbitrary external particles involving a gauge boson collinear to one of these. The Ward identities are derived from the BRS invariance of the spontaneously broken electroweak gauge theory. Received: 4 May 2001 / Published online: 6 July 2001     

Anomalies and gauge symmetry

Anomalies are known to have an intrinsic geometrical meaning. Using a formalism where the gauge condition is never made explicit we reanalyze the gauge theory anomaly problem. By requiring simultaneously the BRS and anti-BRS invariances, we do not need to use in our study the gauge dependent anti-ghost equation of motion. Then all equations definining the anomaly are independent of all parameters specifying the lagrangian. Not only does this stress explicitly the geometrical nature of the anomaly problem, but it allows for a single analysis for all possible BRS and anti-BRS invariant gauges, including those with four-ghost interactions. Our method for solving the anomaly equations is as a new sign of the relevance of the formalism in which the ghost components are unified with those of the classical gauge field, the ghost fields playing the role of a “connection” along unphysical directions. We recover the ABJ anomaly directly from the structure of BRS equations, as a straightforward application of the Chern-Weil theorem in some enlarged space. The method can be formally extended to higher space-time dimensions, and a general formula for “anomalies” in any even dimension is given.     

Generalized lattice fermion actions and applications

We derive the general form of lattice fermion action consistent with the requirements of gauge invariance, translation invariance, reflection positivity and invariance under 90° rotations, and involving only bilinear, nearest neighbour couplings. The meaning of the parameters occuring in the action is discussed analyzing the spectrum, the symmetries and the axial Ward identities of the theory, and their renormalization is studied within the Migdal-Kadanoff approximation. In particular we give the relation between the dependence of the vacuum energy density on the CP phases appearing in the action and the mean topological density and susceptibility.     

Renormalization of non-abelian gauge theories in curved space-time

We use indirect, renormalization group arguments to calculate the gravitational counterterms needed to renormalize an interacting non-abelian gauge theory in curved space-time. This method makes it straightforward to calculate terms in the trace anomaly which first appear at high order in the coupling constant, some of which would need a 4-loop calculation to find directly. The role of gauge invariance in the theory is considered, and we discuss briefly the effect of using coordinate-dependent gauge-fixing terms. We conclude by suggesting possible applications of this work to models of the very early universe.     

Gauge dependence of renormalization group parameters in ghost-free non-abelian gauge theories

We discuss the gauge dependence of the renormalization group parameters in a class of ghost-free non-abelian gauge theories. We show, using the n-dimensional regularization with the “minimal” renormalization procedure, that these parameters are gauge independent.     

Continuum regularization of quantum field theory

As an extension of our earlier one-loop renormalization studies at the regularized Schwinger-Dyson level, we report here on equivalent renormalization programs for regularized Langevin systems. Proper structure is discussed, and proper one-loop renormalizations of the Green functions of φ ₆ ³ and QCD₄ are given. An optional apparent?-renormalization is discussed as a technical simplificaiton for gauge theories with Zwanziger's gauge-fixing.     

The general three-vertex,BRS identities and renormalizability of the light-cone gauge

The general one-loop three-vertexГ _μeλ ^abc (p, q, r) in the four-component formulation of the Yang-Mills theory is calculated in the light-cone gauge. The nonvanishing counter Lagrangian constructed from this three-vertex and the self-energy is proportional to the original Lagrangian, the single renormalization constant being -11g² C _YM Г(2?ω)/48π². Gauge dependent and nonlocal counterterms do not contribute to the renormalization constant, but are needed to verify the appropriate Slavnov-Taylor (ST) and Becchi-Rouet-Stora (BRS) identities.     

Reducible gauge algebra of BRST-invariant constraints

We show that it is possible to formulate the most general first-class gauge algebra of the operator formalism by only using BRST-invariant constraints. In particular, we extend a previous construction for irreducible gauge algebras to the reducible case. The gauge algebra induces two nilpotent, Grassmann-odd, mutually anti-commuting BRST operators that bear structural similarities with BRST/anti-BRST theories but with shifted ghost number assignments. In both cases we show how the extended BRST algebra can be encoded into an operator master equation. A unitarizing Hamiltonian that respects the two BRST symmetries is constructed with the help of a gauge-fixing boson. Abelian reducible theories are shown explicitly in full detail, while non-Abelian theories are worked out for the lowest reducibility stages and ghost momentum ranks.