Perturbative expansion of Chern-Simons theory with non-compact gauge group

Naive imitation of the usual formulas for compact gauge group in quantizing three dimensional Chern-Simons gauge theory with non-compact gauge group leads to formulas that are wrong or unilluminating. In this paper, an appropriate modification is described, which puts the perturbative expansion in a standard manifestly unitary format. The one loop contributions (which differ from naive extrapolation from the case of compact gauge group) are computed, and their topological invariance is verified.Research supported in part by NSF Grant PHY86-20266     

Some comments on Chern-Simons gauge theory

Following M. F. Atiyah and R. Bott [AB] and E. Witten [W], we consider the space of flat connections on the trivialSU(2) bundle over a surfaceM, modulo the space of gauge transformations. We describe on this quotient space a natural hermitian line-bundle with connection and prove that if the surfaceM is now endowed with a complex structure, this line bundle is isomorphic to the determinant bundle. We show heuristically how path-integral quantisation of the Chern-Simons action yields holomorphic sections of this bundle.I.M.S. and T.R.R. supported by DOE grant DE-FG02-88ER 25066. J.W. supported by NSF Mathematical Sciences post-doctoral research scholarship 8807291     

Gauge-invariant operators for singular knots in Chern-Simons gauge theory

We construct gauge-invariant operators for singular knots in the context of Chern-Simons gauge theory. These new operators provide polynomial invariants and Vassiliev invariants for singular knots. As an application we present the form of the Kontsevich integral for the case of singular knots.     

New hierarchies of knot polynomials from topological Chern-Simons gauge theory

In this Letter, we report on a study of the expectation values of Wilson loops in D=3 topological Chern-Simons theory associated with the fundamental representation of the simple Lie algebras SO(n) and Sp(n). The skein relations satisfied by these expectation values are derived by conformal field-theory techniques. New hierarchies of invariant polynomials for knots in S ³ can be derived from these relations (at least) up to ten crossings. The N=3 Akutsu-Wadati polynomials are a special case with G=SO(3). The expectation value of the Wilson loops for a couple of simple unknotted circles is identified to the Weyl character.Work supported in part by U.S. National Science Foundation Grant PHY8706501.Work supported in party by Chinese National Science Foundation through Nankai University.     

The integrability criterion in SU(2) Chern-Simons gauge theory

We prove that the multiplicity spaces appearing in Chern-Simons theory, as defioned by Segal, vanish unless they are associated to integrable representations. This and other links with conformal field theory are examined.Supported in part by NSF Mathematics Postdoctoral Fellowship DMS-9007255     

Chern-Simons gauge theory on orbifolds: Open strings from three dimensions

Chern-Simons gauge theory is formulated on three-dimensional $\text{Z}$₂ orbifolds. The locus of singular points on a given orbifold is equivalent to a link of Wilson lines. This allows one to reduce any correlation function on orbifolds to a sum of more complicated correlation functions in the simpler theory on manifolds. Chern-Simons theory on manifolds is known to be related to two-dimensional (2D) conformal field theory (CFT) on closed-string surfaces; here it is shown that the theory on orbifolds is related to 2D CFT of unoriented closed- and open-string models, i.e. to worldsheet orbifold models. In particular, the boundary components of the worldsheet correspond to the components of the singular locus in the 3D orbifold. This correspondence leads to a simple identification of the open-string spectra, including their Chan-Paton degeneration, in terms of fusing Wilson lines in the corresponding Chern-Simons theory. The correspondence is studied in detail, and some exactly solvable examples are presented. Some of these examples indicate that it is natural to think of the orbifold group $\text{Z}$₂ as a part of the gauge group of the Chern-Simons theory, thus generalizing the standard definition of gauge theories.     

The asymptotical behaviour of the Abelian Chern-Simons gauge theory with matter in curved space-time

We study the ultraviolet and infrared behaviour of the Chern-Simons gauge theory with matter in curved space-time. It is shown that theory under investigation is asymptotically supersymmetric in infrared limit and asymptotically finite in ultraviolet limit. The investigation of scalar-graviton effective coupling constant behaviour shows that the theory can be asymptotically conformally invariant.     

Euclidean solutions and finite temperature gauge theory

It is shown that solutions of Euclidean gauge theory may have a direct physical interpretation at finite temperature. The existence of topologically distinct finite temperature solutions is proved.     

Determination of a gauge transformation group in gauge field theory

The existence of different types of gauge transformations in gauge theory and the theory of gravitation is established and they are defined in the language of fiber bundles.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 52–57, December, 1984.     

Quantum group gauge theory on quantum spaces

We construct quantum group-valued canonical connections on quantum homogeneous spaces, including aq-deformed Dirac monopole on the quantum sphere of Podles with quantum differential structure coming from the 3D calculus of Woronowicz onSU _q (2). The construction is presented within the setting of a general theory of quantum principal bundles with quantum group (Hopf algebra) fibre, associated quantum vector bundles and connection one-forms. Both the base space (spacetime) and the total space are non-commutative algebras (quantum spaces).Supported by St. John's College, Cambridge and KBN grant 202189101