Ghost-free non-Abelian gauge theory: renormalization and gauge-invariance

Although it has been known for a long time that the special case n^μA_μ = 0 for an axial gauge of a vector field A_μ, characterized by a direction n_μ, is free from the peculiar loop complications inherent in all other known gauges of non-Abelian gauge theories, practical use of this ghost-free gauge has often met with some reserve. The reasons were always difficulties in the development of the theoretical formalism, all of which can be traced back to a singularity at n^μp_μ = 0 where p is some four-momentum. This paper, which is a sequel to an earlier one by one of the authors, is intended to show that within the functional integration formalism a consistent field theory can be developed. Here we first prove the gauge invariance of the renormalized theory, allowing for the presence of an arbitrary number of scalar and fermion fields with spontaneous symmetry breaking. Then it is shown that all on-shell elements for the physical S-matrix between properly selected physical sources are independent of n_μ (gauge invariant) and so are the renormalized masses.     

Chemical potentials in gauge theories

One-loop calculations of the thermodynamic potential Ω are presented for temperature gauge and non-gauge theories. Prototypical formulae are derived which give Ω as a function of both (i) boson and/or fermion chemical potential, and in the case of gauge theories (ii) the thermal vacuum parameter A₀=const (A_μ is the euclidean gauge potential). From these basic abelian gauge theory formulae, the one-loop contribution to Ω can readily be constructed for Yang-Mills theories, and also for non-gauge theories.     

Hierarchy of interactions and mass relations in asymptotically free E6 model of unified interactions

The hierarchy of gauge interactions within the E₆ model is proved, and the vector and spinor field masses are obtained. The mass spectrum of the charged W-bosons is found, and the mass scale is fixed so that the mass of the lightest of them is about 70 GeV. The lepton spectroscopy is studied and a new charged lepton, with mass of order 4–8 GeV is predicted. For the low-energy phenomenology, the model may be considered as a theory of 6 flavoured quarks and 4 charged leptons, each with its neutrino. Being 4-component the neutrinos are massive except for the ν_e (m_νe = 0, exactly) and ν_μ (m_νμ ≈ 0, approximately) particles. The problem of the “superfluous” particles which as a rule accompanies the asymptotic freedom in such theories is also briefly discussed.     

VII. Difficulties in fixing the gauge in non-Abelian gauge theories

Some problems arising from the use of the Coulomb gauge in SU(2) Yang-Mills theory are discussed. It is shown that: i) the transversality condition does not fix the gauge uniquely (Gribov ambiguity); ii) there exist physical configurations that cannot be described by a continuous A_μ in the Coulomb gauge.     

Trimuons in SU(3) gauge models

We discuss models of weak interactions which can account for the recently observed μ^?μ^?μ⁺ events in v_μ reactions by allowing for the production of a new heavy neutral lepton and a new quark. One model is based on an SU(3) × U(1) gauge theory in shich the left-handed leptons are classified in anti-triplets. The second model catagorizes the leptons in an octet in accord with the more restrictive SU(3) weak gauge theory.     

Reformulation of general relativity as a gauge theory

The starting point is a spinor affine space-time. At each point, two-component spinors and a basis in spinor space, called “spin frame,” are introduced. Spinor affine connections are assumed to exist, but their values need not be known. A metric tensor is not introduced. Global and local gauge transformations of spin frames are defined with GL(2) as the gauge group. Gauge potentials B_μ are introduced and corresponding fields F_μν are defined in analogy with the Yang-Mills case. Gravitational field equations are derived from an action principle. Incases of physical interest SL(2, C) is taken as the gauge group, instead of GL(2). In the special case of metric space-times the theory is identical with general relativity in the Newman-Penrose formalism. Linear combinations of B_μ are generalized spin coefficients, and linear combinations of F_μν are generalized Weyl and Ricci tensors and Ricci scalar. The present approach is compared with other formulations of gravitation as a gauge field.     

Vacuum copies and perturbation theory in the 't hooft-veltman gauge of QED

The 't Hooft-Veltman gauge condition ?_μA_μ + A_μ² = 0 gives a version of quantum electrodynamics with many similarities to Yang-Mills theory, including the presence of Gribov gauge-fixing ambiguities. We exhibit and discuss some properties of a family of copies of the vacuum, emphasizing their bearing on perturbation theory and the choice of a vacuum state. It is shown that in a general gauge theory, the same perturbation series results from expanding about any gauge-copy of the vacuum.     

Perturbative QED in terms of gauge invariant fields

A formulation of QED using only gauge invariant fields acting on a physical state space is discussed. The fields are the electromagnetic tensor F_μν and a non-local electron field ψ_f depending on a quadruple {f^μ} of auxiliary functions. The f-ambiguity is physically meaningful: the f^μ contain information on the asymptotic configuration of the electromagnetic field accompanying charged particles. Equations of motion are introduced and solved perturbatively, in the sense that expressions for the Wightman functions of the theory are derived. No information on the commutation relations between the basic fields is needed.     

Natural left-right symmetry,atomic parity experiments and asymmetries in high energy e+e− collisions in petra and pep regions

The previously proposed left-right-symmetric SU(2)_L × SU(2)_R × U(1) theory permits one of the two neutral gauge particles N₁ and N₂ to be particularly light (<mW⁺_L) compatible with all neutrin-data and the present atomic parity experiments. Distinguishing features of this theory (with the light mass solution) for e^?e⁺ → μ⁺μ^? and π⁺π^? at PETRA and PEP energies as compared to the SU(2) × U(1) predictions are given.     

Quantization of gauge-fields in the fock-schwinger gauge

The gauge conditionx _μ A ^μ =0 produces a theory which is free from Faddeev-Popov ghosts, but whose Green's functions obviously lack translational invariance. We present for the first time a consistent perturbation theory in this gauge. Besdes discussing example howlocal counter-terms in the action suffice for the one-loop renormalization ofS-matrix elements.     

Gauge invariance and renormalization

The renormalization of Abelian and non-Abelian local gauge theories is discussed. It is recalled that whereas Abelian gauge theories are invariant to local c-number gauge transformations δA_μ(x) = ?_μ,…, with □Λ = 0, and to the operator gauge transformation δA_μ(x) = ?_μφ(x), …, δφ(x) = α^?1?·A(x), with □φ = 0, non-Abelian gauge theories are invariant only to the operator gauge transformations $\text{δA}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{(x) ～}\textcolor{red}{}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{C(x)}$, …, introduced by Becchi, Rouet and Stora, where

_μ is the covariant derivative matrix and C is the vector of ghost fields. The renormalization of these gauge transformation is discussed in a formal way, assuming that a gauge-invariant regularization is present. The naive renormalized local non-Abelian c-number gauge transformation $\text{δA}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{(x) = (Z}{}_1\text{/Z}{}_3\text{)gA}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{(x) ×}\text{Λ}\text{(x)+?}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{Λ}\text{(x)}$, …, is never a symmetry transformation and is never finite in perturbation theory. Only for $\text{Λ}\text{(x) = (Z}{}_3\text{/Z}{}_1\text{)L}$ with L finite constants or for $\text{Λ}\text{(x) = Ω}\text{z}\text{?}{}_3\text{C(x)}$ with Ω a finite constant does it become a finite symmetry transformation, where $\text{z}\text{?}{}_3$ is the ghost field renormalization constant. The renormalized non-Abelian Ward-Takahashi (Slavnov-Taylor) identities are consequences of the invariance of the renormalized gauge theory to this formation. It is also shown how the symmetry generators are renormalized, how photons appear as Goldstone bosons, how the (non-multiplicatively renormalizable) composite operator A_μ × C is renormalized, and how an Abelian c-number gauge symmetry may be reinstated in the exact solution of many asymptotically fr ee non-Abelian gauge theories.     

Low energy constraints on N = 2 supersymmetric models

We derive constraints on the masses of mirror particles in N = 2 supersymmetric theories. We consider the K_L?K_S mass difference, the π → ev/π → μv branching ratio and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. The K_L?K_S mass difference gives a lower bound of 15 TeV on the mirror gauge scalar and mirror gauge fermion masses, under suitable assumptions.     

The N = 4 supersymmetric E8 gauge theory and coset space dimensional reduction

Reasons are given to suggest that the N = 4 supersymmetric E₈ gauge theory be considered as a serious candidate for a physical theory. The symmetries of this theory are broken by a scheme based on coset space dimensional reduction. The resulting theory possesses four conventional generations of low-mass fermions together with their mirror particles.     

A dynamical theory for the rishon model

We propose a composite model for quarks and leptons based on an exact SU(3)_C × SU(3)_H gauge theory and two fundamental $\text{J=}\text{1}\text{2}$ fermions: a charged T-rishon and a neutral V-rishon. Quarks, leptons and W-bosons are SU(3)_H-singlet composites of rishons. A dynamically broken effective SU(3)_C × SU(2)_L × SU(2)_R × U(1)_B?L gauge theory emerges at the composite level. The theory is “natural”, anomaly free, has no fundamental scalar particles, and describes at least three generations of quarks and leptons.     

(Non)-Abelian gauge field theories of the Fermi gas. Neutron-quark stars

It is indicated that the ground state of Fermi systems with (non)-Abelian gauge interactions has a well defined quantum theory devoid of infrared divergences and mass singularities. This is exploited to develop a systematic quantum theory of the quark gas. The equation of state of the quark gas is evaluated up to second order in the Gell-Mann-Low charge α_S(μ). The analysis based on neutron matter models suggests that the matter in the neutron stars can be in the quark phase provided the color interaction is “moderately” strong i.e. α_S (3 GeV) ? 0.3.     

Renormalization-group improvement of effective actions beyond summation of leading logarithms

Invariance of the effective action under changes of the renormalization scale μ leads to relations between those (presumably calculated) terms independent of μ at a given order of perturbation theory and those higher-order terms dependent on logarithms of μ. This relationship leads to differential equations for a sequence of functions, the solutions of which give closed form expressions for the sum of all leading logs, next to leading logs, and subsequent subleading logarithmic contributions to the effective action. The renormalization group is thus shown to provide information about a model beyond the scale dependence of the model's couplings and masses. This procedure is illustrated using the φ₆³ model and Yang–Mills theory. In the latter instance, it is also shown by using a modified summation procedure that the μ dependence of the effective action resides solely in a multiplicative factor of g²(μ) (the running coupling). This approach is also shown to lead to a novel expansion for the running coupling in terms of the one-loop coupling that does not require an order-by-order redefinition of the scale factor ΛQCD. Finally, logarithmic contributions of the instanton size to the effective action of an SU(2) gauge theory are summed, allowing a determination of the asymptotic dependence on the instanton size ρ as ρ goes to infinity to all orders in the SU(2) coupling constant.     

A new unified theory with right-handed currents and proton stability

A unified vector-like gauge theory based on SU(6) is proposed, where the proton stability is achieved with reasonable lepto-quark massemeasurable in the decay K_L⁰→μe. We predict the existence of a long-lived messon decaying into Pe^?.     

Spinor theory of general relativity without elementary gravitons

We propose a generally covariant and locally Lorentz invariant theory of a Majorana spinor field ψ_μ^α. Our theory has no elementary spin-2 quanta, but does reproduce Einstein's general relativity as a classical solution. We compare this situation to the possibility of finding classical monopoles in a gauge theory, even though no such elementary object is introduced at the outset.     

Virtual effects of Higgs particles

The possibility of observing Higgs particles through virtual effects is considered in detail for a general gauge theory. The effect of charged Higgs particles on low-energy weak interaction processes, like muon decay, tau decay, nuclear beta decay, pion decay, and some higher-order processes is analyzed. The effect of flavor-changing neutral Higgs particles on rare decay modes of the muon and kaon, μe conversion, K^o-$\text{K}$^o and D^o-$\text{D}$^o mixing is also studied. We discuss constraints on possible extensions of the Weinberg-Salam model and experiments sensitive to their Higgs particles. In particular, we analyze the neutral Higgs which couple to fermions in the minimal SU(2)_L×SU(2)_R×U(1) model and find that they probably have mass greater than 100 GeV.