Functional integration and gauge ambiguities in generalized abelian gauge theories |
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Authors: | Gerald Kelnhofer |
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Affiliation: | Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Vienna, Austria |
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Abstract: | We consider the covariant quantization of generalized abelian gauge theories on a closed and compact n-dimensional manifold whose space of gauge invariant fields is the abelian group of Cheeger–Simons differential characters. The space of gauge fields is shown to be a non-trivial bundle over the orbits of the subgroup of smooth Cheeger–Simons differential characters. Furthermore each orbit itself has the structure of a bundle over a multi-dimensional torus. As a consequence there is a topological obstruction to the existence of a global gauge fixing condition. A functional integral measure is proposed on the space of gauge fields which takes this problem into account and provides a regularization of the gauge degrees of freedom. For the generalized p-form Maxwell theory closed expressions for all physical observables are obtained. The Green’s functions are shown to be affected by the non-trivial bundle structure. Finally the vacuum expectation values of circle-valued homomorphisms, including the Wilson operator for singular p-cycles of the manifold, are computed and selection rules are derived. |
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Keywords: | 53C80 55R10 81T13 81S40 |
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