A covariant BRST approach of self-dualp-forms without extrafields

Abstract

Self-dual p-forms like first-order systems are investigated at classical, as well as at path integral level. Converting the self-dual system into a second-order gauge theory without introducing extrafields, we subsequently prove that: (i) the gauge theory, massive abelian p-form gauge fields and self-dual p-forms describe the same dynamics on the stationary surface of the field equations for the last model; (ii) self-dual p-forms and massive abelian p-form gauge fields represent a first-, respectively second-order BRST gauge-fixed version of the gauge system. The connection with the case of introducing extrafields is briefly addressed.