Equivalence of the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian path integrals for gauge theories

Abstract

The lagrangian-antifield and the hamiltonian BRST path integrals are shown to be equal for arbitrary gauge theories obeying standard regularity conditions briefly recalled in the text. Various examples are given as an illustration of the results proved in the theoretical part of the paper. One example discusses systems with tertiary and higher-order constraints. One example illustrates the reducible case. And finally one example analyses gauge-fixing conditions involving higher-order time derivatives of the dynamical variables.