Nilpotent (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetries in 2D non-Abelian gauge theory: Some novel observations

Abstract

We discuss the nilpotent Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST), anti-BRST and (anti-) co-BRST symmetry transformations and derive their corresponding conserved charges in the case of a two [Formula: see text]-dimensional (2D) self-interacting non-Abelian gauge theory (without any interaction with matter fields). We point out a set of novel features that emerge out in the BRST and co-BRST analysis of the above 2D gauge theory. The algebraic structures of the symmetry operators (and corresponding conserved charges) and their relationship with the cohomological operators of differential geometry are established too. To be more precise, we demonstrate the existence of a single Lagrangian density that respects the continuous symmetries which obey proper algebraic structure of the cohomological operators of differential geometry. In the literature, such observations have been made for the coupled (but equivalent) Lagrangian densities of the 4D non-Abelian gauge theory. We lay emphasis on the existence and properties of the Curci–Ferrari (CF)-type restrictions in the context of (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations and pinpoint their key differences and similarities. All the observations, connected with the (anti-)co-BRST symmetries, are completely novel.