BRST Transformations Research Articles

On the BRST and finite field-dependent BRST of a model where vector and axial vector interactions get mixed up with different weights

The generalized version of a lower dimensional model where vector and axial vector interactions get mixed up with different weights is considered. The bosonized version of which does not possess the local gauge symmetry. An attempt has been made here to construct the BRST invariant reformulation of this model using Batalin–Fradlin and Vilkovisky formalism. It is found that the extra field needed to make it gauge invariant turns into Wess–Zumino scalar with appropriate choice of gauge fixing. An application of finite field-dependent BRST and anti-BRST transformation is also made here in order to show the transmutation between the BRST symmetric and the usual nonsymmetric version of the model.

Ward and Nielsen identities for ABJM theory in 𝒩 = 1 superspace

The structures and the associated gauge algebra of ABJM theory in [Formula: see text] superspace are reviewed. We derive the Ward identities of the theory in the class of Lorentz-type gauges at quantum level to justify the renormalizability of the model. We compute the Nielsen identities for the two-point functions of the theory with the help of enlarged BRST transformation. The identities are derived in ABJM theory to ensure the gauge independence of the physical poles of the Green’s functions.

BRST symmetry for Regge–Teitelboim-based minisuperspace models

The Einstein-Hilbert action in the context of Higher derivative theories is considered for finding out their BRST symmetries. Being a constraint system, the model is transformed in the minisuperspace language with the FRLW background and the gauge symmetries are explored. Exploiting the first order formalism developed by Banerjee et. al. the diffeomorphism symmetry is extracted. From the general form of the gauge transformations of the field, the analogous BRST transformations are calculated. The effective Lagrangian is constructed by considering two gauge fixing conditions. Further, the BRST (conserved) charge is computed which plays an important role in defining the physical states from the total Hilbert space of states. The finite field dependent BRST (FFBRST) formulation is also studied in this context where the Jacobian for functional measure is illustrated specifically.

Long, partial-short, and special conformal fields

In the framework of metric-like approach, totally symmetric arbitrary spin bosonic conformal fields propagating in flat space-time are studied. Depending on the values of conformal dimension, spin, and dimension of space-time, we classify all conformal field as long, partial-short, short, and special conformal fields. An ordinary-derivative (second-derivative) Lagrangian formulation for such conformal fields is obtained. The ordinary-derivative Lagrangian formulation is realized by using double-traceless gauge fields, Stueckelberg fields, and auxiliary fields. Gauge-fixed Lagrangian invariant under global BRST transformations is obtained. The gauge-fixed BRST Lagrangian is used for the computation of partition functions for all conformal fields. Using the result for the partition functions, numbers of propagating D.o.F for the conformal fields are also found.

IR finite graviton propagators in de Sitter spacetime

Graviton propagator diverges in certain gauges in de Sitter spacetime. We address this problem in this work by generalizing the infinitesimal BRST transformations in de Sitter spacetime to finite field-dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformations. These FFBRST transformations are symmetry of the classical action, but do not leave path integral measure invariant for the graviton theory in de Sitter spacetime. Due to the non-trivial Jacobian of such finite transformation the path integral measure changes and hence FFBRST transformation is capable of relating theories in two different gauges. We explicitly construct FFBRST transformation which relates theory with diverging graviton two-point function to theory with infrared (IR) finite graviton. The FFBRST transformation thus establishes that divergence in graviton two-point function may be only a gauge artifact.

Emergence of Lowenstein–Zimmermann mass terms for QED3

In this paper we consider a super-renormalizable theory of massless QED in (2 + 1) dimensions and discuss their BRST symmetry transformation. By extending the BRST transformation, we derive the Nielsen identities for the theory. Further, we compute the generalized BRST (so-called FFBRST) transformation by making the transformation parameter field dependent. Remarkably, we observe that the Lowenstein–Zimmermann mass terms, containing Lowenstein–Zimmermann parameter which plays an important role in the BPHZL renormalization program, along with the external sources coupled to the nonlinear BRST variations appear naturally in the theory through an FFBRST transformation.

Ward identities and gauge flow for M-theory inN=3superspace

We derive the BRST symmetry, Slavnov-Taylor identities and Nielsen identities for the ABJM theories in ${\cal N}{=}3$ harmonic superspace. Further, the gauge dependence of one-particle irreducible amplitudes in such superconformal Chern-Simons theory is shown to be generated by a canonical flow with respect to the extended Slavnov-Taylor identity, induced by the extended BRST transformations (including the BRST transformations of the gauge parameters).

Green’s functions in perturbative quantum gravity

We show that the Green’s functions in a non-linear gauge in the theory of perturbative quantum gravity is expressed as a series in terms of those in linear gauges. This formulation also holds for operator Green’s functions. We further derive the explicit relation between the Green’s functions in the theory of perturbative quantum gravity in a pair of arbitrary gauges. This process involves some sort of modified FFBRST transformations which are derivable from infinitesimal field-dependent BRST transformations.

Topological anomalies for Seifert 3-manifolds

We study globally supersymmetric 3d gauge theories on curved manifolds by describing the coupling of 3d topological gauge theories, with both Yang-Mills and Chern-Simons terms in the action, to background topological gravity. In our approach the Seifert condition for manifolds supporting global supersymmetry is elegantly deduced from the topological gravity BRST transformations. A cohomological characterization of the geometrical moduli which affect the partition function is obtained. In the Seifert context Chern-Simons topological (framing) anomaly is BRST trivial. We compute explicitly the corresponding local Wess-Zumino functional. As an application, we obtain the dependence on the Seifert moduli of the partition function of 3d supersymmetric gauge theory on the squashed sphere by solving the anomalous topological Ward identities, in a regularization independent way and without the need of evaluating any functional determinant.

Nilpotent symmetries in supergroup field cosmology

In this paper, we study the gauge invariance of the third quantized supergroup field cosmology which is a model for multiverse. Further, we propose both the infinitesimal (usual) as well as the finite superfield-dependent BRST symmetry transformations which leave the effective theory invariant. The effects of finite superfield-dependent BRST transformations on the path integral (so-called void functional in the case of third quantization) are implemented. Within the finite superfield-dependent BRST formulation, the finite superfield-dependent BRST transformations with specific parameter switch the void functional from one gauge to another. We establish this result for the most general gauge with the help of explicit calculations which holds for all possible sets of gauge choices at both the classical and the quantum levels.

Equivalence Between Two Different Field-Dependent BRST Formulations

Finite field-dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformations were constructed by integrating infinitesimal BRST transformation in a closed form. Such a generalized transformations have been extended in various branch of physics and found many applications. Recently BRST transformation has also been generalized with same goal and motivation in slightly different manner. In this work we have shown that the later formulation is conceptually equivalent to the earlier formulation. We justify our claim by producing the same result of later formulation using earlier FFBRST formulation.

Generalized BRST symmetry for arbitrary spin conformal field theory

We develop the finite field-dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformation for arbitrary spin-s conformal field theories. We discuss the novel features of the FFBRST transformation in these systems. To illustrate the results we consider the spin-1 and spin-2 conformal field theories in two examples. Within the formalism we found that FFBRST transformation connects the generating functionals of spin-1 and spin-2 conformal field theories in linear and non-linear gauges. Further, the conformal field theories in the framework of FFBRST transformation are also analyzed in Batalin–Vilkovisky (BV) formulation to establish the results.

An irreducible massive superspin one half action built from the chiral dotted spinor superfield

Although the chiral dotted spinor superfield should describe a Massive Superspin One Half multiplet, it has not been obvious how to derive this from an action. In this paper this is done by including a chiral undotted spinor superfield, finding the BRST transformations that govern both of these, and then finding the action as an invariant of the transformations. It turns out that both kinds of spinor superfields are needed. Moreover, the BRST transformations for the two kinds of chiral spinor superfields are generated from each other by a special involution that exchanges Grassmann odd (even) sources with Grassmann even (odd) fields.

Field-dependent symmetries in Friedmann–Robertson–Walker models

We consider effective actions of the cosmological Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) models and discuss their fermionic rigid BRST invariance. Further, we demonstrate the finite field-dependent BRST transformations as a limiting case of continuous field-dependent BRST transformations described in terms of continuous parameter κ. The Jacobian under such finite field-dependent BRST transformations is computed explicitly, which amounts an extra piece in the effective action within functional integral. We show that for a particular choice of a parameter the finite field-dependent BRST transformation maps the generating functional for FRW models from one gauge to another.

On gauge independence for gauge models with soft breaking of BRST symmetry

A consistent quantum treatment of general gauge theories with an arbitrary gauge-fixing in the presence of soft breaking of the BRST symmetry in the field–antifield formalism is developed. It is based on a gauged (involving a field-dependent parameter) version of finite BRST transformations. The prescription allows one to restore the gauge-independence of the effective action at its extremals and therefore also that of the conventional S-matrix for a theory with BRST-breaking terms being additively introduced into a BRST-invariant action in order to achieve a consistency of the functional integral. We demonstrate the applicability of this prescription within the approach of functional renormalization group to the Yang–Mills and gravity theories. The Gribov–Zwanziger action and the refined Gribov–Zwanziger action for a many-parameter family of gauges, including the Coulomb, axial and covariant gauges, are derived perturbatively on the basis of finite gauged BRST transformations starting from Landau gauge. It is proved that gauge theories with soft breaking of BRST symmetry can be made consistent if the transformed BRST-breaking terms satisfy the same soft BRST symmetry breaking condition in the resulting gauge as the untransformed ones in the initial gauge, and also without this requirement.

On composite fields approach to Gribov copies elimination in Yang-Mills theories

We suggest a method of introducing the Gribov--Zwanziger horizon functional, $H$, for Yang--Mills theories by using the composite fields technique: $\sigma (\phi )=H$. A different form of the same horizon functional in gauges $\chi $ and $\chi ^{\prime }$ is taken into account via (gauged) field-dependent BRST transformations connecting quantum Yang--Mills actions in these gauges. We introduce generating functionals of Green's functions with composite fields and derive the corresponding Ward identities. A study of gauge dependence shows that the effective action in Yang--Mills theories with the composite field $H$ does not depend on the gauge on the extremals determined by the Yang--Mills fields $\phi $ alone.

On the Gribov problem in Yang-Mills theory

I briefly review the Gribov ambiguity of Yang-Mills theory, some of its features and attempts to control it, in particular the Gribov-Zwanziger proposal to restrict the functional integration in the Landau gauge to the Gribov region. This proposal is extended to an arbitrary gauge in such a way as to guarantee BRST invariance. The key insight is that any gauge change in the generating functional can be effected by a suitable field-dependent BRST transformation. I derive a simple analytic formula for the Jacobian of such a transformation, which yields an explicit recipe for the required transformation-parameter functional and allows for the computation of the Gribov horizon functional in any gauge, as I illustrate for the class of R_xi gauges.

The BRST-invariant effective action of shadows, conformal fields, and the AdS/CFT correspondence

We study the completely symmetric, arbitrary-spin, massless and massive fields propagating in anti-de Sitter space. Using the de Donder-type gauge for such fields, we obtain a Lagrangian invariant under the global BRST transformations. We use this Lagrangian to calculate the vacuum partition function and the effective action. We show that the effective action calculated for the nonnormalizable solution of the field equations of motion with the Dirichlet boundary value problem coincides with the BRST-invariant effective action of a shadow. In the case of massless fields, the logarithmic divergence of the effective action results in a simple expression for the BRST-invariant Lagrangian of an arbitrary-spin conformal field. We show that the Nakanishi-Lautrup fields appearing in the BRST-invariant action of conformal fields can be interpreted geometrically as the boundary values of massless fields in anti-de Sitter space.

Abelian p-form (p = 1, 2, 3) gauge theories as the field theoretic models for the Hodge theory

Taking the simple examples of an Abelian 1-form gauge theory in two (1+1)-dimensions, a 2-form gauge theory in four (3+1)-dimensions and a 3-form gauge theory in six (5+1)-dimensions of space–time, we establish that such gauge theories respect, in addition to the gauge symmetry transformations that are generated by the first-class constraints of the theory, additional continuous symmetry transformations. We christen the latter symmetry transformations as the dual-gauge transformations. We generalize the above gauge and dual-gauge transformations to obtain the proper (anti-)BRST and (anti-)dual-BRST transformations for the Abelian 3-form gauge theory within the framework of BRST formalism. We concisely mention such symmetries for the 2D free Abelian 1-form and 4D free Abelian 2-form gauge theories and briefly discuss their topological aspects in our present endeavor. We conjecture that any arbitrary Abelian p-form gauge theory would respect the above cited additional symmetry in D = 2p(p = 1, 2, 3, …) dimensions of space–time. By exploiting the above inputs, we establish that the Abelian 3-form gauge theory, in six (5+1)-dimensions of space–time, is a perfect model for the Hodge theory whose discrete and continuous symmetry transformations provide the physical realizations of all aspects of the de Rham cohomological operators of differential geometry. As far as the physical utility of the above nilpotent symmetries is concerned, we demonstrate that the 2D Abelian 1-form gauge theory is a perfect model of a new class of topological theory and 4D Abelian 2-form as well as 6D Abelian 3-form gauge theories are the field theoretic models for the quasi-topological field theory.

Finite field-dependent BRST symmetry for ABJM theory in [formula omitted] superspace

In this paper we analyze the ABJM theory in N=1 superspace. Firstly we study the linear and non-linear BRST transformations for the ABJM theory. Then we derive the finite field dependent version of these BRST (FFBRST) transformations. Further we show that such FFBRST transformations relate the generating functional in linear gauge to the generating functional in the non-linear gauge of ABJM theory.