Finite Field Dependent BRST Transformation Research Articles

Non-Abelian Gauge Theories with Composite Fields in the Background Field Method

Non-Abelian gauge theories with composite fields are examined in the background field method. Generating functionals of Green’s functions for a Yang–Mills theory with composite and background fields are introduced, including the generating functional of vertex Green’s functions (effective action). The corresponding Ward identities are obtained, and the issue of gauge dependence is investigated. A gauge variation of the effective action is found in terms of a nilpotent operator depending on the composite and background fields. On-shell independence from the choice of gauge fixing for the effective action is established. In the study of the Ward identities and gauge dependence, finite field-dependent BRST transformations with a background field are introduced and employed on a systematic basis. On the one hand, this involves the consideration of (modified) Ward identities with a field-dependent anticommuting parameter, also depending on a non-trivial background. On the other hand, the issue of gauge dependence is studied with reference to a finite variation of the gauge Fermion. The concept of a joint introduction of composite and background fields to non-Abelian gauge theories is exemplified by the Gribov–Zwanziger theory, including the case of a local BRST-invariant horizon, and also by the Volovich–Katanaev model of two-dimensional gravity with dynamical torsion.

BFV quantization and BRST symmetries of the gauge invariant fourth-order Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator

We perform the BFV-BRST quantization of the fourth-order Pais-Uhlenbeck oscillator (PUO) for the first time. We show that although the PUO is not naturally constrained in the sense of Dirac-Bergmann, it is possible to profit from the introduction of suitable constraints in phase space in order to obtain a proper BRST invariant quantum system. Starting from its second-class constrained system description, we use the BFFT formalism to obtain first-class constraints as gauge symmetry generators. After the Abelianization of the constraints, we obtain the conserved BRST charge, the corresponding BRST transformations and proceed further to the BFV functional quantization of the model. We further construct appropriate finite field dependent BRST transformation to establish the interconnections between different BRST invariant effective theories of PUO in different gauges. Our approach sheds light on the open problem of the quantization of general higher derivative quantum field theories.

BRST symmetry as a mechanism for confinement in the inter gauge framework

The finite field dependent BRST (FFBRST) technique generally interrelates two different gauge fixed theories. Here we propose a new and unique FFBRST transformation that transforms the effective theory in Lorenz gauge, which represents perturbative or deconfined phase of QCD to massive gauge theory. The exercise serves two purposes. First is of course that it is a distinct connection where one of the theories is not gauge fixed and BRST invariant therefore, it is expected to give newer insights into FFBRST technique itself. Second is that a particular case of this transformation holds a novel physical significance of acting as general mechanism for confinement across two different gauge theories. Thus, the present task identifies a profound non-perturbative implication of the BRST symmetry in a general setting.

BRST symmetry as a mechanism for confinement

The SU(N) QCD in a particular quadratic gauge is shown to contain two phases namely, the deconfined phase and the confined phase. A suitable field dependent parameter in the finite field dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformation interrelates the effective theories in two different gauges. In this paper, we propose a novel application and extension of the FFBRST technique that transforms the effective action in the deconfined phase to that in the confined phase within the quadratic gauge only. The proposed passage becomes interesting as it carries a unique field theoretic meaning and due to the fact that the technique changes the BRST invariant phase to BRST non invariant phase in an unconventional way unlike usual connections where both the theories, before and after application of FFBRST, are BRST invariant. We thus find a new process in field redefinition that executes deconfinement to confinement phase transition other than ghost condensation mechanism.

Generalized quantum electrodynamics in the framework of generalized BRST transformation

Podolsky's electromagnetism which explains some of unresolved problems of usual QED has been investigated in the framework of finite field-dependent (FFBRST) BRST transformation. In this generalized QED (GQED), BRST invariant effective theories are written using generalized Lorenz gauge, and no mixing gauge condition , and it contains higher-order derivative terms. No mixing gauge is free from UV divergences in the radiative correction and easier to handle. We construct appropriate FFBRST transformation to obtain generating functional in no mixing gauge from that in Lorenz gauge. We show that all these BRST invariant effective theories in GQED are basically the same and are inter-connected with appropriately constructed FFBRST transformations.

Non-perturbative to perturbative QCD via the FFBRST

Recently a new type of quadratic gauge was introduced in QCD in which the degrees of freedom are suggestive of a phase of abelian dominance. In its simplest form it is also free of Gribov ambiguity. However this gauge is not suitable for usual perturbation theory. The finite field dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformation is a method established to interrelate generating functionals for different effective versions of gauge fixed field theories. In this paper we propose a FFBRST transformation suitable for transforming the theory in the new quadratic gauge into the standard Lorenz gauge Faddeev–Popov version of the effective lagrangian. The task is made interesting by the fact that the effective lagrangian is invariant under two different BRST transformations which leads to suitable extension of the previous procedures to accomplish the required result. We are thus able to identify a field redefinition to go from a non-perturbative phase of QCD to perturbative QCD.

BRST Quantization of Unimodular Gravity

We study the quantization of two versions of unimodular gravity, namely, fully diffeomorphism-invariant unimodular gravity and unimodular gravity with fixed metric determinant utilizing standard path integral approach. We derive the BRST symmetry of effective actions corresponding to several relevant gauge conditions. We observe that for some gauge conditions, the restricted gauge structure may complicate the formulation and effective actions, in particular, if the chosen gauge conditions involve the canonical momentum conjugate to the induced metric on the spatial hypersurface. The BRST symmetry is extended further to the finite field-dependent BRST transformation, in order to establish the mapping between different gauge conditions in each of the two versions of unimodular gravity.

Comparative analysis of finite field-dependent BRST transformations

We present a review of our recent study (A. Reshetnyak, IJMPA 29 (2014) 1450128; P. Moshin, A. Reshetnyak, Nucl. Phys. B 888 (2014) 92; Phys. Lett B 739 (2014) 110; IJMPA 29 (2014) 1450159; IJMPA 30 (2015) 1550021; IJMPA 31 (2016) 1650111), in which the concept of finite field-dependent BRST and BRST-antiBRST transformations for gauge theories was introduced, and their properties investigated. An algorithm of exact calculation for the Jacobian of a respective change of variables in the path integral is presented. Applications to the Yang--Mills theory and Standard Model, in view of infra-red (Gribov) peculiarities, are discussed.

On the Finite Brst Transformations: the Jacobians and the Standard Model with the Gauge-Invariant Gribov Horizon

We review the concept and properties of finite field-dependent BRST and BRST-antiBRST transformations introduced in our recent study (A. Reshetnyak, IJMPA 29 (2014) 1450128, P. Moshin, A. Reshetnyak, Nucl. Phys. B 888 (2014) 92, Phys. Lett B 739 (2014) 110, IJMPA 29 (2014) 1450159, IJMPA 30 (2015) 1550021, IJMPA 31 (2016) 1650111, [arxiv:1604.03027 [hep-th]]) for gauge theories. Exact rules for calculating the Jacobian of a corresponding change of variables in the partition function are presented. Infrared peculiarities under $R_\xi$-gauges in the Yang--Mills theory and Standard Model are examined in a gauge-invariant way with an appropriate horizon functional and unaffected local $N=1,2$ BRST symmetries.

Double Hodge Theory for a Particle on Torus

We investigate all possible nilpotent symmetries for a particle on torus. We explicitly construct four independent nilpotent BRST symmetries for such systems and derive the algebra between the generators of such symmetries. We show that such a system has rich mathematical properties and behaves as double Hodge theory. We further construct the finite field dependent BRST transformation for such systems by integrating the infinitesimal BRST transformation systematically. Such a finite transformation is useful in realizing the various theories with toric geometry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Field-dependent BRST–antiBRST transformations in Yang–Mills and Gribov–Zwanziger theories

We introduce the notion of finite BRST–antiBRST transformations, both global and field-dependent, with a doublet λa, a=1,2, of anticommuting Grassmann parameters and find explicit Jacobians corresponding to these changes of variables in Yang–Mills theories. It turns out that the finite transformations are quadratic in their parameters. At the same time, exactly as in the case of finite field-dependent BRST transformations for the Yang–Mills vacuum functional, special field-dependent BRST–antiBRST transformations, with sa-potential parameters λa=saΛ induced by a finite even-valued functional Λ and by the anticommuting generators sa of BRST–antiBRST transformations, amount to a precise change of the gauge-fixing functional. This proves the independence of the vacuum functional under such BRST–antiBRST transformations. We present the form of transformation parameters that generates a change of the gauge in the path integral and evaluate it explicitly for connecting two arbitrary Rξ-like gauges. For arbitrary differentiable gauges, the finite field-dependent BRST–antiBRST transformations are used to generalize the Gribov horizon functional h, given in the Landau gauge, and being an additive extension of the Yang–Mills action by the Gribov horizon functional in the Gribov–Zwanziger model. This generalization is achieved in a manner consistent with the study of gauge independence. We also discuss an extension of finite BRST–antiBRST transformations to the case of general gauge theories and present an ansatz for such transformations.

Finite field-dependent symmetries in perturbative quantum gravity

In this paper we discuss the absolutely anticommuting nilpotent symmetries for perturbative quantum gravity in general curved spacetime in linear and non-linear gauges. Further, we analyze the finite field-dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformation for perturbative quantum gravity in general curved spacetime. The FFBRST transformation changes the gauge-fixing and ghost parts of the perturbative quantum gravity within functional integration. However, the operation of such symmetry transformation on the generating functional of perturbative quantum gravity does not affect the theory on physical ground. The FFBRST transformation with appropriate choices of finite BRST parameter connects non-linear Curci–Ferrari and Landau gauges of perturbative quantum gravity. The validity of the results is also established at quantum level using Batalin–Vilkovisky (BV) formulation.

Finite Nilpotent BRST Transformations in Hamiltonian Formulation

We consider the finite field dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformations in the context of Hamiltonian formulation using Batalin-Fradkin-Vilkovisky method. The non-trivial Jacobian of such transformations is calculated in extended phase space. The contribution from Jacobian can be written as exponential of some local functional of fields which can be added to the effective Hamiltonian of the system. Thus, FFBRST in Hamiltonian formulation with extended phase space also connects different effective theories. We establish this result with the help of two explicit examples. We also show that the FFBRST transformations is similar to the canonical transformations in the sector of Lagrange multiplier and its corresponding momenta.

Finite BRST transformation and constrained systems

We establish the connection between the generating functional for the first class theories and the generating functional for the second class theories using the finite field dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformation. We show this connection with the help of explicit calculations in two different models. The generating functional of the Proca model is obtained from the generating functional of the Stueckelberg theory for massive spin 1 vector field using FFBRST transformation. In the other example we relate the generating functionals for gauge invariant and gauge variant theories for a self-dual chiral boson.

Relating the generating functionals in field/antifield formulation through finite field dependent BRST transformation

We study the field/antifield formulation of pure Yang Mills theory in the framework of finite field dependent BRST transformation. We show that the generating functionals corresponding to different solutions of quantum master equation are connected through the finite field dependent BRST transformations. We establish this result with the help of several explicit examples.