Quantum Antibrackets Research Articles

Anomalies in Time-Ordered Products and Applications to the BV–BRST Formulation of Quantum Gauge Theories

We show that every (graded) derivation on the algebra of free quantum fields and their Wick powers in curved spacetimes gives rise to a set of anomalous Ward identities for time-ordered products, with an explicit formula for their classical limit. We study these identities for the Koszul-Tate and the full BRST differential in the BV-BRST formulation of perturbatively interacting quantum gauge theories, and clarify the relation to previous results. In particular, we show that the quantum BRST differential, the quantum antibracket and the higher-order anomalies form an $L_\infty$ algebra. The defining relations of this algebra ensure that the gauge structure is well-defined on cohomology classes of the quantum BRST operator, i.e., observables. Furthermore, we show that one can determine contact terms such that also the interacting time-ordered products of multiple interacting fields are well defined on cohomology classes. An important technical improvement over previous treatments is the fact that all our relations hold off-shell and are independent of the concrete form of the Lagrangian, including the case of open gauge algebras.

Superfield Generating Equation of Field-Antifield Formalism

A simple quantum superfield generating equation of the field-antifield formalism is proposed. The Schroedinger equation with the Hamiltonian having $\Delta$-exact form is derived. An $Sp(2)$ symmetric extension to the main construction, with specific features caused by the principal fact that all basic equations become $Sp(2)$ vector-valued ones, is presented. A principal role of quantum antibrackets in formulation of the Heisenberg equations of motion is shown.

Superfield generating equation of field\u2013antifield formalism as a hyper-gauge theory

Within a superfield approach, we formulate a simple quantum generating equation of the field–antifield formalism. Then we derive the Schroedinger equation with the Hamiltonian whose Delta -exact part serves as a generator to the quantum master transformations. We show that these generators do satisfy a nice composition law in terms of the quantum antibrackets. We also present an Sp(2) symmetric extension to the main construction, with specific features caused by the principal fact that all basic equations become Sp(2) vector-valued ones.

Superfield Hamiltonian quantization in terms of quantum antibrackets

We develop a new version of the superfield Hamiltonian quantization. The main new feature is that the BRST-BFV charge and the gauge fixing Fermion are introduced on equal footing within the sigma model approach, which provides for the actual use of the quantum/derived antibrackets. We study in detail the generating equations for the quantum antibrackets and their primed counterparts. We discuss the finite quantum anticanonical transformations generated by the quantum antibracket.

BRST-Invariant Algebra of Constraints in Terms of Commutators and Quantum Antibrackets

General structure of BRST-invariant constraint algebra is established, in its commutator and antibracket forms, by means of formulation of algebra-generating equations in yet more extended phase space. New ghost-type variables behave as fields and antifields with respect to quantum antibrackets. Explicit form of BRST-invariant gauge algebra is given in detail for rank-one theories with Weyl- and Wick- ordered ghost sector. A gauge-fixed unitarizing Hamiltonian is constructed, and the formalism is shown to be physically equivalent to the standard BRST-BFV approach.

QUANTUM BRST AND ANTI-BRST INVARIANCE OF THE Uq(2) BF–YANG–MILLS THEORY: THE QUANTUM BATALIN–VILKOVISKY OPERATOR

In this paper, we present the quantum Uq(2) BF–Yang–Mills theory. Quantization using BRST and anti-BRST symmetry formalisms is discussed. We introduce the quantum analog of the Batalin–Vilkovisky operator, the quantum antibracket and the quantum master equation. The construction of this quantum gauge theory is elaborated in order to fit the Hopf algebra structure.

Quantum Sp(2)-antibrackets and open groups

The recently presented quantum antibrackets are generalized to quantum Sp(2)-antibrackets. For the class of commuting operators there are true quantum versions of the classical Sp(2)-antibrackets. For arbitrary operators we have a generalized bracket structure involving higher Sp(2)-antibrackets. It is shown that these quantum antibrackets may be obtained from generating operators involving operators in arbitrary involutions. A recently presented quantum master equation for operators, which was proposed to encode generalized quantum Maurer-Cartan equations for arbitrary open groups, is generalized to the Sp(2) formalism. In these new quantum master equations the generalized Sp(2)-brackets appear naturally.

General quantum antibrackets

The recently introduced quantum antibracket is further generalized such that the odd operator Q can be arbitrary. We give exact formulas for quantum antibrackets of arbitrary higher orders and for their generalized Jacobi identities. We review applications of the quantum antibrackets to the BV and BFV-BRST quantizations and include some new aspects.

Open groups of constraints. Integrating arbitrary involutions

A new type of quantum master equation is presented which is expressed in terms of a recently introduced quantum antibracket. The equation involves only two operators: an extended nilpotent BFV-BRST charge and an extended ghost charge. It is proposed to determine the generalized quantum Maurer-Cartan equations for arbitrary open groups. These groups are the integration of constraints in arbitrary involutions. The only condition for this is that the constraint operators may be embedded in an odd nilpotent operator, the BFV-BRST charge. The proposal is verified at the quasigroup level. The integration formulas are also used to construct a generating operator for quantum antibrackets of operators in arbitrary involutions.

Quantum antibrackets

A binary expression in terms of operators is given which satisfies all the quantum counterparts of the algebraic properties of the classical antibracket. This quantum antibracket has therefore the same relation to the classical antibracket as commutators to Poisson brackets. It is explained how this quantum antibracket is related to the classical antibracket and the Δ-operator in the BV-quantization. Higher quantum antibrackets are introduced in terms of generating operators, which automatically yield all their subsequent Jacobi identities as well as the consistent Leibniz' rules.