Algebraic Classification of Weyl Anomalies in Arbitrary Dimensions

Journal Article · Fri Jun 29 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.261302· OSTI ID:20953362

Boulanger, Nicolas ^[1]

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1. Academie Wallonie-Bruxelles, Mecanique et Gravitation, Universite de Mons-Hainaut, Avenue du Champ de Mars 6, B-7000 Mons (Belgium)

Conformally invariant systems involving only dimensionless parameters are known to describe particle physics at very high energy. In the presence of an external gravitational field, the conformal symmetry may generalize to the Weyl invariance of classical massless field systems in interaction with gravity. In the quantum theory, the latter symmetry no longer survives: A Weyl anomaly appears. Anomalies are a cornerstone of quantum field theory, and, for the first time, a general, purely algebraic understanding of the universal structure of the Weyl anomalies is obtained, in arbitrary dimensions and independently of any regularization scheme.

• OSTI ID: 20953362
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 98; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
CONFORMAL INVARIANCE
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
SYMMETRY
WEYL UNIFIED THEORY