BRST construction of interacting gauge theories of higher spin fields

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Annals of Physics (New York); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-4916(89)90350-3· OSTI ID:5354463

Cappiello, L; Knecht, M; Ouvry, S; Stern, J ^[1]

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1. Division de Physique Theorique, Institut de Physique Nucleaire, F-91406 Orsay Cedex, France (FR)

The problem of constructing consistent interacting theories of an infinite tower of high-spin fields is formulated in terms of a field {var phi}({ital X}) defined on a finite- or infinite-dimensional extended space-time manifold M, generalizing the concept of a string-field {var phi}({ital x}({sigma})). Using the techniques of BRST cohomology we first analyze the conditions under which a system of compatible wave equations for {var phi} defines a gauge-invariant free theory without ghosts in its physical sector. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a gauge-invariant cubic interaction are then shown to take the concise form of a graded Lie algebra, on which the BRST charge acts as an exterior derivative. Witten's string-field theory is a particular realization of this algebra. The importance of a search for other realizations, possibly operating on a finite-dimensional manifold M and/or leading to an interacting theory of massless gauge fields of any spin, is stressed and commented on. {copyright} 1989 Academic Press, Inc.

• OSTI ID: 5354463
• Journal Information: Annals of Physics (New York); (USA), Journal Name: Annals of Physics (New York); (USA) Vol. 193:1; ISSN APNYA; ISSN 0003-4916
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
BOSONS
C INVARIANCE
COMPOSITE MODELS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIMENSIONS
EQUATIONS
EXTENDED PARTICLE MODEL
FIELD OPERATORS
FIELD THEORIES
GAUGE INVARIANCE
GRADED LIE GROUPS
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LIE GROUPS
MANY-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PARTICLE MODELS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
QUANTUM OPERATORS
QUARK MODEL
SPACE-TIME
SPIN
STRING MODELS
SYMMETRY GROUPS
WAVE EQUATIONS