BRST construction of interacting gauge theories of higher spin fields
- 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), Vol. 193:1; ISSN 0003-4916
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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QUANTUM FIELD THEORY
STRING MODELS
SPIN
BOSONS
C INVARIANCE
DIMENSIONS
FIELD OPERATORS
GAUGE INVARIANCE
GRADED LIE GROUPS
MANY-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
MASS
SPACE-TIME
WAVE EQUATIONS
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
COMPOSITE MODELS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EXTENDED PARTICLE MODEL
FIELD THEORIES
INVARIANCE PRINCIPLES
LIE GROUPS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICAL OPERATORS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PARTICLE MODELS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
QUANTUM OPERATORS
QUARK MODEL
SYMMETRY GROUPS
645400* - High Energy Physics- Field Theory