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Cohomological field theory

Abstract

An elementary introduction to some generic features of cohomological theories are given, using the four-dimensional model by Witten as example. The action governing the four-dimensional Witten model and its full BRST (Becchi, Rouet, Stora, Tyutin) symmetry is discussed. The action is interpreted as a pure gauge fixing term of a system with zero starting action. The complete set of topologically invariant operators of the model are enumerated. The descent equations that couple their BRST and de Rham cohomologies will be used to elucidate how they end up giving topological invariants even though they are local integrals of fields. The ghost symmetry of the system is discussed, and the explicit evaluation of typical topological invariants is outlined. 12 refs.
Authors:
Rajaraman, R [1] 
  1. Indian Inst. of Science, Bangalore (India). Centre for Theoretical Studies
Publication Date:
Dec 31, 1993
Product Type:
Conference
Report Number:
CONF-9105440-
Reference Number:
SCA: 662110; PA: AIX-26:064480; EDB-95:132430; SN: 95001458479
Resource Relation:
Conference: Kathmandu summer school on current topics in condensed matter and particle physics. Non-perturbative phenomena and strongly correlated systems, Kathmandu (Nepal), 19 May - 1 Jun 1991; Other Information: PBD: 1993; Related Information: Is Part Of Current topics in condensed matter and particle physics. Non-perturbative phenomena and strongly correlated systems. Kathmandu summer school lecture notes. V. 2; Pati, J. [ed.] [Maryland Univ., College Park, MD (United States)]; Shafi, Q. [ed.] [Delaware Univ., Newark, DE (United States)]; Yu Lu [ed.] [International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste (Italy)]; PB: 648 p.
Subject:
66 PHYSICS; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY; FOUR-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS; ACTION INTEGRAL; GAUGE INVARIANCE; INSTANTONS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; PARTITION FUNCTIONS; SYMMETRY; YANG-MILLS THEORY
OSTI ID:
101204
Research Organizations:
International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste (Italy)
Country of Origin:
IAEA
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ISBN 981-02-1376-X; TRN: XA9539688064480
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
pp. 58-80
Announcement Date:
Jan 16, 2004

Citation Formats

Rajaraman, R. Cohomological field theory. IAEA: N. p., 1993. Web.
Rajaraman, R. Cohomological field theory. IAEA.
Rajaraman, R. 1993. "Cohomological field theory." IAEA.
@misc{etde_101204,
title = {Cohomological field theory}
author = {Rajaraman, R}
abstractNote = {An elementary introduction to some generic features of cohomological theories are given, using the four-dimensional model by Witten as example. The action governing the four-dimensional Witten model and its full BRST (Becchi, Rouet, Stora, Tyutin) symmetry is discussed. The action is interpreted as a pure gauge fixing term of a system with zero starting action. The complete set of topologically invariant operators of the model are enumerated. The descent equations that couple their BRST and de Rham cohomologies will be used to elucidate how they end up giving topological invariants even though they are local integrals of fields. The ghost symmetry of the system is discussed, and the explicit evaluation of typical topological invariants is outlined. 12 refs.}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1993}
month = {Dec}
}