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Local BRST cohomology in the antifield formalism. Pt. 1. General theorems

Abstract

We establish general theorems on the cohomology H{sup *}(svertical stroke d) of the BRST differential modulo the spacetime exterior derivative, acting in the algebra of local p-forms depending on the fields and the antifields (= sources for the BRST variations). It is shown that H{sup -k}(svertical stroke d) is isomorphic H{sub k}({delta}vertical stroke d) in negative ghost degree -k (k > 0), where {delta} is the Koszul-Tate differential associated with the stationary surface. The cohomological group H{sub 1}({delta}vertical stroke d) in form degree n is proved to be isomorphic to the space of constants of the motion, thereby providing a cohomological reformulation of Noether theorem. More generally, the group H{sub k}({delta}vertical stroke d) in form degree n is isomorphic to the space of n - k forms that are closed when the equations of motion hold. The groups H{sub k}({delta}vertical stroke d) (k > 2) are shown to vanish for standard irreducible gauge theories. The group H{sub 2}({delta}vertical stroke d) is then calculated explicitly for electromagnetism, Yang-Mills models and Einstein gravity. The invariance of the groups H{sup k}(svertical stroke d) under the introduction of non minimal variables and of auxiliary fields is also demonstrated. In a companion paper, the general  More>>
Authors:
Barnich, G; [1]  Henneaux, M; [1]  Brandt, F [2] 
  1. Universite Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium). Faculte des Sciences
  2. Nationaal Inst. voor Kernfysica en Hoge-Energiefysica (NIKHEF), Amsterdam (Netherlands). Sectie H
Publication Date:
Dec 31, 1994
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
NIKHEF-H-94-13; ULB-TH-94/06; HEPTH-9405109.
Reference Number:
SCA: 662110; PA: AIX-27:011790; EDB-96:041311; NTS-96:013259; SN: 96001539950
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1994
Subject:
66 PHYSICS; ALGEBRAIC FIELD THEORY; DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS; ALGEBRA; CONSERVATION LAWS; IRREDUCIBLE REPRESENTATIONS; LAGRANGE EQUATIONS; LAGRANGIAN FIELD THEORY; LIE GROUPS; LOCALITY; PERTURBATION THEORY; QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS; QUANTUM GRAVITY; SPACE-TIME; UNIFIED GAUGE MODELS; YANG-MILLS THEORY
OSTI ID:
182612
Research Organizations:
Nationaal Inst. voor Kernfysica en Hoge-Energiefysica (NIKHEF), Amsterdam (Netherlands). Sectie H
Country of Origin:
Netherlands
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE96612684; TRN: NL95FN006011790
Availability:
INIS; OSTI as DE96612684
Submitting Site:
NLN
Size:
32 p.
Announcement Date:
Feb 21, 1996

Citation Formats

Barnich, G, Henneaux, M, and Brandt, F. Local BRST cohomology in the antifield formalism. Pt. 1. General theorems. Netherlands: N. p., 1994. Web.
Barnich, G, Henneaux, M, & Brandt, F. Local BRST cohomology in the antifield formalism. Pt. 1. General theorems. Netherlands.
Barnich, G, Henneaux, M, and Brandt, F. 1994. "Local BRST cohomology in the antifield formalism. Pt. 1. General theorems." Netherlands.
@misc{etde_182612,
title = {Local BRST cohomology in the antifield formalism. Pt. 1. General theorems}
author = {Barnich, G, Henneaux, M, and Brandt, F}
abstractNote = {We establish general theorems on the cohomology H{sup *}(svertical stroke d) of the BRST differential modulo the spacetime exterior derivative, acting in the algebra of local p-forms depending on the fields and the antifields (= sources for the BRST variations). It is shown that H{sup -k}(svertical stroke d) is isomorphic H{sub k}({delta}vertical stroke d) in negative ghost degree -k (k > 0), where {delta} is the Koszul-Tate differential associated with the stationary surface. The cohomological group H{sub 1}({delta}vertical stroke d) in form degree n is proved to be isomorphic to the space of constants of the motion, thereby providing a cohomological reformulation of Noether theorem. More generally, the group H{sub k}({delta}vertical stroke d) in form degree n is isomorphic to the space of n - k forms that are closed when the equations of motion hold. The groups H{sub k}({delta}vertical stroke d) (k > 2) are shown to vanish for standard irreducible gauge theories. The group H{sub 2}({delta}vertical stroke d) is then calculated explicitly for electromagnetism, Yang-Mills models and Einstein gravity. The invariance of the groups H{sup k}(svertical stroke d) under the introduction of non minimal variables and of auxiliary fields is also demonstrated. In a companion paper, the general formalism is applied to the calculation of H{sup k}(svertical stroke d) in Yang-Mills theory, which is carried out in detail for an arbitrary compact gauge group. (orig.).}
place = {Netherlands}
year = {1994}
month = {Dec}
}