We study $SU(n)$ symmetry breaking by rank three and rank two antisymmetric tensor fields. Using tensor analysis, we derive branching rules for the adjoint and antisymmetric tensor representations, and explain why for general $SU(n)$ one finds the same $U(1)$ generator mismatch that we noted earlier in special cases. We then compute the masses of the various scalar fields in the branching expansion, in terms of parameters of the general renormalizable potential for the antisymmetric tensor fields.
One kind of spontaneous (2+1)-dimensional Lorentz symmetry breaking is discussed. The symmetry breaking pattern is $SO(2,1)\rightarrow SO(1,1)$. Using the coset construction formalism, we derive the Goldstone covariant derivative and the associated covariant gauge field. Finally, the two-derivative low-energy effective action of the Nambu-Goldstone bosons is obtained.
In string theory, higher rank antisymmetric tensor fields appear as massless excitations of closed strings. Till date there is no experimental support in favour of their existence. In a stringy framework, starting from a warped throat-like Klebanov-Strassler geometry, we show that all the massless higher rank antisymmetric tensor fields are heavily suppressed due to the background fluxes leading to their invisibility in our Universe.
We discuss Type IIB 5-brane configurations for 5d $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theories with hypermultiplets in the rank-3 antisymmetric representation and with various other hypermultiplets, which flow to a UV fixed point at the infinite coupling. We propose 5-brane web diagrams for the theories of $SU(6)$ and $Sp(3)$ gauge groups with rank-3 antisymmetric matter and check our proposed 5-brane webs against several consistency conditions implied from the one-loop corrected prepotential. Using the obtained 5-brane webs for rank-3 antisymmetric matter, we apply the topological vertex method to compute …
Spontaneous violation of Lorentz symmetry by the vacuum condensation of an antisymmetric $2$-tensor is considered. The coset construction for nonlinear realization of spacetime symmetries is employed to build the most general low-energy effective action for the Goldstone modes interacting with photons. We analyze the model within the context of the Standard-Model Extension and noncommutative QED. Experimental bounds for some parameters of the model are discussed, and we readdress the subtle issues of stability and causality in Lorentz non-invariant scenarios. Besides the two photon polarizatio…
We study the effective actions for massive rank-2 and rank-3 antisymmetric tensor field models in curved space-time. These models are classically equivalent to massive vector field and massive scalar field with minimal coupling to gravity respectively. We prove that effective action for massive rank-2 antisymmetric tensor field is exactly equal to one for massive vector field and effective action for massive rank-3 antisymmetric tensor field is exactly equal to one for massive scalar field. Prove is based on an identity for mass-dependent zeta-functions associated with Laplacians acting on $p$…
It was known for a long time that in d = 4 dimensions it is impossible to construct the Lagrangian for antisymmetric second rank spin-tensor that will be invariant under the gauge transformations with unconstrained spin-vector parameter. But recently a paper arXiv:0902.1471 appeared where gauge invariant Lagrangians for antisymmetric spin-tensors of arbitrary rank n in d > 2n were constructed using powerful BRST approach. To clarify apparent contradiction, in this note we carry a direct independent analysis of the most general first order Lagrangian for the massless antisymmetric spin-tensor o…
We study $SU(8)$ symmetry breaking induced by minimizing the Coleman-Weinberg effective potential for a third rank antisymmetric tensor scalar field in the 56 representation. Instead of breaking $SU(8) \supset SU(3) \times SU(5)$, we find that the stable minimum of the potential breaks the original symmetry according to $SU(8) \supset SU(3) \times Sp(4)$. Using both numerical and analytical methods, we present results for the potential minimum, the corresponding Goldstone boson structure and BEH mechanism, and the group-theoretic classification of the residual states after symmetry breaking.
We apply a superspace formulation to the four-dimensional gauge theory of a massless Abelian antisymmetric tensor field of rank 2. The theory is formulated in a six-dimensional superspace using rank-2 tensor, vector and scalar superfields and their associated supersources. It is shown that BRS transformation rules of fields are realized as Euler-Lagrange equations without assuming the so-called horizontality condition and that a generating functional $\bar{W}$ constracted in the superspace reduces to that for the ordinary gauge theory of Abelian rank-2 antisymmetric tensor field. The WT identi…
I discuss the possibility of topological defect solutions in field theories containing a tensor field which spontaneously breaks Lorentz symmetry. I find that for theories of a tensor with rank r <= 5 and for which the vacuum manifold consists of the tensors whose "square" is some constant value, only three types of tensor (vectors, antisymmetric two-tensors, and symmetric two-tensors) have the appropriate vacuum manifold topology to support topological defects. Of these, topological defect solutions can be easily constructed for two: vector domain wall solutions and antisymmetric tensor monop…
The interaction between the complex antisymmetric tensor matter field and a scalar field is constructed. We analyze the Higgs mechanism and show the generation of mass and topological terms by spontaneous symmetry breaking.
We study a set of theories built on a ranked sequence of antisymmetric tensor fields in D dimensional space-time. These linear theories exhibit gauge invariances that are analogous to the local gauge invariance of a massless vector (Maxwell) field. By appropriate arrangements of pairs of sequentially ranked interacting fields in each member of a series of action functionals, we produce a sequence of corresponding Higgs mechanism generalizations. Therefore, mass arises in one field of each pair at the expense of the independent existence of the other. The length of the sequence is determined by…
We derive a dual theory of the four-dimensional anomalous U(1) gauge theory with a Wess--Zumino (WZ) term and with a Stückelberg type mass term by means of a duality transformation at each of the classical and quantum levels. It is shown that in the dual anomalous U(1) gauge theory, the $BF$ term with a rank-two antisymmetric tensor field plays the roles of the WZ term as well as the mass term of the U(1) gauge field. Similar anomalous U(1) gauge theory with $BF$ term is considered in six-dimensions by introducing a rank-four antisymmetric tensor field. In addition to this theory, we propose a…
We show that a U(1) gauge theory defined in the configuration space for closed p-branes yields the gauge theory of a massless rank-(p+1) antisymmetric tensor field and the Stueckelberg formalism for a massive vector field.
We generalize the BRST transformations in Abelian rank-2 tensor field theory by allowing the parameter to be finite and field dependent and show that such transformations play crucial role in studying the Abelian 2-form gauge theory in noncovariant gauges. The generating functionals in different effective theories are connected through these generalized BRST transformations with different choice of finite parameter. We further consider the generalization of the anti-BRST transformations and show that even anti-BRST transformations with the finite field dependent parameter relate the generating…
We analyze to all perturbative orders the properties of two possible quantum extensions of classically on-shell equivalent antisymmetric tensor gauge models in four dimensions. The first case, related to the soft breaking of a topological theory wants a gauge field of canonical dimension one. The other possibility, which assigns canonical dimension two to the gauge field, leads to the $σ$ model interpretation of the theory. In both instances we find that the models are anomaly free.
In this paper, we formulate a theory of the second-rank antisymmetric (pseudo)tensor field minimally coupled to a spinor, calculate the one-loop effective potential of the (pseudo)tensor field, and, explicitly, demonstrate that it is positively defined and possesses a continuous set of minima, both for tensor and pseudotensor cases. Therefore, our model turns out to display the dynamical Lorentz symmetry breaking. We also argue that, contrarily to the derivative coupling we use here, derivative-free couplings of the antisymmetric tensor field to a spinor do not generate the positively defined …
We extend the worldline description of vector and antisymmetric tensor fields coupled to gravity to the massive case. In particular, we derive a worldline path integral representation for the one-loop effective action of a massive antisymmetric tensor field of rank p (a massive p-form) whose dynamics is dictated by a standard Proca-like lagrangian coupled to a background metric. This effective action can be computed in a proper time expansion to obtain the corresponding Seeley-DeWitt coefficients a0, a1, a2. The worldline approach immediately shows that these coefficients are derived from the …
We consider bulk antisymmetric tensor fields of various ranks in a Randall-Sundrum scenario. We show that, rank-2 onwards, the zero-modes of the projections of these fields on the (3+1) dimensional visible brane become increasingly weaker as the rank of the tensor increases. All such tensor fields of rank 4 or more are absent from the dynamics in four dimensions. This leaves only the zero-mode graviton to have coupling $\sim 1/M_P$ with matter, thus explaining why the large-scale behaviour of the universe is governed by gravity only. We have also computed the masses of the heavier modes upto r…
We develop a BRST symmetric gaugeon formalism for the Abelian rank-2 antisymmetric tensor field in the Lorentz breaking framework. The Lorentz breaking is achieved here by considering a proper subgroup of Lorentz group together with translation. In this scenario, the gaugeon fields together with the standard fields of the Abelian rank-2 antisymmetric tensor theory get mass. In order to develop the gaugeon formulation for this theory in VSR, we first introduce a set of dipole vector fields as a quantum gauge freedom to the action. In order to quantize the dipole vector fields, the VSR-modified …
We prove rigorously that the symmetric traceless and the antisymmetric tensor models in rank three with tetrahedral interaction admit a $1/N$ expansion, and that at leading order they are dominated by melon diagrams. This proves the recent conjecture of I. Klebanov and G. Tarnopolsky in JHEP 10 (2017) 037 [arXiv:1706.00839], which they checked numerically up to 8th order in the coupling constant.
A new type of topological matter interactions involving second-rank antisymmetric tensor matter fields with an underlying $N_T \geq 1$ topological supersymmetry are proposed. The construction of the 4-dimensional, $N_T = 1$ Donaldson-Witten theory, the $N_T = 1$ super-BF model and the $N_T = 2$ topological B-model with tensor matter are explicitly worked out.
Starting from the Fierz transform of the two-flavour 't Hooft interaction (a four-fermion Lagrangian with antisymmetric Lorentz tensor interaction terms augmented by an NJL type Lorentz scalar inetraction responsible for dynamical symmetry breaking and quark mass generation), we show that: (1) antisymmetric tensor Nambu-Goldstone bosons appear provided that the scalar and tensor couplings stand in the proportion of two to one, which ratio appears naturally in the Fierz transform of the two-flavour 't Hooft interaction; (2) non-Abelian vector gauge bosons coupled to this system acquire a non-ze…
In this work we consider the issue of localization of antisymmetric tensor fields of arbitrary rank in a D dimensional Space-time with a codimension two. A string-like defect is used to simulate the membrane. The localization of massless and massive fields is found. The mass spectrum is infinitely degenerate for each mass level and this is solved by coupling the $q-$form to fermions.
By using the Hamiltonian version of the AdS/CFT correspondence, we compute the two-point Green function of a local operator in D=4 N=4 super Yang-Mills theory, which corresponds to a massive antisymmetric tensor field of the second rank on the $AdS_{5}$ background. We discuss the conformal transformations induced on the boundary by isometries of $AdS_{5}$.
We compute the vacuum expectation values of $1/6$ supersymmetric Wilson loops in higher dimensional representations of the gauge group in ABJM theory. We present results for the $m$-symmetric and $m$-antisymmetric representations by exploiting standard matrix model techniques. At leading order, in the saddle point approximation, our expressions reproduce holographic results from both D6 and D2 branes corresponding to the antisymmetric and symmetric representations, respectively. We also compute 1/N corrections to the leading saddle point results.
We obtain the 16 higher spin currents with spins (1,3/2,3/2,2),(3/2, 2,2, 5/2), (3/2,2,2, 5/2) and (2,5/2,5/2,3) in the N=4 superconformal Wolf space coset SU(N+2)/[SU(N) x SU(2) x U(1)]. The antisymmetric second rank tensor occurs in the quadratic spin-1/2 Kac-Moody currents of the higher spin-1 current. Each higher spin-3/2 current contains the above antisymmetric second rank tensor and three symmetric (and traceless) second rank tensors (i.e. three antisymmetric almost complex structures contracted by the above antisymmetric tensor) in the product of spin-1/2 and spin-1 Kac-Moody currents r…
In the recent paper Buchbinder, Kirillova and Pletnev presented formal arguments concerning quantum equivalence of free massive antisymmetric tensor fields of second and third rank to the free Proca theory and massive scalar field with minimal coupling to gravity, respectively. We confirm this result using explicit covariant calculations of non-local form factors based on the heart-kernel technique, and discuss the discontinuity of quantum contributions in the massless limit.
We present a simple renormalizable abelian gauge model which includes antisymmetric second-rank tensor fields as matter fields rather than gauge fields known for a long time. The free action is conformally rather than gauge invariant. The quantization of the free fields is analyzed and the one-loop renormalization-group functions are evaluated. Transverse free waves are found to convey no energy. The coupling constant of the axial-vector abelian gauge interaction exhibits asymptotically free ultraviolet behavior, while the self-couplings of the tensor fields do not asymptotically diminish.
We apply the BRST approach, developed for higher spin field theories, to Lagrangian construction for totally antisymmetric massive fermionic fields in AdS_d space. As well as generic higher spin massive theories, the obtained Lagrangian theory is a reducible gauge model containing, besides the basic field, a number of auxiliary (Stuckelberg) fields and the order of reducibility grows with the value of the rank of the antisymmetric field. However, unlike the generic higher spin theory, for the special case under consideration we show that one can get rid of all the auxiliary fields and the fina…
We discuss a quantum-theoretical aspect of the massive Abelian antisymmetric tensor gauge theory with antisymmetric tensor current. To this end, an Abelian rank-2 antisymmetric tensor field is quantized both in the covariant gauge with an arbitrary gauge parameter and in the axial gauge of the Landau type. The covariant quantization yields the generating functional written in terms of an antisymmetric tensor current and its divergence. Origins of the terms in the generating functional are clearly understood in comparison with the quantization in the unitary gauge. The quantization in the axial…
It has long been claimed that antisymmetric tensor field of the second rank is longitudinal after quantization. Such a situation is quite unacceptable from a viewpoint of the Correspondence Principle. On the basis of the Lagrangian formalism we calculate the Pauli-Lyuban'sky vector of relativistic spin for this field. Even at the classical level it can be equal to zero after application of the well-known constraints. The correct quantization procedure permits us to propose solution of this puzzle in the modern field theory. Obtained results develop the previous consideration of Evans [{\it Phy…
We continue our study of Coleman-Weinberg symmetry breaking induced by a third rank antisymmetric tensor scalar, in the context of the $SU(8)$ model we proposed earlier. We focus in this paper on qualitative features that will determine whether the model can make contact with the observed particle spectrum. We discuss the mechanism for giving the spin $\frac{3}{2}$ field a mass by the BEH mechanism, and analyze the remaining massless spin $\frac{1}{2}$ fermions, the global chiral symmetries, and the running couplings after symmetry breaking. We note that the smallest gluon mass matrix eigenval…
Covariant quantization of rank-2 antisymmetric fields is non-trivial due to additional symmetries of the gauge parameters. We present an intuitive way to deal with this additional symmetry of gauge parameters in terms of geometrical understanding of field space. We generalize the DeWitt-Vilkovisky covariant effective action formalism for quantization of such theories. As an application, we quantize a massive rank-2 antisymmetric field using the covariant effective action approach and reproduce previously obtained results.
We study the different phases of field theories of compact antisymmetric tensors of rank $h-1$ in arbitrary space-time dimensions $D=d+1$. Starting in a `Coulomb' phase, topological defects of dimension $d-h-1$ ($(d-h-1)$-branes) may condense leading to a generalized `confinement' phase. If the dual theory is also compact the model may also have a third, generalized `Higgs' phase, driven by the condensation of the dual $(h-2)$-branes. Developing on the work of Julia and Toulouse for ordered solid-state media, we obtain the low energy effective action for these phases. Each phase has two dual d…
In the recently proposed extension of the YM theory, non-Abelian tensor gauge field of the second rank is represented by a general tensor whose symmetric part describes the propagation of charged gauge boson of helicity two and its antisymmetric part - the helicity zero charged gauge boson. On the non-interacting level these polarizations are similar to the polarizations of the graviton and of the Abelian antisymmetric B field, but the interaction of these gauge bosons carrying non-commutative internal charges cannot be directly identified with the interaction of gravitons or B field. Our inte…
A field theoretic description of monopole condensation in strongly coupled gauge theories is given by actions involving antisymmetric tensors B_{μν} of rank 2. We rederive the corresponding action for 4d compact QED, summing explicitly over all possible monopole configurations. Its gauge symmetries and Ward identities are discussed. Then we consider the Wilsonian RGs for Yang-Mills theories in the presence of collective fields (again tensors B_{μν}) for the field strengths F_{μν} associated to the U(1) subgroups. We show that a ``vector-like'' Ward identity for the Wilsonian action involving B…
We consider a Yang--Mills theory in loop space whose gauge group is a Kac--Moody group with the central extension. From this theory, we derive a local field theory constructed of Yang--Mills fields and abelian antisymmetric and symmetric tensor fields of the second rank. The Chapline--Manton coupling, that is, coupling of Yang--Mills fields and a second-rank antisymmetric tensor field via the Chern--Simons 3-form is obtained in a systematic manner.
Working with explicit examples given by the 56 representation in $SU(8)$, and the 10 representation in $SU(5)$, we show that symmetry breaking of a group ${\cal G}\supset {\cal G}_1 \times {\cal G}_2$ by a scalar in a rank three or two antisymmetric tensor representation leads to a number of distinct $modular$ ground states. For these broken symmetry phases, the ground state is periodic in an integer divisor $p$ of $N$, where $N>0$ is the absolute value of the nonzero $U(1)$ generator of the scalar component $Φ$ that is a singlet under the simple subgroups ${\cal G}_1$ and ${\cal G}_2$. Ground…
We discuss an embedding of $su(n)$ rank-two antisymmetric supercharges in the $su(2,2|d_n)$ superalgebra, where $d_n=n(n-1)/2$. We describe an algorithm to construct the explicit form of the generators of the superalgebra.
In this work, we study the spontaneous Lorentz symmetry breaking due to an antisymmetric 2-tensor field in Minkowski spacetime. For a smooth quadratic potential, the spectrum of the theory exhibits massless and massive excitations. We show that the equations of motion for the free field obey some constraints which lead to the massive mode be non-propagating at leading order. Besides, there exists a massless mode in the theory which can be identified with the usual Kalb-Ramond field, carrying only one on-shell degree of freedom. The same conclusion holds when one analyses the pole structure of …
We discuss the effects of a direct coupling between a rank-two antisymmetric tensor field and the Maxwell field. The coupling we consider leads to vacuum birefringence, allowing us to place constraints on the magnitude of the tensor field and the strength of its coupling to the Maxwell field via cosmological birefringence measurements. For light propagating in the presence of a topological defect solution, we find that light rays with different polarizations will follow different trajectories; the magnitude of this deflection is predicted to be extremely small (on the order of 10^-10 arcsecond…
We suggest a method of reduction of mixed absolute and relative boundary conditions to pure ones. The case of rank two tensor is studied in detail. For four-dimensional disk the corresponding heat kernel is expressed in terms of scalar heat kernels. The result for scaling behavior $ζ(0)$ agrees with previous calculations.
The N=2 spinning particle action describes the propagation of antisymmetric tensor fields, including vector fields as a special case. In this paper we study the path integral quantization on a one-dimensional torus of the N=2 spinning particle coupled to spacetime gravity. The action has a local N=2 worldline supersymmetry with a gauged U(1) symmetry that includes a Chern-Simons coupling. Its quantization on the torus produces the one-loop effective action for a single antisymmetric tensor. We use this worldline representation to calculate the first few Seeley-DeWitt coefficients for antisymme…
The fundamental issues of microcausality and energy positivity conditions are important to be investigated in the context of spontaneous Lorentz violating theories. We check the microcausality and energy positivity conditions for a free rank-2 antisymmetric tensor field with spontaneous Lorentz violating term and a classically equivalent vector theory from dispersion relations and propagators, and find that the two theories lead to different conditions. While the antisymmetric tensor theory satisfies energy positivity condition and can satisfy microcausality condition for a particular choice o…
We present an explicit proof that a minimal model of rank-2 antisymmetric field with spontaneous Lorentz violation and a classically equivalent vector field model are also quantum equivalent, by calculating quantum effective actions of both theories. We comment on the issues encountered while checking quantum equivalence in curved spacetime.
It has long been claimed that the antisymmetric tensor field of the second rank is pure longitudinal after quantization. In my opinion, such a situation is quite unacceptable. I repeat the well-known procedure of the derivation of the set of Proca equations. It is shown that it can be written in various forms. Furthermore, on the basis of the Lagrangian formalism I calculate dynamical invariants (including the Pauli-Lubanski vector of relativistic spin for this field). Even at the classical level the Pauli-Lubanski vector can be equal to zero after applications of well-known constraints. The i…
We introduce a one-dimensional two-component system with the self-focusing cubic nonlinearity concentrated at a symmetric set of two spots. Effects of the spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) of localized modes were previously studied in the single-component version of this system. In this work, we study the evolution (in the configuration space of the system) and SSB scenarios for two-component modes of three generic types, as concerns the spatial symmetry of each component: symmetric-symmetric (Sm-Sm), antisymmetric-antisymmetric (AS-AS), and symmetric-antisymmetric (S-AS) ones. In the limit …
In SU($N$) gauge theories with fermions in the fundamental or in a two-index (either symmetric or antisymmetric) representation formulated on a manifold with at least one compact dimension with non-trivial holonomy the discrete symmetries $C$, $P$ and $T$ are broken at small enough size of the compact direction(s) for certain values of $N$. We show that for those $N$ in the broken phase a non-zero baryon current wrapping in the compact direction exists, which provides a measurable observable for the breaking of $C$, $P$ and $T$. We prove that in all cases where the current is absent there is n…
We analyse descriptions of electroweak symmetry breaking in terms of ultralocal antisymmetric tensor fields and gauge-singlet geometric variables, respectively; in particular, the Weinberg--Salam model and, ultimately, dynamical electroweak symmetry breaking by technicolour theories with enhanced symmetry groups. Our motivation is to unveil the manifestly gauge invariant structure of the different realisations. We find, for example, parallels to different types of torsion.
We apply the BRST approach, previously developed for higher spin field theories, to gauge invariant Lagrangian construction for antisymmetric massive and massless bosonic fields in arbitrary d-dimensional curved space. The obtained theories are reducible gauge models both in massless and massive cases and the order of reducibility grows with the value of the rank of the antisymmetric field. In both the cases the Lagrangians contain the sets of auxiliary fields and possess more rich gauge symmetry in comparison with standard Lagrangian formulation for the antisymmetric fields. This serves addit…
We consider six dimensional N=1 space-time supersymmetric Type IIB orientifolds with non-zero untwisted NS-NS sector B-field. The B-field is quantized due to the requirement that the Type IIB spectrum be left-right symmetric. The presence of the B-field results in rank reduction of both 99 and 55 open string sector gauge groups. We point out that in some of the models with non-zero B-field there are extra tensor multiplets in the Z_2 twisted closed string sector, and we explain their origin in a simple example. Also, the 59 open string sector states come with a multiplicity that depends on the…
We analyze gaugino condensation in the presence of a dilaton and an antisymmetric tensor field, with couplings reminiscent of string theories. The degrees of freedom relevant to a supersymmetric description of the effective theory below the scale of condensation are discussed in this context.
$p'$-brane solutions to rank $p+1$ composite antisymmetric tensor field theories of the kind developed by Guendelman, Nissimov and Pacheva are found when the dimensionality of spacetime is $D=(p+1)+(p'+1)$. These field theories posses an infinite dimensional group of global Noether symmetries, that of volume-preserving diffeomorphisms of the target space of the scalar primitive field constituents. Crucial in the construction of $p'$ brane solutions are the duality transformations of the fields and the local gauge field theory formulation of extended objects given by Aurilia, Spallucci and Smai…
We investigate three classes of supersymmetric models which can be obtained by breaking the chiral SU(2k+3) gauge theories with one antisymmetric tensor and 2k-1 antifundamentals. For N=3, the chiral SU(2k)$\times$SU(3)$\times$U(1) theories break supersym metry by the quantum deformations of the moduli spaces in the strong SU(2k) gauge coupling limit. For N=2, it is the generalization of the SU(5)$\times$U(2)$\times$U(1) model mentioned in the literature. Supersymmetry is broken by carefully choosing the q uark-antiquark-doublet Yukawa couplings in this model. For N=1, this becomes the well-kn…
An approach that allows studying the relationship between the neutralization of the cosmological constant and instantons for cosmology coupled to antisymmetric fields is proposed. Using suitable variables, the Lagrangian leading to the FRW equations can be written analogously to a Ginzburg-Landau theory and we show how spontaneous symmetry breaking appears. The approach leads to three possible solutions, if we denote $Λ_1$ and $Λ_2$ as the cosmological constants that come from gravity ($Λ_1$) and antisymmetric fields ($Λ_2$), then the solutions, a) $ |Λ_2|>|Λ_1|$ is consistent with a very smal…
