A nonlocal mass operator can be consistently set in local form through the introduction of a set of additional fields with geometrical appropriated properties. A local and polynomial gauge invariant action is thus identified. Equations compatible with the study of renormalization, from the algebraic point of view, are presented in the Landau Gauge.
Covariant anomalies are studied in terms of the theory of secondary characteristic classes of the universal bundle of Yang-Mills theory. A new set of descent equations is derived which contains the covariant current anomaly and the covariant Schwinger term. The counterterms relating consistent and covariant anomalies are determined. A geometrical realization of the BRS/anti-BRS algebra is presented which is used to understand the relationship between covariant anomalies in different approaches.
A geometric description is given for the Sp(2) covariant version of the field-antifield quantization of general constrained systems in the Lagrangian formalism. We develop differential geometry on manifolds in which a basic set of coordinates (`fields') have two superpartners (`antifields'). The quantization on such a triplectic manifold requires introducing several specific differential-geometric objects, whose properties we study. These objects are then used to impose a set of generalized master-equations that ensure gauge-independence of the path integral. The theory thus quantized is shown…
Consistent and covariant Lorentz and diffeomorphism anomalies are investigated in terms of the geometry of the universal bundle for gravity. This bundle is explicitly constructed and its geometrical structure will be studied. By means of the local index theorem for families of Bismut and Freed the consistent gravitational anomalies are calculated. Covariant gravitational anomalies are shown to be related with secondary characteristic classes of the universal bundle and a new set of descent equations which also contains the covariant Schwinger terms is derived. The relation between consistent a…
The reduced covariant phase space associated with the three-dimensional Euclidean Nambu-Goto action can be identified, via the Enneper-Weierstrass representation of minimal surfaces, with the space of complex analytic functions plus three translational zero modes. The symplectic structure induced trough the Enneper-Weierstrass map can be explicitly computed. Quantization is then straightforward, yielding as a result a target-space Euclidean-invariant, positive-definite, two-dimensional quantum field theory. The physical states are shown to correspond with particles states of integer spin and a…
Relativistic treatments of quantum mechanical systems are important for understanding hadronic structure and dynamics at sub-nucleon distance scales. Hadronic states in different inertial reference frames are needed to compute current matrix elements that probe hadronic structure and dynamics. Relativistic invariance is an important consideration as the resolution of the probe is increased. Many different treatments of relativistic dynamics are used in practice, including Poincaré covariant methods, Lorentz covariant methods, Euclidean covariant methods and methods based on quantum fields. Wav…
Causal diamond-shaped subsets of space-time are naturally associated with operator algebras in quantum field theory, and they are also related to the Bousso covariant entropy bound. In this work we argue that the net of these causal sets to which are assigned the local operator algebras of quantum theories should be taken to be non orthomodular if there is some lowest scale for the description of space-time as a manifold. This geometry can be related to a reduction in the degrees of freedom of the holographic type under certain natural conditions for the local algebras. A non orthomodular net …
We discuss a Polyakov loop in non-covariant operator formalism which consists of only physical degrees of freedom at finite temperature. It is pointed out that although the Polyakov loop is expressed by a Euclidean time component of gauge fields in a covariant path integral formalism, there is no direct counterpart of the Polyakov loop operator in the operator formalism because the Euclidean time component of gauge fields is not a physical degree of freedom. We show that by starting with an operator which is constructed in terms of only physical operators in the non-covariant operator formalis…
We discuss the covariant formulation of local field theories described by the Companion Lagrangian associated with p-branes. The covariantisation is shown to be useful for clarifying the geometrical meaning of the field equations and also their relation to the Hamilton-Jacobi formulation of the standard Dirac-Born-Infeld theory.
Recent work on the quantization of Maxwell theory has used a non-covariant class of gauge-averaging functionals which include explicitly the effects of the extrinsic-curvature tensor of the boundary, or covariant gauges which, unlike the Lorentz case, are invariant under conformal rescalings of the background four-metric. This paper studies in detail the admissibility of such gauges at the classical level. It is proved that Euclidean Green functions of a second- or fourth-order operator exist which ensure the fulfillment of such gauges at the classical level, i.e. on a portion of flat Euclidea…
We make a first step to extend to the supersymmetric arena the effective action method, which is used to covariantly deduce the low energy dynamics of topological defects directly from their parent field theory. By focussing on two-dimensional supersymmetric theories we are able to derive the appropriate change of variables that singles out the low energy degrees of freedom. These correspond to super-worldline embeddings in superspace which are subject to a geometrical constraint. We obtain a supersymmetric and $κ$--invariant low energy expansion, with the standard superparticle action as the …
The relation between the covariant Euclidean free-energy $F^E$ and the canonical statistical-mechanical free energy $F^C$ in the presence of the Killing horizons is studied. $F^E$ is determined by the covariant Euclidean effective action. The definition of $F^C$ is related to the Hamiltonian which is the generator of the evolution along the Killing time. At arbitrary temperatures $F^E$ acquires additional ultraviolet divergences because of conical singularities. The divergences of $F^C$ are different and occur since the density ${dn \over dω}$ of the energy levels of the system blows up near t…
We study causal diamonds in Minkowski, Schwarzschild, (anti) de Sitter, and Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetimes using Euclidean methods. The null boundaries of causal diamonds are shown to map to isolated punctures in the Euclidean continuation of the parent manifold. Boundary terms around these punctures decrease the Euclidean action by $A_\diamond/4$, where $A_\diamond$ is the area of the holographic screen around the diamond. We identify these boundary contributions with the maximal entropy of gravitational degrees of freedom associated with the diamond.
We briefly describe our application of a version of noncommutative differential geometry to the 3-dim quantum space covariant under the quantum group of rotations $SO_q(3)$ and sketch how this might be used to determine the correct physical interpretation of the geometrical observables.
This letter studies the Sp(2) covariant quantisation of gauge theories. The geometrical interpretation of gauge theories in terms of quasi principal fibre bundles $Q(M_S, G_S)$ is reviewed. It is then described the Sp(2) algebra of ordinary Yang-Mills theory. A consistent formulation of covariant lagrangian quantisation for general gauge theories based on Sp(2) BRST symmetry is established. The original N=1, ten dimensional superparticle is considered as an example of infinitely reducible gauge algebras, and given explicitly its Sp(2) BRST invariant action.
The Gribov copies and their consequences on the infrared behavior of the gluon propagator are investigated in Euclidean Yang-Mills theories quantized in linear covariant gauges. Considering small values of the gauge parameter, it turns out that the transverse component of the gluon propagator is suppressed, while its longitudinal part is left unchanged. A Green function, G_{tr}, which displays infrared enhancement and which reduces to the ghost propagator in the Landau gauge is identified. The inclusion of the dimension two gluon condensate <A^2> is also considered. In this case, the transvers…
Three dimensional Yang-Mills gauge theories in the presence of the Chern-Simons action are seen as being generated by the pure topological Chern-Simons term through nonlinear covariant redefinitions of the gauge field
In this talk we recall some concepts of Noncommutative Gauge Theories. In particular, we discuss the q-deformed two-dimensional Euclidean Plane which is covariant with respect to the q-deformed Euclidean group. A Seiberg-Witten map is constructed to express noncommutative fields in terms of their commutative counterparts.
A detailed study is made of the noncommutative geometry of $R^3_q$, the quantum space covariant under the quantum group $SO_q(3)$. For each of its two $SO_q(3)$-covariant differential calculi we find its metric, the corresponding frame and two torsion-free covariant derivatives that are metric compatible up to a conformal factor and which yield both a vanishing linear curvature. A discussion is given of various ways of imposing reality conditions. The delicate issue of the commutative limit is discussed at the formal algebraic level. Two rather different ways of taking the limit are suggested,…
In this paper we study arbitrary $W$ algebras related to embeddings of $sl_2$ in a Lie algebra $g$. We give a simple formula for all $W$ transformations, which will enable us to construct the covariant action for general $W$ gravity. It turns out that this covariant action is nothing but a Fourier transform of the WZW action. The same general formula provides a geometrical interpretation of $W$ transformations: they are just homotopy contractions of ordinary gauge transformations. This is used to argue that the moduli space relevant to $W$ gravity is part of the moduli space of $G$-bundles ove…
In this work, we study the propagators of matter fields within the framework of the Refined Gribov-Zwanziger theory, which takes into account the effects of the Gribov copies in the gauge-fixing quantization procedure of Yang-Mills theory. In full analogy with the pure gluon sector of the Refined Gribov-Zwanziger action, a non-local long-range term in the inverse of the Faddeev-Popov operator is added in the matter sector. Making use of the recent BRST invariant formulation of the Gribov-Zwanziger framework achieved in [Capri et al 2016], the propagators of scalar and quark fields in the adjoi…
We give an SU(2) covariant representation of the constraints of Euclidean general relativity in the Ashtekar variables. The guiding principle is the use of triads to transform all free spatial indices into SU(2) indices. A central role is played by a special covariant derivative. The Gauss, diffeomorphism and Hamiltonian constraints become purely algebraic restrictions on the curvature and the torsion associated with this connection. We introduce coordinates on the jet space of the dynamical fields which cleanly separate the constraint and gauge directions from the true physical directions. Th…
We introduce, within the Refined-Gribov-Zwanziger setup, a composite BRST invariant fermionic operator coupled to the inverse of the Faddeev-Popov operator. As a result, an effective BRST invariant action in Euclidean space-time is constructed, enabling us to pave the first step towards the study of the behaviour of the fermion propagator in the infrared region in the class of the linear covariant gauges. The aforementioned action is proven to be renormalizable to all orders by means of the algebraic renormalization procedure.
We show how to obtain all covariant field equations for massless particles of arbitrary integer, or half-integer, helicity in four dimensions from the quantization of the rigid particle, whose action is given by the integrated extrinsic curvature of its worldline, {\ie} $S=α\int ds κ$. This geometrical particle system possesses one extra gauge invariance besides reparametrizations, and the full gauge algebra has been previously identified as classical $\W_3$. The key observation is that the covariantly reduced phase space of this model can be naturally identified with the spinor and twistor de…
We present an exact operator quantization of the Euclidean Black Hole CFT using a recently established free field parametrization of the fundamental fields of the classical theory [4,5,6,7]. Quantizing the map to free fields, we show that the resulting quantum fields are causal and transform as covariant fields w.r.t. the Virasoro algebra. We construct the reflection operator of the quantum theory and demonstrate its unitarity. We furthermore discuss the W-algebra of the Euclidean Black Hole model. It turns out that unitarity of the reflection operator is a simple consequence of the fact that …
In the preceding paper [arXiv:hep-th/0604217], we construct the Dirac operator and the integral on the canonical noncommutative space. As a matter of fact, they are ones on the noncommutative torus. In the present article, we introduce the method to extend to the Minkowskian and Euclidean cases. As a concluding remark, we present a geometrical notion of our gauge theory.
In this paper we study the relativistic quantum mechanical interpretation of the solution of the inhomogeneous Euclidean Bethe-Salpeter equation. Our goal is to determine conditions on the input to the Euclidean Bethe-Salpeter equation so the solution can be used to construct a model Hilbert space and a dynamical unitary representation of the Poincaré group. We prove three theorems that relate the stability of this construction to properties of the kernel and driving term of the Bethe-Salpeter equation. The most interesting result is that the positivity of the Hilbert space norm in the non-int…
The local action of an SU(2) gauge theory in general covariant Abelian gauges and the associated equivariant BRST symmetry that guarantees the perturbative renormalizability of the model are given. A global SL(2,R) symmetry of the model is spontaneously broken by ghost-antighost condensation at arbitrarily small coupling. This leads to propagators that are finite at Euclidean momenta for all elementary fields except the Abelian ``photon''. Ward Identities show that the symmetry breaking gives rise to massless BRST-quartets with ghost numbers (1,2,-2,-1) and (0,1,-1,0). The latter quartet is in…
In this thesis we give an overview of the antifield formalism and show how it must be used to quantise arbitrary gauge theories. The formalism is further developed and illustrated in several examples, including Yang-Mills theory, chiral $W_3$ and $W_{2,5/2}$ gravity, strings in curved backgrounds and topological field theories. All these models are characterised by their gauge algebra, which can be open, reducible, or even infinitly reducible. We show in detail how to perform the gauge fixing and how to compute the anomalies using Pauli-Villars regularisation and the heat kernel method. Finall…
A set of differential operators acting by continuous deformations on path dependent functionals of open and closed curves is introduced. Geometrically, these path operators are interpreted as infinitesimal generators of curves in the base manifold of the gauge theory. They furnish a representation with the action of the group of loops having a fundamental role. We show that the path derivative, which is covariant by construction, satisfies the Ricci and Bianchi identities. Also, we provide a geometrical derivation of covariant Taylor expansions based on particular deformations of open curves. …
We exploit the geometrical superfield formalism to derive the local, covariant and continuous Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) symmetry transformations and the non-local, non-covariant and continuous dual-BRST symmetry transformations for the free Abelian one-form gauge theory in four $(3 + 1)$-dimensions (4D) of spacetime. Our discussion is carried out in the framework of BRST invariant Lagrangian density for the above 4D theory in the Feynman gauge. The geometrical origin and interpretation for the (dual-)BRST charges (and the transformations they generate) are provided in the language of tr…
We address the issue of the renormalizability of the gauge-invariant non-local dimension-two operator $A^2_{\rm min}$, whose minimization is defined along the gauge orbit. Despite its non-local character, we show that the operator $A^2_{\rm min}$ can be cast in local form through the introduction of an auxiliary Stueckelberg field. The localization procedure gives rise to an unconventional kind of Stueckelberg-type action which turns out to be renormalizable to all orders of perturbation theory. In particular, as a consequence of its gauge invariance, the anomalous dimension of the operator $A…
Classical gravitational evolution admits an elegant and compact re-expression in terms of gauge covariant generalizations of Lie derivatives with respect to a spatial phase space dependent $su(2)$ valued vector field called the Electric Shift [1]. A quantum dynamics for Euclidean Loop Quantum Gravity which ascribes a central role to the Electric Shift operator is derived in [2]. $Here\; we\; show\; that\; this \;quantum\; dynamics\; is\; nontrivially\; anomaly$ $free$. Specifically, we show that on a suitable space of off shell states (a) the (non-vanishing) commutator between a pair of Hamilt…
We extend the techniques of double field theory to more general gravity theories and U-duality symmetries, having in mind applications to the complete D=11 supergravity. In this paper we work out a (3+3)-dimensional `U-duality covariantization' of D=4 Einstein gravity, in which the Ehlers group SL(2,R) is realized geometrically, acting in the 3 representation on half of the coordinates. We include the full (2+1)-dimensional metric, while the `internal vielbein' is a coset representative of SL(2,R)/SO(2) and transforms under gauge transformations via generalized Lie derivatives. In addition, we…
We propose a type IIB super-Poincare algebra with SO(2,1) covariant central extension. Together with SO(2,1) and SO(9,1) generators, a SO(2,1) triplet (momenta), a Majorana-spinor doublet (supercharges) and a Rarita-Schwinger central charge generate a group, G. We consider a coset G/H where H=(SO(2) x Lorentz), and the SL(2,R) 2-form doublet is obtained by the coset construction. It is shown that U(1) connections, whose strengths are associated with 2-forms, are recognized as coordinates of the enlarged space. We suggest that this is the fundamental algebra governing the superstring theories w…
We consider the covariant graviton propagator in de Sitter spacetime in a gauge with two parameters, alpha and beta, in the Euclidean approach. We give an explicit form of the propagator with a particular choice of beta but with arbitrary value of alpha. We confirm that two-point functions of local gauge-invariant quantities do not increase as the separation of the two points becomes large.
We propose a covariant geometrical expression for the c-function for theories which admit dual gravitational descriptions. We state a c-theorem with respect to this quantity and prove it. We apply the expression to a class of geometries, from domain walls in gauged supergravities, to extremal and near extremal Dp branes, and the AdS Schwarzschild black hole. In all cases, we find agreement with expectations.
We sketch our recent application of a non-commutative version of the Cartan `moving-frame' formalism to the quantum Euclidean space $R^N_q$, the space which is covariant under the action of the quantum group $SO_q(N)$. For each of the two covariant differential calculi over $R^N_q$ based on the $R$-matrix formalism, we summarize our construction of a frame, the dual inner derivations, a metric and two torsion-free almost metric compatible covariant derivatives with a vanishing curvature. To obtain these results we have developed a technique which fully exploits the quantum group covariance of …
The treatment of exact conservation laws in Lagrangian gauge theories constitutes the main axis of the first part of the thesis. The formalism is developed as a self-consistent theory but is inspired by earlier works, mainly by cohomological results, covariant phase space methods and by the Hamiltonian formalism. The thermodynamical properties of black holes, especially the first law, are studied in a general geometrical setting and are worked out for several black objects: black holes, strings and rings. Also, the geometrical and thermodynamical properties of a new family of black holes with …
It has been recently shown that the eigenvalues of the Dirac operator can be considered as dynamical variables of Euclidean gravity. The purpose of this paper is to explore the possiblity that the eigenvalues of the Dirac operator might play the same role in the case of supergravity. It is shown that for this purpose some primary constraints on covariant phase space as well as secondary constraints on the eigenspinors must be imposed. The validity of primary constraints under covariant transport is further analyzed. It is show that in the this case restrictions on the tanget bundle and on the …
The heat kernel method is extended to the case of finite temperature. Special emphasis is given to the study of gauge theories. Due to the compactness of space in the Euclidean time direction (inverse temperature) the field strength cannot completely characterize the gauge fields. This is just a manifestation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect. The field strength has to be supplemented by the Polyakov loop. Only if the latter is taken into account one obtains gauge covariant results for the generalized Seeley-DeWitt coefficients of the heat kernel expansion.
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.
In order to construct a gauge invariant two-point function in a Yang-Mills theory, we propose the use of the all-order gauge invariant transverse configurations A^h. Such configurations can be obtained through the minimization of the functional A^2_{min} along the gauge orbit within the BRST invariant formulation of the Gribov-Zwanziger framework recently put forward in [1,2] for the class of the linear covariant gauges. This correlator turns out to provide a characterization of non-perturbative aspects of the theory in a BRST invariant and gauge parameter independent way. In particular, it tu…
The thermal Euclidean Green functions for Photons propagating in the Rindler wedge are computed employing an Euclidean approach within any covariant Feynman-like gauge. This is done by generalizing a formula which holds in the Minkowskian case. The coincidence of the found $(\be=2π)$-Green functions and the corresponding Minkowskian vacuum Green functions is discussed in relation to the remaining static gauge ambiguity already found in previous papers. Further generalizations to more complicated manifolds are discussed. Ward identities are verified in the general case.
The Refined Gribov-Zwanziger framework takes into account the existence of equivalent gauge field configurations in the gauge-fixing quantization procedure of Euclidean Yang-Mills theories. Recently, this setup was extended to the family of linear covariant gauges giving rise to a local and BRST-invariant action. In this paper, we give an algebraic proof of the renormalizability of the resulting action to all orders in perturbation theory.
Gauge theory on the q-deformed two-dimensional Euclidean plane R^2_q is studied using two different approaches. We first formulate the theory using the natural algebraic structures on R^2_q, such as a covariant differential calculus, a frame of one-forms and invariant integration. We then consider a suitable star product, and introduce a natural way to implement the Seiberg-Witten map. In both approaches, gauge invariance requires a suitable ``measure'' in the action, breaking the E_q(2)-invariance. Some possibilities to avoid this conclusion using additional terms in the action are proposed.
For Euclidean quantum field theories, Holland and Hollands have shown operator product expansion (OPE) coefficients satisfy "flow equations": For interaction parameter $λ$, the partial derivative of any OPE coefficient with respect to $λ$ is given by an integral over Euclidean space of a sum of products of other OPE coefficients. In this paper, we generalize these results for flat Euclidean space to curved Lorentzian spacetimes in the context of the solvable "toy model" of massive Klein-Gordon scalar field theory, with $m^2$ viewed as the "self-interaction parameter". Even in Minkowski spaceti…
We apply one of the formalisms of noncommutative geometry to $R^N_q$, the quantum space covariant under the quantum group $SO_q(N)$. Over $R^N_q$ there are two $SO_q(N)$-covariant differential calculi. For each we find a frame, a metric and two torsion-free covariant derivatives which are metric compatible up to a conformal factor and which have a vanishing linear curvature. This generalizes results found in a previous article for the case of $R^3_q$. As in the case N=3, one has to slightly enlarge the algebra $R^N_q$; for N odd one needs only one new generator whereas for N even one needs two…
We propose a set of boundary terms for higher spin theories in AdS$_3$ that lead to a well-defined variational principle compatible with Dirichlet boundary conditions for the metric and higher spin fields. These boundary terms are valid for higher spin theories in the Fefferman-Graham gauge and they allow us to compute the canonical free energy of higher spin black holes directly from the Euclidean, covariant, on-shell action. Using these results we reproduce the thermodynamics of the higher spin black hole of Ammon, Gutperle, Kraus, and Perlmutter and comment on the corresponding theory of in…
We study canonical and affine versions of the quantized covariant Euclidean Higgs scalar field-theory for two real fields on four dimensional lattices through the Monte Carlo method. We calculate the two-point function near the continuum limit at finite volume.
Quantum field theory in curved spacetime may be defined either through a manifestly unitary canonical approach or via the manifestly covariant path integral formalism. For gauge theories, these two approaches have produced conflicting results, leading to the question of whether the canonical approach is covariant, and whether the path integral approach is unitary. We show the unitarity of the covariant U(1) Maxwell theory, defined via the Wick rotation of a Euclidean path integral. We begin by gauge-fixing the path integral, taking care with zero modes, large gauge transformations, and nontriv…
The local action of an SU(2) gauge theory in general covariant Abelian gauges and the associated equivariant BRST symmetry that guarantees the perturbative renormalizability of the model are given. I show that a global SL(2,R) symmetry of the model is spontaneously broken by ghost-antighost condensation at arbitrarily small coupling and leads to propagators that are finite at Euclidean momenta for all elementary fields except the Abelian ``photon''. The Goldstone states form a BRST-quartet. The mechanism eliminates the non-abelian infrared divergences in the perturbative high-temperature expan…
We describe an analytic continuation of the Euclidean Grosse-Wulkenhaar and LSZ models which defines a one-parameter family of duality covariant noncommutative field theories interpolating between Euclidean and Minkowski space versions of these models, and provides an alternative regularization to the usual Feynman prescription. This regularization allows for a matrix model representation of the field theories in terms of a complex generalization of the usual basis of Landau wavefunctions. The corresponding propagators are calculated and identified with the Feynman propagators of the field the…
The set of one dimensional lowest energy eigenspaces used to construct the overlap induces a two form on gauge orbit space which is the locally exact curl of Berry's connection. If anomalies do not cancel, examples of two dimensional closed sub-manifolds of orbit space are produced over which the integral of the above two form does not vanish. Based on these observations, a natural definition of covariant currents is obtained, a simple way to calculate chiral anomalies on the lattice is found, and indications for how to construct an ideal regularization of chiral gauge theories are seen to eme…
In this paper, a proposal for the restriction of the Euclidean functional integral to a region free of infinitesimal Gribov copies in linear covariant gauges is discussed. An effective action, akin to the Gribov-Zwanziger action of the Landau gauge, is obtained which implements the aforementioned restriction. Although originally non-local, this action can be cast in local form by introducing auxiliary fields. As in the case of the Landau gauge, dimension two condensates are generated at the quantum level, giving rise to a refinement of the action which is employed to obtain the tree-level gluo…