Path-integral over non-linearly realized groups and Hierarchy solutions

The technical problem of deriving the full Green functions of the elementary pion fields of the nonlinear sigma model in terms of ancestor amplitudes involving only the flat connection and the nonlinear sigma model constraint is a very complex task. In this paper we solve this problem by integrating, order by order in the perturbative loop expansion, the local functional equation derived from the invariance of the SU(2) Haar measure under local left multiplication. This yields the perturbative definition of the path-integral over the non-linearly realized SU(2) group.Comment: 26 page

Ambiguity-free formulation of the Higgs-Kibble model

A renormalizable ambiguity-free formulation of the Higgs-Kibble model is proposed.Comment: 16 pages, latex. To be published in Theor. Math. Phy

The Stueckelberg Mechanism in the presence of Physical Scalar Resonances

We show that it is possible to accommodate physical scalar resonances within a minimal nonlinearly realized electroweak theory in a way compatible with a natural Hopf algebra selection criterion (Weak Power Counting) and the relevant functional identities of the model (Local Functional Equation, Slavnov-Taylor identity, ghost equations, b-equations). The Beyond-the-Standard-Model (BSM) sector of the theory is studied by BRST techniques. The presence of a mass generation mechanism \`a la St\"uckelberg allows for two mass invariants in the gauge boson sector. The corresponding 't Hooft gauge-fixing is constructed by respecting all the symmetries of the theory. The model interpolates between the Higgs and a purely St\"uckelberg scenario. Despite the presence of physical scalar resonances, we show that tree-level violation of unitarity in the scattering of longitudinally polarized charged gauge bosons occurs at sufficiently high energies, if a fraction of the mass is generated by the St\"uckelberg mechanism. The formal properties of the physically favoured limit after LHC7-8 data, where BSM effects are small and custodial symmetry in the gauge boson sector is respected, are studied.Comment: 24 pages, 5 figure

The Cosmological Slavnov-Taylor Identity from BRST Symmetry in Single-Field Inflation

The cosmological Slavnov-Taylor (ST) identity of the Einstein-Hilbert action coupled to a single inflaton field is obtained from the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) symmetry associated with diffeomorphism invariance in the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) formalism. The consistency conditions between the correlators of the scalar and tensor modes in the squeezed limit are then derived from the ST identity, together with the softly broken conformal symmetry. Maldacena's original relations connecting the 2- and 3-point correlators at horizon crossing are recovered, as well as the next-to-leading corrections, controlled by the special conformal transformations.Comment: 38 pages, no figures. Corrected an error in the bispectrum relations, so that original Maldacena's results are now recovered. Added new sections on the extended discussions of the in-in formalism in the BRST approach and higher order corrections in the squeezed limit (special conformal transformations). Revised version accepted for publication in JCA

Scalar Resonances in the Non-linearly Realized Electroweak Theory

We introduce a physical scalar sector in a SU(2)xU(1) electroweak theory in which the gauge group is realized non linearly. By invoking theoretical as well as experimental constraints, we build a phenomenologically viable model in which a minimum of four scalar resonances appear, and the mass of the CP even scalar is controlled by a vacuum expectation value; however, the masses of all other particles (both matter as well as vector boson fields) are unrelated to spontaneous symmetry breaking and generated by the St\"uckelberg mechanism. We evaluate in this model the CP-even scalar decay rate to two photons and use this amplitude to perform a preliminary comparison with the recent LHC measurements. As a result, we find that the model exhibits a preference for a negative Yukawa coupling between the top quark and the CP-even resonance.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures; typos correcte

The Background Field Method and the Linearization Problem for Poisson Manifolds

The background field method (BFM) for the Poisson Sigma Model (PSM) is studied as an example of the application of the BFM technique to open gauge algebras. The relationship with Seiberg-Witten maps arising in non-commutative gauge theories is clarified. It is shown that the implementation of the BFM for the PSM in the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism is equivalent to the solution of a generalized linearization problem (in the formal sense) for Poisson structures in the presence of gauge fields. Sufficient conditions for the existence of a solution and a constructive method to derive it are presented.Comment: 33 pp. LaTex, references and comments adde

Renormalization Group Equation for Weakly Power Counting Renormalizable Theories

We study the renormalization group flow in weak power counting (WPC) renormalizable theories. The latter are theories which, after being formulated in terms of certain variables, display only a finite number of independent divergent amplitudes order by order in the loop expansion. Using as a toolbox the well-known SU(2) non linear sigma model, we prove that for such theories a renormalization group equation holds that does not violate the WPC condition: that is, the sliding of the scale $\mu$ for physical amplitudes can be reabsorbed by a suitable set of finite counterterms arising at the loop order prescribed by the WPC itself. We explore in some detail the consequences of this result; in particular, we prove that it holds in the framework of a recently introduced beyond the Standard Model scenario in which one considers non-linear St\"uckelberg-like symmetry breaking contributions to the fermion and gauge boson mass generation mechanism.Comment: 32 pages, 5 figure

Super Background Field Method for N=2 SYM

The implementation of the Background Field Method (BFM) for quantum field theories is analysed within the Batalin-Vilkovisky (BV) formalism. We provide a systematic way of constructing general splittings of the fields into classical and quantum parts, such that the background transformations of the quantum fields are linear in the quantum variables. This leads to linear Ward-Takahashi identities for the background invariance and to great simplifications in multiloop computations. In addition, the gauge fixing is obtained by means of (anti)canonical transformations generated by the gauge-fixing fermion. Within this framework we derive the BFM for the N=2 Super-Yang-Mills theory in the Wess-Zumino gauge viewed as the twisted version of Donaldson-Witten topological gauge theory. We obtain the background transformations for the full BRST differential of N=2 Super-Yang-Mills (including gauge transformations, SUSY transformations and translations). The BFM permits all observables of the supersymmetric theory to be identified easily by computing the equivariant cohomology of the topological theory. These results should be regarded as a step towards the construction of a super BFM for the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.Comment: 34 pages, Latex, JHEP3.cl

One-loop Self-energy and Counterterms in a Massive Yang-Mills Theory based on the Nonlinearly Realized Gauge Group

In this paper we evaluate the self-energy of the vector mesons at one loop in our recently proposed subtraction scheme for massive nonlinearly realized SU(2) Yang-Mills theory. We check the fulfillment of physical unitarity. The resulting self-mass can be compared with the value obtained in the massive Yang-Mills theory based on the Higgs mechanism, consisting in extra terms due to the presence of the Higgs boson (tadpoles included). Moreover we evaluate all the one-loop counterterms necessary for the next order calculations. By construction they satisfy all the equations of the model (Slavnov-Taylor, local functional equation and Landau gauge equation). They are sufficient to make all the one-loop amplitudes finite through the hierarchy encoded in the local functional equation.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figures, minor changes, final version accepted by Phys. Rev. D, typos corrected in eqs.(8),(17),(27),(28