Faddeev-Jackiw approach to gauge theories and ineffective constraints

The general conditions for the applicability of the Faddeev-Jackiw approach to gauge theories are studied. When the constraints are effective a new proof in the Lagrangian framework of the equivalence between this method and the Dirac approach is given. We find, however, that the two methods may give different descriptions for the reduced phase space when ineffective constraints are present. In some cases the Faddeev-Jackiw approach may lose some constraints or some equations of motion. We believe that this inequivalence can be related to the failure of the Dirac conjecture (that says that the Dirac Hamiltonian can be enlarged to an Extended Hamiltonian including all first class constraints, without changes in the dynamics) and we suggest that when the Dirac conjecture fails the Faddeev-Jackiw approach fails to give the correct dynamics. Finally we present some examples that illustrate this inequivalence.Comment: 21 pages, Latex. To be published in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Equivalence of Faddeev-Jackiw and Dirac approaches for gauge theories

The equivalence between the Dirac method and Faddeev-Jackiw analysis for gauge theories is proved. In particular we trace out, in a stage by stage procedure, the standard classification of first and second class constraints of Dirac's method in the F-J approach. We also find that the Darboux transformation implied in the F-J reduction process can be viewed as a canonical transformation in Dirac approach. Unlike Dirac's method the F-J analysis is a classical reduction procedure, then the quantization can be achieved only in the framework of reduce and then quantize approach with all the know problems that this type of procedures presents. Finally we illustrate the equivalence by means of a particular example.Comment: Latex v2.09, 15 pages, to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Three-forms in Supergravity and Flux Compactifications

We present a duality procedure that relates conventional four-dimensional matter-coupled N=1 supergravities to dual formulations in which auxiliary fields are replaced by field-strengths of gauge three-forms. The duality promotes specific coupling constants appearing in the superpotential to vacuum expectation values of the field-strengths. We then apply this general duality to type IIA string compactifications on Calabi-Yau orientifolds with RR fluxes. This gives a new supersymmetric formulation of the corresponding effective four-dimensional theories which includes gauge three-forms.Comment: 37 pages, v3: minor correction

Boundary Terms, Variational Principles and Higher Derivative Modified Gravity

We discuss the criteria that must be satisfied by a well-posed variational principle. We clarify the role of Gibbons-Hawking-York type boundary terms in the actions of higher derivative models of gravity, such as F(R) gravity, and argue that the correct boundary terms are the naive ones obtained though the correspondence with scalar-tensor theory, despite the fact that variations of normal derivatives of the metric must be fixed on the boundary. We show in the case of F(R) gravity that these boundary terms reproduce the correct ADM energy in the hamiltonian formalism, and the correct entropy for black holes in the semi-classical approximation.Comment: 54 pages, 2 figures. Several typos corrected, references added. Version appearing in PR

Gauge invariant approach to low-spin anomalous conformal currents and shadow fields

Conformal low-spin anomalous currents and shadow fields in flat space-time of dimension greater than or equal to four are studied. Gauge invariant formulation for such currents and shadow fields is developed. Gauge symmetries are realized by involving Stueckelberg and auxiliary fields. Gauge invariant differential constraints for anomalous currents and shadow fields and realization of global conformal symmetries are obtained. Gauge invariant two-point vertices for anomalous shadow fields are also obtained. In Stueckelberg gauge frame, these gauge invariant vertices become the standard two-point vertices of CFT. Light-cone gauge two-point vertices of the anomalous shadow fields are derived. AdS/CFT correspondence for anomalous currents and shadow fields and the respective normalizable and non-normalizable solutions of massive low-spin AdS fields is studied. The bulk fields are considered in modified de Donder gauge that leads to decoupled equations of motion. We demonstrate that leftover on-shell gauge symmetries of bulk massive fields correspond to gauge symmetries of boundary anomalous currents and shadow fields, while the modified (Lorentz) de Donder gauge conditions for bulk massive fields correspond to differential constraints for boundary anomalous currents and shadow fields.Comment: 28 pages, RevTeX4, v2: Sections 9C and 10C extended. Typos correcte

Shadows, currents and AdS fields

Conformal totally symmetric arbitrary spin currents and shadow fields in flat space-time of dimension greater than or equal to four are studied. Gauge invariant formulation for such currents and shadow fields is developed. Gauge symmetries are realized by involving the Stueckelberg fields. Realization of global conformal boost symmetries is obtained. Gauge invariant differential constraints for currents and shadow fields are obtained. AdS/CFT correspondence for currents and shadow fields and the respective normalizable and non-normalizable solutions of massless totally symmetric arbitrary spin AdS fields is studied. The bulk fields are considered in modified de Donder gauge that leads to decoupled equations of motion. We demonstrate that leftover on-shell gauge symmetries of bulk fields correspond to gauge symmetries of boundary currents and shadow fields, while the modified de Donder gauge conditions for bulk fields correspond to differential constraints for boundary conformal currents and shadow fields. Breaking conformal symmetries, we find interrelations between the gauge invariant formulation of the currents and shadow fields and the gauge invariant formulation of massive fields.Comment: v3: 31 pages, RevTeX4. Appendix D devoted to modified de Donder gauge in AdS(d+1) x S(d+1) added. Footnotes 10, 21 added. Typos correcte

Faddeev-Jackiw Hamiltonian Reduction for Free and Gauged Rarita-Schwinger Theories

We study the Faddeev-Jackiw symplectic Hamiltonian reduction for 3+1-dimensional free and Abelian gauged Rarita-Schwinger theories that comprise Grassmannian fermionic fields. We obtain the relevant fundamental brackets and find that they are in convenient forms for quantization. The brackets are independent of whether the theories contain mass or gauge fields, and the structure of constraints and symplectic potentials largely determine characteristic behaviors of the theories. We also note that, in contrast to the free massive theory, the Dirac field equations for free massless Rarita-Schwinger theory cannot be obtained in a covariant way.Comment: 17 pages, minor corrections made, reference and appendix added, discussions amplifie

Superconformal theories from Pseudoparticle Mechanics

We consider a one-dimensional Osp($N|2M$) pseudoparticle mechanical model which may be written as a phase space gauge theory. We show how the pseudoparticle model naturally encodes and explains the two-dimensional zero curvature approach to finding extended conformal symmetries. We describe a procedure of partial gauge fixing of these theories which leads generally to theories with superconformally extended ${\cal W}$-algebras. The pseudoparticle model allows one to derive the finite transformations of the gauge and matter fields occurring in these theories with extended conformal symmetries. In particular, the partial gauge fixing of the Osp($N|2$) pseudoparticle mechanical models results in theories with the SO($N$) invariant $N$-extended superconformal symmetry algebra of Bershadsky and Knizhnik. These algebras are nonlinear for $N \geq 3.$ We discuss in detail the cases of $N=1$ and $N=2,$ giving two new derivations of the superschwarzian derivatives. Some comments are made in the $N=2$ case on how twisted and topological theories represent a significant deformation of the original particle model. The particle model also allows one to interpret superconformal transformations as deformations of flags in super jet bundles over the associated super Riemann surface.Comment: 36 pages, UTTG-93-00