123 research outputs found
Gauge invariance of massless QED
A simple general proof of gauge invariance in QED is given in the framework
of causal perturbation theory. It illustrates a method which can also be used
in non-abelian gauge theories.Comment: 7 pages, TEX-file, Zuerich University Preprint ZU-TH-33/199
Non-Uniqueness of Quantized Yang-Mills Theories
We consider quantized Yang-Mills theories in the framework of causal
perturbation theory which goes back to Epstein and Glaser. In this approach
gauge invariance is expressed by a simple commutator relation for the S-matrix.
The most general coupling which is gauge invariant in first order contains a
two-parametric ambiguity in the ghost sector - a divergence- and a
coboundary-coupling may be added. We prove (not completely) that the higher
orders with these two additional couplings are gauge invariant, too. Moreover
we show that the ambiguities of the n-point distributions restricted to the
physical subspace are only a sum of divergences (in the sense of vector
analysis). It turns out that the theory without divergence- and
coboundary-coupling is the most simple one in a quite technical sense. The
proofs for the n-point distributions containing coboundary-couplings are given
up to third or fourth order only, whereas the statements about the
divergence-coupling are proven in all orders.Comment: 22 pages. The paper is written in TEX. The necessary macros are
include
The Standard Model and its Generalizations in Epstein-Glaser Approach to Renormalization Theory II: the Fermion Sector and the Axial Anomaly
We complete our study of non-Abelian gauge theories in the framework of
Epstein-Glaser approach to renormalization theory including in the model an
arbitrary number of Dirac Fermions. We consider the consistency of the model up
to the third order of the perturbation theory. In the second order we obtain
pure group theoretical relations expressing a representation property of the
numerical coefficients appearing in the left and right handed components of the
interaction Lagrangian. In the third order of the perturbation theory we obtain
the the condition of cancellation of the axial anomaly.Comment: 38 pages, LATEX 2e, extensive rewritting, some errors eliminate
General massive gauge theory
The concept of perturbative gauge invariance formulated exclusively by means
of asymptotic fields is used to construct massive gauge theories. We consider
the interactions of massive and massless gauge fields together with
fermionic ghost and anti-ghost fields. First order gauge invariance
requires the introduction of unphysical scalars (Goldstone bosons) and fixes
their trilinear couplings. At second order additional physical scalars (Higgs
fields) are necessary, their coupling is further restricted at third order. In
case of one physical scalar all couplings are determined by gauge invariance,
including the Higgs potential. For three massive and one massless gauge field
the electroweak theory comes out as the unique solution.Comment: 20 pages, latex, no figure
Perturbative quantum gauge invariance: Where the ghosts come from
A condensed introduction to quantum gauge theories is given in the
perturbative S-matrix framework; path integral methods are used nowhere. This
approach emphasizes the fact that it is not necessary to start from classical
gauge theories which are then subject to quantization, but it is also possible
to recover the classical group structure and coupling properties from purely
quantum mechanical principles. As a main tool we use a free field version of
the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin gauge transformation, which contains no
interaction terms related to a coupling constant. This free gauge
transformation can be formulated in an analogous way for quantum
electrodynamics, Yang-Mills theories with massless or massive gauge bosons and
quantum gravity.Comment: 28 pages, LATEX. Some typos corrected, version to be publishe
On Gauge Invariance and Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking
We show how the widely used concept of spontaneous symmetry breaking can be
explained in causal perturbation theory by introducing a perturbative version
of quantum gauge invariance. Perturbative gauge invariance, formulated
exclusively by means of asymptotic fields, is discussed for the simple example
of Abelian U(1) gauge theory (Abelian Higgs model). Our findings are relevant
for the electroweak theory, as pointed out elsewhere.Comment: 13 pages, latex, no figure
Regularization in quantum field theory from the causal point of view
The causal approach to perturbative quantum field theory is presented in
detail, which goes back to a seminal work by Henri Epstein and Vladimir Jurko
Glaser in 1973. Causal perturbation theory is a mathematically rigorous
approach to renormalization theory, which makes it possible to put the
theoretical setup of perturbative quantum field theory on a sound mathematical
basis. Epstein and Glaser solved this problem for a special class of
distributions, the time-ordered products, that fulfill a causality condition,
which itself is a basic requirement in axiomatic quantum field theory. In their
original work, Epstein and Glaser studied only theories involving scalar
particles. In this review, the extension of the method to theories with higher
spin, including gravity, is presented. Furthermore, specific examples are
presented in order to highlight the technical differences between the causal
method and other regularization methods, like, e.g. dimensional regularization.Comment: 75 pages, 8 figures, style file included, some comments and
references adde
Massive Vector Mesons and Gauge Theory
We show that the requirements of renormalizability and physical consistency
imposed on perturbative interactions of massive vector mesons fix the theory
essentially uniquely. In particular physical consistency demands the presence
of at least one additional physical degree of freedom which was not part of the
originally required physical particle content. In its simplest realization
(probably the only one) these are scalar fields as envisaged by Higgs but in
the present formulation without the ``symmetry-breaking Higgs condensate''. The
final result agrees precisely with the usual quantization of a classical gauge
theory by means of the Higgs mechanism. Our method proves an old conjecture of
Cornwall, Levin and Tiktopoulos stating that the renormalization and
consistency requirements of spin=1 particles lead to the gauge theory structure
(i.e. a kind of inverse of 't Hooft's famous renormalizability proof in
quantized gauge theories) which was based on the on-shell unitarity of the
-matrix. We also speculate on a possible future ghostfree formulation which
avoids ''field coordinates'' altogether and is expected to reconcile the
on-shell S-matrix point of view with the off-shell field theory structure.Comment: 53 pages, version to appear in J. Phys.
Causal perturbation theory in terms of retarded products, and a proof of the Action Ward Identity
In the framework of perturbative algebraic quantum field theory a local
construction of interacting fields in terms of retarded products is performed,
based on earlier work of Steinmann. In our formalism the entries of the
retarded products are local functionals of the off shell classical fields, and
we prove that the interacting fields depend only on the action and not on terms
in the Lagrangian which are total derivatives, thus providing a proof of
Stora's 'Action Ward Identity'. The theory depends on free parameters which
flow under the renormalization group. This flow can be derived in our local
framework independently of the infrared behavior, as was first established by
Hollands and Wald. We explicitly compute non-trivial examples for the
renormalization of the interaction and the field.Comment: 76 pages, to appear in Rev. Math. Phy
Quantum gauge models without classical Higgs mechanism
We examine the status of massive gauge theories, such as those usually
obtained by spontaneous symmetry breakdown, from the viewpoint of causal
(Epstein-Glaser) renormalization. The BRS formulation of gauge invariance in
this framework, starting from canonical quantization of massive (as well as
massless) vector bosons as fundamental entities, and proceeding perturbatively,
allows one to rederive the reductive group symmetry of interactions, the need
for scalar fields in gauge theory, and the covariant derivative. Thus the
presence of higgs particles is explained without recourse to a
Higgs(-Englert-Brout-Guralnik-Hagen-Kibble) mechanism. Along the way, we dispel
doubts about the compatibility of causal gauge invariance with grand unified
theories.Comment: 20 pages in two-column EPJC format, shortened version accepted for
publication. For more details, consult version
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