696 research outputs found
Axial gravity: a non-perturbative approach to split anomalies
In a theory of a Dirac fermion field coupled to a metric-axial-tensor (MAT)
background, using a Schwinger-DeWitt heat kernel technique, we compute
non-perturbatively the two (odd parity) trace anomalies. A suitable collapsing
limit of this model corresponds to a theory of chiral fermions coupled to
(ordinary) gravity. Taking this limit on the two computed trace anomalies we
verify that they tend to the same expression, which coincides with the already
found odd parity trace anomaly, with the identical coefficient. This confirms
our previous results on this issue.Comment: 43 pages, some additions in section 6.3 and 6.5 plus minor
correction
Axial gravity, massless fermions and trace anomalies
This article deals with two main topics. One is odd parity trace anomalies in
Weyl fermion theories in a 4d curved background, the second is the introduction
of axial gravity. The motivation for reconsidering the former is to clarify the
theoretical background underlying the approach and complete the calculation of
the anomaly. The reference is in particular to the difference between Weyl and
massless Majorana fermions and to the possible contributions from tadpole and
seagull terms in the Feynman diagram approach. A first, basic, result of this
paper is that a more thorough treatment, taking account of such additional
terms { and using dimensional regularization}, confirms the earlier result. The
introduction of an axial symmetric tensor besides the usual gravitational
metric is instrumental to a different derivation of the same result using Dirac
fermions, which are coupled not only to the usual metric but also to the
additional axial tensor. The action of Majorana and Weyl fermions can be
obtained in two different limits of such a general configuration. The results
obtained in this way confirm the previously obtained ones.Comment: 55 pages, comments added in section 2 and 5. Sections 6.4, 6.6, 7,
7.1, 7.2 and Appendices 5.3, 5.5 partially modifie
Worldline quantization of field theory, effective actions and L ∞ structure
Abstract We formulate the worldline quantization (a.k.a. deformation quantization) of a massive fermion model coupled to external higher spin sources. We use the relations obtained in this way to show that its regularized effective action is endowed with an L ∞ symmetry. The same result holds also for a massive scalar model
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