Exercises in equivariant cohomology and topological theories

Equivariant cohomology is suggested as an alternative algebraic framework for the definition of topological field theories constructed by E. Witten circa 1988. It also enlightens the classical Faddeev Popov gauge fixing procedure.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX with sprocl.sty, also available at http://lapphp0.in2p3.fr/preplapp/psth/ENSLAPP604.ps.g

Renormalization of Massless Feynman Amplitudes in Configuration Space

A systematic study of recursive renormalization of Feynman amplitudes is carried out both in Euclidean and in Minkowski configuration space. For a massless quantum field theory (QFT) we use the technique of extending associate homogeneous distributions to complete the renormalization recursion. A homogeneous (Poincare covariant) amplitude is said to be convergent if it admits a (unique covariant) extension as a homogeneous distribution. For any amplitude without subdivergences - i.e. for a Feynman distribution that is homogeneous off the full (small) diagonal - we define a renormalization invariant residue. Its vanishing is a necessary and sufficient condition for the convergence of such an amplitude. It extends to arbitrary - not necessarily primitively divergent - Feynman amplitudes. This notion of convergence is finer than the usual power counting criterion and includes cancellation of divergences.Comment: LaTeX, 64 page

Configuration Space Renormalization of Massless QFT as an Extension Problem for Associate Homogeneous Distributions

Con guration (x-)space renormalization of euclidean Green functions in a massless quantum eld theory is reduced (by generalizing Hörmander's approach [H]) to the study of extensions of associate homogeneous distributions. Primitively divergent graphs are renormalized, in particular, by subtracting the residue of an analytically regularized expression. The renormalized Green functions are again associate homogeneous distributions that transform under indecomposable representations of the dilation group

Two-Center Black Holes Duality-Invariants for stu Model and its lower-rank Descendants

We classify 2-center extremal black hole charge configurations through duality-invariant homogeneous polynomials, which are the generalization of the unique invariant quartic polynomial for single-center black holes based on homogeneous symmetric cubic special Kaehler geometries. A crucial role is played by an horizontal SL(p,R) symmetry group, which classifies invariants for p-center black holes. For p = 2, a (spin 2) quintet of quartic invariants emerge. We provide the minimal set of independent invariants for the rank-3 N = 2, d = 4 stu model, and for its lower-rank descendants, namely the rank-2 st^2 and rank-1 t^3 models; these models respectively exhibit seven, six and five independent invariants. We also derive the polynomial relations among these and other duality invariants. In particular, the symplectic product of two charge vectors is not independent from the quartic quintet in the t^3 model, but rather it satisfies a degree-16 relation, corresponding to a quartic equation for the square of the symplectic product itself.Comment: 1+31 pages; v2: amendments in Sec. 9, App. C added, other minor refinements, Refs. added; v3: Ref. added, typos fixed. To appear on J.Math.Phy

Renormalized Perturbation Theory: A Missing Chapter

Renormalized perturbation theory \`a la BPHZ can be founded on causality as analyzed by H. Epstein and V. Glaser in the seventies. Here, we list and discuss a number of additional constraints of algebraic character some of which have to be considered as parts of the core of the BPHZ framework.Comment: 16 page