127 research outputs found
-Algebras of Classical Field Theories and the Batalin-Vilkovisky Formalism
We review in detail the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism for Lagrangian field
theories and its mathematical foundations with an emphasis on higher algebraic
structures and classical field theories. In particular, we show how a field
theory gives rise to an -algebra and how quasi-isomorphisms between
-algebras correspond to classical equivalences of field theories. A
few experts may be familiar with parts of our discussion, however, the material
is presented from the perspective of a very general notion of a gauge theory.
We also make a number of new observations and present some new results. Most
importantly, we discuss in great detail higher (categorified) Chern-Simons
theories and give some useful shortcuts in usually rather involved
computations.Comment: v3: 131 pages, minor improvements, published versio
Irreducible antifield-BRST approach to reducible gauge theories
An irreducible antifield BRST quantization method for reducible gauge
theories is proposed. The general formalism is illustrated in the case of the
Freedman-Townsend model.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX 2.0
Non-commutative tachyon action and D-brane geometry
We analyse open string correlators in non-constant background fields,
including the metric , the antisymmetric -field, and the gauge field .
Working with a derivative expansion for the background fields, but exact in
their constant parts, we obtain a tachyonic on-shell condition for the inserted
functions and extract the kinetic term for the tachyon action. The 3-point
correlator yields a non-commutative tachyon potential. We also find a
remarkable feature of the differential structure on the D-brane: Although the
boundary metric plays an essential role in the action, the natural
connection on the D-brane is the same as in closed string theory, i.e. it is
compatible with the bulk metric and has torsion . This means, in
particular, that the parallel transport on the brane is independent of the
gauge field .Comment: 12 pages, no figure
On the cohomological derivation of topological Yang-Mills theory
Topological Yang-Mills theory is derived in the framework of Lagrangian BRST
cohomology.Comment: LaTeX 2.09, 12 page
A Contour Integral Representation for the Dual Five-Point Function and a Symmetry of the Genus Four Surface in R6
The invention of the "dual resonance model" N-point functions BN motivated
the development of current string theory. The simplest of these models, the
four-point function B4, is the classical Euler Beta function. Many standard
methods of complex analysis in a single variable have been applied to elucidate
the properties of the Euler Beta function, leading, for example, to analytic
continuation formulas such as the contour-integral representation obtained by
Pochhammer in 1890. Here we explore the geometry underlying the dual five-point
function B5, the simplest generalization of the Euler Beta function. Analyzing
the B5 integrand leads to a polyhedral structure for the five-crosscap surface,
embedded in RP5, that has 12 pentagonal faces and a symmetry group of order 120
in PGL(6). We find a Pochhammer-like representation for B5 that is a contour
integral along a surface of genus five. The symmetric embedding of the
five-crosscap surface in RP5 is doubly covered by a symmetric embedding of the
surface of genus four in R6 that has a polyhedral structure with 24 pentagonal
faces and a symmetry group of order 240 in O(6). The methods appear
generalizable to all N, and the resulting structures seem to be related to
associahedra in arbitrary dimensions.Comment: 43 pages and 44 figure
Irreducible Hamiltonian approach to the Freedman-Townsend model
The irreducible BRST symmetry for the Freedman-Townsend model is derived. The
comparison with the standard reducible approach is also addressed.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX 2.0
Principal infinity-bundles - General theory
The theory of principal bundles makes sense in any infinity-topos, such as
that of topological, of smooth, or of otherwise geometric
infinity-groupoids/infinity-stacks, and more generally in slices of these. It
provides a natural geometric model for structured higher nonabelian cohomology
and controls general fiber bundles in terms of associated bundles. For suitable
choices of structure infinity-group G these G-principal infinity-bundles
reproduce the theories of ordinary principal bundles, of bundle
gerbes/principal 2-bundles and of bundle 2-gerbes and generalize these to their
further higher and equivariant analogs. The induced associated infinity-bundles
subsume the notions of gerbes and higher gerbes in the literature.
We discuss here this general theory of principal infinity-bundles, intimately
related to the axioms of Giraud, Toen-Vezzosi, Rezk and Lurie that characterize
infinity-toposes. We show a natural equivalence between principal
infinity-bundles and intrinsic nonabelian cocycles, implying the classification
of principal infinity-bundles by nonabelian sheaf hyper-cohomology. We observe
that the theory of geometric fiber infinity-bundles associated to principal
infinity-bundles subsumes a theory of infinity-gerbes and of twisted
infinity-bundles, with twists deriving from local coefficient infinity-bundles,
which we define, relate to extensions of principal infinity-bundles and show to
be classified by a corresponding notion of twisted cohomology, identified with
the cohomology of a corresponding slice infinity-topos.
In a companion article [NSSb] we discuss explicit presentations of this
theory in categories of simplicial (pre)sheaves by hyper-Cech cohomology and by
simplicial weakly-principal bundles; and in [NSSc] we discuss various examples
and applications of the theory.Comment: 46 pages, published versio
KP line solitons and Tamari lattices
The KP-II equation possesses a class of line soliton solutions which can be
qualitatively described via a tropical approximation as a chain of rooted
binary trees, except at "critical" events where a transition to a different
rooted binary tree takes place. We prove that these correspond to maximal
chains in Tamari lattices (which are poset structures on associahedra). We
further derive results that allow to compute details of the evolution,
including the critical events. Moreover, we present some insights into the
structure of the more general line soliton solutions. All this yields a
characterization of possible evolutions of line soliton patterns on a shallow
fluid surface (provided that the KP-II approximation applies).Comment: 49 pages, 36 figures, second version: section 4 expande
Irreducible Hamiltonian BRST approach to topologically coupled abelian forms
An irreducible Hamiltonian BRST approach to topologically coupled p- and
(p+1)-forms is developed. The irreducible setting is enforced by means of
constructing an irreducible Hamiltonian first-class model that is equivalent
from the BRST point of view to the original redundant theory. The irreducible
path integral can be brought to a manifestly Lorentz covariant form.Comment: 29 pages, LaTeX 2.0
Irreducible Hamiltonian BRST symmetry for reducible first-class systems
An irreducible Hamiltonian BRST quantization method for reducible first-class
systems is proposed. The general theory is illustrated on a two-stage reducible
model, the link with the standard reducible BRST treatment being also
emphasized.Comment: Latex 2.09, 23 pages, to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.
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