Redefining B-twisted topological sigma models

A recently proposed variation on the usual procedure to perform the topological B-twist in rigid $N=2$ models is applied to the case of the $\sigma$ model on a K\"ahler manifold. This leads to an alternative description of Witten's topological $\sigma$ model, which allows for a proper BRST interpretation and ghost number assignement. We also show that the auxiliary fields, which are responsible for the off shell closure of the $N=2$ algebra, play an important role in our construction.Comment: one reference adde

The regularized BRST Jacobian of pure Yang-Mills theory

The Jacobian for infinitesimal BRST transformations of path integrals for pure Yang-Mills theory, viewed as a matrix \unity +\Delta J in the space of Yang-Mills fields and (anti)ghosts, contains off-diagonal terms. Naively, the trace of $\Delta J$ vanishes, being proportional to the trace of the structure constants. However, the consistent regulator \cR, constructed from a general method, also contains off-diagonal terms. An explicit computation demonstrates that the regularized Jacobian Tr\ \Delta J\exp -\cR /M^2 for $M^2\rightarrow \infty$ is the variation of a local counterterm, which we give. This is a direct proof at the level of path integrals that there is no BRST anomaly.Comment: 12 pages, latex, CERN-TH.6541/92, KUL-TF-92/2

The BPHZ renormalised BV master equation and Two-loop Anomalies in Chiral Gravities

Anomalies and BRST invariance are governed, in the context of Lagrangian Batalin-Vilkovisky quantization, by the master equation, whose classical limit is $(S, S)=0$. Using Zimmerman's normal products and the BPHZ renormalisation method, we obtain a corresponding local quantum operator equation, which is valid to all orders in perturbation theory. The formulation implies a calculational method for anomalies to all orders that is useful also outside the BV context and that remains completely within regularised perturbation theory. It makes no difference in principle whether the anomaly appears at one loop or at higher loops. The method is illustrated by computing the one- and two-loop anomalies in chiral $W_3$ gravity.Comment: 44 pages, LaTex. 4 figures, epsf. Discussion in section 4 extended, assorted small modifications, 3 references added. As it will be published in NP

An alternative BRST operator for topological Landau-Ginzburg models

We propose a new BRST operator for the B-twist of N=2 Landau-Ginzburg (LG) models. It solves the problem of the fractional ghost numbers of Vafa's old BRST operator and shows how the model is obtained by gauge fixing a zero action. An essential role is played by the anti-BRST operator,which is given by one of the supersymmetries of the N=2 algebra. Its presence is needed in proving that the model is indeed a topological field theory. The space of physical observables, defined by taking the anti-BRST cohomology in the BRST cohomology groups, is unchanged

The SU(2) Skyrme model and anomaly

The SU(2) Skyrme model,expanding in the collective coordinates variables, gives rise to second-class constraints. Recently this system was embedded in a more general Abelian gauge theory using the BFFT Hamiltonian method. In this work we quantize this gauge theory computing the Noether current anomaly using for this two different methods: an operatorial Dirac first class formalism and the non-local BV quantization coupled with the Fujikawa regularization procedure.Comment: 6 pages, Revtex. Final version to be published in Physics Letters

Hiding Anomalies

Anomalies can be anticipated at the classical level without changing the classical cohomology, by introducing extra degrees of freedom. In the process, the anomaly does not quite disappear. We show that, in fact, it is shifted to new symmetries that come with the extra fields.Comment: 10

Multisystem proteinopathy due to a homozygous p.Arg159His VCP mutation : a tale of the unexpected

ObjectiveTo assess the clinical, radiologic, myopathologic, and proteomic findings in a patient manifesting a multisystem proteinopathy due to a homozygous valosin-containing protein gene (VCP) mutation previously reported to be pathogenic in the heterozygous state.MethodsWe studied a 36-year-old male index patient and his father, both presenting with progressive limb-girdle weakness. Muscle involvement was assessed by MRI and muscle biopsies. We performed whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing for segregation analysis of the identified p.Arg159His VCP mutation. To dissect biological disease signatures, we applied state-of-the-art quantitative proteomics on muscle tissue of the index case, his father, 3 additional patients with VCP-related myopathy, and 3 control individuals.ResultsThe index patient, homozygous for the known p.Arg159His mutation in VCP, manifested a typical VCP-related myopathy phenotype, although with a markedly high creatine kinase value and a relatively early disease onset, and Paget disease of bone. The father exhibited a myopathy phenotype and discrete parkinsonism, and multiple deceased family members on the maternal side of the pedigree displayed a dementia, parkinsonism, or myopathy phenotype. Bioinformatic analysis of quantitative proteomic data revealed the degenerative nature of the disease, with evidence suggesting selective failure of muscle regeneration and stress granule dyshomeostasis.ConclusionWe report a patient showing a multisystem proteinopathy due to a homozygous VCP mutation. The patient manifests a severe phenotype, yet fundamental disease characteristics are preserved. Proteomic findings provide further insights into VCP-related pathomechanisms

Regularisation, the BV method, and the antibracket cohomology

We review the Lagrangian Batalin--Vilkovisky method for gauge theories. This includes gauge fixing, quantisation and regularisation. We emphasize the role of cohomology of the antibracket operation. Our main example is $d=2$ gravity, for which we also discuss the solutions for the cohomology in the space of local integrals. This leads to the most general form for the action, for anomalies and for background charges.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, Preprint-KUL-TF-94/2

Global Anomalies in the Batalin Vilkovisky Quantization

The Batalin Vilkovisky (BV) quantization provides a general procedure for calculating anomalies associated to gauge symmetries. Recent results show that even higher loop order contributions can be calculated by introducing an appropriate regularization-renormalization scheme. However, in its standard form, the BV quantization is not sensible to quantum violations of the classical conservation of Noether currents, the so called global anomalies. We show here that the BV field antifield method can be extended in such a way that the Ward identities involving divergencies of global Abelian currents can be calculated from the generating functional, a result that would not be obtained by just associating constant ghosts to global symmetries. This extension, consisting of trivially gauging the global Abelian symmetries, poses no extra obstruction to the solution of the master equation, as it happens in the case of gauge anomalies. We illustrate the procedure with the axial model and also calculating the Adler Bell Jackiw anomaly.Comment: We emphasized the fact that our procedure only works for the case of Abelian global anomalies. Section 3 was rewritten and some references were added. 12 pages, LATEX. Revised version that will appear in Phys. Rev.