Superfield Approach to Nilpotency and Absolute Anticommutativity of Conserved Charges: 2D non-Abelian 1-Form Gauge Theory

We exploit the theoretical strength of augmented version of superfield approach (AVSA) to Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) formalism to express the nilpotency and absolute anticommutativity properties of the (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST conserved charges for the two $(1+1)$-dimensional (2D) non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory (without any interaction with matter fields) in the language of superspace variables, their derivatives and suitable superfields. In the proof of absolute anticommutativity property, we invoke the strength of Curci-Ferrari (CF) condition for the (anti-)BRST charges. No such outside condition/restriction is required in the proof of absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-)co-BRST conserved charges. The latter observation (as well as other observations) connected with (anti-)co-BRST symmetries and corresponding conserved charges are novel results of our present investigation. We also discuss the (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetry invariance of the appropriate Lagrangian densities within the framework of AVSA. In addition, we dwell a bit on the derivation of the above fermionic (nilpotent) symmetries by applying the AVSA to BRST formaism where only the (anti-)chiral superfields are used.Comment: LaTeX file, 33 pages, journal referenc

Modified 2D Proca Theory: Revisited Under BRST and (Anti-)Chiral Superfield Formalisms

Within the framework of Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) approach, we discuss mainly the fermionic (i.e. off-shell nilpotent) (anti-)BRST, (anti-)co-BRST and some discrete dual-symmetries of the appropriate Lagrangian densities for a two (1+1)-dimensional (2D) modified Proca (i.e. a massive Abelian 1-form) theory without any interaction with matter fields. One of the novel observations of our present investigation is the existence of some kinds of restrictions in the case of our present St\"{u}ckelberg-modified version of the 2D Proca theory which is not like the standard Curci-Ferrari (CF)-condition of a non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory. Some kinds of similarities and a few differences between them have been pointed out in our present investigation. To establish the sanctity of the above off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetries, we derive them by using our newly proposed (anti-)chiral superfield formalism where a few specific and appropriate sets of invariant quantities play a decisive role. We express the (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST conserved charges in terms of the superfields that are obtained after the applications of (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST invariant restrictions and prove their off-shell nilpotency and absolute anticommutativity properties, too. Finally, we make some comments on (i) the novelty of our restrictions/obstructions, and (ii) the physics behind the negative kinetic term associated with the pseudo-scalar field of our present theory.Comment: LaTeX file, 58 pages, Journal reference give

Superfield approach to symmetry invariance in QED with complex scalar fields

We show that the Grassmannian independence of the super Lagrangian density, expressed in terms of the superfields defined on a (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold, is a clear-cut proof for the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST invariance of the corresoponding four (3 + 1)-dimensional (4D) Lagrangian density that describes the interaction between the U(1) gauge field and the charged complex scalar fields. The above 4D field theoretical model is considered on a (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold parametrized by the ordinary four spacetime variables x^\mu (with \mu = 0, 1, 2, 3) and a pair of Grassmannian variables \theta and \bar\theta (with \theta^2 = \bar\theta^2 = 0, \theta \bar\theta + \bar\theta \theta = 0). Geometrically, the (anti-)BRST invariance is encoded in the translation of the super Lagrangian density along the Grassmannian directions of the above supermanifold such that the outcome of this shift operation is zero.Comment: LaTeX file, 14 pages, minor changes in the title and text, version to appear in ``Pramana - Journal of Physics'

Geometrical Aspects Of BRST Cohomology In Augmented Superfield Formalism

In the framework of augmented superfield approach, we provide the geometrical origin and interpretation for the nilpotent (anti-)BRST charges, (anti-)co-BRST charges and a non-nilpotent bosonic charge. Together, these local and conserved charges turn out to be responsible for a clear and cogent definition of the Hodge decomposition theorem in the quantum Hilbert space of states. The above charges owe their origin to the de Rham cohomological operators of differential geometry which are found to be at the heart of some of the key concepts associated with the interacting gauge theories. For our present review, we choose the two $(1 + 1)$-dimensional (2D) quantum electrodynamics (QED) as a prototype field theoretical model to derive all the nilpotent symmetries for all the fields present in this interacting gauge theory in the framework of augmented superfield formulation and show that this theory is a {\it unique} example of an interacting gauge theory which provides a tractable field theoretical model for the Hodge theory.Comment: LaTeX file, 25 pages, Ref. [49] updated, correct page numbers of the Journal are give