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arXiv · hep-th/9606181

Characteristic cohomology of $p$-form gauge theories

Marc Henneaux·Bernard Knaepen·Christiane Schomblond
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Abstract

The characteristic cohomology $H^k_{char}(d)$ for an arbitrary set of free $p$-form gauge fields is explicitly worked out in all form degrees $k<n-1$, where $n$ is the spacetime dimension. It is shown that this cohomology is finite-dimensional and completely generated by the forms dual to the field strengths. The gauge invariant characteristic cohomology is also computed. The results are extended to interacting $p$-form gauge theories with gauge invariant interactions. Implications for the BRST cohomology are mentioned.

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Marc Henneaux, Bernard Knaepen, Christiane Schomblond. 1996-06-27. Characteristic cohomology of $p$-form gauge theories. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02885676

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