arXiv subjects

Alberto S. Cattaneo

Publications and source records attributed to Alberto S. Cattaneo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

On the Globalization of the Poisson Sigma Model in the BV-BFV Formalism

We construct a formal global quantization of the Poisson Sigma Model in the BV-BFV formalism using the perturbative quantization of AKSZ theories on manifolds with boundary and analyze the properties of the boundary BFV operator. Moreover, we consider mixed boundary conditions and show that they lead to quantum anomalies, i.e. to a failure of the (modified differential) Quantum Master Equation. We show that it can be restored by adding boundary terms to the action, at the price of introducing corner terms in the boundary operator. We also show that the quantum GBFV operator on the total space of states is a differential, i.e. squares to zero, which is necessary for a well-defined BV cohomology.

math-ph↗

arXiv2019

Introduction to the BV-BFV formalism

These notes give an introduction to the mathematical framework of the Batalin-Vilkovisky and Batalin-Fradkin-Vilkovisky formalisms. Some of the presented content was given as a mini course by the first author at the 2018 QSPACE conference in Benasque.

math-ph↗

arXiv2019

Theta Invariants of lens spaces via the BV-BFV formalism

The goal of this paper is to investigate the Theta invariant --- an invariant of framed 3-manifolds associated with the lowest order contribution to the Chern-Simons partition function --- in the context of the quantum BV-BFV formalism. Namely, we compute the state on the solid torus to low degree in $\hbar$, and apply the gluing procedure to compute the Theta invariant of lens spaces. We use a distributional propagator which does not extend to a compactified configuration space, so to compute loop diagrams we have to define a regularization of the product of the distributional propagators, which is done in an \emph{ad hoc} fashion. Also, a polarization has to be chosen for the quantization process. Our results agree with results in the literature for one type of polarization, but for another type of polarization there are extra terms.

math.AT↗

arXiv2019

A note on the $Θ$-invariant of 3-manifolds

In this note, we revisit the $Θ$-invariant as defined by R. Bott and the first author. The $Θ$-invariant is an invariant of rational homology 3-spheres with acyclic orthogonal local systems, which is a generalization of the 2-loop term of the Chern-Simons perturbation theory. The $Θ$-invariant can be defined when a cohomology group is vanishing. In this note, we give a slightly modified version of the $Θ$-invariant that we can define even if the cohomology group is not vanishing.

math.GT↗

arXiv2018

Split Canonical Relations

A Lagrangian subspace $L$ of a weak symplectic vector space is called \emph{split Lagrangian} if it has an isotropic (hence Lagrangian) complement. When the symplectic structure is strong, it is sufficient for $L$ to have a closed complement, which can then be moved to become isotropic. The purpose of this note is to develop the theory of compositions and reductions of split canonical relations for symplectic vector spaces. We give conditions on a coisotropic subspace $C$ of a weak symplectic space $V$ which imply that the induced canonical relation $L_C$ from $V$ to $C/C^ω$ is split, and, from these, we find sufficient conditions for split canonical relations to compose well. We prove that the canonical relations arising in the Poisson sigma model from the Lagrangian field theoretical approach are split, giving a description of symplectic groupoids integrating Poisson manifolds in terms of split canonical relations.

math.SG↗

arXiv2018

The reduced phase space of Palatini-Cartan-Holst theory

General relativity in four dimensions can be reformulated as a gauge theory, referred to as Palatini-Cartan-Holst theory. This paper describes its reduced phase space using a geometric method due to Kijowski and Tulczyjew and its relation to that of the Einstein-Hilbert approach.

math-ph↗

arXiv2018

Poisson sigma model and semiclassical quantization of integrable systems

In this paper we outline the construction of semiclassical eigenfunctions of integrable models in terms of the semiclassical path integral for the Poisson sigma model with the target space being the phase space of the integrable system. The semiclassical path integral is defined as a formal power series with coefficients being Feynman diagrams. We also argue that in a similar way one can obtain irreducible semiclassical representations of Kontsevich's star product.

math-ph↗

arXiv2017

BV-equivalence between triadic gravity and BF theory in three dimensions

The triadic description of General Relativity in three dimensions is known to be a BF theory. Diffeomorphisms, as symmetries, are easily re- covered on shell from the symmetries of BF theory. This note describes an explicit off-shell BV symplectomorphism between the BV versions of the two theories, each endowed with their natural symmetries.

math-ph↗

arXiv2017

Relational Symplectic Groupoid Quantization for Constant Poisson Structures

As a detailed application of the BV-BFV formalism for the quantization of field theories on manifolds with boundary, this note describes a quantization of the relational symplectic groupoid for a constant Poisson structure. The presence of mixed boundary conditions and the globalization of results is also addressed. In particular, the paper includes an extension to space-times with boundary of some formal geometry considerations in the BV-BFV formalism, and specifically introduces into the BV-BFV framework a "differential" version of the classical and quantum master equations. The quantization constructed in this paper induces Kontsevich's deformation quantization on the underlying Poisson manifold, i.e., the Moyal product, which is known in full details. This allows focussing on the BV-BFV technology and testing it. For the unexperienced reader, this is also a practical and reasonably simple way to learn it.

math-ph↗

arXiv2017

A note on the Poisson bracket of 2d smeared fluxes in loop quantum gravity

We show that the non-Abelian nature of geometric fluxes---the corner-stone in the definition of quantum geometry in the framework of loop quantum gravity (LQG)---follows directly form the continuum canonical commutations relations of gravity in connection variables and the validity of the Gauss law. The present treatment simplifies previous formulations and thus identifies more clearly the root of the discreteness of geometric operators in LQG. Our statement generalizes to arbitrary gauge theories and relies only on the validity of the Gauss law.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Comparing Poisson Sigma Model with A-model

We discuss the A-model as a gauge fixing of the Poisson Sigma Model with target a symplectic structure. We complete the discussion in [arXiv:0706.3164], where a gauge fixing defined by a compatible complex structure was introduced, by showing how to recover the A-model hierarchy of observables in terms of the AKSZ observables. Moreover, we discuss the off-shell supersymmetry of the A-model as a residual BV symmetry of the gauge-fixed PSM action.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

On time

This note describes the restoration of time in one-dimensional parameterization-invariant (hence timeless) models, namely the classically-equivalent Jacobi action and gravity coupled to matter. It also serves as a timely introduction by examples to the classical and quantum BV-BFV formalism as well as to the AKSZ method.

math-ph↗

arXiv2016

From topological field theory to deformation quantization and reduction

This note describes the functional-integral quantization of two-dimensional topological field theories together with applications to problems in deformation quantization of Poisson manifolds and reduction of certain submanifolds. A brief introduction to smooth graded manifolds and to the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism is included.

math-ph↗

arXiv2016

Perturbative quantum gauge theories on manifolds with boundary

This paper introduces a general perturbative quantization scheme for gauge theories on manifolds with boundary, compatible with cutting and gluing, in the cohomological symplectic (BV-BFV) formalism. Explicit examples, like abelian BF theory and its perturbations, including nontopological ones, are presented.

math-ph↗

arXiv2016

BV-BFV approach to General Relativity, Einstein-Hilbert action

The present paper shows that general relativity in the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formalism admits a BV-BFV formulation. More precisely, for any $d + 1 \not= 2$ (pseudo-) Riemannian manifold M with space-like or time-like boundary components, the BV data on the bulk induces compatible BFV data on the boundary. As a byproduct, the usual canonical formulation of general relativity is recovered in a straightforward way.

math-ph↗

arXiv2016

Perturbative BV theories with Segal-like gluing

This is a survey of our program of perturbative quantization of gauge theories on manifolds with boundary compatible with cutting/pasting and with gauge symmetry treated by means of a cohomological resolution (Batalin-Vilkovisky) formalism. We also give two explicit quantum examples -- abelian BF theory and the Poisson sigma model. This exposition is based on a talk by P.M. at the ICMP 2015 in Santiago de Chile.

math-ph↗

arXiv2015

Split Chern-Simons theory in the BV-BFV formalism

The goal of this note is to give a brief overview of the BV-BFV formalism developed by the first two authors and Reshetikhin in [arXiv:1201.0290], [arXiv:1507.01221] in order to perform perturbative quantisation of Lagrangian field theories on manifolds with boundary, and present a special case of Chern-Simons theory as a new example.

math.GT↗

arXiv2014

Wave relations

The wave equation (free boson) problem is studied from the viewpoint of the relations on the symplectic manifolds associated to the boundary induced by solutions. Unexpectedly there is still something to say on this simple, well-studied problem. In particular, boundaries which do not allow for a meaningful Hamiltonian evolution are not problematic from the viewpoint of relations. In the two-dimensional Minkowski case, these relations are shown to be Lagrangian. This result is then extended to a wide class of metrics and is conjectured to be true also in higher dimensions for nice enough metrics. A counterexample where the relation is not Lagrangian is provided by the Misner space.

math-ph↗