Introduction to Classical Gauge Field Theory and to Batalin-Vilkovisky Quantization
Lectures held at the 22nd "Saalburg" Summer School (2016)
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arXiv subjects
Glenn Barnich
Publications and source records attributed to Glenn Barnich.
Deformations of vector-scalar models
Abelian vector fields non-minimally coupled to uncharged scalar fields arise in many contexts. We investigate here through algebraic methods their consistent deformations ("gaugings"), i.e., the deformations that preserve the number (but not necessarily the form or the algebra) of the gauge symmetries. Infinitesimal consistent deformations are given by the BRST cohomology classes at ghost number zero. We parametrize explicitly these classes in terms of various types of global symmetries and corresponding Noether currents through the characteristic cohomology related to antifields and equations of motion. The analysis applies to all ghost numbers and not just ghost number zero. We also provide a systematic discussion of the linear and quadratic constraints on these parameters that follow from higher-order consistency. Our work is relevant to the gaugings of extended supergravities.
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A note on local BRST cohomology of Yang-Mills type theories with free abelian factors
We extend previous work on antifield dependent local BRST cohomology for matter coupled gauge theories of Yang-Mills type to the case of gauge groups that involve free abelian factors. More precisely, we first investigate in a model independent way how the dynamics enters the computation of the cohomology for a general class of Lagrangians in general spacetime dimensions. We then discuss explicit solutions in the case of specific models. Our analysis has implications for the structure of characteristic cohomology and for consistent deformations of the classical models, as well as for divergences/counterterms and for gauge anomalies that may appear during perturbative quantization.
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Geometric actions for three-dimensional gravity
The solution space of three-dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter or flat Einstein gravity is given by the coadjoint representation of two copies of the Virasoro group in the former and the centrally extended BMS$_3$ group in the latter case. Dynamical actions that control these solution spaces are usually constructed by starting from the Chern-Simons formulation and imposing all boundary conditions. In this note, an alternative route is followed. We study in detail how to derive these actions from a group-theoretical viewpoint by constructing geometric actions for each of the coadjoint orbits, including the appropriate Hamiltonians. We briefly sketch relevant generalizations and potential applications beyond three-dimensional gravity.
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Centrally extended BMS4 Lie algebroid
We explicitly show how the field dependent 2-cocycle that arises in the current algebra of 4 dimensional asymptotically flat spacetimes can be used as a central extension to turn the BMS4 Lie algebra, or more precisely, the BMS4 action Lie algebroid, into a genuine Lie algebroid with field dependent structure functions. Both a BRST formulation, where the extension appears as a ghost number 2 cocyle, and a formulation in terms of vertex operator algebras are introduced. The mapping of the celestial sphere to the cylinder then implies zero mode shifts of the asymptotic part of the shear and of the news tensor.
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Conserved currents in the Cartan formulation of general relativity
We derive the expressions for the local, on-shell closed co-dimension 2 forms in the Cartan formulation of general relativity and explicitly show their equivalence to those of the metric formulation.
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Finite BMS transformations
The action of finite BMS and Weyl transformations on the gravitational data at null infinity is worked out in three and four dimensions in the case of an arbitrary conformal factor for the boundary metric induced on Scri.
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Notes on conformal invariance of gauge fields
In Lagrangian gauge systems, the vector space of global reducibility parameters forms a module under the Lie algebra of symmetries of the action. Since the classification of global reducibility parameters is generically easier than the classification of symmetries of the action, this fact can be used to constrain the latter when knowing the former. We apply this strategy and its generalization for the non-Lagrangian setting to the problem of conformal symmetry of various free higher spin gauge fields. This scheme allows one to show that, in terms of potentials, massless higher spin gauge fields in Minkowski space and partially-massless fields in (A)dS space are not conformal for spin strictly greater than one, while in terms of curvatures, maximal-depth partially-massless fields in four dimensions are also not conformal, unlike the closely related, but less constrained, maximal-depth Fradkin--Tseytlin fields.
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Asymptotically locally flat spacetimes and dynamical black flowers in three dimensions
The theory of massive gravity proposed by Bergshoeff, Hohm and Townsend is considered in the special case of the pure irreducibly fourth order quadratic Lagrangian. It is shown that the asymptotically locally flat black holes of this theory can be consistently deformed to "black flowers" that are no longer spherically symmetric. Moreover, we construct radiating spacetimes settling down to these black flowers in the far future. The generic case can be shown to fit within a relaxed set of asymptotic conditions as compared to the ones of general relativity at null infinity, while the asymptotic symmetries remain the same. Conserved charges as surface integrals at null infinity are constructed following a covariant approach, and their algebra represents BMS$_{3}$, but without central extensions. For solutions possessing an event horizon, we derive the first law of thermodynamics from these surface integrals.
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Super-BMS$_{3}$ invariant boundary theory from three-dimensional flat supergravity
The two-dimensional super-BMS$_{3}$ invariant theory dual to three-dimensional asymptotically flat $\mathcal{N}=1$ supergravity is constructed. It is described by a constrained or gauged chiral Wess-Zumino-Witten action based on the super-Poincaré algebra in the Hamiltonian, respectively the Lagrangian formulation, whose reduced phase space description corresponds to a supersymmetric extension of flat Liouville theory.
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Three-dimensional asymptotically flat Einstein-Maxwell theory
Three-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell theory with non trivial asymptotics at null infinity is solved. The symmetry algebra is a Virasoro-Kac-Moody type algebra that extends the bms3 algebra of the purely gravitational case. Solution space involves logarithms and provides a tractable example of a polyhomogeneous solution space. The associated surface charges are non-integrable and non-conserved due to the presence of electromagnetic news. As in the four dimensional purely gravitational case, their algebra involves a field-dependent central charge.
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Chern-Simons action for inhomogeneous Virasoro group as an extension of three dimensional flat gravity
We initiate the study of a Chern-Simons action associated to the semi-direct sum of the Virasoro algebra with its coadjoint representation. This model extends the standard Chern-Simons formulation of three dimensional flat gravity and is similar to the higher-spin extension of three dimensional anti-de Sitter or flat gravity. The extension can also be constructed for the exotic but not for the cosmological constant deformation of flat gravity.
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One-loop partition function of three-dimensional flat gravity
In this note we point out that the one-loop partition function of three-dimensional flat gravity, computed along the lines originally developed for the anti-de Sitter case, reproduces characters of the BMS3 group.
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Notes on the BMS group in three dimensions: II. Coadjoint representation
The coadjoint representation of the BMS$_3$ group, which governs the covariant phase space of three-dimensional asymptotically flat gravity, is investigated. In particular, we classify coadjoint BMS$_3$ orbits and show that intrinsic angular momentum is free of supertranslation ambiguities. Finally, the link with induced representations upon geometric quantization is discussed.
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Asymptotic symmetries and dynamics of three-dimensional flat supergravity
A consistent set of asymptotic conditions for the simplest supergravity theory without cosmological constant in three dimensions is proposed. The canonical generators associated to the asymptotic symmetries are shown to span a supersymmetric extension of the BMS$_3$ algebra with an appropriate central charge. The energy is manifestly bounded from below with the ground state given by the null orbifold or Minkowski spacetime for periodic, respectively antiperiodic boundary conditions on the gravitino. These results are related to the corresponding ones in AdS$_3$ supergravity by a suitable flat limit. The analysis is generalized to the case of minimal flat supergravity with additional parity odd terms for which the Poisson algebra of canonical generators form a representation of the super-BMS$_3$ algebra with an additional central charge.
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Holographic positive energy theorems in three-dimensional gravity
The covariant phase space of three-dimensional asymptotically flat and anti-de Sitter gravity is controlled by well-understood coadjoint orbits of the Virasoro group. Detailed knowledge on the behavior of the energy functional on these orbits can be used to discuss positive energy theorems.
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Notes on the BMS group in three dimensions: I. Induced representations
The Bondi-Metzner-Sachs group in three dimensions is the symmetry group of asymptotically flat three-dimensional spacetimes. It is the semi-direct product of the diffeomorphism group of the circle with the space of its adjoint representation, embedded as an abelian normal subgroup. The structure of the group suggests to study induced representations; we show here that they are associated with the well-known coadjoint orbits of the Virasoro group and provide explicit representations in terms of one-particle states.
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Comments on holographic current algebras and asymptotically flat four dimensional spacetimes at null infinity
We follow the spirit of a recent proposal to show that previous computations for asymptotically flat spacetimes in four dimensions at null infinity can be re-interpreted in terms of a well-defined holographic current algebra for the time component of the currents. The analysis is completed by the current algebra for the spatial components.
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