arXiv subjects

Tom Wetzstein

Publications and source records attributed to Tom Wetzstein.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

BV-BRST Noether theorem

The BRST Noether theorem, or ``Noether's 1.5 theorem'', asserts the triviality of the BRST Noether current. We provide two proofs of this theorem that are both valid without restriction on the structure of the gauge theory, extending thereby previous proofs holding in the case of gauge theories for which the solution of the master equation is linear in the antifields. We also relate explicitly the BRST Noether current to the BRST master current appearing in the master equation.

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arXiv2025

Extended-BMS Anomalies and Flat Space Holography

We geometrically determine the BRST symmetry of a three-dimensional extended BMS field theory defined at the null boundary of asymptotically flat four-dimensional spaces. We then discuss its ghost number zero and one cocycles, independently of the four-dimensional bulk. The former determine a topological Lagrangian localized on the boundary of null infinity, while the latter classify the corresponding anomalies. This classification reproduces the eBMS anomalies known from the bulk, providing a rare non-perturbative test of flat space holography. While supertranslations are anomaly-free, superrotations admit independent central charges. This theory can thus be dual to Einstein gravity only if these central charges are dictated by the bulk.

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arXiv2024

BRST Noether Theorem and Corner Charge Bracket

We provide a proof of the BRST Noether 1.5th theorem, conjectured in [JHEP 10 (2024) 055], for a broad class of rank-1 BV theories including supergravity and 2-form gauge theories. The theorem asserts that the BRST Noether current of any BRST invariant gauge fixed Lagrangian decomposes on-shell into a sum of a BRST-exact term and a corner term that defines Noether charges. This extends the holographic consequences of Noether's second theorem to gauge fixed theories and, in particular, offers a universal gauge independent Lagrangian derivation of the invariance of the S-matrix under asymptotic symmetries. Furthermore, we show that these corner Noether charges are inherently non-integrable. To address this non-integrability, we introduce a novel charge bracket that accounts for potential symplectic flux and anomalies, providing an honest canonical representation of the asymptotic symmetry algebra. We also highlight a general origin of a BRST cocycle associated with asymptotic symmetries.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

BRST Covariant Phase Space and Holographic Ward Identities

This paper develops an enlarged BRST framework to treat the large gauge transformations of a given quantum field theory. It determines the associated infinitely many Noether charges stemming from a gauge fixed and BRST invariant Lagrangian, a result that cannot be obtained from Noether's second theorem. The geometrical significance of this result is highlighted by the construction of a trigraded BRST covariant phase space, allowing a BRST invariant gauge fixing procedure. This provides an appropriate framework for determining the conserved BRST Noether current of the global BRST symmetry and the associated global Noether charges. The latter are found to be equivalent with the usual classical corner charges of large gauge transformations. It allows one to prove the gauge independence of their physical effects at the perturbative quantum level. In particular, the underlying BRST fundamental canonical relation provides the same graded symplectic brackets as in the classical covariant phase space. A unified Lagrangian Ward identity for small and large gauge transformations is built. It consistently decouples into a bulk part for small gauge transformations, which is the standard BRST--BV quantum master equation, and a boundary part for large gauge transformations. The boundary part provides a perturbation theory origin for the invariance of the Hamiltonian physical $\mathcal{S}$-matrix under asymptotic symmetries. Holographic anomalies for the boundary Ward identity are studied and found to be solutions of a codimension one Wess--Zumino consistency condition. Such solutions are studied in the context of extended BMS symmetry. Their existence clarifies the status of the $1$-loop correction to the subleading soft graviton theorem.

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arXiv2023

BRST BMS4 Symmetry and its Cocycles from Horizontality Conditions

The BRST structure of the extended Bondi-Metzner-Sachs symmetry group of asymptotically flat manifolds is investigated using the recently introduced framework of the Beltrami field parametrization of four-dimensional metrics. The latter identifies geometrically the two physical degrees of freedom of the graviton as fundamental fields. The graded BRST BMS4 nilpotent differential operator relies on four horizontality conditions giving a Lagrangian reformulation of the asymptotic BMS4 symmetry. A series of cocycles is found which indicate the possibility of anomalies for three-dimensional Lagrangian theories to be built in the null boundaries of asymptotically flat spaces from the principle of BRST BMS4 invariance.

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