Friedemann Brandt

Local BRST Cohomology in MinimalD=4,N=1 Supergravity☆

Abstract The local BRST cohomology is computed in old and new minimal supergravity, including the coupling to Yang–Mills gauge multiplets. This covers the determination of all gauge invariant local actions for these models, the classification of all the possible counterterms that are invariant on-shell, of all candidate gauge anomalies, and of the possible nontrivial (continuous) deformations of the standard actions and gauge transformations. Among others it is proved that in old minimal supergravity the most general gauge invariant action can indeed be constructed from well-known superspace integrals, whereas in new minimal supergravity there are only a few additional (but important) contributions which cannot be constructed in this way without further ado. Furthermore the results indicate that supersymmetry itself is not anomalous in minimal supergravity and show that the gauge transformations are extremely stable under consistent deformations of the models. There is, however, an unusual deformation converting new into old minimal supergravity with localR-invariance which is reminiscent of a duality transformation.

Extended antifield formalism

Abstract The antifield formalism is extended so as to incorporate the rigid symmetries of a given theory. To that end, it is necessary to introduce global ghosts not only for the given rigid symmetries, but also for all the higher order conservation laws, associated with conserved antisymmetric tensors j μ 1 3 μ k fulfilling ϖ μ 1 j μ 1 3 μ k 2~ 0. Otherwise, one may encounter obstructions of the type discussed in by the authors. These higher order conservation laws are shown to define additional rigid symmetries of the master equation and to form — together with the standard symmetries — an interesting algebraic structure. They lead furthermore to independent Ward identities which are derived in the standard manner, because the resulting master (“Zinn-Justin”) equation capturing both the gauge symmetries and the rigid symmetries of all orders takes a known form. Issues such as anomalies or consistent deformations of the action preserving some set of rigid symmetries can be also systematically analysed in this framework.

The rigid symmetries of bosonic D-strings

Abstract We analyse the classical symmetries of bosonic D-string actions and generalizations thereof. Among others, we show that the simplest actions of this type have infinitely many nontrivial rigid symmetries which act nontrivially and nonlinearly both on the target space coordinates and on the U(1) gauge field, and form a Kac-Moody version of the Weyl algebra (= Poincare algebra + dilatations).

Cohomological analysis of bosonic D-strings and 2d sigma models coupled to abelian gauge fields

Abstract We analyze completely the BRST cohomology on local functionals for two-dimensional sigma models coupled to abelian world-sheet gauge fields, including effective bosonic D-string models described by Born-Infeld actions. In particular we prove that the rigid symmetries of such models are exhausted by the solutions to generalized Killing vector equations which we have presented recently, and provide all the consistent first order deformations and candidate gauge anomalies of the models under study. For appropriate target space geometries we find nontrivial deformations both of the abelian gauge transformations and of the world-sheet diffeomorphisms, and antifield-dependent candidate anomalies for both types of symmetries separately, as well as mixed ones.

All Solutions of the Wess-Zumino Consistency Conditions

For the case of a compact gauge group we list all solutions to the Wess-Zumino consistency equations which have to be satisfied by anomalies. We describe the main algebraic tools and theorems required for this complete classification. Our results answer the question whether in nonrenormalizable gauge theories there exist additional up-to-now unknown anomalies in the negative.

Supergravity with gauged second order symmetry

Abstract A D = 4, N = 1 supergravity model is presented which unites, through a continuous deformation parameter, new minimal supergravity with an extra U (1) gauge multiplet and standard supergravity with local R -symmetry in a formulation with a nonstandard set of auxiliary fields. The deformation gauges a second order symmetry, implements an electromagnetic duality relating the extra U (1) to the R -symmetry, and breaks supersymmetry spontaneously.