B.R.S. algebras. Analysis of the consistency equations in gauge theory (Q1083102)

An anomalous term \(\Delta\) in quantum gauge theory verifies a consistency equation \(\delta \Delta =0\), where \(\delta\) is the Becchi-Rouet-Stora (B.R.S.) operator. Setting \(\Delta =\int Q\) leads, for Q, to the equation \(\delta Q=dQ'\) for some Q'; d is the exterior differential on the space- time. If \(\Delta\) satisfies \(\Delta =\delta \Delta '\), where \(\Delta\) ' is a similar local expression, then Q reads \(Q=\delta L'+dL\) for some L and L'. Such a Q is called a \(\delta\)-coboundary modulo d. One is interested in the \(\delta\)-cohomology modulo d. The purpose of this paper is to compute the \(\delta\)-cohomology modulo d (i.e., possible anomalous terms). The discussion is carried out in the universal B.R.S. algebra \({\mathcal A}({\mathfrak g})\) of the Lie algebra \({\mathfrak g}\), which is defined in the following manner: Let \((E_{\alpha})\) be a basis of \({\mathfrak g}\). Consider four copies \({\mathfrak g}^*_ A,{\mathfrak g^*_ F,{\mathfrak g}}^*_{\chi},{\mathfrak g}^*_{\phi}\) of the dual space \({\mathfrak g}^*\) with the dual basis \((A^{\alpha}),(F^{\alpha}),(\chi^{\alpha}),(\phi^{\alpha})\), respectively. Then \({\mathcal A}({\mathfrak g})=(\Lambda {\mathfrak g}^*_ A)\otimes (S{\mathfrak g}^*_ F)\otimes (\Lambda {\mathfrak g}^*_{\chi})\otimes (S{\mathfrak g}^*_{\phi})\), where \(\Lambda\) \({\mathfrak g}^*\) is the exterior algebra and S\({\mathfrak g}^*\) is the symmetric algebra. Differentials d and \(\delta\) are suitably defined on \({\mathcal A}({\mathfrak g})\) so that \(d\delta +\delta d=0\). A general definition of the B.R.S. algebra is also given. An explicit computation of the \(\delta\)-cohomology modulo d of \({\mathcal A}({\mathfrak g})\) for reductive \({\mathfrak g}\) is accomplished in terms of the spectral sequences.