The \(sh\) Lie structure of Poisson brackets in field theory (Q1270124)

The authors construct the \(sh\) Lie algebra from a homological resolution of a Lie algebra. It is shown that a skew-symmetric bilinear map on the resolution space inducing the Lie bracket of the algebra extends to higher order ``multi-brackets'' on the resolution space which combine to form an \(L_\infty\)-algebra. The \(sh\) Lie algebra on the graded differential algebra of horizontal forms is constructed in case the horizontal complex of the variational bicomplex is used as a resolution for local functionals equipped with a Poisson bracket. The above construction could also be applied for graded brackets in field theory such as the Batalin-Fradkin-Vilkovisky bracket of the BRST theory or the Batalin-Vilkovisky antibracket.