Field transformations, collective coordinates and BRST invariance (Q804061)

The BRST (Becchi, Rouet, Stora, Tyutin) procedure in Quantum Field Theory is a cohomological technique dealing with systems (for example gauge theories) which are invariant under a symmetry group. In the paper under review the authors explain how any quantum system can be put in a form to which the BRST procedure applies. The basic construction is explained in a quantum mechanical model, although the main applications the authors have in mind involve field theories. If \(L(q_ i,\dot q_ i)\) is a Lagrangian the main idea is to introduce a family of new co-ordinates \(q'=G_ a(q)\), where a is a parameter, and then to regard the Lagrangian as a function of the enlarged set of variables \((q,\dot q,a,\dot a)\). This enlarged system is endowed with an abelian symmetry group, and the BRST construction, applied to the enlarged system, is equivalent to the direct quantization of the original problem. The authors discuss two kinds of examples of this general set-up. First, they explain the relation to the method of ``collective co-ordinates'', when some of the a variables are identified with some of the original co- ordinates \(q_ i\). Second, the consider the case when the original system has a symmetry group. In this case the procedure gives rise to new ``gauge fixing'' constructions. The authors suggest that the ideas may be related to ``topological'' field theories, and also that the scheme may give a framework for ``bosonization'' in 2-dimensional theories.