On augmented superfield approach to vector Schwinger model

We exploit the techniques of Bonora–Tonin superfield formalism to derive the off-shell nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting (anti-)BRST as well as (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations for the (1[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional (2D) bosonized vector Schwinger model. In the derivation of above symmetries, we invoke the (dual)-horizontality conditions as well as gauge and (anti-)co-BRST invariant restrictions on the superfields that are defined onto the (2,[Formula: see text]2)-dimensional supermanifold. We provide geometrical interpretation of the above nilpotent symmetries (and their corresponding charges). We also express the nilpotency and absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST charges within the framework of augmented superfield formalism.

Augmented Superfield Approach to Nilpotent Symmetries of the Modified Version of 2D Proca Theory

We derive the complete set of off-shell nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST), anti-BRST, and (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations forallthe fields of the modified version of two(1+1)-dimensional (2D) Proca theory by exploiting the “augmented” superfield formalism where the (dual-)horizontality conditions and (dual-)gauge invariant restrictions are exploitedtogether. We capture the (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST invariance of the Lagrangian density in the language of superfield approach. We also express the nilpotency and absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST charges within the framework of augmented superfield formalism. This exercise leads to somenovelobservations which have, hitherto, not been pointed out in the literature within the framework of superfield approach to BRST formalism. For the sake of completeness, we also mention, very briefly, a unique bosonic symmetry, the ghost-scale symmetry, and discrete symmetries of the theory and show that the algebra of conserved charges provides a physical realization of the Hodge algebra (satisfied by the de Rham cohomological operators of differential geometry).

Nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting symmetries in the Freedman–Townsend model: Augmented superfield formalism

We derive the off-shell nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry transformations, corresponding to the (1-form) Yang–Mills (YM) and (2-form) tensorial gauge symmetries of the four (3+1)-dimensional (4D) Freedman–Townsend (FT) model, by exploiting the augmented version of Bonora–Tonin's (BT) superfield approach to BRST formalism where the 4D flat Minkowskian theory is generalized onto the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. One of the novel observations is the fact that we are theoretically compelled to go beyond the horizontality condition (HC) to invoke an additional set of gauge-invariant restrictions (GIRs) for the derivation of the full set of proper (anti-)BRST symmetries. To obtain the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations, corresponding to the tensorial (2-form) gauge symmetries within the framework of augmented version of BT-superfield approach, we are logically forced to modify the FT-model to incorporate an auxiliary 1-form field and the kinetic term for the antisymmetric (2-form) gauge field. This is also a new observation in our present investigation. We point out some of the key differences between the modified FT-model and Lahiri-model (LM) of the dynamical non-Abelian 2-form gauge theories. We also briefly mention a few similarities.

Superfield approach to nilpotent symmetries in 3D Jackiw–Pi model of massive non-Abelian theory

In the available literature, only the Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) symmetries are known for the Jackiw–Pi model of the three (2 + 1)-dimensional (3D) massive non-Abelian gauge theory. We derive the off-shell nilpotent [Formula: see text] and absolutely anticommuting (sbsab + sabsb = 0) (anti-)BRST transformations s(a)b corresponding to the usual Yang–Mills gauge transformations of this model by exploiting the “augmented” superfield formalism where the horizontality condition and gauge invariant restrictions blend together in a meaningful manner. There is a non-Yang–Mills (NYM) symmetry in this theory, too. However, we do not touch the NYM symmetry in our present endeavor. This superfield formalism leads to the derivation of an (anti-)BRST invariant Curci–Ferrari restriction, which plays a key role in the proof of absolute anticommutativity of s(a)b. The derivation of the proper anti-BRST symmetry transformations is important from the point of view of geometrical objects called gerbes. A novel feature of our present investigation is the derivation of the (anti-)BRST transformations for the auxiliary field ρ from our superfield formalism, which is neither generated by the (anti-)BRST charges nor obtained from the requirements of nilpotency and (or) absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-)BRST symmetries for our present 3D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory.

AUGMENTED SUPERFIELD APPROACH TO NON-YANG–MILLS SYMMETRIES OF JACKIW–PI MODEL: NOVEL OBSERVATIONS

We derive the off-shell nilpotent and absolutely anti-commuting Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) as well as anti-BRST symmetry transformations corresponding to the non-Yang–Mills (NYM) symmetry transformations of (2+1)-dimensional Jackiw–Pi (JP) model within the framework of "augmented" superfield formalism. The Curci–Ferrari (CF) restriction, which is a hallmark of non-Abelian one-form gauge theories, does not appear in this case. One of the novel features of our present investigation is the derivation of proper (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations corresponding to the auxiliary field ρ that cannot be derived by any conventional means.

NILPOTENT SYMMETRIES FOR MATTER FIELDS IN NON-ABELIAN GAUGE THEORY: AUGMENTED SUPERFIELD FORMALISM

In the framework of superfield approach to Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) formalism, the derivation of the BRST and anti-BRST nilpotent symmetry transformations for the matter fields, present in any arbitrary interacting gauge theory, has been a long-standing problem. In our present investigation, the local, covariant, continuous and off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for the Dirac fields [Formula: see text] are derived in the framework of the augmented superfield formulation where the four (3 + 1)-dimensional (4D) interacting non-Abelian gauge theory is considered on the six (4 + 2)-dimensional supermanifold parametrized by the four even space–time coordinates xμ and a couple of odd elements (θ and [Formula: see text]) of the Grassmann algebra. The requirement of the invariance of the matter (super)currents and the horizontality condition on the (super)manifolds leads to the derivation of the nilpotent symmetries for the matter fields as well as the gauge and the (anti)ghost fields of the theory in the general scheme of augmented superfield formalism.

NILPOTENT SYMMETRIES FOR A FREE RELATIVISTIC PARTICLE IN AUGMENTED SUPERFIELD FORMALISM

In the framework of the augmented superfield formalism, the local, covariant, continuous and off-shell (as well as on-shell) nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations are derived for a (0+1)-dimensional free scalar relativistic particle that provides a prototype physical example for the more general reparametrization invariant string- and gravitational theories. The trajectory (i.e. the world-line) of the free particle, parametrized by a monotonically increasing evolution parameter τ, is embedded in a D-dimensional flat Minkowski target manifold. This one-dimensional system is considered on a (1+2)-dimensional supermanifold parametrized by an even element τ and a couple of odd elements (θ and [Formula: see text]) of a Grassmannian algebra. The horizontality condition and the invariance of the conserved (super)charges on the (super)manifolds play very crucial roles in the above derivations of the nilpotent symmetries. The geometrical interpretations for the nilpotent (anti-)BRST charges are provided in the framework of augmented superfield approach.