5
votes
1answer
86 views

Quantum master equation in the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism

I am reading the Section 15.9 of Weinberg's book "The Quantum Theory of Fields, vol. 2". Under a shift $\delta\Psi[\chi]$ in $\Psi[\chi]$, we have $$ \begin{split} \delta ...
0
votes
0answers
42 views

Taylor-Slavnov Identity in spontaneously broken gauge theories

Where can I find a list of important Taylor-Slavnov identities in Spontaneously broken gauge theories? I am looking for not just the generating functional form, but rather a list of explicit ones ...
2
votes
3answers
131 views

Quantizing first-class constraints for open algebras: can Hermiticity and noncommutativity coexist?

An open algebra for a collection of first-class constraints, $G_a$, $a=1,\cdots, r$, is given by the Poisson bracket $\{ G_a, G_b \} = {f_{ab}}^c[\phi] G_c$ classically, where the structure constants ...
3
votes
2answers
406 views

What is the ontological status of Faddeev Popov ghosts?

We all know Faddeev-Popov ghosts are needed in manifestly Lorentz covariant nonabelian quantum gauge theories. We also all know they decouple from the rest of matter asymptotically, although they ...
8
votes
2answers
133 views

Is ghost-number a physical reality/observable?

One perspective is to say that one introduced the ghost fields into the Lagrangian to be able to write the gauge transformation determinant as a path-integral. Hence I was tempted to think of them as ...