Generalized BRST transformation in Abelian rank-2 antisymmetric tensor field theory

TL;DR

This paper extends BRST and anti-BRST transformations to finite, field-dependent parameters in Abelian rank-2 tensor field theory, facilitating connections between different effective theories and solutions of the quantum master equation.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized framework for BRST/anti-BRST transformations with finite, field-dependent parameters in Abelian 2-form gauge theory, linking various effective theories and solutions.

Findings

Generalized BRST/anti-BRST transformations connect different effective theories.

These transformations relate generating functionals in noncovariant gauges.

The approach links solutions of the quantum master equation in field/antifield formalism.

Abstract

We generalize the BRST transformations in Abelian rank-2 tensor field theory by allowing the parameter to be finite and field dependent and show that such transformations play crucial role in studying the Abelian 2-form gauge theory in noncovariant gauges. The generating functionals in different effective theories are connected through these generalized BRST transformations with different choice of finite parameter. We further consider the generalization of the anti-BRST transformations and show that even anti-BRST transformations with the finite field dependent parameter relate the generating functional for different effective theories. Such generalized BRST/anti-BRST transformations are useful in connecting generating functionals corresponding to different effective theories. Field/antifield formulation of this Abelian 2-form gauge theory is also studied in the context of generalized BRST transormations. We show that generalized BRST transformation connects the generating functional corresponding to the different solutions of quantum master equation in field/antifield formulation.