Modified Partition Functions, Consistent Anomalies and Consistent Schwinger Terms

TL;DR

This paper introduces a gauge invariant partition function for gauge theories that naturally yields consistent anomalies and Schwinger terms through descent equations, enhancing understanding of quantum gauge invariance.

Contribution

It presents a modified partition function framework that systematically derives consistent anomalies and Schwinger terms from gauge theories.

Findings

Partition function is gauge invariant and leads to standard quantization.

Consistent anomalies and Schwinger terms are obtained naturally from descent equations.

Provides a new perspective on gauge invariance and anomalies in quantum field theory.

Abstract

A gauge invariant partition function is defined for gauge theories which leads to the standard quantization. It is shown that the descent equations and consequently the consistent anomalies and Schwinger terms can be extracted from this modified partition function naturally.