Symplectic gaugings and the field-antifield formalism

TL;DR

This paper explores how the embedding tensor formalism enhances the analysis of gauged supergravities by connecting it with the field-antifield formalism, addressing limitations of conventional gauging methods.

Contribution

It demonstrates the connection between the embedding tensor formalism and the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism, providing a systematic approach to gauge theories.

Findings

The gauge algebra in the embedding tensor formalism is soft, open, and reducible.

Conventional gauging methods hinder systematic analysis of gauged supergravities.

The embedding tensor formalism can be integrated with the field-antifield formalism for better gauge theory understanding.

Abstract

We give an example of how conventional gauging methods obstruct a systematic analysis of gauged supergravities. We discuss how the embedding tensor formalism deals with these problems and argue that the gauge algebra related to the embedding tensor formalism is soft, open and reducible. We connect the embedding tensor formalism to the field-antifield (or Batalin-Vilkovisky) formalism, which is the most general formulation known for gauge theories.