BRS "Symmetry", prehistory and history

TL;DR

This paper reviews the historical development and key contributions of the BRS symmetry in gauge theories, highlighting algebraic renormalization, unitarity, and gauge independence, and discusses its potential beyond perturbation theory.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of BRS symmetry's evolution, its main analytical results, and explores the possibility of its relevance beyond perturbative approaches.

Findings

Algebraic proof of S-matrix unitarity

Gauge independence of renormalized physics

Discussion on BRS invariance beyond perturbation theory

Abstract

Prehistory - Starting from 't Hooft's (1971) we have a short look at Taylor's and Slavnov's works (1971-72) and at the lectures given by Rouet and Stora in Lausanne-1973 which determine the transition from pre-history to history. History - We give a brief account of the main analyses and results of the BRS collaboration concerning the renormalized gauge theories, in particular the method of the regularization independent, algebraic renormalization, the algebraic proof of S-matrix unitarity and that of gauge choice independence of the renormalized physics. We conclude this report with a suggestion to the crucial question: what could remain of BRS invariance beyond perturbation theory.