Quantum properties of a non-Abelian gauge invariant action with a mass parameter

TL;DR

This paper investigates a gauge-invariant Yang-Mills action with a mass parameter, demonstrating its renormalizability, BRST symmetry, and equivalence to massless Yang-Mills theory in the zero-mass limit, with explicit two-loop renormalization results.

Contribution

It introduces a local, gauge-invariant Yang-Mills action with a mass parameter, proves its all-order renormalizability, and establishes its equivalence to standard Yang-Mills theory when the mass vanishes.

Findings

Model is renormalizable to all orders in perturbation theory.

Full two-loop renormalization group functions are computed.

Model reduces to ordinary massless Yang-Mills theory as mass approaches zero.

Abstract

We continue the study of a local, gauge invariant Yang-Mills action containing a mass parameter, which we constructed in a previous paper starting from the nonlocal gauge invariant mass dimension two operator F_{\mu\nu} (D^2)^{-1} F_{\mu\nu}. We return briefly to the renormalizability of the model, which can be proven to all orders of perturbation theory by embedding it in a more general model with a larger symmetry content. We point out the existence of a nilpotent BRST symmetry. Although our action contains extra (anti)commuting tensor fields and coupling constants, we prove that our model in the limit of vanishing mass is equivalent with ordinary massless Yang-Mills theories. The full theory is renormalized explicitly at two loops in the MSbar scheme and all the renormalization group functions are presented. We end with some comments on the potential relevance of this gauge model for the issue of a dynamical gluon mass generation.