On the BFFT quantization of first order systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates the BFFT quantization method for first order systems using the field-antifield formalism, demonstrating the quantum consistency of gauge symmetries and analyzing anomalies in a specific model.

Contribution

It shows that BFFT introduces non-cohomological compensating fields, ensuring gauge symmetry preservation at the quantum level within the field-antifield formalism.

Findings

BFFT compensating fields do not belong to BRST cohomology at ghost number one.

Quantum master equation is solved for a model with massive electrodynamics and chiral fermions.

Counterterms are crucial for understanding anomalous expectation values.

Abstract

By using the field-antifield formalism, we show that the method of Batalin, Fradkin, Fradkina and Tyutin to convert Hamiltonian systems submitted to second class constraints introduces compensating fields which do not belong to the BRST cohomology at ghost number one. This assures that the gauge symmetries which arise from the BFFT procedure are not obstructed at quantum level. An example where massive electrodynamics is coupled to chiral fermions is considered. We solve the quantum master equation for the model and show that the respective counterterm has a decisive role in extracting anomalous expectation values associated with the divergence of the Noether chiral current.