Description
Book SynopsisStarts with Dirac's analysis showing that gauge theories are constrained Hamiltonian systems. This book is a systematic study of the classical and quantum theories of gauge systems. It discusses reducible gauge systems, and explains the relationship between BRST cohomology and gauge invariance.
Trade Review"A useful reference for those interested in the formal aspects of constrained (i.e. gauge invariant) systems."--Physics World
Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsNotationsCh. 1Constrained Hamiltonian Systems3Ch. 2Geometry of the Constraint Surface48Ch. 3Gauge Invariance of the Action65Ch. 4Generally Covariant Systems102Ch. 5First-Class Constraints: Further Developments112Ch. 6Fermi Degrees of Freedom: Classical Mechanics over a Grassmann Algebra134Ch. 7Constrained Systems with Fermi Variables156Ch. 8Graded Differential Algebras - Algebraic Structure of the BRST Symmetry165Ch. 9BRST Construction in the Irreducible Case187Ch. 10BRST Construction in the Reducible Case205Ch. 11Dynamics of the Ghosts - Gauge-Fixed Action234Ch. 12The BRST Transformation in Field Theory253Ch. 13Quantum Mechanics of Constrained Systems: Standard Operator Methods272Ch. 14BRST Operator Method - Quantum BRST Cohomology296Ch. 15Path Integral for Unconstrained Systems333Ch. 16Path Integral for Constrained Systems380Ch. 17Antifield Formalism: Classical Theory407Ch. 18Antifield Formalism and Path Integral428Ch. 19Free Maxwell Theory. Abelian Two-Form Gauge Field455Ch. 20Complementary Material481Bibliography503Index515
