arXiv:0704.0064v5  [hep-th]  24 Oct 2008
arXiv:0704.0064 [hep-th]
CAS-PHYS-BHU/Preprint
NILPOTENT SYMMETRY INVARIANCE IN THE SUPERFIELD
FORMULATION: THE (NON-)ABELIAN 1-FORM GAUGE THEORIES
R. P. MALIK
Centre of Advanced Studies, Physics Department,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221 005, (U. P.), India
E-mails: rudra.prakash@hotmail.com ; malik@bhu.ac.in
Abstract: We capture the off-shell as well as the on-shell nilpotent Becchi-Rouet-Stora-
Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry invariance of the Lagrangian densities of the
four (3 + 1)-dimensional (4D) (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories within the framework
of the superfield formalism. In particular, we provide the geometrical interpretations for (i)
the above nilpotent symmetry invariance, and (ii) the above Lagrangian densities, in the
language of the specific quantities defined in the domain of the above superfield formalism.
Some of the subtle points, connected with the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, are
clarified within the framework of the above superfield formalism where the 4D ordinary
gauge theories are considered on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold parametrized by the
four spacetime coordinates xµ (with µ = 0, 1, 2, 3) and a pair of Grassmannian variables θ
and θ̄. One of the key results of our present investigation is a great deal of simplification
in the geometrical understanding of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry invariance.
PACS numbers: 11.15.-q, 12.20.-m, 03.70.+k
Keywords: Superfield formalism; (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories; (anti-)BRST sym-
metries; symmetry invariance; horizontality condition; geometrical interpretations
http://arxiv.org/abs/0704.0064v5
1 Introduction
The geometrical superfield approach [1-8] to Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) formalism
is one of the most attractive and intuitive approaches which enables us to gain some physical
insights into the beautiful (but abstract mathematical) structures that are associated with
the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations and their corresponding generators.
The latter quantities play a very decisive role in (i) the covariant canonical quantization of
the gauge theories, (ii) the proof of the unitarity of the “quantum” gauge theories at any
arbitrary order of perturbative computations for a given physical process (that is allowed
by the theory), (iii) the definition of the physical states of the “quantum” gauge theories
in the quantum Hilbert space, and (iv) the cohomological description of the physical states
of the quantum Hilbert space w.r.t. the conserved and nilpotent BRST charge.
To be specific, in the superfield formulation [1-8] of the 4D 1-form gauge theories, one
defines the super curvature 2-form F̃ (2) = d̃Ã(1)+ i Ã(1)∧ Ã(1) in terms of the super exterior
derivative d̃ = dxµ∂µ + dθ∂θ + dθ̄∂θ̄ (with d̃
2 = 0) and the super 1-form connection Ã(1) on
a (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold parametrized by the usual spacetime variables xµ (with
µ = 0, 1, 2, 3) and a pair of anticommuting (i.e. θ2 = θ̄2 = 0, θθ̄ + θ̄θ = 0) Grassmannian
variables θ and θ̄. The above super 2-form is subsequently equated, due to the so-called
horizontality condition [1-8], to the ordinary curvature 2-form F (2) = dA(1) + iA(1) ∧ A(1)
defined on the ordinary 4D flat Minkowski spacetime manifold in terms of the ordinary
exterior derivative d = dxµ∂µ (with d
2 = 0) and the 1-form connection A(1) = dxµAµ. The
above super exterior derivative d̃ and super 1-form connection Ã(1) are the generalization of
the 4D ordinary exterior derivative d and 1-form connection A(1) to the (4, 2)-dimensional
supermanifold because d̃ → d, Ã(1) → A(1) in the limit (θ, θ̄) → 0.
The above horizontality condition (HC) has been referred to as the soul-flatness con-
dition in [9] which amounts to setting equal to zero all the Grassmannian components of
the (anti)symmetric second-rank super tensor that constitutes the super curvature 2-form
F̃ (2) on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. The key consequences, that emerge from
the HC, are (i) the derivation of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for
the gauge and (anti-)ghost fields of a given 4D 1-form gauge theory, (ii) the geometrical
interpretation of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for the 4D local fields as the
translation of the corresponding superfields along the Grassmannian directions of the su-
permanifold, (iii) the geometrical interpretation of the nilpotency property as a pair of
successive translations of the superfield along a particular Grassmannian direction of the
supermanifold, and (iv) the geometrical interpretation of the anticommutativity property
of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for a 4D local field as the sum of (a) the
translation of the corresponding superfield first along the θ-direction followed by the trans-
lation along the θ̄-direction, and (b) the translation of the same superfield first along the
θ̄-direction followed by the translation along the θ-direction.
It will be noted that the above HC (i.e. F̃ (2) = F (2)) is valid for the non-Abelian (i.e.
A(1)(n)∧A(1)(n) 6= 0) 1-form gauge theory as well as the Abelian (i.e. A(1)∧A(1) = 0) 1-form
gauge theory. As expected, for both types of theories, the HC leads to the derivation of the
nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for the gauge and (anti-)ghost fields of
the respective theories. We lay emphasis on the fact that the HC does not shed any light
on the derivation of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations associated with
the matter fields of the interacting 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories.
In a recent set of papers [10-17], the above HC condition has been generalized, in a
consistent manner, so as to compute the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
associated with the matter fields of a given 4D interacting 1-form gauge theory (along with
the well-known nilpotent transformations for the gauge and (anti-)ghost fields) without
spoiling the cute geometrical interpretations of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
(and their corresponding generators) that emerge from the HC alone. The latter approach
has been christened as the augmented superfield approach to BRST formalism where the
restrictions imposed on the (4, 2)-dimensional superfields are (i) the HC plus the invariance
of the (super) matter Noether conserved currents [10-14], (ii) the HC plus the equality of
any (super) conserved quantities [15], (iii) the HC plus a restriction that owes its origin
to the gauge invariance and the (super) covariant derivatives on the matter (super)fields
[16,17], and (iv) an alternative to the HC where the gauge invariance and the property
of a pair of (super) covariant derivatives on the (super) matter fields (and their intimate
connection with the (super) curvatures) play a crucial role [18-20].
In all the above approaches [1-20], however, the invariance of the Lagrangian densities
of the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, under the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry
transformations, has not yet been discussed at all. Some attempts in this direction have
been made in our earlier works where the specific topological features [21,22] of the 2D
free (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories have been captured in the superfield formulation
[23-25]. In particular, the invariance of the Lagrangian density under the nilpotent and
anticommuting (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations has been ex-
pressed in terms of the superfields and the Grassmannian derivatives on them. These are,
however, a bit more involved in nature because of the existence of a new set of nilpotent
(anti-)co-BRST symmetries in the theory. The geometrical interpretations for the La-
grangian densities and the symmetric energy-momentum tensor (for the above topological
theory) have also been provided within the framework of the superfield formulation.
The purpose of our present paper is to capture the (anti-)BRST symmetry invariance of
the Lagrangian density of the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories within the framework
of the superfield approach to BRST formalism and to demonstrate that the above symme-
try invariance could be understood in a very simple manner in terms of the translational
generators along the Grassmannian directions of the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold on
which the above 4D ordinary gauge theories are considered. In addition, the reason behind
the existence (or non-existence) of any specific nilpotent symmetry transformation could
also be explained within the framework of the above superfield approach. We demonstrate
the uniqueness of the existence of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
for the Lagrangian density of a U(1) Abelian 1-form gauge theory. We go a step further
and show the existence of the nilpotent BRST symmetry transformations for the specific
Lagrangian densities (cf. (4.1) and (4.4) below) of the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory
and clarify the non-existence of the anti-BRST symmetry transformations for these spe-
cific Lagrangian densities within the framework of the superfield formulation (cf. section
5 below). Finally, we provide the geometrical basis for the existence of the off-shell nilpo-
tent and anticommuting (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (and their corresponding
generators) for the specifically defined Lagrangian densities (cf. (4.7) and/or (4.8) below)
of the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory in the Feynman gauge.
The motivating factors that have propelled us to pursue our present investigation are
as follows. First and foremost, to the best of our knowledge, the property of the symmetry
invariance of a given Lagrangian density has not yet been captured in the language of the
superfield approach to BRST formalism. Second, the above (anti-)BRST invariance of the
theory has never been shown, in as simplified fashion, as we demonstrate in our present
endeavour. The geometrical interpretations for (i) the existence of the above nilpotent
(anti-)BRST symmetry invariance, and (ii) the on-shell conditions of the on-shell nilpotent
(anti-)BRST symmetries, turn out to be quite transparent in our present work. Third, we
establish the uniqueness of the existence of the (anti-)BRST symmetry invariance in their
various forms. The non-existence of the specific symmetry transformation is also explained
within the framework of the superfield approach to BRST formalism. Finally, our present
investigation is the first modest step in the direction to gain some insights into the existence
of the nilpotent symmetry transformations and their invariance for the higher form (e.g.
2-form, 3-form, etc.) gauge theories within the framework of the superfield formulation.
The contents of our present paper are organized as follows. In section 2, we recapitulate
some of the key points connected with the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
for the free 4D Abelian 1-form gauge theory (having no interaction with matter fields) in
the Lagrangian formulation. The above symmetry transformations as well as the symmetry
invariance of the Lagrangian densities are captured in the geometrical superfield approach
to BRST formalism in section 3 where the HC on the gauge superfield plays a crucial role.
Section 4 deals with the bare essentials of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transfor-
mations for the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory in the Lagrangian formulation. The
subject matter of section 5 concerns itself with the superfield formulation of the symmetry
invariance of the appropriate Lagrangian densities of the above 4D non-Abelian 1-form
gauge theory. Finally, in section 6, we summarize our key results, make some concluding
remarks and point out a few future directions for further investigations.
2 (Anti-)BRST symmetries in Abelian theory: Lagrangian formulation
Let us begin with the following (anti-)BRST invariant Lagrangian density of the 4D Abelian
1-form gauge theory∗ in the Feynman gauge [26,27,9]
B = −
F µνFµν + B (∂µA
B2 − i ∂µC̄ ∂
µC, (2.1)
where Fµν = ∂µAν − ∂νAµ is the antisymmetric (Fµν = −Fνµ) curvature tensor that con-
stitutes the Abelian 2-form F (2) = dA(1) ≡ 1
(dxµ ∧ dxν)Fµν , B is the Nakanishi-Lautrup
auxiliary multiplier field and (C̄)C are the anticommuting (i.e. C2 = C̄2 = 0, CC̄+C̄C = 0)
(anti-)ghost fields of the theory. The above Lagrangian density respects the off-shell nilpo-
tent (s2(a)b = 0) (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s(a)b (with sbsab + sabsb = 0)
sbAµ = ∂µC, sbC = 0, sbC̄ = iB, sbB = 0, sbFµν = 0,
sabAµ = ∂µC̄, sabC̄ = 0, sabC = −iB, sabB = 0, sabFµν = 0.
(2.2)
It is clear that, under the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s(a)b, the cur-
vature tensor Fµν is found to be invariant. In other words, the 2-form F
(2), owing its
origin to the cohomological operator d = dxµ∂µ, is an (anti-)BRST invariant object for the
Abelian U(1) 1-form gauge theory and is, therefore, a physically meaningful (i.e. gauge-
invariant) quantity. These observations will play an important role in our discussion on the
horizontality condition that would be exploited in the context of our superfield approach
to (anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian densities in sections 3 and 5 (see below).
A noteworthy point, at this stage, is the observation that the gauge-fixing and Faddeev-
Popov ghost terms can be written, modulo a total derivative, in the following fashion
−i C̄ {(∂µA
B}], sab
+i C {(∂µA
sb sab
(2.3)
The above equation establishes, in a very simple manner, the (anti-)BRST invariance of
the 4D Lagrangian density (2.1). The simplicity ensues due to (i) the nilpotency s2(a)b = 0
of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations, (ii) the anticommutativity property (i.e.
sbsab + sabsb = 0) of s(a)b, and (iii) the invariance of the Fµν term under s(a)b.
As a side remark, it is interesting to note that the following on-shell (i.e. ✷C = ✷C̄ = 0)
nilpotent (s̃2(a)b = 0) (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (with s̃bs̃ab + s̃abs̃b = 0)
s̃bAµ = ∂µC, s̃bC = 0, s̃bC̄ = −i(∂µA
µ), s̃bFµν = 0,
s̃abAµ = ∂µC̄, s̃abC̄ = 0, s̃abC = +i(∂µA
µ), s̃abFµν = 0,
(2.4)
∗We adopt here the notations and conventions such that the flat Minkowski metric in 4D is ηµν = diag
(+1,−1,−1,−1) so that AµB
µ = ηµνA
µBν = A0B0 − AiBi for two non-null 4-vectors Aµ and Bµ. The
Greek indices µ, ν...... = 0, 1, 2, 3 and Latin indices i, j, k.... = 1, 2, 3 stand for the 4D spacetime and 3D
space directions on the 4D Minkowski spacetime manifold, respectively, and the symbol ✷ = (∂0)
2 − (∂i)
†We follow here the notations and conventions adopted in [27]. In its full blaze of glory, the nilpotent
(anti-)BRST transformations δ(A)B are a product of an anticommuting spacetime independent parameter
η and s(a)b (i.e. δ(A)B = ηs(a)b) where the nilpotency property is encoded in the operators s(a)b.
are the symmetry transformations for the following Lagrangian density
b = −
F µνFµν −
µ)2 − i ∂µC̄ ∂
µC. (2.5)
The above transformations (2.4) and the Lagrangian density (2.5) have been derived from
(2.2) and (2.1) by the substitution B = −(∂µA
µ). An interesting point, connected with the
on-shell nilpotent symmetry transformations, is to express the analogue of (2.3) as ‡
C̄ (∂µA
µ) + i Aµ∂
µC̄], s̃ab
C (∂µA
µ)− i Aµ∂
s̃b s̃ab
(2.6)
It should be noted that, in the above precise computation, one has to take into account
the on-shell (✷C = ✷C̄ = 0) conditions so that, for all practical purposes s̃(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0.
The above nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (i.e. sr, s̃r with r = b, ab)
are connected with the conserved and nilpotent generators (i.e. Qr, Q̃r with r = b, ab).
This statement can be succinctly expressed, in the mathematical form, as
sr Ω = −i [ Ω, Qr ](±), s̃r Ω̃ = −i [ Ω̃, Q̃r ](±), r = b, ab, (2.7)
where the subscripts (with the signatures (±)) on the square bracket stand for the bracket
to be an (anti)commutator, for the generic fields Ω = Aµ, C, C̄, B and Ω̃ = Aµ, C, C̄ (of
the Lagrangian densities (2.1) and (2.5)), being (fermionic)bosonic in nature. The above
charges Qr, Q̃r are found to be anticommuting (i.e. QbQab+QabQb = 0, Q̃bQ̃ab+Q̃abQ̃b = 0)
and off-shell as well as on-shell nilpotent (Q2(a)b = 0, Q̃
(a)b = 0) in nature, respectively.
3 (Anti-)BRST invariance in Abelian theory: superfield formalism
In this section, we exploit the geometrical superfield approach to BRST formalism, endowed
with the theoretical arsenal of the horizontality condition, to express the (anti-)BRST
symmetry transformations and the Lagrangian densities (cf. (2.1) and (2.5)) in terms of
the superfields defined on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. The latter is parametrized
by the spacetime coordinates xµ (with µ = 0, 1, 2, 3) and a pair of Grassmannian variables θ
and θ̄. As a consequence, the generalization of the 4D ordinary exterior derivative d = dxµ∂µ
and the 1-form connection A(1) = dxµAµ(x) on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold, are
d → d̃ = dxµ ∂µ + dθ ∂θ + dθ̄ ∂θ̄, d̃
2 = 0,
A(1) → Ã(1) = dxµ Bµ(x, θ, θ̄) + dθ F̄(x, θ, θ̄) + dθ̄ F(x, θ, θ̄),
(3.1)
where the mapping from the 4D local fields to the superfields are: Aµ(x) → Bµ(x, θ, θ̄),
C(x) → F(x, θ, θ̄) and C̄(x) → F̄(x, θ, θ̄). The super-expansion of the superfields, in terms
‡We lay emphasis on the fact that (2.6) cannot be derived directly from (2.3) by the simple substitution
B = −(∂µA
µ). One has to be judicious to deduce the precise expression for (2.6). The logical reasons
behind the derivation of (2.6) are encoded in the superfield formulation (cf. (3.9) below).
of the basic fields as well as the secondary fields, are (see, e.g., [4-7, 10-12]):
Bµ(x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ(x) + θ R̄µ(x) + θ̄ Rµ(x) + i θ θ̄ Sµ(x),
F(x, θ, θ̄) = C(x) + i θ B̄1(x) + i θ̄ B1(x) + i θ θ̄ s(x),
F̄(x, θ, θ̄) = C̄(x) + i θ B̄2(x) + i θ̄ B2(x) + i θ θ̄ s̄(x).
(3.2)
It can be readily seen that, in the limiting case of (θ, θ̄) → 0, we get back our 4D basic
fields (Aµ, C, C̄). Furthermore, on the r.h.s. of the above super expansion, the bosonic (i.e.
Aµ, Sµ, B1, B̄1, B2, B̄2) and the fermionic (Rµ, R̄µ, C, C̄, s, s̄) fields do match.
At this juncture, we have to recall our observations after equation (2.2). The nilpotent
(anti-)BRST symmetry transformations basically owe their origin to the cohomological
operator d. This is capitalized in the horizontality condition where we impose the restriction
d̃Ã(1) = dA(1) on the super 1-form connection Ã(1) that contains the superfields defined on
the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. The latter condition yields the following relationships
(see, e.g., for details, in our earlier works [21-25]):
B1 = B̄2 = s = s̄ = 0, B̄1 +B2 = 0, (3.3)
where we are free to choose the secondary fields (B2, B̄1) (i.e. B2 = B ⇒ B̄1 = −B) in
terms of the Nakanishi-Lautrup auxiliary field B of the BRST invariant Lagrangian density
(2.1). The other relations, that emerge from the above HC (i.e. d̃Ã(1) = dA(1)), are
Rµ = ∂µC, R̄µ = ∂µC̄, Sµ = ∂µB, ∂µBν − ∂νBµ = ∂µAν − ∂νAµ. (3.4)
At this stage, the super-curvature tensor F̃µν = ∂µBν − ∂νBµ is not equal to the ordinary
curvature tensor Fµν = ∂µAν−∂νAµ as the former contains Grassmannian dependent terms.
The substitution of the above values (cf. (3.3),(3.4)) of the secondary fields, in terms
of the basic and auxiliary fields of the Lagrangian density (2.1), leads to
B(h)µ (x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ + θ ∂µC̄ + θ̄ ∂µC + i θ θ̄ ∂µB,
F (h)(x, θ, θ̄) = C − i θ B, F̄ (h)(x, θ, θ̄) = C̄ + i θ̄ B,
(3.5)
where the superscript (h) has been used to denote that the above expansions have been
obtained after the application of the HC. It can be seen that, due to (3.5), we get
ν − ∂νB
µ = ∂µAν − ∂νAµ, (3.6)
where there is no Grassmannian θ and θ̄ dependence on the l.h.s.
In the language of the geometry on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold, the expansions
(3.5) imply that the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s(a)b (and their corresponding
generators Q(a)b) for the 4D local fields (cf. (2.7)) are connected with the translational
generators (∂/∂θ, ∂/∂θ̄) because the translation of the corresponding (4, 2)-dimensional
superfields, along the Grassmannian directions of the supermanifold, produces it. Thus,
the Grassmannian independence of the super curvature tensor F̃ (h)µν = ∂µB
ν −∂νB
µ implies
that the 4D curvature tensor Fµν is an (anti-)BRST (i.e. gauge) invariant physical quantity.
In terms of the superfields, equations (2.3) can be expressed as
Limθ→0
−i F̄ (h) { (∂µB(h)µ +
Limθ̄→0
+ iF (h) { (∂µB(h)µ +
Bµ(h)B(h)µ +
F (h) F̄ (h)
(3.7)
These equations are unique because there is no other way to express the above equations in
terms of the derivatives w.r.t. Grassmannian variables θ and θ̄. Thus, besides (2.3), there
is no other possibility to express the gauge-fixing and the Faddeev-Popov ghost terms in
the language of the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (2.2). The
superfield approach to BRST formulation, therefore, establishes the uniqueness of (2.3).
To express (2.6) in terms of the superfields, one has to substitute B = −(∂µA
µ) in (3.5).
Thus, the expansion (3.5), in terms of the transformations (2.4), becomes§
µ(o)(x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ + θ ∂µC̄ + θ̄ ∂µC − i θ θ̄ ∂µ(∂
ρAρ),
≡ Aµ + θ (s̃abAµ) + θ̄ (s̃bAµ) + θ θ̄(s̃bs̃abAµ),
(o) (x, θ, θ̄) = C + i θ (∂µA
µ) ≡ C + θ (s̃abC),
(o) (x, θ, θ̄) = C̄ − i θ̄ (∂µA
µ) ≡ C̄ + θ̄ (s̃bC̄).
(3.8)
We note that (3.5) and (3.8) are the super expansions (after the application of the HC)
which lead to the derivation of the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transforma-
tions s(a)b as well as the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s̃(a)b,
respectively, for the basic fields Aµ, C and C̄ of the theory.
The gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms of the Lagrangian density (2.5) can
also be expressed in terms of the superfields (3.8). In other words, (vis-à-vis (3.7)), we have
the following equations that are the analogue of (2.6), namely;
Limθ→0
(o) (∂
µAµ) + i B
µ(o) ∂
(o) )
Limθ̄→0
(o) (∂
µAµ)− i B
µ(o) ∂
(o) )
(o) B
µ(o) +
(o) F̄
(3.9)
We know that, for all practical computational purposes, it is essential to take into account
s̃(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0 because of the on-shell conditions ✷C = ✷C̄ = 0. The logical reason behind
such a restriction (i.e. s̃(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0) in (2.6) is encoded in the superfield approach to
BRST formalism as can be seen from a close look at (3.9).
The Lagrangian density (2.1) can be expressed, in terms of the (4, 2)-dimensional
superfields, in the following distinct and different forms
B = −
F̃ (h)µν F̃
µν(h) + Limθ→0
−i F̄ (h)(∂µB(h)µ +
, (3.10)
§The on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s̃(a)b can also be obtained by invoking
the (anti-)chiral superfields on the appropriately chosen supermanifolds (see, e.g. [23] for details).
B = −
F̃ (h)µν F̃
µν(h) + Limθ̄→0
+i F (h)(∂µB(h)µ +
, (3.11)
B = −
F̃ (h)µν F̃
µν(h) +
Bµ(h)B(h)µ +
F (h)F̄ (h)
. (3.12)
It would be noted that the kinetic energy term −(1/4)F̃ (h)µν F̃
µν(h) is independent of the
variables θ and θ̄ because F̃ (h)µν = Fµν . In exactly similar fashion, the Lagrangian density of
(2.5) can be expressed, with the help of the super expansion (3.8), as
b = −
µν(o)F̃
µν(h)
(o) + Limθ→0
(o) (∂
µAµ) + i B
µ(o) ∂
(o) )
, (3.13)
b = −
µν(o)F̃
µν(h)
(o) + Limθ̄→0
(o) (∂
µAµ)− i B
µ(0) ∂
(o) )
, (3.14)
b = −
µν(o)F̃
µν(h)
(o) +
(o) B
µ(o) +
(o) F̄
. (3.15)
The form of the Lagrangian densities (e.g. from (3.10) to (3.15)) simplify the proof for the
(anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian densities in (2.1) and (2.5).
In the above forms (e.g. from (3.10) to (3.12)) of the Lagrangian density, the BRST
invariance sbLB = 0 and the anti-BRST invariance sabLB = 0 become very transparent
and simple because the following equalities and mappings exist, namely;
B = 0 ⇒ Limθ→0
B = 0, sb ⇔ Limθ→0
, s2b = 0 ⇔
= 0, (3.16)
B = 0 ⇒ Limθ̄→0
B = 0, sab ⇔ Limθ̄→0
, s2ab = 0 ⇔
= 0. (3.17)
Similarly, the most beautiful relation (3.12), leads to the (anti-)BRST invariance together.
Here one has to use the anticommutativity property sbsab + sabsb = 0 in the language of
the translational generators (i.e. (∂/∂θ̄), (∂/∂θ)) along the Grassmannian directions of the
supermanifold, for its proof. This statement can be mathematically expressed as
s(a)bL
B = 0 ⇒
B = 0, sbsab + sabsb = 0 ⇔
= 0. (3.18)
In exactly similar fashion, the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry invariance (i.e.
s̃(a)bL
b = 0) of the Lagrangian density (2.5) can also be captured in the language of the
superfields if we exploit the expressions (3.13) to (3.15) for the Lagrangian density. In the
latter case, the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST invariance turns out to be like (3.16), (3.17)
and (3.18) with the replacements: s(a)b → s̃(a)b, L
B → L
b , L̃
(1,2,3)
B → L̃
(1,2,3)
Mathematically, the (anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian density (2.1) is captured
in the equations (3.16) to (3.18). In the language of geometry on the (4, 2)-dimensional
supermanifold, the (anti-)BRST invariance corresponds to the Grassmannian independence
of the supersymmetric versions of the Lagrangian density (2.1). In other words, the trans-
lation of the super Lagrangian densities (i.e. (3.10) to (3.12)), along the (θ)θ̄ directions of
the supermanifold, is zero. This observation captures the (anti-)BRST invariance of (2.1).
4 (Anti-)BRST symmetries in non-Abelian theory: Lagrangian approach
We begin with the following BRST-invariant Lagrangian density, in the Feynman gauge,
for the four (3 + 1)-dimensional non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory¶ (see, e.g. [26,27,9])
B = −
F µν · Fµν +B · (∂µA
B · B − i∂µC̄ ·D
µC, (4.1)
where the curvature tensor (Fµν) is defined through the 2-form F
(2)(n) = dA(1)(n)+iA(1)(n)∧
A(1)(n). Here the non-Abelian 1-form gauge connection is A(1)(n) = dxµ(Aµ · T ) and the
exterior derivative is d = dxµ∂µ. The Nakanishi-Lautrup auxiliary field B = B · T is
required for the linearization of the gauge-fixing term and the (anti-)ghost fields (C̄)C are
essential for the proof of the unitarity in the theory. The latter fields are fermionic (i.e.
(Ca)2 = 0, (C̄a)2 = 0, CaCb + CbCa = 0, CaC̄b + C̄bCa = 0, etc.) in nature.
The above Lagrangian density respects the following off-shell nilpotent ((s
2 = 0)
BRST symmetry transformations s
b , namely;
b Aµ = DµC, s
b C = −
(C × C), s
b C̄ = iB,
b B = 0, s
b Fµν = i(Fµν × C).
(4.2)
It will be noted that (i) the curvature tensor Fµν · T transforms here under the BRST
symmetry transformation. However, it can be checked explicitly that the kinetic energy
term −(1/4)Fµν · F
µν remains invariant under the BRST symmetry transformations, (ii)
the nilpotent anti-BRST symmetry transformations corresponding to the above BRST
symmetry transformations (4.2) cannot be defined for the Lagrangian density (4.1), and
(iii) the on-shell nilpotent version of the above BRST symmetry transformations is also
possible if we substitute, in the above symmetry transformations, B = −(∂µA
µ). The
ensuing on-shell (i.e. ∂µD
µC = 0) nilpotent BRST symmetry transformations s̃
b are
b Aµ = DµC, s̃
b C = −
(C × C),
b C̄ = −i(∂µA
µ), s̃
b Fµν = i(Fµν × C).
(4.3)
The above on-shell nilpotent transformations leave the following Lagrangian density
b = −
F µν · Fµν −
µ) · (∂ρA
ρ)− i∂µC̄ ·D
µC, (4.4)
¶For the non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, the notations used in the Lie algebraic space are: A · B =
AaBa, (A ×B)a = fabcAbBc, DµC
a = ∂µC
a + ifabcAbµC
c ≡ ∂µC
a + i(Aµ × C)
a, Fµν = ∂µAν − ∂νAµ +
iAµ×Aν , Aµ = Aµ ·T, [T
a, T b] = fabcT c where the Latin indices a, b, c = 1, 2, 3....N are in the SU(N) Lie
algebraic space. The structure constant fabc can be chosen to be totally antisymmetric for any arbitrary
semi simple Lie algebra that includes SU(N), too (see, e.g., [27]).
quasi-invariant because it transforms to a total derivative.
The gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms of the Lagrangian densities (4.1) and
(4.4) can be written, modulo a total derivative, as a BRST-exact quantity in terms of
the off-shell and on-shell nilpotent BRST symmetry transformations (4.2) and (4.3). This
statement can be mathematically expressed as follows
−i C̄ · {(∂µA
= B · (∂µA
B · B − i ∂µC̄ ·D
µC, (4.5)
C̄ · (∂µA
µ) + i Aµ · ∂
µ) · (∂ρA
ρ)− i ∂µC̄ ·D
µC. (4.6)
It will be noted that one has to take into account s̃
b (∂µA
µ) = ∂µD
µC = 0 in the above
proof of the exactness of the expression in (4.6).
The Lagrangian densities that respect the off-shell nilpotent (i.e. (s
(a)b)
2 = 0) and
anticommuting (s
ab + s
b = 0) (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations are
(1)(n)
b = −
F µν · Fµν +B · (∂µA
(B · B + B̄ · B̄)− i∂µC̄ ·D
µC, (4.7)
(2)(n)
b = −
F µν · Fµν − B̄ · (∂µA
(B · B + B̄ · B̄)− iDµC̄ · ∂
µC. (4.8)
Here auxiliary fields B and B̄ satisfy the Curci-Ferrari condition B+B̄ = −(C×C̄) [28,29].
It is also evident, from this relation, that B ·(∂µA
µ)−i∂µC̄ ·D
µC = −B̄ ·(∂µA
µ)−iDµC̄ ·∂
Furthermore, it should be re-emphasized that the Lagrangian densities (4.1) and (4.4) do
not respect the anti-BRST symmetry transformations of any kind. The BRST and anti-
BRST symmetry transformations, for the above Lagrangian densities, are
b Aµ = DµC, s
b C = −
(C × C), s
b C̄ = iB,
b B = 0, s
b Fµν = i(Fµν × C), s
b B̄ = i(B̄ × C),
(4.9)
ab Aµ = DµC̄, s
ab C̄ = −
(C̄ × C̄), s
ab C = iB̄,
ab B̄ = 0, s
ab Fµν = i(Fµν × C̄), s
ab B = i(B × C̄).
(4.10)
The above off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations leave the Lagrangian
densities (4.7) as well as (4.8) quasi-invariant as they transform to some total derivatives.
The gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms of the Lagrangian densities (4.7) and
(4.8) can be written, in a symmetrical fashion with respect to s
b and s
ab , as
Aµ ·A
µ + C · C̄
= B · (∂µA
(B ·B + B̄ · B̄)− i∂µC̄ ·D
≡ −B̄ · (∂µA
(B · B + B̄ · B̄)− iDµC̄ · ∂
(4.11)
This demonstrates the key fact that the above gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms
are (anti-)BRST invariant together because of the nilpotency and anticommutativity of the
(anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s
(a)b that are present in the theory.
5 (Anti-)BRST invariance in non-Abelian theory: superfield approach
To capture (i) the off-shell as well as the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transfor-
mations, and (ii) the invariance of the Lagrangian densities, in the language of the superfield
approach to BRST formalism, we have to consider the 4D 1-form non-Abelian gauge theory
on a (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. As a consequence, we have the following mappings:
d → d̃ = dxµ ∂µ + dθ ∂θ + dθ̄ ∂θ̄, d̃
2 = 0,
A(1)(n) → Ã(1)(n) = dxµ(Bµ · T )(x, θ, θ̄) + dθ(F̄ · T )(x, θ, θ̄) + dθ̄(F · T )(x, θ, θ̄),
(5.1)
where the (4, 2)-dimensional superfields (Bµ ·T,F ·T, F̄ ·T ) are the generalizations of the 4D
basic local fields (Aµ ·T, C ·T, C̄ ·T ) of the Lagrangian density (4.1), (4.7) and (4.8). These
superfields can be expanded along the Grassmannian directions of the supermanifold, in
terms of the basic 4D fields, auxiliary fields and secondary fields as [4,16,19]
(Bµ · T )(x, θ, θ̄) = (Aµ · T )(x) + θ (R̄µ · T )(x) + θ̄ (Rµ · T )(x) + i θ θ̄ (Sµ · T )(x),
(F · T )(x, θ, θ̄) = (C · T )(x) + i θ (B̄1 · T )(x) + i θ̄ (B1 · T )(x) + i θ θ̄ (s · T )(x),
(F̄ · T )(x, θ, θ̄) = (C̄ · T )(x) + i θ (B̄2 · T )(x) + i θ̄ (B2 · T )(x) + i θ θ̄ (s̄ · T )(x).
(5.2)
To determine the exact expressions for the secondary fields, in terms of the basic and
auxiliary fields of the theory, we have to exploit the HC. The horizontality condition, for
the non-Abelian gauge theory is the requirement of the equality of the Maurer-Cartan
equation on the (super) manifolds. In other words, the covariant reduction of the super
2-form curvature F̃ (2)(n) to the ordinary 2-form curvature (i.e. d̃Ã(1)(n)+ iÃ(1)(n) ∧ Ã(1)(n) =
dA(1)(n)+ iA(1)(n)∧A(1)(n)) leads to the determination of the secondary fields in terms of the
basic and auxiliary fields of the theory. The ensuing expansions, in terms of the basic and
auxiliary fields, lead to (i) the derivation of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
for the basic fields of the theory, and (ii) the geometrical interpretations of the nilpotent
(anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (and their corresponding nilpotent generators) for
the basic fields of the theory as the translations of the corresponding superfields along the
Grassmannian directions of the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold (see, e.g., [16,19]).
With the identifications B2 = B and B̄1 = B̄, the following relationships emerge after
the application of the horizontality condition ‖ (see, e.g., [16]):
Rµ = DµC, R̄µ = DµC̄, B + B̄ = −(C × C̄), s = i(B̄ × C),
Sµ = DµB +DµC × C̄ ≡ −DµB̄ −DµC̄ × C,
s̄ = −i(B × C̄), B1 = −
(C × C), B̄2 = −
(C̄ × C̄).
(5.3)
‖In the rest of our present text, we shall be using the short-hand notations for all the fields e.g.:
Aµ · T = Aµ, C · T = C, B · T = B, etc., for the sake of brevity.
The substitution of the above expressions, which are obtained after the application of the
horizontality condition, leads to the following expansions
B(h)µ (x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ + θ DµC̄ + θ̄ DµC + i θ θ̄ (DµB +DµC × C̄),
F (h)(x, θ, θ̄) = C + i θ B̄ −
θ̄ (C × C)− θ θ̄ (B̄ × C),
F̄ (h)(x, θ, θ̄) = C̄ −
θ (C̄ × C̄) + i θ̄ B + θ θ̄ (B × C̄).
(5.4)
The above expansions (see, e.g., our earlier works [16,19]) can be expressed in terms of the
off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (4.9) and (4.10).
With the above expansion at our disposal, the gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov terms
of the Lagrangian density (4.1) can be written, modulo a total ordinary derivative, as
Limθ→0
−iF̄ (h) · ∂µB(h)µ −
F̄ (h) · B
= B · (∂µA
B · B − i ∂µC̄ ·D
µC. (5.5)
Furthermore, it can be seen that, due to the validity and consequences of the horizontality
condition, the super curvature tensor F̃µν has the following form [16,4]
F̃ (h)µν = Fµν + iθ(Fµν × C̄) + iθ̄(Fµν × C)− θ θ̄ (Fµν × B + Fµν × C × C̄). (5.6)
It is clear from the above relationship that the kinetic energy term of the present 4D
non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory remains invariant, namely;
F̃ (h)µν · F̃
µν(h) = −
Fµν · F
µν . (5.7)
The Grassmannian independence of the l.h.s. of (5.7) has deep meaning as far as physics is
concerned. It implies immediately that the kinetic energy term of the non-Abelian gauge
theory is an (anti-)BRST (i.e. gauge) invariant physical quantity.
At this juncture, it is worthwhile to point out that one can also capture the equation
(4.6) in the superfield approach to BRST formalism where the on-shell nilpotent version
of the BRST symmetry transformations (i.e. s̃
b ) plays an important role. For this pur-
pose, we have to express the superfield expansion (5.4) for the on-shell nilpotent BRST
symmetry transformation where one has to exploit the replacement B = −(∂µA
µ). With
this substitution, the equation (5.4) for the superfield expansion becomes
µ(o)(x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ + θ DµC̄ + θ̄ DµC + i θ θ̄ [−Dµ(∂
ρAρ) +DµC × C̄],
(o) (x, θ, θ̄) = C + i θ B̄ −
θ̄ (C × C)− θ θ̄ (B̄ × C),
(o) (x, θ, θ̄) = C̄ −
θ (C̄ × C̄)− i θ̄ (∂µA
µ)− θ θ̄ [(∂µA
µ)× C̄)].
(5.8)
Now, the equation (4.6) can be expressed in terms of the above superfields, as:
Limθ→0
(o) · (∂
µAµ) + i B
µ(o) · ∂
µ) · (∂ρA
ρ)− i ∂µC̄ ·D
(5.9)
Furthermore, it will be noted that the analogue of (5.6), for the on-shell nilpotent BRST
symmetry transformation (i.e. F̃
µν(o)), can be obtained by the replacement B = −(∂µA
Once again, the equality (5.7) would remain intact even if we take into account the on-shell
nilpotent BRST symmetry transformations. Thus, we note that the kinetic energy term
(i.e. (−(1/4)F µν · Fµν = −(1/4)F̃
µν(h)
(o) · F̃
µν(o)) of the non-Abelian gauge theory remains
independent of the Grassmannian variables θ and θ̄ after the application of the HC. This
statement is true for the off-shell as well as the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry
transformations. Physically, it implies that the kinetic energy term for the gauge field of
the non-Abelian theory is an (anti-)BRST (i.e. gauge) invariant quantity.
The above key observation helps in expressing the Lagrangian density (4.1) and (4.4)
in terms of the superfields (obtained after the application of HC), as
B = −
F̃ (h)µν · F̃
µν(h) + Limθ→0
−iF̄ (h) · ∂µB(h)µ −
F̄ (h) · B
b = −
µν(o) · F̃
µν(h)
(o) + Limθ→0
(o) · (∂
µAµ) + i B
µ(o) · ∂
(5.10)
This result, in turn, simplifies the BRST invariance of the above Lagrangian density (4.1)
and (4.4) (describing the 4D 1-form non-Abelian gauge theory) as follows
Limθ→0
B = 0 ⇒ s
B = 0, Limθ→0
b = 0 ⇒ s̃
b = 0. (5.11)
This is a great simplification because the total super Lagrangian densities (5.10) remain
independent of the Grassmannian variable θ̄. This key result is encoded in the mapping
b , s̃
b ) ⇔ Limθ→0(∂/∂θ̄) and the nilpotency (s
2 = 0, (s̃
2 = 0, (∂/∂θ̄)2 = 0.
It can be readily checked that the analogues of (5.5) and (5.9) cannot be expressed as
the derivative w.r.t. the Grassmannian variable θ. To check this, one has to exploit the
super expansions (5.4) and (5.8) obtained after the application of the HC (in the context
of the derivation of the off-shell as well as the on-shell nilpotent BRST symmetry transfor-
mations s
b and s̃
b ). It can be clearly seen that the operation of the derivative w.r.t. the
Grassmannian variable θ, on any combination of the superfields from the expansions (5.4)
and (5.8), does not lead to the derivation of the r.h.s. of (5.5) and (5.9). In the language
of the superfield approach to BRST formalism, this is the reason behind the non-existence
of the anti-BRST symmetry transformations for the Lagrangian densities (4.1) and (4.4).
The form of the gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov terms (4.11), expressed in terms of
the BRST and anti-BRST symmetry transformations together, can be represented in the
language of the superfields (obtained after the application of HC), as
B(h)µ · B
µ(h) + F (h) · F̄ (h)
= B · (∂µA
(B · B + B̄ · B̄)− i∂µC̄ ·D
(5.12)
As a consequence of the above expression, the Lagrangian densities (4.7) (as well as (4.8))
can be presented, in terms of the superfields, as
(1,2)(n)
b = −
F̃ µν(h) · F̃ (h)µν +
B(h)µ · B
µ(h) + F (h) · F̄ (h)
. (5.13)
The BRST and anti-BRST invariance of the above super Lagrangian density (and that of
the ordinary 4D Lagrangian densities (4.7) and (4.8)) is encoded in the following simple
equations that are expressed in terms of the translational generators along the Grassman-
nian directions of the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold, namely;
Limθ→0
(1,2)(n)
b = 0 ⇒ s
(1)(n)
b = 0, Limθ̄→0
(1,2)(n)
b = 0 ⇒ s
(2)(n)
b = 0.
(5.14)
This is a tremendous simplification of the (anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian den-
sities (4.7) and (4.8) in the language of the superfield approach to BRST formalism. In
other words, if one is able to show the Grassmannian independence of the super Lagrangian
densities of the theory, the (anti-)BRST invariance of the 4D theory follows automatically.
In the language of the geometry on the supermanifold, the (anti-)BRST invariance of
a 4D Lagrangian density is equivalent to the statement that the translation of the super
version of the above Lagrangian density, along the Grassmannian directions of the (4, 2)-
dimensional supermanifold, is zero. Thus, the super Lagrangian density of an (anti-)BRST
invariant 4D theory is a Lorentz scalar, constructed with the help of (4, 2)-dimensional
superfields (obtained after the application of HC), such that, when the partial derivatives
w.r.t. the Grassmannian variables (θ and θ̄) operate on it, the result is zero.
The nilpotency and anticommutativity properties (that are associated with the con-
served (anti-)BRST charges and (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations) are found to be
captured very naturally (cf. (3.16)-(3.18)) when we consider the superfield formulation of
the (anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian density of a given 1-form gauge theory. We
mention, in passing, that one could also derive the analogue of the equations (3.16), (3.17)
and (3.18) for the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory in a straightforward manner.
6 Conclusions
In our present investigation, we have concentrated mainly on the (anti-)BRST invariance
of the Lagrangian densities of the free 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories (having no
interaction with matter fields) within the framework of the superfield approach to BRST
formalism. We have been able to provide the geometrical basis for the existence of the
(anti-)BRST invariance in the above 4D theories. To be more specific, we have been able
to show that the Grassmannian independence of the (4, 2)-dimensional super Lagrangian
density, expressed in terms of the appropriate superfields, is a clear-cut proof that there is
an (anti-)BRST invariance (cf. (3.16), (3.17), (3.18), (5.11), (5.14)) in the 4D theory.
If the super Lagrangian density could be expressed as a sum of (i) a Grassmannian
independent term, and (ii) a derivative w.r.t. the Grassmannian variable, then, the cor-
responding 4D Lagrangian density will automatically respect BRST and/or anti-BRST
invariance. In the latter piece of the above super Lagrangian density, the derivative could
be either w.r.t. θ or w.r.t. θ̄ or w.r.t. both of them put together. More specifically,
(i) if the derivative is w.r.t. θ̄, the nilpotent symmetry would correspond to the BRST,
(ii) if the derivative is w.r.t. θ, the nilpotent symmetry would be that of the anti-BRST
type, and (iii) if both the derivatives are present together, both the nilpotent (anti-)BRST
symmetries would be present together (and they would turn out to be anticommuting).
For the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, that are considered on the (4, 2)-
dimensional supermanifold, it is the HC on the 1-form super connection Ã(1) that plays a
very important role in the derivation of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations. The
cohomological origin for the above HC lies in the (super) exterior derivatives (d̃)d. This
point has been made quite clear in our discussions after the off-shell as well as the on-shell
nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (2.2), (2.4), (4.2), (4.3), (4.9) and (4.10).
In fact, it is the full kinetic energy term of the above theories (owing its origin to the
cohomological operator d = dxµ∂µ) that remains invariant under the above on-shell as well
the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations.
The HC produces specifically the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for
the gauge and (anti-)ghost fields because of the fact that the super 1-form connection
Ã(1)/Ã(1)(n) (cf. (3.1) and (5.1)) is constructed with a super vector multiplet (Bµ,F , F̄)
which is the generalization of the gauge field Aµ and the (anti-)ghost fields (C̄)C (of the
ordinary 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories) to the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold.
As a consequence, only the nilpotent and anticommuting (anti-)BRST symmetry transfor-
mations for the 4D local fields Aµ, C and C̄ are obtained when the full potential of the HC
is exploited within the framework of the above superfield formulation.
It is worthwhile to point out that geometrically the super Lagrangian densities, ex-
pressed in terms of the (4, 2)-dimensional superfields, are equivalent to the sum of the
kinetic energy term and the translations of some composite superfields (obtained after the
application of the HC) along the Grassmannian directions (i.e. θ and/or θ̄) of the (4, 2)-
dimensional supermanifold. This observation is distinctly different from our earlier works
on the superfield approach to 2D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories [24,25,23] which are
found to correspond to the topological field theories. In fact, for the latter theories, the
total super Lagrangian density turns out to be a total derivative w.r.t. the Grassmannian
variables (θ and/or θ̄). That is to say, even the kinetic energy term of the latter theories,
is able to be expressed as the total derivative w.r.t. the variables θ and/or θ̄.
In our present endeavour, within the framework of the superfield approach to BRST
formalism, we have been able to provide (i) the logical reason behind the non-existence of
the anti-BRST symmetry transformations for the Lagrangian densities (4.1) and (4.4) for
the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, (ii) the explicit explanation for the uniqueness
of the equations (2.3) and (2.6) for the 4D Abelian 1-form gauge theory, (iii) the convinc-
ing proof for the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST invariance of the gauge-fixing term (i.e.
s̃(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0, s̃
(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0) for the (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, and (iv) the
compelling arguments for the non-existence of the exact analogue(s) of (2.3) and (2.6) for
the non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory. To the best of our knowledge, the logical explana-
tions for the above subtle points (connected with the 1-form gauge theories) are completely
new. Thus, the results of our present work are simple, beautiful and original.
It is worthwhile to mention that our superfield construction and its ensuing geometrical
interpretations are not specific to the Feynman gauge (which has been taken into account
in our present endeavor). To corroborate this assertion, we take the simple case of the 4D
Abelian 1-form gauge theory and write the Lagrangian density (2.1) in the arbitrary gauge
(a,ξ)
B = −
F µνFµν + B (∂µA
B2 − i ∂µC̄ ∂
µC, (6.1)
where ξ is the gauge parameter. It is elementary to check that, in the limit ξ → 1, we get
back our Lagrangian density (2.1) for the Abelian theory in the Feynman gauge.
The analogue of the equation (2.3) (for the gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms
in the case of the arbitrary gauge) can be expressed as
−i C̄ {(∂µA
B}], sab
+i C {(∂µA
sb sab
(6.2)
The above expression can be easily generalized to the analogues of the equations (3.10)—
(3.12) in terms of the superfields by taking the help of (3.8). Thus, the geometrical inter-
pretations remain intact even in the case of the arbitrary gauge.
In a similar fashion, for the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, the equations (4.5),
(4.6) and (4.11) can be generalized to the case of arbitrary gauge and, subsequently, can
be expressed in terms of superfields as the analogues of (5.5), (5.9) and (5.12). Finally,
we can obtain the analogues of (5.7), (5.10) and (5.13) which will lead to the derivation of
the analogues of (5.11) and (5.14). Thus, we note that geometrical interpretations, in the
arbitrary gauge, remain the same for the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theory within the
framework of our superfield approach to BRST formalism.
Our present work can be generalized to the case of the interacting 4D (non-)Abelian
1-form gauge theories where there exists an explicit coupling between the gauge field and
the matter fields. In fact, our earlier works [14-18] might turn out to be quite handy in
attempting the above problems. It seems to us that it is the combination of the HC and
the restrictions, owing their origin to the (super) covariant derivative on the matter (super)
fields and their intimate connection with the (super) curvatures, that would play a decisive
role in proving the existence of the (anti-)BRST invariance for the above gauge theories.
It is gratifying to state that we have accomplished the above goals in our very recent
endeavours [30-32]. In fact, we have been able to provide the geometrical basis for the
existence of the (anti-)BRST invariance, in the context of the interacting (non-)Abelian
1-form gauge theories with Dirac as well as complex scalar fields, within the framework
of the augmented superfield approach to BRST formalism. As it turns out, here too, the
super Lagrangian density is found to be independent of the Grassmannian variables.
In our earlier works [33-35], we have been able to show the existence of the nilpotent
(anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations for the 4D free Abelian 2-form
gauge theory. We have also established the quasi-topological nature of it in [35]. In a recent
work [36], the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations have been captured in the
framework of the superfield formulation. It would be a very nice endeavour to study the
(anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST invariance of the 4D Abelian 2-form gauge theory within
the framework of superfield formulation. At present, this issue and connected problems in
the context of the 4D free Abelian 2-form gauge theory are under intensive investigation
and our results would be reported in our forthcoming future publications [37].
Acknowledgement: Financial support from the Department of Science and Technology
(DST), Government of India, under the SERC project sanction grant No: - SR/S2/HEP-
23/2006, is gratefully acknowledged.
References
[1] J. Thierry-Mieg, J. Math. Phys. 21, 2834 (1980).
[2] J. Thierry-Mieg, Nuovo Cimento A 56, 396 (1980).
[3] M. Quiros, F. J. De Urries, J. Hoyos, M. L. Mazon and E. Rodrigues, J. Math. Phys.
22, 1767 (1981).
[4] L. Bonora and M. Tonin, Phys. Lett. B 98, 48 (1981).
[5] L. Bonora, P. Pasti and M. Tonin M, Nuovo Cimento A 63, 353 (1981).
[6] R. Delbourgo and P. D. Jarvis, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 15, 611 (1981).
[7] R. Delbourgo, P. D. Jarvis and G. Thompson, Phys. Lett. B 109, 25 (1982).
[8] D. S. Hwang and C. -Y. Lee, J. Math. Phys. 38, 30 (1997).
[9] N. Nakanishi and I. Ojima, Covariant Operator Formalism of Gauge Theories and
Quantum Gravity (World Scientific, Singapore, 1990).
[10] R. P. Malik, Phys. Lett. B 584, 210 (2004), hep-th/0311001.
[11] R. P. Malik, Int. J. Geom. Methods Mod. Phys. 1, 467 (2004), hep-th/0403230.
[12] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 37, 5261 (2004), hep-th/031193.
[13] R. P. Malik, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 20, 4899 (2005), hep-th/0402005.
R. P. Malik, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 20, 7285 (2005), hep-th/0402005 (Erratum).
[14] R. P. Malik, Mod. Phys. Lett. A 20, 1667 (2005), hep-th/0402123.
[15] R. P. Malik, Eur. Phys. J. C 45, 513 (2006), hep-th/0506109.
[16] R. P. Malik and B. P. Mandal, Eur. Phys. J. C 47, 219 (2006), hep-th/0512334.
[17] R. P. Malik, Eur. Phys. J. C 47, 227 (2006), hep-th/0507127.
[18] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 39, 10575 (2006), hep-th/0510164.
[19] R. P. Malik, Eur. Phys. J. C 51, 169 (2007), hep-th/0603049.
[20] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 40, 4877 (2007), hep-th/0605213.
[21] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen 33, 2437 (2000), hep-th/9902146.
[22] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 34, 4167 (2001), hep-th/0012085.
[23] R. P. Malik, Ann. Phys. (N. Y.) 307, 01 (2003), hep-th/0205135.
[24] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen 35, 6919 (2002), hep-th/0112260.
[25] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 35, 8817 (2002), hep-th/0204015.
[26] K. Nishijima, Czech. J. Phys. 46, 01 (1996).
[27] S. Weinberg, The Quantum Theory of Fields: Modern Applications Vol. 2 (Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, 1996).
[28] G. Curci and R. Ferrari, Phys. Lett. B 63, 51 (1976).
[29] G. Curci and R. Ferrari, Nuovo Cimento A 32, 151 (1976).
[30] R. P. Malik, Nilpotent symmetry invariance in QED with Dirac fields: superfield for-
malism, arXiv: 0706.4168 [hep-th].
[31] R. P. Malik and B. P. Mandal, Superfield approach to the nilpotent symmetry invariance
in the non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, arXiv: 0709.2277 [hep-th].
[32] R. P. Malik and B. P. Mandal, Nilpotent symmetry invariance in QED with complex
scalar fields: augmented superfield formalism, arXiv: 0711.2389 [hep-th].
[33] E. Harikumar, R. P. Malik and M. Sivakumar, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 33, 7149 (2000),
hep-th/0004145.
[34] R. P. Malik, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 19, 5663 (2004), hep-th/0212240.
[35] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 36, 5056 (2003), hep-th/0209136.
[36] R. P. Malik, Superfield approach to nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetries for the free
Abelian 2-form gauge theory, hep-th/0702039.
[37] R. P. Malik, in preparation.

  We capture the off-shell as well as the on-shell nilpotent
Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry invariance of the
Lagrangian densities of the four (3 + 1)-dimensional (4D) (non-)Abelian 1-form
gauge theories within the framework of the superfield formalism. In particular,
we provide the geometrical interpretations for (i) the above nilpotent symmetry
invariance, and (ii) the above Lagrangian densities, in the language of the
specific quantities defined in the domain of the above superfield formalism.
Some of the subtle points, connected with the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge
theories, are clarified within the framework of the above superfield formalism
where the 4D ordinary gauge theories are considered on the (4, 2)-dimensional
supermanifold parametrized by the four spacetime coordinates x^\mu (with \mu =
0, 1, 2, 3) and a pair of Grassmannian variables \theta and \bar\theta. One of
the key results of our present investigation is a great deal of simplification
in the geometrical understanding of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry
invariance.

Introduction
The geometrical superfield approach [1-8] to Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) formalism
is one of the most attractive and intuitive approaches which enables us to gain some physical
insights into the beautiful (but abstract mathematical) structures that are associated with
the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations and their corresponding generators.
The latter quantities play a very decisive role in (i) the covariant canonical quantization of
the gauge theories, (ii) the proof of the unitarity of the “quantum” gauge theories at any
arbitrary order of perturbative computations for a given physical process (that is allowed
by the theory), (iii) the definition of the physical states of the “quantum” gauge theories
in the quantum Hilbert space, and (iv) the cohomological description of the physical states
of the quantum Hilbert space w.r.t. the conserved and nilpotent BRST charge.
To be specific, in the superfield formulation [1-8] of the 4D 1-form gauge theories, one
defines the super curvature 2-form F̃ (2) = d̃Ã(1)+ i Ã(1)∧ Ã(1) in terms of the super exterior
derivative d̃ = dxµ∂µ + dθ∂θ + dθ̄∂θ̄ (with d̃
2 = 0) and the super 1-form connection Ã(1) on
a (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold parametrized by the usual spacetime variables xµ (with
µ = 0, 1, 2, 3) and a pair of anticommuting (i.e. θ2 = θ̄2 = 0, θθ̄ + θ̄θ = 0) Grassmannian
variables θ and θ̄. The above super 2-form is subsequently equated, due to the so-called
horizontality condition [1-8], to the ordinary curvature 2-form F (2) = dA(1) + iA(1) ∧ A(1)
defined on the ordinary 4D flat Minkowski spacetime manifold in terms of the ordinary
exterior derivative d = dxµ∂µ (with d
2 = 0) and the 1-form connection A(1) = dxµAµ. The
above super exterior derivative d̃ and super 1-form connection Ã(1) are the generalization of
the 4D ordinary exterior derivative d and 1-form connection A(1) to the (4, 2)-dimensional
supermanifold because d̃ → d, Ã(1) → A(1) in the limit (θ, θ̄) → 0.
The above horizontality condition (HC) has been referred to as the soul-flatness con-
dition in [9] which amounts to setting equal to zero all the Grassmannian components of
the (anti)symmetric second-rank super tensor that constitutes the super curvature 2-form
F̃ (2) on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. The key consequences, that emerge from
the HC, are (i) the derivation of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for
the gauge and (anti-)ghost fields of a given 4D 1-form gauge theory, (ii) the geometrical
interpretation of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for the 4D local fields as the
translation of the corresponding superfields along the Grassmannian directions of the su-
permanifold, (iii) the geometrical interpretation of the nilpotency property as a pair of
successive translations of the superfield along a particular Grassmannian direction of the
supermanifold, and (iv) the geometrical interpretation of the anticommutativity property
of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for a 4D local field as the sum of (a) the
translation of the corresponding superfield first along the θ-direction followed by the trans-
lation along the θ̄-direction, and (b) the translation of the same superfield first along the
θ̄-direction followed by the translation along the θ-direction.
It will be noted that the above HC (i.e. F̃ (2) = F (2)) is valid for the non-Abelian (i.e.
A(1)(n)∧A(1)(n) 6= 0) 1-form gauge theory as well as the Abelian (i.e. A(1)∧A(1) = 0) 1-form
gauge theory. As expected, for both types of theories, the HC leads to the derivation of the
nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for the gauge and (anti-)ghost fields of
the respective theories. We lay emphasis on the fact that the HC does not shed any light
on the derivation of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations associated with
the matter fields of the interacting 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories.
In a recent set of papers [10-17], the above HC condition has been generalized, in a
consistent manner, so as to compute the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
associated with the matter fields of a given 4D interacting 1-form gauge theory (along with
the well-known nilpotent transformations for the gauge and (anti-)ghost fields) without
spoiling the cute geometrical interpretations of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
(and their corresponding generators) that emerge from the HC alone. The latter approach
has been christened as the augmented superfield approach to BRST formalism where the
restrictions imposed on the (4, 2)-dimensional superfields are (i) the HC plus the invariance
of the (super) matter Noether conserved currents [10-14], (ii) the HC plus the equality of
any (super) conserved quantities [15], (iii) the HC plus a restriction that owes its origin
to the gauge invariance and the (super) covariant derivatives on the matter (super)fields
[16,17], and (iv) an alternative to the HC where the gauge invariance and the property
of a pair of (super) covariant derivatives on the (super) matter fields (and their intimate
connection with the (super) curvatures) play a crucial role [18-20].
In all the above approaches [1-20], however, the invariance of the Lagrangian densities
of the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, under the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry
transformations, has not yet been discussed at all. Some attempts in this direction have
been made in our earlier works where the specific topological features [21,22] of the 2D
free (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories have been captured in the superfield formulation
[23-25]. In particular, the invariance of the Lagrangian density under the nilpotent and
anticommuting (anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations has been ex-
pressed in terms of the superfields and the Grassmannian derivatives on them. These are,
however, a bit more involved in nature because of the existence of a new set of nilpotent
(anti-)co-BRST symmetries in the theory. The geometrical interpretations for the La-
grangian densities and the symmetric energy-momentum tensor (for the above topological
theory) have also been provided within the framework of the superfield formulation.
The purpose of our present paper is to capture the (anti-)BRST symmetry invariance of
the Lagrangian density of the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories within the framework
of the superfield approach to BRST formalism and to demonstrate that the above symme-
try invariance could be understood in a very simple manner in terms of the translational
generators along the Grassmannian directions of the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold on
which the above 4D ordinary gauge theories are considered. In addition, the reason behind
the existence (or non-existence) of any specific nilpotent symmetry transformation could
also be explained within the framework of the above superfield approach. We demonstrate
the uniqueness of the existence of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
for the Lagrangian density of a U(1) Abelian 1-form gauge theory. We go a step further
and show the existence of the nilpotent BRST symmetry transformations for the specific
Lagrangian densities (cf. (4.1) and (4.4) below) of the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory
and clarify the non-existence of the anti-BRST symmetry transformations for these spe-
cific Lagrangian densities within the framework of the superfield formulation (cf. section
5 below). Finally, we provide the geometrical basis for the existence of the off-shell nilpo-
tent and anticommuting (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (and their corresponding
generators) for the specifically defined Lagrangian densities (cf. (4.7) and/or (4.8) below)
of the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory in the Feynman gauge.
The motivating factors that have propelled us to pursue our present investigation are
as follows. First and foremost, to the best of our knowledge, the property of the symmetry
invariance of a given Lagrangian density has not yet been captured in the language of the
superfield approach to BRST formalism. Second, the above (anti-)BRST invariance of the
theory has never been shown, in as simplified fashion, as we demonstrate in our present
endeavour. The geometrical interpretations for (i) the existence of the above nilpotent
(anti-)BRST symmetry invariance, and (ii) the on-shell conditions of the on-shell nilpotent
(anti-)BRST symmetries, turn out to be quite transparent in our present work. Third, we
establish the uniqueness of the existence of the (anti-)BRST symmetry invariance in their
various forms. The non-existence of the specific symmetry transformation is also explained
within the framework of the superfield approach to BRST formalism. Finally, our present
investigation is the first modest step in the direction to gain some insights into the existence
of the nilpotent symmetry transformations and their invariance for the higher form (e.g.
2-form, 3-form, etc.) gauge theories within the framework of the superfield formulation.
The contents of our present paper are organized as follows. In section 2, we recapitulate
some of the key points connected with the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
for the free 4D Abelian 1-form gauge theory (having no interaction with matter fields) in
the Lagrangian formulation. The above symmetry transformations as well as the symmetry
invariance of the Lagrangian densities are captured in the geometrical superfield approach
to BRST formalism in section 3 where the HC on the gauge superfield plays a crucial role.
Section 4 deals with the bare essentials of the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transfor-
mations for the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory in the Lagrangian formulation. The
subject matter of section 5 concerns itself with the superfield formulation of the symmetry
invariance of the appropriate Lagrangian densities of the above 4D non-Abelian 1-form
gauge theory. Finally, in section 6, we summarize our key results, make some concluding
remarks and point out a few future directions for further investigations.
2 (Anti-)BRST symmetries in Abelian theory: Lagrangian formulation
Let us begin with the following (anti-)BRST invariant Lagrangian density of the 4D Abelian
1-form gauge theory∗ in the Feynman gauge [26,27,9]
B = −
F µνFµν + B (∂µA
B2 − i ∂µC̄ ∂
µC, (2.1)
where Fµν = ∂µAν − ∂νAµ is the antisymmetric (Fµν = −Fνµ) curvature tensor that con-
stitutes the Abelian 2-form F (2) = dA(1) ≡ 1
(dxµ ∧ dxν)Fµν , B is the Nakanishi-Lautrup
auxiliary multiplier field and (C̄)C are the anticommuting (i.e. C2 = C̄2 = 0, CC̄+C̄C = 0)
(anti-)ghost fields of the theory. The above Lagrangian density respects the off-shell nilpo-
tent (s2(a)b = 0) (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s(a)b (with sbsab + sabsb = 0)
sbAµ = ∂µC, sbC = 0, sbC̄ = iB, sbB = 0, sbFµν = 0,
sabAµ = ∂µC̄, sabC̄ = 0, sabC = −iB, sabB = 0, sabFµν = 0.
(2.2)
It is clear that, under the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s(a)b, the cur-
vature tensor Fµν is found to be invariant. In other words, the 2-form F
(2), owing its
origin to the cohomological operator d = dxµ∂µ, is an (anti-)BRST invariant object for the
Abelian U(1) 1-form gauge theory and is, therefore, a physically meaningful (i.e. gauge-
invariant) quantity. These observations will play an important role in our discussion on the
horizontality condition that would be exploited in the context of our superfield approach
to (anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian densities in sections 3 and 5 (see below).
A noteworthy point, at this stage, is the observation that the gauge-fixing and Faddeev-
Popov ghost terms can be written, modulo a total derivative, in the following fashion
−i C̄ {(∂µA
B}], sab
+i C {(∂µA
sb sab
(2.3)
The above equation establishes, in a very simple manner, the (anti-)BRST invariance of
the 4D Lagrangian density (2.1). The simplicity ensues due to (i) the nilpotency s2(a)b = 0
of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations, (ii) the anticommutativity property (i.e.
sbsab + sabsb = 0) of s(a)b, and (iii) the invariance of the Fµν term under s(a)b.
As a side remark, it is interesting to note that the following on-shell (i.e. ✷C = ✷C̄ = 0)
nilpotent (s̃2(a)b = 0) (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (with s̃bs̃ab + s̃abs̃b = 0)
s̃bAµ = ∂µC, s̃bC = 0, s̃bC̄ = −i(∂µA
µ), s̃bFµν = 0,
s̃abAµ = ∂µC̄, s̃abC̄ = 0, s̃abC = +i(∂µA
µ), s̃abFµν = 0,
(2.4)
∗We adopt here the notations and conventions such that the flat Minkowski metric in 4D is ηµν = diag
(+1,−1,−1,−1) so that AµB
µ = ηµνA
µBν = A0B0 − AiBi for two non-null 4-vectors Aµ and Bµ. The
Greek indices µ, ν...... = 0, 1, 2, 3 and Latin indices i, j, k.... = 1, 2, 3 stand for the 4D spacetime and 3D
space directions on the 4D Minkowski spacetime manifold, respectively, and the symbol ✷ = (∂0)
2 − (∂i)
†We follow here the notations and conventions adopted in [27]. In its full blaze of glory, the nilpotent
(anti-)BRST transformations δ(A)B are a product of an anticommuting spacetime independent parameter
η and s(a)b (i.e. δ(A)B = ηs(a)b) where the nilpotency property is encoded in the operators s(a)b.
are the symmetry transformations for the following Lagrangian density
b = −
F µνFµν −
µ)2 − i ∂µC̄ ∂
µC. (2.5)
The above transformations (2.4) and the Lagrangian density (2.5) have been derived from
(2.2) and (2.1) by the substitution B = −(∂µA
µ). An interesting point, connected with the
on-shell nilpotent symmetry transformations, is to express the analogue of (2.3) as ‡
C̄ (∂µA
µ) + i Aµ∂
µC̄], s̃ab
C (∂µA
µ)− i Aµ∂
s̃b s̃ab
(2.6)
It should be noted that, in the above precise computation, one has to take into account
the on-shell (✷C = ✷C̄ = 0) conditions so that, for all practical purposes s̃(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0.
The above nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (i.e. sr, s̃r with r = b, ab)
are connected with the conserved and nilpotent generators (i.e. Qr, Q̃r with r = b, ab).
This statement can be succinctly expressed, in the mathematical form, as
sr Ω = −i [ Ω, Qr ](±), s̃r Ω̃ = −i [ Ω̃, Q̃r ](±), r = b, ab, (2.7)
where the subscripts (with the signatures (±)) on the square bracket stand for the bracket
to be an (anti)commutator, for the generic fields Ω = Aµ, C, C̄, B and Ω̃ = Aµ, C, C̄ (of
the Lagrangian densities (2.1) and (2.5)), being (fermionic)bosonic in nature. The above
charges Qr, Q̃r are found to be anticommuting (i.e. QbQab+QabQb = 0, Q̃bQ̃ab+Q̃abQ̃b = 0)
and off-shell as well as on-shell nilpotent (Q2(a)b = 0, Q̃
(a)b = 0) in nature, respectively.
3 (Anti-)BRST invariance in Abelian theory: superfield formalism
In this section, we exploit the geometrical superfield approach to BRST formalism, endowed
with the theoretical arsenal of the horizontality condition, to express the (anti-)BRST
symmetry transformations and the Lagrangian densities (cf. (2.1) and (2.5)) in terms of
the superfields defined on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. The latter is parametrized
by the spacetime coordinates xµ (with µ = 0, 1, 2, 3) and a pair of Grassmannian variables θ
and θ̄. As a consequence, the generalization of the 4D ordinary exterior derivative d = dxµ∂µ
and the 1-form connection A(1) = dxµAµ(x) on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold, are
d → d̃ = dxµ ∂µ + dθ ∂θ + dθ̄ ∂θ̄, d̃
2 = 0,
A(1) → Ã(1) = dxµ Bµ(x, θ, θ̄) + dθ F̄(x, θ, θ̄) + dθ̄ F(x, θ, θ̄),
(3.1)
where the mapping from the 4D local fields to the superfields are: Aµ(x) → Bµ(x, θ, θ̄),
C(x) → F(x, θ, θ̄) and C̄(x) → F̄(x, θ, θ̄). The super-expansion of the superfields, in terms
‡We lay emphasis on the fact that (2.6) cannot be derived directly from (2.3) by the simple substitution
B = −(∂µA
µ). One has to be judicious to deduce the precise expression for (2.6). The logical reasons
behind the derivation of (2.6) are encoded in the superfield formulation (cf. (3.9) below).
of the basic fields as well as the secondary fields, are (see, e.g., [4-7, 10-12]):
Bµ(x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ(x) + θ R̄µ(x) + θ̄ Rµ(x) + i θ θ̄ Sµ(x),
F(x, θ, θ̄) = C(x) + i θ B̄1(x) + i θ̄ B1(x) + i θ θ̄ s(x),
F̄(x, θ, θ̄) = C̄(x) + i θ B̄2(x) + i θ̄ B2(x) + i θ θ̄ s̄(x).
(3.2)
It can be readily seen that, in the limiting case of (θ, θ̄) → 0, we get back our 4D basic
fields (Aµ, C, C̄). Furthermore, on the r.h.s. of the above super expansion, the bosonic (i.e.
Aµ, Sµ, B1, B̄1, B2, B̄2) and the fermionic (Rµ, R̄µ, C, C̄, s, s̄) fields do match.
At this juncture, we have to recall our observations after equation (2.2). The nilpotent
(anti-)BRST symmetry transformations basically owe their origin to the cohomological
operator d. This is capitalized in the horizontality condition where we impose the restriction
d̃Ã(1) = dA(1) on the super 1-form connection Ã(1) that contains the superfields defined on
the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. The latter condition yields the following relationships
(see, e.g., for details, in our earlier works [21-25]):
B1 = B̄2 = s = s̄ = 0, B̄1 +B2 = 0, (3.3)
where we are free to choose the secondary fields (B2, B̄1) (i.e. B2 = B ⇒ B̄1 = −B) in
terms of the Nakanishi-Lautrup auxiliary field B of the BRST invariant Lagrangian density
(2.1). The other relations, that emerge from the above HC (i.e. d̃Ã(1) = dA(1)), are
Rµ = ∂µC, R̄µ = ∂µC̄, Sµ = ∂µB, ∂µBν − ∂νBµ = ∂µAν − ∂νAµ. (3.4)
At this stage, the super-curvature tensor F̃µν = ∂µBν − ∂νBµ is not equal to the ordinary
curvature tensor Fµν = ∂µAν−∂νAµ as the former contains Grassmannian dependent terms.
The substitution of the above values (cf. (3.3),(3.4)) of the secondary fields, in terms
of the basic and auxiliary fields of the Lagrangian density (2.1), leads to
B(h)µ (x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ + θ ∂µC̄ + θ̄ ∂µC + i θ θ̄ ∂µB,
F (h)(x, θ, θ̄) = C − i θ B, F̄ (h)(x, θ, θ̄) = C̄ + i θ̄ B,
(3.5)
where the superscript (h) has been used to denote that the above expansions have been
obtained after the application of the HC. It can be seen that, due to (3.5), we get
ν − ∂νB
µ = ∂µAν − ∂νAµ, (3.6)
where there is no Grassmannian θ and θ̄ dependence on the l.h.s.
In the language of the geometry on the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold, the expansions
(3.5) imply that the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s(a)b (and their corresponding
generators Q(a)b) for the 4D local fields (cf. (2.7)) are connected with the translational
generators (∂/∂θ, ∂/∂θ̄) because the translation of the corresponding (4, 2)-dimensional
superfields, along the Grassmannian directions of the supermanifold, produces it. Thus,
the Grassmannian independence of the super curvature tensor F̃ (h)µν = ∂µB
ν −∂νB
µ implies
that the 4D curvature tensor Fµν is an (anti-)BRST (i.e. gauge) invariant physical quantity.
In terms of the superfields, equations (2.3) can be expressed as
Limθ→0
−i F̄ (h) { (∂µB(h)µ +
Limθ̄→0
+ iF (h) { (∂µB(h)µ +
Bµ(h)B(h)µ +
F (h) F̄ (h)
(3.7)
These equations are unique because there is no other way to express the above equations in
terms of the derivatives w.r.t. Grassmannian variables θ and θ̄. Thus, besides (2.3), there
is no other possibility to express the gauge-fixing and the Faddeev-Popov ghost terms in
the language of the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (2.2). The
superfield approach to BRST formulation, therefore, establishes the uniqueness of (2.3).
To express (2.6) in terms of the superfields, one has to substitute B = −(∂µA
µ) in (3.5).
Thus, the expansion (3.5), in terms of the transformations (2.4), becomes§
µ(o)(x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ + θ ∂µC̄ + θ̄ ∂µC − i θ θ̄ ∂µ(∂
ρAρ),
≡ Aµ + θ (s̃abAµ) + θ̄ (s̃bAµ) + θ θ̄(s̃bs̃abAµ),
(o) (x, θ, θ̄) = C + i θ (∂µA
µ) ≡ C + θ (s̃abC),
(o) (x, θ, θ̄) = C̄ − i θ̄ (∂µA
µ) ≡ C̄ + θ̄ (s̃bC̄).
(3.8)
We note that (3.5) and (3.8) are the super expansions (after the application of the HC)
which lead to the derivation of the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transforma-
tions s(a)b as well as the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s̃(a)b,
respectively, for the basic fields Aµ, C and C̄ of the theory.
The gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms of the Lagrangian density (2.5) can
also be expressed in terms of the superfields (3.8). In other words, (vis-à-vis (3.7)), we have
the following equations that are the analogue of (2.6), namely;
Limθ→0
(o) (∂
µAµ) + i B
µ(o) ∂
(o) )
Limθ̄→0
(o) (∂
µAµ)− i B
µ(o) ∂
(o) )
(o) B
µ(o) +
(o) F̄
(3.9)
We know that, for all practical computational purposes, it is essential to take into account
s̃(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0 because of the on-shell conditions ✷C = ✷C̄ = 0. The logical reason behind
such a restriction (i.e. s̃(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0) in (2.6) is encoded in the superfield approach to
BRST formalism as can be seen from a close look at (3.9).
The Lagrangian density (2.1) can be expressed, in terms of the (4, 2)-dimensional
superfields, in the following distinct and different forms
B = −
F̃ (h)µν F̃
µν(h) + Limθ→0
−i F̄ (h)(∂µB(h)µ +
, (3.10)
§The on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s̃(a)b can also be obtained by invoking
the (anti-)chiral superfields on the appropriately chosen supermanifolds (see, e.g. [23] for details).
B = −
F̃ (h)µν F̃
µν(h) + Limθ̄→0
+i F (h)(∂µB(h)µ +
, (3.11)
B = −
F̃ (h)µν F̃
µν(h) +
Bµ(h)B(h)µ +
F (h)F̄ (h)
. (3.12)
It would be noted that the kinetic energy term −(1/4)F̃ (h)µν F̃
µν(h) is independent of the
variables θ and θ̄ because F̃ (h)µν = Fµν . In exactly similar fashion, the Lagrangian density of
(2.5) can be expressed, with the help of the super expansion (3.8), as
b = −
µν(o)F̃
µν(h)
(o) + Limθ→0
(o) (∂
µAµ) + i B
µ(o) ∂
(o) )
, (3.13)
b = −
µν(o)F̃
µν(h)
(o) + Limθ̄→0
(o) (∂
µAµ)− i B
µ(0) ∂
(o) )
, (3.14)
b = −
µν(o)F̃
µν(h)
(o) +
(o) B
µ(o) +
(o) F̄
. (3.15)
The form of the Lagrangian densities (e.g. from (3.10) to (3.15)) simplify the proof for the
(anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian densities in (2.1) and (2.5).
In the above forms (e.g. from (3.10) to (3.12)) of the Lagrangian density, the BRST
invariance sbLB = 0 and the anti-BRST invariance sabLB = 0 become very transparent
and simple because the following equalities and mappings exist, namely;
B = 0 ⇒ Limθ→0
B = 0, sb ⇔ Limθ→0
, s2b = 0 ⇔
= 0, (3.16)
B = 0 ⇒ Limθ̄→0
B = 0, sab ⇔ Limθ̄→0
, s2ab = 0 ⇔
= 0. (3.17)
Similarly, the most beautiful relation (3.12), leads to the (anti-)BRST invariance together.
Here one has to use the anticommutativity property sbsab + sabsb = 0 in the language of
the translational generators (i.e. (∂/∂θ̄), (∂/∂θ)) along the Grassmannian directions of the
supermanifold, for its proof. This statement can be mathematically expressed as
s(a)bL
B = 0 ⇒
B = 0, sbsab + sabsb = 0 ⇔
= 0. (3.18)
In exactly similar fashion, the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry invariance (i.e.
s̃(a)bL
b = 0) of the Lagrangian density (2.5) can also be captured in the language of the
superfields if we exploit the expressions (3.13) to (3.15) for the Lagrangian density. In the
latter case, the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST invariance turns out to be like (3.16), (3.17)
and (3.18) with the replacements: s(a)b → s̃(a)b, L
B → L
b , L̃
(1,2,3)
B → L̃
(1,2,3)
Mathematically, the (anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian density (2.1) is captured
in the equations (3.16) to (3.18). In the language of geometry on the (4, 2)-dimensional
supermanifold, the (anti-)BRST invariance corresponds to the Grassmannian independence
of the supersymmetric versions of the Lagrangian density (2.1). In other words, the trans-
lation of the super Lagrangian densities (i.e. (3.10) to (3.12)), along the (θ)θ̄ directions of
the supermanifold, is zero. This observation captures the (anti-)BRST invariance of (2.1).
4 (Anti-)BRST symmetries in non-Abelian theory: Lagrangian approach
We begin with the following BRST-invariant Lagrangian density, in the Feynman gauge,
for the four (3 + 1)-dimensional non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory¶ (see, e.g. [26,27,9])
B = −
F µν · Fµν +B · (∂µA
B · B − i∂µC̄ ·D
µC, (4.1)
where the curvature tensor (Fµν) is defined through the 2-form F
(2)(n) = dA(1)(n)+iA(1)(n)∧
A(1)(n). Here the non-Abelian 1-form gauge connection is A(1)(n) = dxµ(Aµ · T ) and the
exterior derivative is d = dxµ∂µ. The Nakanishi-Lautrup auxiliary field B = B · T is
required for the linearization of the gauge-fixing term and the (anti-)ghost fields (C̄)C are
essential for the proof of the unitarity in the theory. The latter fields are fermionic (i.e.
(Ca)2 = 0, (C̄a)2 = 0, CaCb + CbCa = 0, CaC̄b + C̄bCa = 0, etc.) in nature.
The above Lagrangian density respects the following off-shell nilpotent ((s
2 = 0)
BRST symmetry transformations s
b , namely;
b Aµ = DµC, s
b C = −
(C × C), s
b C̄ = iB,
b B = 0, s
b Fµν = i(Fµν × C).
(4.2)
It will be noted that (i) the curvature tensor Fµν · T transforms here under the BRST
symmetry transformation. However, it can be checked explicitly that the kinetic energy
term −(1/4)Fµν · F
µν remains invariant under the BRST symmetry transformations, (ii)
the nilpotent anti-BRST symmetry transformations corresponding to the above BRST
symmetry transformations (4.2) cannot be defined for the Lagrangian density (4.1), and
(iii) the on-shell nilpotent version of the above BRST symmetry transformations is also
possible if we substitute, in the above symmetry transformations, B = −(∂µA
µ). The
ensuing on-shell (i.e. ∂µD
µC = 0) nilpotent BRST symmetry transformations s̃
b are
b Aµ = DµC, s̃
b C = −
(C × C),
b C̄ = −i(∂µA
µ), s̃
b Fµν = i(Fµν × C).
(4.3)
The above on-shell nilpotent transformations leave the following Lagrangian density
b = −
F µν · Fµν −
µ) · (∂ρA
ρ)− i∂µC̄ ·D
µC, (4.4)
¶For the non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, the notations used in the Lie algebraic space are: A · B =
AaBa, (A ×B)a = fabcAbBc, DµC
a = ∂µC
a + ifabcAbµC
c ≡ ∂µC
a + i(Aµ × C)
a, Fµν = ∂µAν − ∂νAµ +
iAµ×Aν , Aµ = Aµ ·T, [T
a, T b] = fabcT c where the Latin indices a, b, c = 1, 2, 3....N are in the SU(N) Lie
algebraic space. The structure constant fabc can be chosen to be totally antisymmetric for any arbitrary
semi simple Lie algebra that includes SU(N), too (see, e.g., [27]).
quasi-invariant because it transforms to a total derivative.
The gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms of the Lagrangian densities (4.1) and
(4.4) can be written, modulo a total derivative, as a BRST-exact quantity in terms of
the off-shell and on-shell nilpotent BRST symmetry transformations (4.2) and (4.3). This
statement can be mathematically expressed as follows
−i C̄ · {(∂µA
= B · (∂µA
B · B − i ∂µC̄ ·D
µC, (4.5)
C̄ · (∂µA
µ) + i Aµ · ∂
µ) · (∂ρA
ρ)− i ∂µC̄ ·D
µC. (4.6)
It will be noted that one has to take into account s̃
b (∂µA
µ) = ∂µD
µC = 0 in the above
proof of the exactness of the expression in (4.6).
The Lagrangian densities that respect the off-shell nilpotent (i.e. (s
(a)b)
2 = 0) and
anticommuting (s
ab + s
b = 0) (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations are
(1)(n)
b = −
F µν · Fµν +B · (∂µA
(B · B + B̄ · B̄)− i∂µC̄ ·D
µC, (4.7)
(2)(n)
b = −
F µν · Fµν − B̄ · (∂µA
(B · B + B̄ · B̄)− iDµC̄ · ∂
µC. (4.8)
Here auxiliary fields B and B̄ satisfy the Curci-Ferrari condition B+B̄ = −(C×C̄) [28,29].
It is also evident, from this relation, that B ·(∂µA
µ)−i∂µC̄ ·D
µC = −B̄ ·(∂µA
µ)−iDµC̄ ·∂
Furthermore, it should be re-emphasized that the Lagrangian densities (4.1) and (4.4) do
not respect the anti-BRST symmetry transformations of any kind. The BRST and anti-
BRST symmetry transformations, for the above Lagrangian densities, are
b Aµ = DµC, s
b C = −
(C × C), s
b C̄ = iB,
b B = 0, s
b Fµν = i(Fµν × C), s
b B̄ = i(B̄ × C),
(4.9)
ab Aµ = DµC̄, s
ab C̄ = −
(C̄ × C̄), s
ab C = iB̄,
ab B̄ = 0, s
ab Fµν = i(Fµν × C̄), s
ab B = i(B × C̄).
(4.10)
The above off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations leave the Lagrangian
densities (4.7) as well as (4.8) quasi-invariant as they transform to some total derivatives.
The gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms of the Lagrangian densities (4.7) and
(4.8) can be written, in a symmetrical fashion with respect to s
b and s
ab , as
Aµ ·A
µ + C · C̄
= B · (∂µA
(B ·B + B̄ · B̄)− i∂µC̄ ·D
≡ −B̄ · (∂µA
(B · B + B̄ · B̄)− iDµC̄ · ∂
(4.11)
This demonstrates the key fact that the above gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms
are (anti-)BRST invariant together because of the nilpotency and anticommutativity of the
(anti-)BRST symmetry transformations s
(a)b that are present in the theory.
5 (Anti-)BRST invariance in non-Abelian theory: superfield approach
To capture (i) the off-shell as well as the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transfor-
mations, and (ii) the invariance of the Lagrangian densities, in the language of the superfield
approach to BRST formalism, we have to consider the 4D 1-form non-Abelian gauge theory
on a (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold. As a consequence, we have the following mappings:
d → d̃ = dxµ ∂µ + dθ ∂θ + dθ̄ ∂θ̄, d̃
2 = 0,
A(1)(n) → Ã(1)(n) = dxµ(Bµ · T )(x, θ, θ̄) + dθ(F̄ · T )(x, θ, θ̄) + dθ̄(F · T )(x, θ, θ̄),
(5.1)
where the (4, 2)-dimensional superfields (Bµ ·T,F ·T, F̄ ·T ) are the generalizations of the 4D
basic local fields (Aµ ·T, C ·T, C̄ ·T ) of the Lagrangian density (4.1), (4.7) and (4.8). These
superfields can be expanded along the Grassmannian directions of the supermanifold, in
terms of the basic 4D fields, auxiliary fields and secondary fields as [4,16,19]
(Bµ · T )(x, θ, θ̄) = (Aµ · T )(x) + θ (R̄µ · T )(x) + θ̄ (Rµ · T )(x) + i θ θ̄ (Sµ · T )(x),
(F · T )(x, θ, θ̄) = (C · T )(x) + i θ (B̄1 · T )(x) + i θ̄ (B1 · T )(x) + i θ θ̄ (s · T )(x),
(F̄ · T )(x, θ, θ̄) = (C̄ · T )(x) + i θ (B̄2 · T )(x) + i θ̄ (B2 · T )(x) + i θ θ̄ (s̄ · T )(x).
(5.2)
To determine the exact expressions for the secondary fields, in terms of the basic and
auxiliary fields of the theory, we have to exploit the HC. The horizontality condition, for
the non-Abelian gauge theory is the requirement of the equality of the Maurer-Cartan
equation on the (super) manifolds. In other words, the covariant reduction of the super
2-form curvature F̃ (2)(n) to the ordinary 2-form curvature (i.e. d̃Ã(1)(n)+ iÃ(1)(n) ∧ Ã(1)(n) =
dA(1)(n)+ iA(1)(n)∧A(1)(n)) leads to the determination of the secondary fields in terms of the
basic and auxiliary fields of the theory. The ensuing expansions, in terms of the basic and
auxiliary fields, lead to (i) the derivation of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations
for the basic fields of the theory, and (ii) the geometrical interpretations of the nilpotent
(anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (and their corresponding nilpotent generators) for
the basic fields of the theory as the translations of the corresponding superfields along the
Grassmannian directions of the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold (see, e.g., [16,19]).
With the identifications B2 = B and B̄1 = B̄, the following relationships emerge after
the application of the horizontality condition ‖ (see, e.g., [16]):
Rµ = DµC, R̄µ = DµC̄, B + B̄ = −(C × C̄), s = i(B̄ × C),
Sµ = DµB +DµC × C̄ ≡ −DµB̄ −DµC̄ × C,
s̄ = −i(B × C̄), B1 = −
(C × C), B̄2 = −
(C̄ × C̄).
(5.3)
‖In the rest of our present text, we shall be using the short-hand notations for all the fields e.g.:
Aµ · T = Aµ, C · T = C, B · T = B, etc., for the sake of brevity.
The substitution of the above expressions, which are obtained after the application of the
horizontality condition, leads to the following expansions
B(h)µ (x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ + θ DµC̄ + θ̄ DµC + i θ θ̄ (DµB +DµC × C̄),
F (h)(x, θ, θ̄) = C + i θ B̄ −
θ̄ (C × C)− θ θ̄ (B̄ × C),
F̄ (h)(x, θ, θ̄) = C̄ −
θ (C̄ × C̄) + i θ̄ B + θ θ̄ (B × C̄).
(5.4)
The above expansions (see, e.g., our earlier works [16,19]) can be expressed in terms of the
off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (4.9) and (4.10).
With the above expansion at our disposal, the gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov terms
of the Lagrangian density (4.1) can be written, modulo a total ordinary derivative, as
Limθ→0
−iF̄ (h) · ∂µB(h)µ −
F̄ (h) · B
= B · (∂µA
B · B − i ∂µC̄ ·D
µC. (5.5)
Furthermore, it can be seen that, due to the validity and consequences of the horizontality
condition, the super curvature tensor F̃µν has the following form [16,4]
F̃ (h)µν = Fµν + iθ(Fµν × C̄) + iθ̄(Fµν × C)− θ θ̄ (Fµν × B + Fµν × C × C̄). (5.6)
It is clear from the above relationship that the kinetic energy term of the present 4D
non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory remains invariant, namely;
F̃ (h)µν · F̃
µν(h) = −
Fµν · F
µν . (5.7)
The Grassmannian independence of the l.h.s. of (5.7) has deep meaning as far as physics is
concerned. It implies immediately that the kinetic energy term of the non-Abelian gauge
theory is an (anti-)BRST (i.e. gauge) invariant physical quantity.
At this juncture, it is worthwhile to point out that one can also capture the equation
(4.6) in the superfield approach to BRST formalism where the on-shell nilpotent version
of the BRST symmetry transformations (i.e. s̃
b ) plays an important role. For this pur-
pose, we have to express the superfield expansion (5.4) for the on-shell nilpotent BRST
symmetry transformation where one has to exploit the replacement B = −(∂µA
µ). With
this substitution, the equation (5.4) for the superfield expansion becomes
µ(o)(x, θ, θ̄) = Aµ + θ DµC̄ + θ̄ DµC + i θ θ̄ [−Dµ(∂
ρAρ) +DµC × C̄],
(o) (x, θ, θ̄) = C + i θ B̄ −
θ̄ (C × C)− θ θ̄ (B̄ × C),
(o) (x, θ, θ̄) = C̄ −
θ (C̄ × C̄)− i θ̄ (∂µA
µ)− θ θ̄ [(∂µA
µ)× C̄)].
(5.8)
Now, the equation (4.6) can be expressed in terms of the above superfields, as:
Limθ→0
(o) · (∂
µAµ) + i B
µ(o) · ∂
µ) · (∂ρA
ρ)− i ∂µC̄ ·D
(5.9)
Furthermore, it will be noted that the analogue of (5.6), for the on-shell nilpotent BRST
symmetry transformation (i.e. F̃
µν(o)), can be obtained by the replacement B = −(∂µA
Once again, the equality (5.7) would remain intact even if we take into account the on-shell
nilpotent BRST symmetry transformations. Thus, we note that the kinetic energy term
(i.e. (−(1/4)F µν · Fµν = −(1/4)F̃
µν(h)
(o) · F̃
µν(o)) of the non-Abelian gauge theory remains
independent of the Grassmannian variables θ and θ̄ after the application of the HC. This
statement is true for the off-shell as well as the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry
transformations. Physically, it implies that the kinetic energy term for the gauge field of
the non-Abelian theory is an (anti-)BRST (i.e. gauge) invariant quantity.
The above key observation helps in expressing the Lagrangian density (4.1) and (4.4)
in terms of the superfields (obtained after the application of HC), as
B = −
F̃ (h)µν · F̃
µν(h) + Limθ→0
−iF̄ (h) · ∂µB(h)µ −
F̄ (h) · B
b = −
µν(o) · F̃
µν(h)
(o) + Limθ→0
(o) · (∂
µAµ) + i B
µ(o) · ∂
(5.10)
This result, in turn, simplifies the BRST invariance of the above Lagrangian density (4.1)
and (4.4) (describing the 4D 1-form non-Abelian gauge theory) as follows
Limθ→0
B = 0 ⇒ s
B = 0, Limθ→0
b = 0 ⇒ s̃
b = 0. (5.11)
This is a great simplification because the total super Lagrangian densities (5.10) remain
independent of the Grassmannian variable θ̄. This key result is encoded in the mapping
b , s̃
b ) ⇔ Limθ→0(∂/∂θ̄) and the nilpotency (s
2 = 0, (s̃
2 = 0, (∂/∂θ̄)2 = 0.
It can be readily checked that the analogues of (5.5) and (5.9) cannot be expressed as
the derivative w.r.t. the Grassmannian variable θ. To check this, one has to exploit the
super expansions (5.4) and (5.8) obtained after the application of the HC (in the context
of the derivation of the off-shell as well as the on-shell nilpotent BRST symmetry transfor-
mations s
b and s̃
b ). It can be clearly seen that the operation of the derivative w.r.t. the
Grassmannian variable θ, on any combination of the superfields from the expansions (5.4)
and (5.8), does not lead to the derivation of the r.h.s. of (5.5) and (5.9). In the language
of the superfield approach to BRST formalism, this is the reason behind the non-existence
of the anti-BRST symmetry transformations for the Lagrangian densities (4.1) and (4.4).
The form of the gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov terms (4.11), expressed in terms of
the BRST and anti-BRST symmetry transformations together, can be represented in the
language of the superfields (obtained after the application of HC), as
B(h)µ · B
µ(h) + F (h) · F̄ (h)
= B · (∂µA
(B · B + B̄ · B̄)− i∂µC̄ ·D
(5.12)
As a consequence of the above expression, the Lagrangian densities (4.7) (as well as (4.8))
can be presented, in terms of the superfields, as
(1,2)(n)
b = −
F̃ µν(h) · F̃ (h)µν +
B(h)µ · B
µ(h) + F (h) · F̄ (h)
. (5.13)
The BRST and anti-BRST invariance of the above super Lagrangian density (and that of
the ordinary 4D Lagrangian densities (4.7) and (4.8)) is encoded in the following simple
equations that are expressed in terms of the translational generators along the Grassman-
nian directions of the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold, namely;
Limθ→0
(1,2)(n)
b = 0 ⇒ s
(1)(n)
b = 0, Limθ̄→0
(1,2)(n)
b = 0 ⇒ s
(2)(n)
b = 0.
(5.14)
This is a tremendous simplification of the (anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian den-
sities (4.7) and (4.8) in the language of the superfield approach to BRST formalism. In
other words, if one is able to show the Grassmannian independence of the super Lagrangian
densities of the theory, the (anti-)BRST invariance of the 4D theory follows automatically.
In the language of the geometry on the supermanifold, the (anti-)BRST invariance of
a 4D Lagrangian density is equivalent to the statement that the translation of the super
version of the above Lagrangian density, along the Grassmannian directions of the (4, 2)-
dimensional supermanifold, is zero. Thus, the super Lagrangian density of an (anti-)BRST
invariant 4D theory is a Lorentz scalar, constructed with the help of (4, 2)-dimensional
superfields (obtained after the application of HC), such that, when the partial derivatives
w.r.t. the Grassmannian variables (θ and θ̄) operate on it, the result is zero.
The nilpotency and anticommutativity properties (that are associated with the con-
served (anti-)BRST charges and (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations) are found to be
captured very naturally (cf. (3.16)-(3.18)) when we consider the superfield formulation of
the (anti-)BRST invariance of the Lagrangian density of a given 1-form gauge theory. We
mention, in passing, that one could also derive the analogue of the equations (3.16), (3.17)
and (3.18) for the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory in a straightforward manner.
6 Conclusions
In our present investigation, we have concentrated mainly on the (anti-)BRST invariance
of the Lagrangian densities of the free 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories (having no
interaction with matter fields) within the framework of the superfield approach to BRST
formalism. We have been able to provide the geometrical basis for the existence of the
(anti-)BRST invariance in the above 4D theories. To be more specific, we have been able
to show that the Grassmannian independence of the (4, 2)-dimensional super Lagrangian
density, expressed in terms of the appropriate superfields, is a clear-cut proof that there is
an (anti-)BRST invariance (cf. (3.16), (3.17), (3.18), (5.11), (5.14)) in the 4D theory.
If the super Lagrangian density could be expressed as a sum of (i) a Grassmannian
independent term, and (ii) a derivative w.r.t. the Grassmannian variable, then, the cor-
responding 4D Lagrangian density will automatically respect BRST and/or anti-BRST
invariance. In the latter piece of the above super Lagrangian density, the derivative could
be either w.r.t. θ or w.r.t. θ̄ or w.r.t. both of them put together. More specifically,
(i) if the derivative is w.r.t. θ̄, the nilpotent symmetry would correspond to the BRST,
(ii) if the derivative is w.r.t. θ, the nilpotent symmetry would be that of the anti-BRST
type, and (iii) if both the derivatives are present together, both the nilpotent (anti-)BRST
symmetries would be present together (and they would turn out to be anticommuting).
For the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, that are considered on the (4, 2)-
dimensional supermanifold, it is the HC on the 1-form super connection Ã(1) that plays a
very important role in the derivation of the (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations. The
cohomological origin for the above HC lies in the (super) exterior derivatives (d̃)d. This
point has been made quite clear in our discussions after the off-shell as well as the on-shell
nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations (2.2), (2.4), (4.2), (4.3), (4.9) and (4.10).
In fact, it is the full kinetic energy term of the above theories (owing its origin to the
cohomological operator d = dxµ∂µ) that remains invariant under the above on-shell as well
the off-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations.
The HC produces specifically the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for
the gauge and (anti-)ghost fields because of the fact that the super 1-form connection
Ã(1)/Ã(1)(n) (cf. (3.1) and (5.1)) is constructed with a super vector multiplet (Bµ,F , F̄)
which is the generalization of the gauge field Aµ and the (anti-)ghost fields (C̄)C (of the
ordinary 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories) to the (4, 2)-dimensional supermanifold.
As a consequence, only the nilpotent and anticommuting (anti-)BRST symmetry transfor-
mations for the 4D local fields Aµ, C and C̄ are obtained when the full potential of the HC
is exploited within the framework of the above superfield formulation.
It is worthwhile to point out that geometrically the super Lagrangian densities, ex-
pressed in terms of the (4, 2)-dimensional superfields, are equivalent to the sum of the
kinetic energy term and the translations of some composite superfields (obtained after the
application of the HC) along the Grassmannian directions (i.e. θ and/or θ̄) of the (4, 2)-
dimensional supermanifold. This observation is distinctly different from our earlier works
on the superfield approach to 2D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories [24,25,23] which are
found to correspond to the topological field theories. In fact, for the latter theories, the
total super Lagrangian density turns out to be a total derivative w.r.t. the Grassmannian
variables (θ and/or θ̄). That is to say, even the kinetic energy term of the latter theories,
is able to be expressed as the total derivative w.r.t. the variables θ and/or θ̄.
In our present endeavour, within the framework of the superfield approach to BRST
formalism, we have been able to provide (i) the logical reason behind the non-existence of
the anti-BRST symmetry transformations for the Lagrangian densities (4.1) and (4.4) for
the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, (ii) the explicit explanation for the uniqueness
of the equations (2.3) and (2.6) for the 4D Abelian 1-form gauge theory, (iii) the convinc-
ing proof for the on-shell nilpotent (anti-)BRST invariance of the gauge-fixing term (i.e.
s̃(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0, s̃
(a)b(∂µA
µ) = 0) for the (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, and (iv) the
compelling arguments for the non-existence of the exact analogue(s) of (2.3) and (2.6) for
the non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory. To the best of our knowledge, the logical explana-
tions for the above subtle points (connected with the 1-form gauge theories) are completely
new. Thus, the results of our present work are simple, beautiful and original.
It is worthwhile to mention that our superfield construction and its ensuing geometrical
interpretations are not specific to the Feynman gauge (which has been taken into account
in our present endeavor). To corroborate this assertion, we take the simple case of the 4D
Abelian 1-form gauge theory and write the Lagrangian density (2.1) in the arbitrary gauge
(a,ξ)
B = −
F µνFµν + B (∂µA
B2 − i ∂µC̄ ∂
µC, (6.1)
where ξ is the gauge parameter. It is elementary to check that, in the limit ξ → 1, we get
back our Lagrangian density (2.1) for the Abelian theory in the Feynman gauge.
The analogue of the equation (2.3) (for the gauge-fixing and Faddeev-Popov ghost terms
in the case of the arbitrary gauge) can be expressed as
−i C̄ {(∂µA
B}], sab
+i C {(∂µA
sb sab
(6.2)
The above expression can be easily generalized to the analogues of the equations (3.10)—
(3.12) in terms of the superfields by taking the help of (3.8). Thus, the geometrical inter-
pretations remain intact even in the case of the arbitrary gauge.
In a similar fashion, for the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, the equations (4.5),
(4.6) and (4.11) can be generalized to the case of arbitrary gauge and, subsequently, can
be expressed in terms of superfields as the analogues of (5.5), (5.9) and (5.12). Finally,
we can obtain the analogues of (5.7), (5.10) and (5.13) which will lead to the derivation of
the analogues of (5.11) and (5.14). Thus, we note that geometrical interpretations, in the
arbitrary gauge, remain the same for the 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theory within the
framework of our superfield approach to BRST formalism.
Our present work can be generalized to the case of the interacting 4D (non-)Abelian
1-form gauge theories where there exists an explicit coupling between the gauge field and
the matter fields. In fact, our earlier works [14-18] might turn out to be quite handy in
attempting the above problems. It seems to us that it is the combination of the HC and
the restrictions, owing their origin to the (super) covariant derivative on the matter (super)
fields and their intimate connection with the (super) curvatures, that would play a decisive
role in proving the existence of the (anti-)BRST invariance for the above gauge theories.
It is gratifying to state that we have accomplished the above goals in our very recent
endeavours [30-32]. In fact, we have been able to provide the geometrical basis for the
existence of the (anti-)BRST invariance, in the context of the interacting (non-)Abelian
1-form gauge theories with Dirac as well as complex scalar fields, within the framework
of the augmented superfield approach to BRST formalism. As it turns out, here too, the
super Lagrangian density is found to be independent of the Grassmannian variables.
In our earlier works [33-35], we have been able to show the existence of the nilpotent
(anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST symmetry transformations for the 4D free Abelian 2-form
gauge theory. We have also established the quasi-topological nature of it in [35]. In a recent
work [36], the nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations have been captured in the
framework of the superfield formulation. It would be a very nice endeavour to study the
(anti-)BRST and (anti-)co-BRST invariance of the 4D Abelian 2-form gauge theory within
the framework of superfield formulation. At present, this issue and connected problems in
the context of the 4D free Abelian 2-form gauge theory are under intensive investigation
and our results would be reported in our forthcoming future publications [37].
Acknowledgement: Financial support from the Department of Science and Technology
(DST), Government of India, under the SERC project sanction grant No: - SR/S2/HEP-
23/2006, is gratefully acknowledged.
References
[1] J. Thierry-Mieg, J. Math. Phys. 21, 2834 (1980).
[2] J. Thierry-Mieg, Nuovo Cimento A 56, 396 (1980).
[3] M. Quiros, F. J. De Urries, J. Hoyos, M. L. Mazon and E. Rodrigues, J. Math. Phys.
22, 1767 (1981).
[4] L. Bonora and M. Tonin, Phys. Lett. B 98, 48 (1981).
[5] L. Bonora, P. Pasti and M. Tonin M, Nuovo Cimento A 63, 353 (1981).
[6] R. Delbourgo and P. D. Jarvis, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 15, 611 (1981).
[7] R. Delbourgo, P. D. Jarvis and G. Thompson, Phys. Lett. B 109, 25 (1982).
[8] D. S. Hwang and C. -Y. Lee, J. Math. Phys. 38, 30 (1997).
[9] N. Nakanishi and I. Ojima, Covariant Operator Formalism of Gauge Theories and
Quantum Gravity (World Scientific, Singapore, 1990).
[10] R. P. Malik, Phys. Lett. B 584, 210 (2004), hep-th/0311001.
[11] R. P. Malik, Int. J. Geom. Methods Mod. Phys. 1, 467 (2004), hep-th/0403230.
[12] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 37, 5261 (2004), hep-th/031193.
[13] R. P. Malik, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 20, 4899 (2005), hep-th/0402005.
R. P. Malik, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 20, 7285 (2005), hep-th/0402005 (Erratum).
[14] R. P. Malik, Mod. Phys. Lett. A 20, 1667 (2005), hep-th/0402123.
[15] R. P. Malik, Eur. Phys. J. C 45, 513 (2006), hep-th/0506109.
[16] R. P. Malik and B. P. Mandal, Eur. Phys. J. C 47, 219 (2006), hep-th/0512334.
[17] R. P. Malik, Eur. Phys. J. C 47, 227 (2006), hep-th/0507127.
[18] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 39, 10575 (2006), hep-th/0510164.
[19] R. P. Malik, Eur. Phys. J. C 51, 169 (2007), hep-th/0603049.
[20] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 40, 4877 (2007), hep-th/0605213.
[21] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen 33, 2437 (2000), hep-th/9902146.
[22] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 34, 4167 (2001), hep-th/0012085.
[23] R. P. Malik, Ann. Phys. (N. Y.) 307, 01 (2003), hep-th/0205135.
[24] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen 35, 6919 (2002), hep-th/0112260.
[25] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 35, 8817 (2002), hep-th/0204015.
[26] K. Nishijima, Czech. J. Phys. 46, 01 (1996).
[27] S. Weinberg, The Quantum Theory of Fields: Modern Applications Vol. 2 (Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, 1996).
[28] G. Curci and R. Ferrari, Phys. Lett. B 63, 51 (1976).
[29] G. Curci and R. Ferrari, Nuovo Cimento A 32, 151 (1976).
[30] R. P. Malik, Nilpotent symmetry invariance in QED with Dirac fields: superfield for-
malism, arXiv: 0706.4168 [hep-th].
[31] R. P. Malik and B. P. Mandal, Superfield approach to the nilpotent symmetry invariance
in the non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory, arXiv: 0709.2277 [hep-th].
[32] R. P. Malik and B. P. Mandal, Nilpotent symmetry invariance in QED with complex
scalar fields: augmented superfield formalism, arXiv: 0711.2389 [hep-th].
[33] E. Harikumar, R. P. Malik and M. Sivakumar, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 33, 7149 (2000),
hep-th/0004145.
[34] R. P. Malik, Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 19, 5663 (2004), hep-th/0212240.
[35] R. P. Malik, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 36, 5056 (2003), hep-th/0209136.
[36] R. P. Malik, Superfield approach to nilpotent (anti-)BRST symmetries for the free
Abelian 2-form gauge theory, hep-th/0702039.
[37] R. P. Malik, in preparation.
