Comments on the dual-BRST symmetry

Abstract

In view of a raging controversy on the topic of dual-Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (dual-BRST/co-BRST) and anti-co-BRST symmetry transformations in the context of four (3+1)-dimensional (4D) Abelian 2-form and 2D (non-)Abelian 1-form gauge theories, we attempt, in our present short note, to settle the dust by taking the help of mathematics of differential geometry, connected with the Hodge theory, which was the original motivation for the nomenclature of "dual-BRST symmetry" in our earlier set of works. It has been claimed, in a recent set of papers, that the co-BRST symmetries are not independent of the BRST symmetries. We show that the BRST and co-BRST symmetries are independent symmetries in the same fashion as the exterior and co-exterior derivatives are independent entities belonging to the set of de Rham cohomological operators of differential geometry.

LaTeX file, 6 pages, journal version

References in corpus (3)

• A field-theoretic model for Hodge theory
• New forms of BRST symmetry in rigid rotor
• Various forms of BRST symmetry in Abelian 2-form gauge theory

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Modified 2D Proca Theory: Revisited Under BRST and (Anti-)Chiral Superfield Formalisms
• Dual-BRST symmetry: 6D Abelian 3-form gauge theory
• Nilpotent Symmetries of a 4D Model of the Hodge Theory: Augmented (Anti-)Chiral Superfield Formalism
• A Free N = 2 Supersymmetric System: Novel Symmetries
• A Quantum Mechanical Example for Hodge Theory
• Novel Symmetries in Vector Schwinger Model