Conformal anomaly from gauge fields without gauge fixing

Abstract

We show how the Weyl anomaly generated by gauge fields, can be computed from manifestly gauge invariant and diffeomorphism invariant exact renormalization group equations, without having to fix the gauge at any stage. Regularisation is provided by covariant higher derivatives and by embedding the Maxwell field into a spontaneously broken $U(1|1)$ supergauge theory. We first provide a realisation that leaves behind two versions of the original $U(1)$ gauge field, and then construct a manifestly $U(1|1)$ supergauge invariant flow equation which leaves behind only the original Maxwell field in the spontaneously broken regime.

24 pages

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Cited by in corpus (6)

• Asymptotic safety of quantum gravity beyond Ricci scalars
• Gauge-invariant fields and flow equations for Yang-Mills theories
• BRST in the Exact RG
• Background independent exact renormalisation
• Properties of a proposed background independent exact renormalization group
• The Conformal Anomaly and a new Exact RG