Eur. Phys. J. C (2011) 71: 1710
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-011-1710-6

Regular Article - Theoretical Physics

BRST analysis of topologically massive gauge theory: novel observations

¹ Physics Department, Centre of Advanced Studies, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, U.P., India
² DST Centre for Interdisciplinary Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India

^* e-mail: raviphynuc@gmail.com

Received: 15 April 2011
Revised: 4 July 2011
Published online: 2 August 2011

Abstract

A dynamical non-Abelian 2-form gauge theory (with B∧F term) is endowed with the “scalar” and “vector” gauge symmetry transformations. In our present endeavor, we exploit the latter gauge symmetry transformations and perform the Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) analysis of the four (3+1)-dimensional (4D) topologically massive non-Abelian 2-form gauge theory. We demonstrate the existence of some novel features that have, hitherto, not been observed in the context of BRST approach to 4D (non-)Abelian 1-form as well as Abelian 2-form and 3-form gauge theories. We comment on the differences between the novel features that emerge in the BRST analysis of the “scalar” and “vector” gauge symmetries.