Algebraic renormalization perturbative twisted considerations on topological Yang-Mills theory and on N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories

摘要

The aim of these notes is to provide a simple and pedagogical (as much as possible) introduction to what is nowadays commonly called Algebraic Renormalization. As the same itself let it understand, the Algebraic Renormalization gives a systematic set up in order to analyze the quantum extension of a given set of classical symmetries. The framework is purely algebraic, yielding a complete characterization of all possible anomalies and invariant counterterms without making use of any explicit computation of the Feynman diagrams. This goal is achieved by collecting, with the introduction of suitable ghost fields, all the symmetries into a unique operation summarized by a generalized Slavnov-Taylor (or master equation) identity which is the starting point for the quantum analysis. The Slavnov-Taylor identity allows to define a nilpotent operator whose cohomology classes in the space of the integrated local polynomials in the fields and their derivatives with dimensions bounded by power counting give all nontrivial anomalies and counterterms. In other words, the proof of the renormalizability is reduced to the computation of some cohomology classes. (author) 28 refs., 2 figs.