Batalin–Vilkovisky formalism


In theoretical physics, the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism was developed as a method for determining the ghost structure for Lagrangian gauge theories, such as gravity and supergravity, whose corresponding Hamiltonian formulation has constraints not related to a Lie algebra. The BV formalism, based on an action that contains both fields and "antifields", can be thought of as a vast generalization of the original BRST formalism for pure Yang-Mills theory to an arbitrary Lagrangian gauge theory. Other names for the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism are field-antifield formalism, Lagrangian BRST formalism, or BV–BRST formalism. It should not be confused with the Batalin-Fradkin-Vilkovisky formalism, which is the Hamiltonian counterpart.

Batalin–Vilkovisky algebras

In mathematics, a Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra is a graded supercommutative algebra with a second-order nilpotent operator Δ of degree −1. More precisely, it satisfies the identities
*
One often also requires normalization:
A Batalin–Vilkovisky algebra becomes a Gerstenhaber algebra if one defines the Gerstenhaber bracket by
Other names for the Gerstenhaber bracket are Buttin bracket, antibracket, or odd Poisson bracket. The antibracket satisfies
The normalized operator is defined as
It is often called the odd Laplacian, in particular in the context of odd Poisson geometry. It "differentiates" the antibracket
The square of the normalized operator is a Hamiltonian vector field with odd Hamiltonian Δ
which is also known as the modular vector field. Assuming normalization Δ=0, the odd Laplacian is just the Δ operator, and the modular vector field vanishes.

Compact formulation in terms of nested commutators

If one introduces the left multiplication operator as
and the supercommutator as
for two arbitrary operators S and T, then the definition of the antibracket may be written compactly as
and the second order condition for Δ may be written compactly as
where it is understood that the pertinent operator acts on the unit element 1. In other words, is a first-order operator, and is a zeroth-order operator.

Master equation

The classical master equation for an even degree element S of a Batalin–Vilkovisky algebra is the equation
The quantum master equation for an even degree element W of a Batalin–Vilkovisky algebra is the equation
or equivalently,
Assuming normalization Δ = 0, the quantum master equation reads

Generalized BV algebras

In the definition of a generalized BV algebra, one drops the second-order assumption for Δ. One may then define an infinite hierarchy of higher brackets of degree −1
The brackets are symmetric
where is a permutation, and is the Koszul sign of the permutation
The brackets constitute a homotopy Lie algebra, also known as an algebra, which satisfies generalized Jacobi identities
The first few brackets are:
In particular, the one-bracket is the odd Laplacian, and the two-bracket is the antibracket up to a sign. The first few generalized Jacobi identities are:
where the Jacobiator for the two-bracket is defined as

BV ''n''-algebras

The Δ operator is by definition of n'th order if and only if the -bracket vanishes. In that case, one speaks of a BV n-algebra. Thus a BV 2-algebra is by definition just a BV algebra. The Jacobiator vanishes within a BV algebra, which means that the antibracket here satisfies the Jacobi identity. A BV 1-algebra that satisfies normalization Δ = 0 is the same as a differential graded algebra with differential Δ. A BV 1-algebra has vanishing antibracket.

Odd Poisson manifold with volume density

Let there be given an supermanifold with an odd Poisson bi-vector and a Berezin volume density, also known as a P-structure and an S-structure, respectively. Let the local coordinates be called. Let the derivatives and
denote the left and right derivative of a function f wrt., respectively. The odd Poisson bi-vector satisfies more precisely
Under change of coordinates the odd Poisson bi-vector
and Berezin volume density transform as
where sdet denotes the superdeterminant, also known as the Berezinian.
Then the odd Poisson bracket is defined as
A Hamiltonian vector field with Hamiltonian f can be defined as
The divergence of a vector field is defined as
Recall that Hamiltonian vector fields are divergencefree in even Poisson geometry because of Liouville's Theorem.
In odd Poisson geometry the corresponding statement does not hold. The odd Laplacian measures the failure of Liouville's Theorem. Up to a sign factor, it is defined as one half the divergence of the corresponding Hamiltonian vector field,
The odd Poisson structure and Berezin volume density are said to be compatible if the modular vector field vanishes. In that case the odd Laplacian is a BV Δ operator with normalization Δ=0. The corresponding BV algebra is the algebra of functions.

Odd symplectic manifold

If the odd Poisson bi-vector is invertible, one has an odd symplectic manifold. In that case, there exists an odd Darboux Theorem. That is, there exist local Darboux coordinates, i.e., coordinates , and momenta, of degree
such that the odd Poisson bracket is on Darboux form
In theoretical physics, the coordinates and momenta are called fields and antifields, and are typically denoted and, respectively.
acts on the vector space of semidensities, and is a globally well-defined operator on the atlas of Darboux neighborhoods. Khudaverdian's operator depends only on the P-structure. It is manifestly nilpotent, and of degree −1. Nevertheless, it is technically not a BV Δ operator as the vector space of semidensities has no multiplication. Given a fixed density, one may construct a nilpotent BV Δ operator as
whose corresponding BV algebra is the algebra of functions, or equivalently, scalars. The odd symplectic structure and density are compatible if and only if Δ is an odd constant.

Examples