No Arabic abstract
This work completes the classification of the cubic vertices for arbitrary spin massless bosons in three dimensions started in a previous companion paper by constructing parity-odd vertices. Similarly to the parity-even case, there is a unique parity-odd vertex for any given triple $s_1geq s_2geq s_3geq 2$ of massless bosons if the triangle inequalities are satisfied ($s_1<s_2+s_3$) and none otherwise. These vertices involve two (three) derivatives for odd (even) values of the sum $s_1+s_2+s_3$. A non-trivial relation between parity-even and parity-odd vertices is found. Similarly to the parity-even case, the scalar and Maxwell matter can couple to higher spins through current couplings with higher derivatives. We comment on possible lessons for 2d CFT. We also derive both parity-even and parity-odd vertices with Chern-Simons fields and comment on the analogous classification in two dimensions.
Parity-even cubic vertices of massless bosons of arbitrary spins in three dimensional Minkowski space are classified in the metric-like formulation. As opposed to higher dimensions, there is at most one vertex for any given triple $s_1,s_2,s_3$ in three dimensions. All the vertices with more than three derivatives are of the type $(s,0,0)$, $(s,1,1)$ and $(s,1,0)$ involving scalar and/or Maxwell fields. All other vertices contain two (three) derivatives, when the sum of the spins is even (odd). Minimal coupling to gravity, $(s,s,2)$, has two derivatives and is universal for all spins (equivalence principle holds). Minimal coupling to Maxwell field, $(s,s,1)$, distinguishes spins $sleq 1$ and $sgeq 2$ as it involves one derivative in the former case and three derivatives in the latter case. Some consequences of this classification are discussed.
The Frenet equation governs the extrinsic geometry of a string in three-dimensional ambient space in terms of the curvature and torsion, which are both scalar functions under string reparameterisations. The description engages a local SO(2) gauge symmetry, which emerges from the invariance of the extrinsic string geometry under local frame rotations around the tangent vector. Here we inquire how to construct the most general SO(2) gauge invariant Hamiltonian of strings, in terms of the curvature and torsion. The construction instructs us to introduce a long-range (self-) interaction between strings, which is mediated by a three dimensional bulk gauge field with a Chern-Simons self-interaction. The results support the proposal that fractional statistics should be prevalent in the case of three dimensional string-like configurations.
Regularization modifies the (odd) behaviour of the Abelian Chern-Simons action under parity. This effect happens for any sensible regularization; in particular, on the lattice. However, as in the chiral symmetry case, there exist generalized parity transformations such that the regularized theory is odd, and the corresponding operator verifies a Ginsparg-Wilson like relation. We present a derivation of such a relation and of the corresponding symmetry transformations.
We study renormalization effects in the Abelian Chern-Simons (CS) action. These effects can be non-trivial when the gauge field is coupled to dynamical matter, since the regularization of the UV divergences in the model forces the introduction of a parity even piece in the gauge field action. This changes the classical (odd) transformation properties of the pure CS action. This effect, already discussed for the case of a lattice regularization by F. Berruto, M.C. Diamantini and P. Sodano in hep-th/0004203, is also present when the theory is defined in the continuum and, indeed, it is a manifestation of a more general `anomalous effect, since it happens for every regularization scheme. We explore the physical consequences of this anomaly. We also show that generalized, nonlocal parity transformations can be defined in such a way that the regularized theory is odd, and that those transformations tend to the usual ones when the cutoff is removed. These generalized transformations play a role that is tantamount to the deformed symmetry corresponding to Ginsparg-Wilson fermions [2] (in an even number of spacetime dimensions).
A generalization of Chern-Simons gauge theory is formulated in any dimension and arbitrary gauge group where gauge fields and gauge parameters are differential forms of any degree. The quaternion algebra structure of this formulation is shown to be equivalent to a three Z(2)-gradings structure, thus clarifying the quaternion role in a previous formulation.