On Restricted Weyl Symmetry

Abstract

We discuss the physics of a restricted Weyl symmetry in a curved space-time where a gauge parameter $\Omega(x)$ of Weyl transformation satisfies a constraint $\Box \Omega = 0$. First, we present a model of QED where we have a restricted gauge symmetry in the sense that a $U(1)$ gauge parameter $\theta(x)$ obeys a similar constraint $\Box \theta = 0$ in a flat Minkowski space-time. Next, it is precisely shown that a global scale symmetry must be spontaneously broken at the quantum level. Finally, we discuss the origin of the restricted Weyl symmetry and show that its symmetry can be derived from a full Weyl symmetry by taking a gauge condition $R = 0$ in the BRST formalism.