Cohomological aspects of gauge theories: superfield formalism

Abstract

Some of the key cohomological features of the two $(1+1)$-dimensional (2D) free Abelian- and self-interacting non-Abelian gauge theories (having no interaction with matter fields) are briefly discussed first in the language of symmetry properties of the Lagrangian densities and the same issues are subsequently addressed in the framework of superfield formulation on the four ($2 + 2)$-dimensional supermanifold. Special emphasis is laid on the on-shell- and off-shell nilpotent (co-)BRST symmetries that emerge after the application of (dual) horizontality conditions on the supermanifold. The (anti-)chiral superfields play a very decisive role in the derivation of the on-shell nilpotent symmetries. The study of the present superfield formulation leads to the derivation of some new symmetries for the Lagrangian density and the symmetric energy-momentum tensor. The topological nature of the above theories is captured in the framework of superfield formulation and the geometrical interpretations are provided for some of the topologically interesting quantities.