On the Geometrical Structure of Covariant Anomalies in Yang-Mills Theory

Abstract

Covariant anomalies are studied in terms of the theory of secondary characteristic classes of the universal bundle of Yang-Mills theory. A new set of descent equations is derived which contains the covariant current anomaly and the covariant Schwinger term. The counterterms relating consistent and covariant anomalies are determined. A geometrical realization of the BRS/anti-BRS algebra is presented which is used to understand the relationship between covariant anomalies in different approaches.