Bv Gauge Theories

Abstract

Using the Non-Abelian Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism introduced recently, we present a generalization of the Yang-Mills gauge transformations , to include antisymmetric tensor fields as gauge bosons. The Freedman-Townsend transformation for the two-form gauge field is automatically recovered. New characteristic classes involving this two-form field and the Yang-Mills one-form field are derived. We also show how to include, in an unified way, a gauge invariant coupling of the new gauge bosons to fermionic and bosonic matter.