Irreducible Hamiltonian BRST analysis of Stueckelberg coupled p-form gauge theories

Abstract

The irreducible Hamiltonian BRST symmetry for p-form gauge theories with Stueckelberg coupling is derived. The cornerstone of our approach is represented by the construction of an irreducible theory that is equivalent from the point of view of the BRST formalism with the original system. The equivalence makes permissible the substitution of the BRST quantization of the reducible model by that of the irreducible theory. Our procedure maintains the Lorentz covariance of the irreducible path integral.