An introduction to the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism
Abstract
The aim of these notes is to introduce the quantum master equation \S,S\-2i S=0, and to show its relations to the theory of Lie algebras representations and to perturbative expansions of Gaussian integrals. The relations of the classical master equation \S,S\=0 with the BRST formalisms are also described. Being an introduction, only finite-dimensional examples will be considered.
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