The dynamical structure of higher dimensional Chern-Simons theory
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1996
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Elsevier
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Abstract
Higher dimensional Chern-Simons theories, even though constructed along the same topological pattern as in 2 + 1 dimensions, have been shown recently to have generically a non-vanishing number of degrees of freedom. In this paper, we carry out the complete Dirac Hamiltonian analysis (separation of first and second class constraints and calculation of the Dirac bracket) for a group G x U(1). We also study the algebra of surface charges that arise in the presence of boundaries and show that it is isomorphic to the WZW(4) discussed in the literature. Some applications are then considered. It is shown, in particular, that Chem-Simons gravity in dimensions greater than or equal to five has a propagating torsion.
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© 1996 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
M.H. is grateful to LPTHE (Universit6s Paris VI and Paris VII) for kind hospitality. M.B. is partially supported by a grant from Fundación Andes (Chile), grants 1930910-93 and 1960065-94 from FONDECYT (Chile), and by institutional support to the Centro de Estudios Cientfficos de Santiago provided by SAREC (Sweden) and a group of Chilean private companies (EMPRESAS CMPC, CGE, COPEC, MINERA LA ESCONDIDA, NOVAGAS Transportandores de Chile, ENERSIS, BUSINESS DESIGN ASS., XEROX Chile). L.J.G. was supported by funds provided by DGICYT and MEC (Spain) under Contract Adjunct to the Project No. PB94-0107. The work of M.H. is partially supported by research funds from EN.R.S. (Belgium) and a research contract with the Commission of the European Community.