Related papers: Topological Higher Gauge Theory - from BF to BFCG …

We construct a topological field theory which, on the one hand, generalizes BF theories in that there is non-trivial coupling to `topological matter fields'; and, on the other, generalizes the three-dimensional model of Carlip and Gegenberg…

We study a generalization of a 4-dimensional BF-theory in the context of higher gauge theory. We construct a triangulation independent topological state sum Z, based on the classical 3BF action for a general 3-group and a 4-dimensional…

We provide several examples of higher gauge theories, constructed as generalizations of a BF model to 2BF and 3BF models with constraints. Using the framework of higher category theory, we introduce appropriate 2-groups and 3-groups, and…

We introduce a new class of gauge field theories in any complex dimension, based on algebra-valued (p,q)-forms on complex n-manifolds. These theories are holomorphic analogs of the well-known Chern-Simons and BF topological theories defined…

This thesis is broadly split into two parts. In the first part, simple state sum models for minimally coupled fermion and scalar fields are constructed on a $1$-manifold. The models are independent of the triangulation and give the same…

Recently, a topological field theory of membrane-matter coupled to BF theory in arbitrary spacetime dimensions was proposed [1]. In this paper, we discuss various aspects of the four-dimensional theory. Firstly, we study classical solutions…

A direct relation between two types of topological field theories, Chern-Simons theory and BF theory, is presented by using ``Generalized Differential Calculus'', which extends an ordinary p-form to an ordered pair of p and (p+1)-form. We…

Non-abelian higher gauge theory has recently emerged as a generalization of standard gauge theory to higher dimensional (2-dimensional in the present context) connection forms, and as such, it has been successfully applied to the…

We present a thorough introduction to the tools of category theory required for formulating gauge theories based on 2-connections. We provide a detailed construction of the categorical generalization of BF theory, dubbed BFCG, also known as…

Starting from a Lie group G whose Lie algebra is equipped with an invariant nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form, we show that 4-dimensional BF theory with cosmological term gives rise to a TQFT satisfying a generalization of Atiyah's…

This thesis discusses the topological aspects of quantum gravity, focusing on the connection between 2D quantum gravity and 2D topological gravity. The mathematical background for the discussion is presented in the first two chapters. The…

Higher Derivative (HD) Field Theories can be transformed into second order equivalent theories with a direct particle interpretation. In a simple model involving abelian gauge symmetries we examine the fate of the possible gauge fixings…

We study the path integral quantization of the topological 3BF theory, whose gauge symmetry is described by a 3-group. This theory is relevant for the quantization of general relativity coupled to Standard Model of elementary particles. We…

We consider exactly solvable models in (3+1)d whose ground states are described by topological lattice gauge theories. Using simplicial arguments, we emphasize how the consistency condition of the unitary map performing a local change of…

The YM theory has been generalized to 2YM and 3YM theories. Similarly, we generalize the BFYM theory to "2BFYM" and "3BFYM" theories. Then, we show that these higher BFYM theories can give the formulations of the corresponding higher form…

We construct a generalization of pure lattice gauge theory (LGT) where the role of the gauge group is played by a tensor category. The type of tensor category admissible (spherical, ribbon, symmetric) depends on the dimension of the…

In this paper we discuss topological BF theories in 3 and 4 dimensions. Observables are associated to ordinary knots and links (in 3 dimensions) and to 2-knots (in 4 dimensions). The vacuum expectation values of such observables give a wide…

We describe a new BF-type first-order in derivatives Lagrangian for General Relativity. The Lagrangian depends on a connection field as well as a Lie-algebra valued two-form field, with no other fields present. There are two free…

We study topologically massive (B \wedge F) Abelian and non-Abelian gauge theories in four dimensions, and reduce them to three dimensions by assuming that the fields do not propagate in one of the spatial directions. For certain gauge…

We consider a deformation of three dimensional BF theory by means of the antifield BRST formalism. Possible deformations for the action and the gauge symmetries are analyzed. We find a new class of gauge theories which include nonabelian BF…