Gauge Symmetries and Renormalization

Abstract

We study the perturbative renormalization of quantum gauge theories in the Hopf algebra setup of Connes and Kreimer. It was shown by van Suijlekom (Commun Math Phys 276:773–798, 2007) that the quantum counterparts of gauge symmetries—the so-called Ward–Takahashi and Slavnov–Taylor identities—correspond to Hopf ideals in the respective renormalization Hopf algebra. We generalize this correspondence to super- and non-renormalizable Quantum Field Theories, extend it to theories with multiple coupling constants and add a discussion on transversality. In particular, this allows us to apply our results to (effective) Quantum General Relativity, possibly coupled to matter from the Standard Model, as was suggested by Kreimer (Ann Phys 323:49–60, 2008). To this end, we introduce different gradings on the renormalization Hopf algebra and study combinatorial properties of the superficial degree of divergence. Then we generalize known coproduct and antipode identities to the super- and non-renormalizable cases and to theories with multiple vertex residues. Building upon our main result, we provide criteria for the compatibility of these Hopf ideals with the corresponding renormalized Feynman rules. A direct consequence of our findings is the well-definedness of the Corolla polynomial for Quantum Yang–Mills theory without reference to a particular renormalization scheme.