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On Abelian multi-Chern–Simons field theories

Franco Ferrari

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In this paper a class of multi-Chern–Simons field theories which is relevant to the statistical mechanics of polymer systems is investigated. Motivated by the problems which one encounters in the treatment of these theories, a general procedure is presented to eliminate the Chern–Simons fields from their action. In this way it has been possible to derive an expression of the partition function of topologically linked polymers which depends explicitly on the topological numbers and does not have intractable nonlocal terms as it happened in previous approaches. The new formulation of multi-Chern–Simons field theories is then used to remove and clarify some inconsistencies and ambiguities which apparently affect field theoretical models of topologically linked polymers. Finally, the limit of disentangled polymers is discussed.


PACS

11.15.-q Gauge field theories

02.20.-a Group theory

61.41.+e Polymers, elastomers, and plastics

MSC

82D60 Polymers

58J28 Eta-invariants, Chern-Simons invariants

81T45 Topological field theories (See also 57R56, 58Dxx)

Subjects

Soft matter, liquids and polymers

Mathematical physics

Particle physics and field theory

Dates

Issue 18 (9 May 2003)

Received 4 February 2003

Published 23 April 2003



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