Faddeev-Jackiw Analysis of Topological Mass Generating Action

We analyze the gauge symmetry of a topological mass generating action in four dimensions which contains both a vector and a second rank antisymmetric tensor fields. In the Abelian case, this system induces an effective mass for the vector gauge field via a topological coupling B ∧ F in the presence of a kinetic term for the antisymmetric tensor field B, while maintaining a gauge symmetry. On the other hand, for the non-Abelian case the B field does not have a gauge symmetry unless an auxiliary vector field is introduced to the system. We analyze this change of symmetry in the Faddeev-Jackiw formalism, and show how the auxiliary vector field enhances the symmetry. At the same time this enhanced gauge symmetry becomes reducible. We also show this phenomenon in this analysis. 03.65.Ca, 03.70.+k, 11.10.Ef