Gauge invariant discretization of Chern-Simons couplings

Abstract

We discretize Chern-Simons couplings in gauge invariant way. We obtain (p+q)-forms representing Chern-Simons couplings on (p + q)-simplexes from wedge products of p- and q-forms on p- and q-simplexes, respectively, where p- and q-simplexes form (p+q)-simplexes by having a common vertex. We show that the Chern-Simons couplings on simplicial complexes reduce to Chern-Simons couplings on the manifolds in a continuum limit. Moreover, we prove that a typical discretized Chern-Simons term that has the Chern-Simons coupling is gauge invariant.