Gauge-invariant reformulation of theories with second-class constraints (Q809438)

The authors present a reasonably general approach allowing one to construct from a classical dynamical theory with second class constraints (in Dirac's terminology) a new theory with first class constraints (i.e. a gauge-invariant one) so that both theories are physically equivalent. The approach is applicable to many particular systems well known in the literature (but of course does not cover all possible cases). The authors consider some examples of applications (e.g. the chiral Schwinger model). A connection with the L. D. Faddeev-S. L. Shatashvili gauge-invariant reformulation of anomalous gauge theories is pointed out.