
A direct relation between two types of topological field theories, Chern-Simons theory and BF theory, is presented by using ``Generalized Differential Calculus'', which extends an ordinary p-form to an ordered pair of p and (p+1)-form. We first establish the generalized Chern-Weil homomormism for generalized curvature invariant polynomials in general even dimensional manifolds, and then show that BF gauge theory can be obtained from the action which is the generalized second Chern class with gauge group G. Particularly when G is taken as SL(2,C) in four dimensions, general relativity with cosmological constant can be derived by constraining the topological BF theory.
Improved abstract and introduction with 11 references added. Accepted for publication in Physical Review D
High Energy Physics - Theory, High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th), FOS: Physical sciences, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc), Mathematical Physics (math-ph), General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Mathematical Physics
High Energy Physics - Theory, High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th), FOS: Physical sciences, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc), Mathematical Physics (math-ph), General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Mathematical Physics
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