Some remarks on the BRST quantization of massive Abelian two-form gauge fields

In this paper we quantize massive Abelian two-form gauge fields in six dimensions following the antifield BRST formalism. The quantization procedure is based on the quantization of a first-class system associated with the original theory. This first-class system is obtained by converting the original second-class constraints into some first-class ones in a way to preserve the reducibility of free Abelian three-form gauge fields. The path integral of the first-class system is identical to the original one in an appropriate gauge-fixing fermion. Finally, it is shown that this first-class system leads to the one derived by Bizdadea and Saliu. copyright 1996 The American Physical Society