We establish elements of a new approach to ellipticity and parametrices within operator algebras on manifolds with higher singularities, only based on some general axiomatic requirements on parameter-dependent operators in suitable scales of spaes. The idea is to model an iterative process with new generations of parameter-dependent operator theories, together with new scales of spaces that satisfy analogous requirements as the original ones, now on a corresponding higher level. The "full" calculus involves two separate theories, one near the tip of the corner and another one at the conical exit to infinity. However, concerning the conical exit to infinity, we establish here a new concrete calculus of edge-degenerate operators which can be iterated to higher singularities. / Wir führen einen neuen Zugang ein zu Elliptizität und Parametrices in Operatorenalgebren auf Mannigfaltigkeiten mit höheren Singularitäten, nur basierend auf allgemeinen axiomatischen Voraussetzungen über parameter-abhängige Operatoren in geeigneten Skalen von Räumen. Die Idee besteht darin, ein iteratives Verfahren zu modellieren mit neuen Generationen von parameter-abhängigen Operatortheorien, zusammen mit neuen Skalen von Räumen, die analoge Voraussetzungen erfüllen wie die ursprünglichen Objekte, jetzt auf dem entsprechenden höheren Niveau. Der „volle“ Kalkül besteht aus zwei separaten Theorien, eine nahe der Spitze der Ecke und eine andere am konischen Ausgang nach Unendlich. Allerdings, bezüglich des konischen Ausgangs nach Unendlich, bauen wir hier einen neuen konkreten Kalkül von kanten-entarteten Operatoren auf, der für höhere Singularitäten iteriert werden kann.

We study different aspects of perturbatively renormalized quantum gauge theories in the presence of non-trivial background Lorentzian metrics and background connections. First, we show that the proof of nilpotency of the renormalized interacting BRST charge can be reduced to the cohomological analysis of the classical BRST differential. This result guarantees the self-consistency of a class of local, renormalizable field theories with vanishing 'gauge anomaly'' at the quantum level, such as the pure Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions. Self-consistency here means that the algebra of gauge invariant observables can be constructed as the cohomology of this charge. Second, we give a proof of background independence of the Yang-Mills theory. We define background independent observables in a geometrical formulation as flat sections of a cohomology algebra bundle over the manifold of background configurations, with respect to a flat connection which implements background variations. We observe that background independence at the quantum level is potentially violated. We, however, show that the potential obstructions can be removed by a finite renormalization. Third, we construct the advanced/retarded Green's functions and Hadamard parametrices for linearized Yang-Mills and Einstein equations in general linear covariant gauges. They play an essential role in formulating gauge theories in curved spacetimes. Finally, we study a superconformal gauge theory in three dimensions (the ABJM theory) which is conformally coupled to a curved background. The superconformal symmetry of this theory is described by a conformal symmetry superalgebra on manifolds which admit twistor spinors. By analyzing the relevant cohomology class of an appropriate BV-BRST differential, we show that the full superalgebra is realized at the quantum level.