Abstract

A method for the covariant canonical quanitzation of a wide class of gauge theories with reducible first- and second-class constraints which includes the Brink-Schwarz superparticle is obtained. The application to the Brink-Schwarz superparticle is discussed in detail. The canonical Batalin-Fradkin-Vilkovisky construction of the correct Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) operator and the BRST-invariant effective action is presented and shown to agree with the expressions obtained by Kallosh and Bergshoeff using other methods. The correct gauge-fixing procedure to recover the Brink-Schwarz superparticle action is discussed.