Supersymmetry among free fermions and superstrings

A complete classification is given of all supersymmetric theories of free massless two-dimensional fermions. This, in particular, implies a classification of all free-fermion representations of super Kac-Moody algebras. It is shown that these cannot be used to construct new string theories with unbroken supersymmetry in Minkowski space-time, other than the torus-compactifications of the known ten-dimensional superstrings. Assuming anti-de-Sitter space-time could restore conformal invariance, it is shown how one could construct a string theory whose low-lying excitations form a multiplet of gauged N = 8 supergravity.     

Modular invariance in N=2 superconformal field theories

The modular invariance properties of two-dimensional N=2 superconformal field theories are studied. It is shown that the character formulae of the central charge c<3 unitary highest weight representation for the untwisted algebras can be written in terms of the string functions and the theta functions of the affine su(2) Kac-Moody algebra. Deriving the modular transformation of the characters we construct the modular invariant partition functions on a torus. The character relation corresponding to the coset space construction of the unitary discrete series in the N=2 algebra is also obtained.     

The A-D-E classification of minimal andA 1 (1) conformal invariant theories

We present a detailed and complete proof of our earlier conjecture on the classification of minimal conformal invariant theories. This is based on an exhaustive construction of all modular invariant sesquilinear forms, with positive integral coefficients, in the characters of the Virasoro or of theA ₁ ⁽¹⁾ Kac-Moody algebras, which describe the corresponding partition functions on a torus. A remarkable correspondence emerges with simply laced Lie algebras.     

Level one representations of the simple affine Kac-Moody algebras in their homogeneous gradations

Using the central charge of the Virasoro algebra as a clue, we recall the known constructions of theA, D, E algebras and discuss new Bosonic constructions of the non simply laced affine Kac-Moody algebras: the twistedA, D, E and theB, C, F, andG algebras. These involve interacting Fermions and a generalization of the Frenkel-Kac sign operators which do not form a 2-cocycle when the horizontal algebra has more than one short simple root.     

Free fermion and parafermion theories in two dimensions

We show that the spectrum and the observables of a free massless O(N) parafermion theory of order Q in two dimensions is related to, but not identical with, a free fermion theory with O(N)×O(Q) symmetry. The Virasoro and the O(N) Kac-Moody algebras of these theories are given.     

A superintegrable time-dependent system with kac-moody symmetry

We investigate the Hamiltonian H _KL with a time-dependent potential in N-dimensional space that is a special combination of a Kepler and a harmonic-oscillator potential. The corresponding classical system has an angular-momentum tensor and a time-dependent analog of the Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector, which commute with the “quasi-Hamiltonian” H _c . These quantities are conserved on the orbits of H _KL, and their Poisson brackets yield a realization of twisted or untwisted centerless Kac-Moody algebras of so(N+1). The corresponding quantum-mechanical operators and their commutators yield a representation of the positive subalgebras of the above Kac-Moody algebras.     

Spontaneous symmetry breaking of affine field theory

It is possible to construct non-Abelian field theories by gauging Kac-Moody algebras. Here we discuss the spontaneous symmetry breaking of such theories via the Higgs mechanism. If the Higgs particle lies in the Cartan subalgebra of the Kac-Moody algebra, the previously massless vectors acquire a mass spectrum that is linear in the Kac-Moody index and has additional fine structure depending on the associated Lie algebra.     

C-disorder fields and Γ(2)-invariant partition functions in parafermionic conformal field theories

The character formulae for the C-disorder fields corresponding to the charge conjugation symmetry in the parafermionic conformal field theories of Zamolodchikov and Fateev are obtained. These characters span a unitary representation of the level 2 subgroup Γ(2) of the full modular group. The corresponding Γ(2)-invariant partition functions are calculated. Derivation of the character formula is based on the relation between the parafermionic theories and the twisted N = 2 superconformal algebra. A similar idea is applied to explicitly construct the highest weight modules of the twisted SU(2) Kac-Moody algebra.     

Kac-Moody symmetries of critical ground states

The symmetries of critical ground states of two-dimensional lattice models are investigated. We show how mapping a critical ground state to a model of a rough interface can be used to identify the chiral symmetry algebra of the conformal field theory that describes its scaling limit. This is demonstrated in the case of the six-vertex model, the three-coloring model on the honeycomb lattice, and the four-coloring model on the square lattice. These models are critical and they are described in the continuum by conformal field theories whose symmetry algebras are the su(2)_k=1, su(3)_k=1, and the su(4)_k=1 Kac-Moody algebra, respectively. Our approach is based on the Frenkel-Kac-Segal vertex operator construction of level-one Kac-Moody algebras.     

Comments on mesonic correlators in the worldline formalism

We elaborate on how to incorporate mesonic correlators into the worldline formalism. We consider possible applications to QCD-like theories in various dimensions. We focus on large-Nc two-dimensional QCD (the ?t Hooft model) and relate it to a single harmonic oscillator. We also discuss the dependence of the Peskin S-parameter on the number of massless flavors and their representation and compare our expression to the corresponding expression obtained at weak coupling. Finally, we use the worldline formalism to discuss how the Veneziano limit of QCD is realized in holography in the limit of small Nf/Nc.     

Curiosities at c = 1

We consider conformal field theories on a torus with central charge c = 1, and in particular models based upon modding out string propagation on the SU(2) group manifold by its finite subgroups. We find that the partition functions for these models coincide with the continuum limit partition functions of a recently introduced class of RSOS models, defined in terms of the extended Dynkin diagrams of simply-laced Lie algebras, thus giving an alternative interpretation for the primary fields in these latter theories. Three of the models have no massless moduli and thus do not lie on the same line of critical points with the rest. The particular correspondence between simply-laced Lie algebras and finite subgroups of SU(2) that emerges coincides with that which has already appeared in other mathematical contexts.     

c-Theorem for disordered systems

We find an analog of Zamolodchikov's c-theorem for disordered two-dimensional non-interacting systems in their supersymmetric field theory representation. We show that the energy momentum tensor of such field theories must be a part of a supermultiplet, and that a new parameter b can be introduced with the help of that multiplet. b flows along the renormalization group trajectories much like the central charge for unitary two-dimensional field theories. While it has not been established if this flow is irreversible, that is, if b always flows down to lower values, it does so for all the cases worked out so far. b gives a new way to label different conformal field theories for disordered systems whose central charge is always 0. b turns out to be related to the central extension of a certain algebra, a generalization of the Virasoro algebra, which we show may be present at the critical points of these theories. b is also related to the finite size corrections of the physical free energy of disordered systems. We discuss possible applications by computing b for two-dimensional Dirac fermions with random gauge potential, in other words, for U(1∣1) Kac-Moody algebra.     

4D localization in Randall-Sundrum 2 supergravity and in Vasiliev theories

We discuss the problem of localization of 4D massless states in Randall-Sundrum 2 (one-brane) models. A Randall-Sundrum 2 construction starting from N=8 gauged supergravity in 5D anti-de Sitter space gives rise to an N=4 supergravity-matter system. We explicitly show that only the modes of the N=4 graviton supermultiplet localize on the 4D brane, streamlining and generalizing previous works. We also point out that while charged 1/4 BPS black holes do exist in the 4D theory, they are always produced in sets of total charge zero. This zero-charge configuration uplifts to a 5D metric without naked singularities, thus avoiding the curvature singularity of the 5D uplift of an isolated charged BPS black hole. Finally, we resolve a puzzle with localization of massless high spin fields on a (putative) Randall-Sundrum 2 construction based on Vasiliev?s high spin theories. We show that while high spin fields do localize, the gauge symmetry that ensures decoupling of their unphysical polarizations is anomalous. This implies that the high spin fields must acquire a mass.     

Free fermions and WZW theories on nonsimple groups

We consider conformally and Kac-Moody invariant theories based on the groupsG=G(N)×G(Ñ) whereG(N) is any of the classical groups. For the valuesk=Ñ, \(\tilde k = N\) of the Kac-Moody central charges, the monodromy problem involved in the computation of the four point function for primary fields in the defining representation ofG possesses two distinct solutions. As a consequence, the WZW theory onG (with an additionalU(1) factor ifG(N)=SU (N)) cannot be equivalent to a theory of free fermions.     

Renormalizability and asymptotic freedom in quantum gravity

We discuss a previously proposed renormalizable theory of gravity involving R²_μν, and N massless fermion (vector boson) fields in which the unitarity problem is resolved within a $\text{1}\text{N}$ expansion. The infrared limit is precisely Einstein's theory, but the high-energy behavior is determined by the dimensionless, asymptotically free coupling of the R²_μν. Various attractive possible consequences of the theory are pointed out.     

Central Charge Extended Supersymmetric Structures for Fundamental Fermions Around Non-Abelian Vortices

Fermionic zero modes around non-abelian vortices are shown that they constitute two N = 2, d = 1 supersymmetric quantum mechanics algebras. These two algebras can be combined under certain circumstances to form a central charge extended N = 4 supersymmetric quantum algebra. We thoroughly discuss the implications of the existence of supersymmetric quantum mechanics algebras, in the quantum Hilbert space of the fermionic zero modes.     

Algebraic fermion bosonization

By exploiting the construction of charged field algebras as canonical extensions of CCR current algebras in 1+1 dimensions and nonregular representations of extended algebras, we provide an algebraic construction of local Fermi fields as ultrastrong limits of bosonic variables in all representations which are locally Fock with respect to the ground-state representation of the massless scalar field.     

Towards a quantum field theory of primitive string fields

We denote generating functions of massless even higher-spin fields ??primitive string fields?? (PSF??s). In an introduction we present the necessary definitions and derive propagators and currents of these PDF??s on flat space. Their off-shell cubic interaction can be derived after all off-shell cubic interactions of triplets of higher-spin fields have become known. Then we discuss four-point functions of any quartet of PSF??s. In subsequent sections we exploit the fact that higher-spin field theories in AdS _d+1 are determined by AdS/CFT correspondence from universality classes of critical systems in d-dimensional flat spaces. The O(N) invariant sectors of the O(N) vector models for 1 ?? N ??? play for us the role of ??standard models??, for varying N, they contain, e.g., the Ising model for N = 1 and the spherical model for N = ??. A formula for the masses squared that break gauge symmetry for these O(N) classes is presented for d = 3. For the PSF on AdS space it is shown that it can be derived by lifting the PSF on flat space by a simple kernel which contains the sum over all spins. Finally we use an algorithm to derive all symmetric tensor higher-spin fields. They arise from monomials of scalar fields by derivation and selection of conformal (quasiprimary) fields. Typically one monomial produces a multiplet of spin s conformal higher-spin fields for all s ?? 4, they are distinguished by their anomalous dimensions (in CFT ₃) or by theirmass (in AdS ₄). We sum over these multiplets and the spins to obtain ??string type fields??, one for each such monomial.