Spinor algebras

We consider supersymmetry algebras in space–times with arbitrary signature and minimal number of spinor generators. The interrelation between super Poincaré and super conformal algebras is elucidated. Minimal super conformal algebras are seen to have as bosonic part a classical semisimple algebra naturally associated to the spin group. This algebra, the Spin(s,t)-algebra, depends both on the dimension and on the signature of space–time. We also consider maximal super conformal algebras, which are classified by the orthosymplectic algebras.     

All possible generators of supersymmetries of the S-matrix

A generator of a symmetry or supersymmetry of the S-matrix has to have three simple properties (see sect. 2). Starting from these properties one can give a complete analysis of the possible structure of the pseudo Lie algebra of these generators. In a theory with non-vanishing masses one finds that the only extension of previously known relations is the possible appearance of “central charges” as anticommutators of Fermi charges. In the massless case (disregarding infrared problems and symmetry breaking) the Fermi charges may generate the conformal group together with a unitary internal symmetry group.     

On charge conjugation

The group of automorphisms of the conformal algebra su(2, 2) has four components giving the usual four components of symmetries of space time. Only two of these components extend to symmetries of the conformal superalgebra — the identity component and the component which induces the parity transformation,P, on space time. There is no automorphism of the conformal superalgebra which inducesT or PT on space time. Automorphisms of su(2, 2) which belong to these last two components induce transformations on the conformal superalgebra which reverse the sign of the odd brackets. In this sense conformal supersymmetry prefers CP to CPT. The operator of charge conjugation acting on spinors, as is found in the standard texts, induces conformal inversion and hence a parity transformation on space time, when considered as acting on the odd generators of the conformal superalgebra. Although it commutes with Lorentz transformations, it does not commute with all of su(2, 2). We propose a different operator for charge conjugation. Geometrically it is induced by the Hodge star operator acting on twistor space. Under the known realization of conformal states from the inclusion SU(2, 2) Sp(8) and the metaplectic representations, its action on states is induced by the unique (up to phase) antilinear intertwining operator between the two metaplectic representations. It is consistent with the split orthosymplectic algebras and hence, by the inclusion of the superconformal in the orthosymplectic, with the orthosymplectic algebra.     

Superspaces and supersymmetries

A theory of graded Banach modules over a Banach-Grassmann algebra is developed and applied to differential geometry of super-manifolds. The explicit structure of superspaces carrying Poincaré supersymmetry and extended supersymmetry, including central charges, is described.     

Super-gauge transformations on the six-dimensional hypercone

Super-gauge transformations on physical space-time are defined on the projective six-dimensional hypercone. The basic observation which motivates the present approach is that the product of any two super-gauges is a general conformal (+ γ₅) transformation and indeed these latter transformations are simply realized on the six-dimensional hypercone. It turns out that also super-gauge transformations have a natural action on this projective space where the parameters of such transformations are (totally anticommuting) spinors which transform according to the fundamental (eight-dimensional) representation of the spinor group SU (2,2), isomorphic to the conformal group. The enlarged algebra of super-gauges, conformal and chiral transformations and its most relevant representations are discussed in the present formalism.     

Covariant fermionic vertex in superstrings

A covariant fermionic vertex is constructed in terms of Ramond spinors and ghost operators, starting from the Neveu-Schwarz model. Correlation functions of spinors and ghosts are defined. The supersymmetry algebra is realized as the algebra of massless vertices with zero momentum.     

Conformal field algebras with quantum symmetry from the theory of superselection sectors

According to the theory of superselection sectors of Doplicher, Haag, and Roberts, field operators which make transitions between different superselection sectors—i.e. different irreducible representations of the observable algebra—are to be constructed by adjoining localized endomorphisms to the algebra of local observables. We find the relevant endomorphisms of the chiral algebra of observables in the minimal conformal model with central chargec=1/2 (Ising model). We show by explicit and elementary construction how they determine a representation of the braid groupB which is associated with a Temperley-Lieb-Jones algebra. We recover fusion rules, and compute the quantum dimensions of the superselection sectors. We exhibit a field algebra which is quantum group covariant and acts in the Hilbert space of physical states. It obeys local braid relations in an appropriate weak sense.     

N ＝ 4 Superconformal Quantum Mechanics in One Dimension and Its Algebraic Structure

N = 4 superconformal quantum mechanics of nonrelativistic particles in the typical 1/x2-potentials, which holds not only supersymmetry but also dynamical conformal symmetry, is studied. The corresponding superconformal quantum mechanical algebra, which contains supersymmetric quantum mechanical algebra with four supercharges and conformal algebra as subalgebras, and its two canonical group chains are established.     

Supersymmetry and positive temperature for simple systems

It has recently been argued by Girardello et al. that supersymmetry is automatically broken at positive temperature even when unbroken at T = 0, in the sense that the usual derivation of identities from unbroken supersymmetry does not automatically generalize to T > 0. Using as a guide simple examples with one bosonic and one fermionic degree of freedom, we study how supersymmetry reflects itself in the properties of excited states, in particular in the thermal properties at positive temperature. We derive a class of relations [see eq. 1.2)] which extend to all T the familiar consequences of unbroken supersymmetry for ground-state expectation values; these relations hold for unbroken and spontaneously broken supersymmetry. With Levine and Tomozawa we consider the algebra generated by the supercharges. In the case of two supercharges it can be reduced to the Clifford algebra of Pauli spin matrices, for which the eigenstates form irreducible doublets, except that a zero-energy eigenstate may be a singlet. The relations mentioned above are shown to hold for each doublet individually [see eq. (4,7)]. Some additional remarks are made on supersymmetry breaking at zero and positive temperatures.     

Special geometry in hypermultiplets

We give a detailed analysis of pairs of vector and hypermultiplet theories with N = 2 supersymmetry in four space-time dimensions that are related by the (classical) mirror map. The symplectic reparametrizations of the special Kähler space associated with the vector multiplets induce corresponding transformations on the hypermultiplets. We construct the Sp(1) × Sp(n) one-forms in terms of which the hypermultiplet couplings are encoded and exhibit their behaviour under symplectic reparametrizations. Both vector and hypermultiplet theories allow vectorial central charges in the supersymmetry algebra associated with integrals over the Kähler and hyper-Kähler forms, respectively. We show how these charges and the holomorphic BPS mass are related by the mirror map.     

Operator algebras and conformal field theory

We define and study two-dimensional, chiral conformal field theory by the methods of algebraic field theory. We start by characterizing the vacuum sectors of such theories and show that, under very general hypotheses, their algebras of local observables are isomorphic to the unique hyperfinite type III₁ factor. The conformal net determined by the algebras of local observables is proven to satisfy Haag duality. The representation of the Moebius group (and presumably of the entire Virasoro algebra) on the vacuum sector of a conformal field theory is uniquely determined by the Tomita-Takesaki modular operators associated with its vacuum state and its conformal net. We then develop the theory of Moebius covariant representations of a conformal net, using methods of Doplicher, Haag and Roberts. We apply our results to the representation theory of loop groups. Our analysis is motivated by the desire to find a background-independent formulation of conformal field theories.     

q-deformed conformal and Poincaré algebras on quantum 4-spinors

We investigate quantum deformation of conformal algebras by constructing the quantum space forsl _q (4). The differential calculus on the quantum space and the action of the quantum generators are studied. We derive deformedsu(2,2) algebra from the deformedsl(4) algebra using the quantum 4-spinor and its conjugate spinor. The quantum 6-vector inso _q (4,2) is constructed as a tensor product of two sets of 4-spinors. We obtain theq-deformed conformal algebra with the suitable assignment of the generators which satisfy the reality condition. The deformed Poincaré algebra is derived through a contraction procedure.Work partially supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (#030083)     

Gravitational supervertices in n=1, 4D superstrings

The gravitational supermultiplet for target space-time supersymmetry of four-dimensional heterotic strings is obtained. By an explicit construction of supervertex operators it is shown that the underlying superspace geometry corresponds to the “new-minimal” formulation of N = 1, 4D supergravity. The relation between R-symmetry in target space and the U(1) symmetry of the world-sheet N = 2 superconformal algebra is outlined.     

Explicit Construction of Supercharges of Supersymmetric Nonlinear Sigma Models in 1 + 1 Spacetime Dimensions

Considering the N = 1 supersymmetry transformations of supersymmetric nonlinear sigma models in 1 + 1 dimensions we construct explicitly conserved Noether currents associated with supersymmetry transformations and derive the associated conserved charges in terms of the basic fields. We compare this result with superspace calculations. Finally we review the connection between extended supersymmetry and the geometry of the target space and derive an explicit form of the supercharges for extended supersymmetry.     

Branes wrapping black holes

We examine the dynamics of extended branes, carrying lower-dimensional brane charges, wrapping black holes and black hole microstates in M and type II string theory. We show that they have a universal dispersion relation typical of threshold bound states with a total energy equal to the sum of the contributions from the charges. In near-horizon geometries of black holes, these are BPS states, and the dispersion relation follows from supersymmetry as well as properties of the conformal algebra. However they break all supersymmetries of the full asymptotic geometries of black holes and microstates. We comment on a recent proposal which uses these states to explain black hole entropy.