Strings fromN=2 gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten models

We present an algebraic approach to string theory. An embedding ofsl(2|1) in a super Lie algebra together with a grading on the Lie algebra determines a nilpotent subalgebra of the super Lie algebra. Chirally gauging this subalgebra in the corresponding Wess-Zumino-Witten model, breaks the affine symmetry of the Wess-Zumino-Witten model to some extension of theN=2 superconformal algebra. The extension is completely determined by thesl(2|1) embedding. The realization of the superconformal algebra is determined by the grading. For a particular choice of grading, one obtains in this way, after twisting, the BRST structure of a string theory. We classify all embeddings ofsl(2|1) into Lie super algebras and give a detailed account of the branching of the adjoint representation. This provides an exhaustive classification and characterization of both all extendedN=2 superconformal algebras and all string theories which can be obtained in this way.     

Extended super-Kač-Moody algebras and their super-derivation algebras

We study theN-extended super-Ka-Moody algebras, i.e. extensions of the Lie algebra of the loop group over the super-circleA _N . The extensions are characterized by 2-cocycles which are computed in terms of the cyclic cohomology of the Grassmann algebra withN generators. The graded algebra of super-derivations compatible with each extension is determined. The casesN=1,2,3 are examined in detail and their relation with the Ademollo et al. superconformal algebras is discussed. We examine the possibility of defining new superconformal algebras which, forN>1, generalize theN=1 Ramond-Neveu-Schwarz algebra.     

Unitary representations of some infinite-dimensional Lie algebras motivated by string theory on AdS3

We consider some unitary representations of infinite-dimensional Lie algebras motivated by string theory on AdS₃. These include examples of two kinds: the A,D,E type affine Lie algebras and the N=4 superconformal algebra. The first presents a new construction for free field representations of affine Lie algebras. The second is of a particular physical interest because it provides some hints that a hybrid of the NSR and GS formulations for string theory on AdS₃ exists.     

Superstrings from Hamiltonian reduction

In any string theory there is a hidden, twisted superconformal symmetry algebra, part of which is made up by the BRST current and the anti-ghost. We investigate how this algebra can be systematically constructed for strings with N − 2 supersymmetries, via quantum Hamiltonian reduction of the Lie superalgebras osp(N|2). The motivation is to understand how one could systematically construct generalized string theories from superalgebras. We also briefly discuss the BRST algebra of the topological string, which is a doubly twisted N = 4 superconformal algebra.     

Fusion rings and geometry

The algebraic structure of fusion rings in rational conformal field theories is analyzed in detail in this paper. A formalism which closely parallels classical tools in the study of the cohomology of homogeneous spaces is developed for fusion rings, in general, and for current algebra theories, in particular. It is shown that fusion rings lead to a natural orthogonal polynomial structure. The rings are expressed through generators and relations. The relations are then derived from some potentials leading to an identification of the fusion rings with deformations of affine varieties. In general, the fusion algebras are mapped to affine varieties which are the locus of the relations. The connection with modular transformations is investigated in this picture. It is explained how chiral algebras, arising inN=2 superconformal field theory, can be derived from fusion rings. In particular, it is argued that theories of the typeSU(N) _k /SU(n–1) are theN=2 counterparts of Grassmann manifolds and that there is a natural identification of the chiral fields with Schubert varieties, which is a graded algebra isomorphism.Supported in part by NSF grant PHY 89-04035 supplemented by funds from NASA     

N = 1 superstring in 2 + 2 dimensions

In this paper we construct a (2,2) dimensional string theory with manifest N = 1 spacetime supersymmetry. We use Berkovits' approach of augmenting the spacetime supercoordinates by the conjugate momenta for the fermionic variables. The worldsheet symmetry algebra is a twisted and truncated “small” N = 4 superconformal algebra. The realisation of the symmetry algebra is reducible with an infinite order of reducibility. We study the physical states of the theory by two different methods. In one of them, we identify a subset of irreducible constraints, which is by itself critical. We construct the BRST operator for the irreducible constraints, and study the cohomology and interactions. This method breaks the SO(2,2) spacetime symmetry of the original reducible theory. In another approach, we study the theory in a fully covariant manner, which involves the introduction of infinitely many ghosts for ghosts.     

Structure constants for the osp(1|2) current algebra

We study the free field realization of the two-dimensional osp(1|2) current algebra. We consider the case in which the level of the affine osp(1|2) symmetry is a positive integer. Using the Coulomb gas technique we obtain integral representations for the conformal blocks of the model. In particular, from the behaviour of the four-point function, we extract the structure constants for the product of two arbitrary primary operators of the theory. From this result we derive the fusion rules of the osp(1|2) conformal field theory and we explore the connections between the osp(1|2) affine symmetry and the N = 1 superconformal field theories.     

The superconformal algebra in higher dimensions

The superconformal algebra for 4/4N-dimensional super-Minkowski space (d=4) can be identified with the simple superalgebra su (2,2/N). For even-dimension d=5,6 the superconformal algebra can be identified with a real form of the simple superalgebras F(4), D(4,1) respectively in Kac's classification. For even-dimension d>-7 it is impossible to define a superconformal algebra satisfying three natural conditions: (1) it acts as infinitesimal automorphisms on super-Minkowski space; (2) this action extends the natural action of the super-Poincaré algebra; (3) when the action of the even part of the superconformal algebra is reduced to an infinitesimal action on ordinary Minkowski space, it extends the natural action of the conformal algebra so (2, d).     

Algebraic structure of topological superconformal field theory on Riemann surfaces

The algebraic structure of a topological superconformal field theory on a compact Riemann surface is investigated. The Krichever-Novikov [K-N] global operator formalism is used to obtain anN=4 super K-N algebra on a Riemann surface. Subsequently thisN=4 algebra is shown to posses anN=3 K-N subalgebra. TheN=3 subalgebra is then twisted to derive a topological version of the Krichever-Novikov algebra with a residualN=2 superconformal structure. The BRST charge of the associated topological field theory on the Riemann surface is shown to be genus dependent in this formalism and the global generalization of the BRST derivative conditions are obtained. The complete BRST structure of the theory is explicitly elucidated.     

Simple WZW superselection sectors

The superselection structure of simple currents of chiral Wess-Zumino-Witten theories, at arbitrary valuek of the corresponding affine Lie algebra, is described in terms of explicit localizable automorphisms of the affine algebra. These automorphisms are induced by certain Dynkin diagram automorphisms; under composition, they form an Abelian group isomorphic to the center of the relevant simply connected simple Lie group and, hence, reproduce the WZW fusion rules.     

Stochastic Evolutions in Superspace and Superconformal Field Theory

Some stochastic evolutions of conformal maps can be described by SLE and may be linked to conformal field theory via stochastic differential equations and singular vectors in highest-weight modules of the Virasoro algebra. Here we discuss how this may be extended to superconformal maps of N=1 superspace with links to superconformal field theory and singular vectors of the N=1 superconformal algebra in the Neveu–Schwarz sector.     

Relative Quantum Field Theory

We highlight the general notion of a relative quantum field theory, which occurs in several contexts. One is in gauge theory based on a compact Lie algebra, rather than a compact Lie group. This is relevant to the maximal superconformal theory in six dimensions.     

On the Lie-Algebraic Origin of Metric 3-Algebras

Since the pioneering work of Bagger–Lambert and Gustavsson, there has been a proliferation of three-dimensional superconformal Chern–Simons theories whose main ingredient is a metric 3-algebra. On the other hand, many of these theories have been shown to allow for a reformulation in terms of standard gauge theory coupled to matter, where the 3-algebra does not appear explicitly. In this paper we reconcile these two sets of results by pointing out the Lie-algebraic origin of some metric 3-algebras, including those which have already appeared in three-dimensional superconformal Chern–Simons theories. More precisely, we show that the real 3-algebras of Cherkis–S?mann, which include the metric Lie 3-algebras as a special case, and the hermitian 3-algebras of Bagger–Lambert can be constructed from pairs consisting of a metric real Lie algebra and a faithful (real or complex, respectively) unitary representation. This construction generalises and we will see how to construct many kinds of metric 3-algebras from pairs consisting of a real metric Lie algebra and a faithful (real, complex or quaternionic) unitary representation. In the real case, these 3-algebras are precisely the Cherkis–S?mann algebras, which are then completely characterised in terms of this data. In the complex and quaternionic cases, they constitute generalisations of the Bagger–Lambert hermitian 3-algebras and anti-Lie triple systems, respectively, which underlie N = 6 and N = 5 superconformal Chern–Simons theories, respectively. In the process we rederive the relation between certain types of complex 3-algebras and metric Lie superalgebras.     

Non-trivial extension of the (1+2)-Poincaré algebra and conformal invariance on the boundary of {\mathrm{AdS}}_3

Using recent results on strings on AdS$_3\times N^d$, where N is a d dimensional compact manifold, we re-examine the derivation of the non-trivial extension of the (1+2)-dimensional-Poincaré algebra obtained by Rausch de Traubenberg and Slupinsky. We show by explicit computation that this new extension is a special kind of fractional supersymmetric algebra which may be derived from the deformation of the conformal structure living on the boundary of AdS. The two so(1,2) Lorentz modules of spin used in building of the generalization of the (1+2) Poincaré algebra are re-interpreted in our analysis as highest weight representations of the left and right Virasoro symmetries on the boundary of AdS. We also complete known results on 2d-fractional supersymmetry by using spectral flow of affine Kac–Moody and superconformal symmetries. Finally we make preliminary comments on the trick of introducing Fth roots of g-modules to generalize the so(1,2) result to higher rank Lie algebras g. Received: 20 July 2000 / Published online: 19 September 2001     

Vertex Operators Arising from the Homogeneous Realization for

We use the underlying Fock space for the homogeneous vertex operator representation of the affine Lie algebra to construct a family of vertex operators. As an application, an irreducible module for an extended affine Lie algebra of type A _{N −1} coordinatized by a quantum torus ℂ _q of 2 variables (or 3 variables) is obtained. Moreover, this module turns out to be a highest weight module which is an analog of the basic module for affine Lie algebras. Received: 16 August 1999 / Accepted: 18 January 2000     

N=2 affine superalgebras and Hamiltonian reduction inN=2 superspace

We constructN=2 affine current algebras for the superalgebrassl(n/n-1)⁽¹⁾ in terms ofN=2 supercurrents subjected to nonlinear constraints and discuss the general procedure of the hamiltonian reduction inN=2 superspace at the classical level. We consider in detail the simplest case ofN=2sl(2/1)⁽¹⁾ and show howN=2 superconformal algebra inN=2 superspace follows via the hamiltonian reduction. Applying the hamiltonian reduction to the case ofN=2sl(3/2)⁽¹⁾, we find two new extendedN=2 superconformal algebras in a manifestly supersymmetricN=2 superfield form. Decoupling of four component currents of dimension 1/2 in them yields, respectively,u(2/1) andu(3) Knizhnik-Bershadsky superconformal algebras. We also discuss how theN=2 superfield formulations ofN=2W ₃ andN=2W ₃ ⁽²⁾ superconformal algebras come out in this framework, as well as some unusual extendedN=2 superconformal algebras containing constrainedN=2 stress tensor and/or spin 0 supercurrents.     

G/H conformal field theory from gauged WZW model

We show that the coset construction for affine algebras ĝ ⊃ ĥ can be realized by coupling a group G WZW model to a gauge field taking values in the Lie algebra h. The partition function of the coset models is computed exactly in terms of the branching functions of ĝ⊃ĥ. Correlation functions may be expressed in terms of those of the G-valued WZW model and of the H_scc/H-valued one, also exactly soluble. The special cases include unitary, superconformal, paramefermionic and other discrete series.     

Superconformal transformations of theN = 2,D = 4, SSYM

We obtain the superconformal transformation laws for theN=2,D=4 SSYM. The transformations involve Yang-Mills fields and the corresponding field strength tensor is not constrained to be self antidual. We explicitly demonstrate the closure of the superconformal algebra.     

Exact generator coordinate wave functions for some simple hamiltonians

We obtain the superconformal transformation laws of theN=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory and explicitly demonstrate the closure of the algebra.     

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.