The Quantum superstring as a WZNW model

Jul, 2003
27 pages
Published in:
  • Nucl.Phys.B 676 (2004) 43-63
e-Print:
Report number:
  • YITP-SB-03-03,
  • LPTENS-03-24,
  • DAMTP-2003-64

Citations per year

2003200520072009201002468101214
Abstract:
We present a new development in our approach to the covariant quantization of superstrings in 10 dimensions which is based on a gauged WZNW model. To incorporate worldsheet diffeomorphisms we need the quartet of ghosts (b_{zz},c^{z}, \b_{zz}, \g^{z}) for topological gravity. The currents of this combined system form an N=2 superconformal algebra. The model has vanishing central charge and contains two anticommuting BRST charges, Q_{S}=Q_{W} + \oint \g^{z} b_{zz} + \oint \eta_{z} and Q_{V} = \oint c^{z} \Big(T^{W}_{zz} + {1\over 2} T^{top}_{zz}\Big) + \g^{z} (B^{W}_{zz} + {1\over 2} B^{top}_{zz} \Big), where ηz\eta_{z} is obtained by the usual fermionization of \b_{zz}, \g^{z}. Physical states form the cohomology of QS+QVQ_{S}+Q_{V}, have nonnegative grading, and are annihilated by b0b_{0} and β0\beta_{0}. We no longer introduce any ghosts by hand, and the formalism is completely Lorentz covariant.
Note:
  • 26 pages, harmvac; major additions and new results
  • 11.25.-w
  • 11.25.Hf
  • 11.30.Pb
  • string model
  • supersymmetry
  • dimension: 10
  • Wess-Zumino-Witten model
  • gauge field theory
  • quantization
  • invariance: Lorentz