N = 2 string as a topological conformal theory

doi:10.1016/0370-2693(92)90191-6

Physics Letters B

Volume 278, Issue 3, 26 March 1992, Pages 266-270

https://doi.org/10.1016/0370-2693(92)90191-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

We prove that critical and subcritical N = 2 string theory gives a realization of an N = 2 superfield extension of the topological conformal algebra. The essential observation is the vanishing of the background ghost charge.

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Cited by (14)

The even and the odd spectral flows on the N = 2 superconformal algebras
1998, Nuclear Physics B
There are two different spectral flows of the N = 2 superconformal algebras (four in the case of the topological algebra). The usual spectral flow, first considered by Schwimmer and Seiberg, is an even transformation, whereas the spectral flow previously considered by the author and Rosado is an odd transformation. We show that the even spectral flow is generated by the odd spectral flow, and therefore only the latter is fundamental. We also analyze thoroughly the four “topological” spectral flows, writing two of them here for the first time. Whereas the even and the odd spectral flows have quasi-mirrored properties acting on the antiperiodic or the periodic algebras, the topological even and odd spectral flows have drastically different properties acting on the topological algebra. The other two topological spectral flows have mixed even and odd properties. We show that the even and the even-odd topological spectral flows are generated by the odd and the odd-even topological spectral flows, and therefore only the latter are fundamental.
Topological matter, mirror symmetry and non-critical (super)strings
1995, Nuclear Physics, Section B
We study the realization of the (super) conformal topological symmetry in two-dimensional field theories. The mirror automorphism of the topological algebra is represented as a reflection in the space of fields. As a consequence, a double BRST structure for topological matter theories is found. It is shown that the implementation of the topological symmetry in non-critical (super) string theories depends on the matter content of the two realizations connected by the mirror transformation.
Superstrings from Hamiltonian reduction
1995, Nuclear Physics, Section B
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.
N = 4 topological strings
1995, Nuclear Physics, Section B
We show how to make a topological string theory starting from an N = 4 superconformal theory. The critical dimension for this theory is $c ̂ = 2 (c = 6)$ . It is shown that superstrings (in both the RNS and GS formulations) and critical N = 2 strings are special cases of this topological theory. Applications for this new topological theory include: (1) Proving the vanishing to all orders of all scattering amplitudes for the self-dual N = 2 string with flat background, with the exception of the three-point function and the closed-string partition function; (2) Showing that the topological partition function of the N = 2 string on the K3 background may be interpreted as computing the superpotential in harmonic superspace generated upon compactification of type II superstrings from 10 to 6 dimensions; and (3) Providing a new prescription for calculating s uperstring amplitudes which appears to be free of total-derivative ambiguities.
Embeddings for non-critical superstrings
1994, Physics Letters B
It was previously shown that at critical central charge, N-extended superstrings can be embedded in (N+1)-extended superstrings. In other words, (N=0, c=26)→(N=1, c=15)→(N=2, c=6)→(N=3, c=0)→(N=4, c=0). In this paper, we show that similar embeddings are also possible for N-extended superstrings at non-critical central charge. For any x, the embedding is (N=0, c=26+x)→(N=1, c=15+x)→(N=2, c=6+x)→(N=3, c=x)→(N=4, c=x). As was conjectured by Vafa, the (N=2, c=9)→(N=3, c=3) embedding can be used to prove that N=0 topological strings are special vaccua of N=1 topological strings.
Towards the universal theory of strings
1994, Physics Letters B

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²: Department d'Estructura i Constituents de la Matèria, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

³: JSPS Junior Scientist Fellow.

⁴: Also at Department of Physics, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 724, Japan.

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N = 2 string as a topological conformal theory

Abstract

Phys. Lett. B

Nucl. Phys. B

Phys. Rev. D

Nucl. Phys. B

Commun. Math. Phys.

Nucl. Phys. B

Mod. Phys. Lett. A

Phys. Lett. B

Phys. Lett. B

Phys. Lett. B

Nucl. Phys.

Nucl. Phys. B

Phys. Lett. B

Class. Quantum Grav.

Phys. Lett. B

Nucl. Phys. B

Phys. Rev. D

Phys. Rev. D