Covariant field theory for self-dual strings

We give a gauge and manifestly SO(2,2) covariant formulation of the field theory of the self-dual string. The string fields are gauge connections that turn the super-Virasoro generators into covariant derivatives, © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

The quadratic spinor Lagrangian, axial torsion current and generalizations

We show that the Einstein-Hilbert, the Einstein-Palatini, and the Holst actions can be derived from the Quadratic Spinor Lagrangian (QSL), when the three classes of Dirac spinor fields, under Lounesto spinor field classification, are considered. To each one of these classes, there corresponds an unique kind of action for a covariant gravity theory. In other words, it is shown to exist a one-to-one correspondence between the three classes of non-equivalent solutions of the Dirac equation, and Einstein-Hilbert, Einstein-Palatini, and Holst actions. Furthermore, it arises naturally, from Lounesto spinor field classification, that any other class of spinor field-Weyl, Majorana, flagpole, or flag-dipole spinor fields-yields a trivial (zero) QSL, up to a boundary term. To investigate this boundary term, we do not impose any constraint on the Dirac spinor field, and consequently we obtain new terms in the boundary component of the QSL. In the particular case of a teleparallel connection, an axial torsion one-form current density is obtained. New terms are also obtained in the corresponding Hamiltonian formalism. We then discuss how these new terms could shed new light on more general investigations.

ELKO SPINOR FIELDS: LAGRANGIANS FOR GRAVITY DERIVED FROM SUPERGRAVITY

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Covariant multiloop superstring amplitudes

In this article, the multiloop amplitude prescription using the super-Poincare invariant pure spinor formalism for the superstring is reviewed. Unlike the RNS prescription, there is no sum over spin structures and surface terms coming from the boundary of moduli space can be ignored. Massless N-point multiloop amplitudes vanish for N < 4, which implies (with two mild assumptions) the perturbative finiteness of superstring theory. Also, R-4 terms receive no multiloop contributions in agreement with the Type IIB S-duality conjecture of Green and Gutperle. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier SAS on behalf of Academie des sciences.

Covariant quantization of the superstring

After reviewing the Green-Schwarz superstring using the approach of Siegel, the superstring is covariantly quantized by constructing a BRST operator from the fermionic constraints and a bosonic pure spinor ghost variable. Physical massless vertex operators are constructed and, for the first time, N-point tree amplitudes are computed in a manifestly ten-dimensional super-Poincare covariant manner. Quantization can be generalized to curved supergravity backgrounds and the vertex operator for fluctuations around AdS(5) x S-5 is explicitly constructed.

Manifest electromagnetic duality in closed superstring field theory

The free action for massless Ramond-Ramond fields is derived from closed superstring field theory using the techniques of Siegel and Zwiebach. For the uncompactified Type IIB superstring, this gives a manifestly Lorentz-covariant action for a self-dual five-form field strength. Upon compactification to four dimensions, the action depends on a U(1) field strength from 4D N = 2 supergravity. However, unlike the standard Maxwell action, this action is manifestly invariant under the electromagnetic duality transformation which rotates F-mn into epsilon(mnpq)F(pq).

Covariant quantization of the superparticle using pure spinors

The ten-dimensional superparticle is covariantly quantized by constructing a BRST operator from the fermionic Green-Schwarz constraints and a bosonic pure spinor variable. This same method was recently used for covariantly quantizing the superstring, and it is hoped that the simpler case of the superparticle will be useful for those who want to study this quantization method. It is interesting that quantization of the superparticle action closely resembles quantization of the worldline action for Chern-Simons theory.

The Ramond sector of open superstring field theory

Although the equations of motion for the Neveu-Schwarz (NS) and Ramond (R) sectors of open superstring field theory can be covariantly expressed in terms of one NS and one R string field, picture-changing problems prevent the construction of an action involving these two string fields. However, a consistent action can be constructed by dividing the NS and R states into three string fields which are real, chiral and antichiral. The open superstring field theory action includes a WZW-like term for the real field and holomorphic Chern-Simons-like terms for the chiral and antichiral fields. Different versions of the action can be constructed with either manifest d = 8 Lorentz covariance or manifest TV = 1 d = 4 super-Poincaré covariance. The lack of a manifestly d = 10 Lorentz covariant action is related to the self-dual five-form in the type-IIB R-R sector.

Towards covariant quantization of the supermembrane

By replacing ten-dimensional pure spinors with eleven-dimensional pure spinors, the formalism recently developed for covariantly quantizing the d = 10 superparticle and superstring is extended to the d = 11 superparticle and supermembrane. In this formalism, kappa symmetry is replaced by a BRST-like invariance using the nilpotent operator Q = ∮ λ αdα where dα is the worldvolume variable corresponding to the d = 11 spacetime supersymmetric derivative and λα is an SO(10, 1) pure spinor variable satisfying λΓcλ = 0 for c = 1 to 11. Super-Poincaré covariant unintegrated and integrated supermembrane vertex operators are explicitly constructed which are in the cohomology of Q. After double-dimensional reduction of the eleventh dimension, these vertex operators are related to type-IIA superstring vertex operators where Q = QL + QR is the sum of the left and right-moving type-IIA BRST operators and the eleventh component of the pure spinor constraint, λΓ 11λ = 0, replaces the bL 0 - b R 0 constraint of the closed superstring. A conjecture is made for the computation of M-theory scattering amplitudes using these supermembrane vertex operators. © SISSA/ISAS 2002.

Galilean DKP theory and Bose-Einstein condensation

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