5,991 research outputs found
Lower-dimensional pure-spinor superstrings
We study to what extent it is possible to generalise Berkovits' pure-spinor
construction in d=10 to lower dimensions. Using a suitable definition of a
``pure'' spinor in d=4,6, we propose models analogous to the d=10 pure-spinor
superstring in these dimensions. Similar models in d=2,3 are also briefly
discussed.Comment: 17 page
BFT embedding of the Green-Schwarz superstring and the pure spinor formalism
We worked out the Batalin-Fradkin-Tyutin (BFT) conversion program of second
class constraints to first class constraints in the GS superstring using light
cone coordinates. By applying this systematic procedure we were able to obtain
a gauge system that is equivalent to the recent model proposed by Berkovits and
Marchioro to relate the GS superstring to the pure spinor formalism.Comment: 12 pages latex2e, v2 typos fixed, v3 published in JHE
Towards Pure Spinor Type Covariant Description of Supermembrane -- An Approach from the Double Spinor Formalism --
In a previous work, we have constructed a reparametrization invariant
worldsheet action from which one can derive the super-Poincare covariant pure
spinor formalism for the superstring at the fully quantum level. The main idea
was the doubling of the spinor degrees of freedom in the Green-Schwarz
formulation together with the introduction of a new compensating local
fermionic symmetry. In this paper, we extend this "double spinor" formalism to
the case of the supermembrane in 11 dimensions at the classical level. The
basic scheme works in parallel with the string case and we are able to
construct the closed algebra of first class constraints which governs the
entire dynamics of the system. A notable difference from the string case is
that this algebra is first order reducible and the associated BRST operator
must be constructed accordingly. The remaining problems which need to be solved
for the quantization will also be discussed.Comment: 40 pages, no figure, uses wick.sty; v2: a reference added, published
versio
Pure-spinor superstrings in d=2,4,6
We continue the study of the d=2,4,6 pure-spinor superstring models
introduced in [1]. By explicitly solving the pure-spinor constraint we show
that these theories have vanishing central charge and work out the (covariant)
current algebra for the Lorentz currents. We argue that these super-Poincare
covariant models may be thought of as compactifications of the superstring on
CY_{4,3,2}, and take some steps toward making this precise by constructing a
map to the RNS superstring variables. We also discuss the relation to the so
called hybrid superstrings, which describe the same type of compactifications.Comment: 27 page
Relating Green-Schwarz and Extended Pure Spinor Formalisms by Similarity Transformation
In order to gain deeper understanding of pure-spinor-based formalisms of
superstring, an explicit similarity transformation is constructed which
provides operator mapping between the light-cone Green-Schwarz (LCGS) formalism
and the extended pure spinor (EPS) formalism, a recently proposed
generalization of the Berkovits' formalism in an enlarged space. By applying a
systematic procedure developed in our previous work, we first construct an
analogous mapping in the bosonic string relating the BRST and the light-cone
formulations. This provides sufficient insights and allows us to construct the
desired mapping in the more intricate case of superstring as well. The success
of the construction owes much to the enlarged field space where pure spinor
constraints are removed and to the existence of the ``B-ghost'' in the EPS
formalism.Comment: 37pages, no figur
Origin of Pure Spinor Superstring
The pure spinor formalism for the superstring, initiated by N. Berkovits, is
derived at the fully quantum level starting from a fundamental
reparametrization invariant and super-Poincare invariant worldsheet action. It
is a simple extension of the Green-Schwarz action with doubled spinor degrees
of freedom with a compensating local supersymmetry on top of the conventional
kappa-symmetry. Equivalence to the Green-Schwarz formalism is manifest from the
outset. The use of free fields in the pure spinor formalism is justified from
the first principle. The basic idea works also for the superparticle in 11
dimensions.Comment: 21 pages, no figure; v2: refs. adde
Ghost constraints and the covariant quantization of the superparticle in ten dimensions
We present a modification of the Berkovits superparticle. This is firstly in
order to covariantly quantize the pure spinor ghosts, and secondly to
covariantly calculate matrix elements of a generic operator between two states.
We proceed by lifting the pure spinor ghost constraints and regaining them
through a BRST cohomology. We are then able to perform a BRST quantization of
the system in the usual way, except for some interesting subtleties. Since the
pure spinor constraints are reducible, ghosts for ghosts terms are needed,
which have so far been calculated up to level 4. Even without a completion of
these terms, we are still able to calculate arbitrary matrix elements of a
physical operator between two physical states.Comment: 38 pages, Latex, no figures. Published versio
An Introduction to the Covariant Quantization of Superstrings
We give an introduction to a new approach to the covariant quantization of
superstrings. After a brief review of the classical Green--Schwarz superstring
and Berkovits' approach to its quantization based on pure spinors, we discuss
our covariant formulation without pure spinor constraints. We discuss the
relation between the concept of grading, which we introduced to define vertex
operators, and homological perturbation theory, and we compare our work with
recent work by others. In the appendices, we include some background material
for the Green-Schwarz and Berkovits formulations, in order that this
presentation be self contained.Comment: LaTex, 23 pp. Contribution to the Proceedings of the Workshop in
String Theory, Leuven 2002, some references added and a comment on ref. [16
Non-BPS D-Branes in Light-Cone Green-Schwarz Formalism
Non-BPS D-branes are difficult to describe covariantly in a manifestly
supersymmetric formalism. For definiteness we concentrate on type IIB string
theory in flat background in light-cone Green-Schwarz formalism. We study both
the boundary state and the boundary conformal field theory descriptions of
these D-branes with manifest SO(8) covariance and go through various
consistency checks. We analyze Sen's original construction of non-BPS D-branes
given in terms of an orbifold boundary conformal field theory. We also directly
study the relevant world-sheet theory by deriving the open string boundary
condition from the covariant boundary state. Both these methods give the same
open string spectrum which is consistent with the boundary state, as required
by the world-sheet duality. The boundary condition found in the second method
is given in terms of bi-local fields that are quadratic in Green-Schwarz
fermions. We design a special ``doubling trick'' suitable to handle such
boundary conditions and prescribe rules for computing all possible correlation
functions without boundary insertions. This prescription has been tested by
computing disk one-point functions of several classes of closed string states
and comparing the results with the boundary state computation.Comment: 47 pages, 1 figure. Typos corrected, references added and slight
modification of certain explanation made. Version accepted for publication in
JHE
Non-Critical Pure Spinor Superstrings
We construct non-critical pure spinor superstrings in two, four and six
dimensions. We find explicitly the map between the RNS variables and the pure
spinor ones in the linear dilaton background. The RNS variables map onto a
patch of the pure spinor space and the holomorphic top form on the pure spinor
space is an essential ingredient of the mapping. A basic feature of the map is
the requirement of doubling the superspace, which we analyze in detail. We
study the structure of the non-critical pure spinor space, which is different
from the ten-dimensional one, and its quantum anomalies. We compute the pure
spinor lowest lying BRST cohomology and find an agreement with the RNS spectra.
The analysis is generalized to curved backgrounds and we construct as an
example the non-critical pure spinor type IIA superstring on AdS_4 with RR
4-form flux.Comment: LaTeX2e, 76 pages, no figures, JHEP style; v2: references and
acknowledgments added, typos corrected; v3: typos corrected and minor changes
to match published versio
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