Extensions of 2D Gravity

After reviewing some aspects of gravity in two dimensions, it is shown that non-trivial embeddings of sl(2) in a semi-simple (super) Lie algebra give rise to a very large class of extensions of 2D gravity. The induced action is constructed as a gauged WZW model and an exact expression for the effective action is given. (Talk presented at the Journees Relativistes '93, Brussels, April, 1993).Comment: 12 pages (LaTeX, 3 eps figures), LBL-34240, UCB-PTH-93/2

On the Landau-Ginzburg Realization of Topological Gravities

We study the equivariant cohomology of a class of multi-field topological LG models, and find that such systems carry intrinsic information about $W$-gravity. As a result, we can construct the gravitational chiral ring in terms of LG polynomials. We find, in particular, that the spectrum of such theories seems to be richer than so far expected. We also briefly discuss the BRST operator for non-linear topological $W$-gravity.Comment: 26p, harvmac, 4 uuencoded PostScript figure

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.Comment: 32p, LaTeX, CERN-TH.7379/9

Topological Strings from WZW Models

We show that the BRST structure of the topological string is encoded in the ``small'' $N=4$ superconformal algebra, enabling us to obtain, in a non-trivial way, the string theory from hamiltonian reduction of $A(1|1)$. This leads to the important conclusion that not only ordinary string theories, but topological strings as well, can be obtained, or even defined, by hamiltonian reduction from WZW models. Using two different gradations, we find either the standard $N=2$ minimal models coupled to topological gravity, or an embedding of the bosonic string into the topological string. We also comment briefly on the generalization to super Lie algebras $A(n|n)$.Comment: 14p, late

Supersymmetric non-abelian Born-Infeld revisited

We determine the non-abelian Born-Infeld action, including fermions, as it results from the four-point tree-level open superstring scattering amplitudes at order alpha'^2. We find that, after an appropriate field redefinition all terms at this order can be written as a symmetrised trace. We confront this action with the results that follow from kappa-symmetry and conclude that the recently proposed non-abelian kappa-symmetry cannot be extended to cubic orders in the Born-Infeld curvature.Comment: 26 pages, Late

Superspace WZW Models and Black Holes

We show how to write an off-shell action for the $SU(2)\times U(1)$ supersymmetric WZW model in terms of $N=2$ chiral and twisted chiral multiplets. We discuss the $N=4$ supersymmetry of this model and exhibit the $N=4$ superconformal current algebra. Finally, we show that the off-shell formulation makes it possible to perform a duality transformation, which leads to a supersymmetric sigma model on a manifold with a black hole type singularity.Comment: 12 page

A derivation of the BRST operator for non-critical W-strings:Dedicated to Professor F. Cerulus on the occasion of his 65th Birthday

We derive the recently proposed BRST charge for non-critical W strings from a lagrangian approach. The basic observation is that, despite appearances, the combination of two classical "matter" and "Toda" w3 systems leads to a closed modified gauge algebra, which is of the so-called soft type. Based on these observations, a novel way to construct critical w3 strings is given.</p

Strings from N=2N=2 Gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten Models

We present an algebraic approach to string theory. An embedding of $sl(2|1)$ 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 the $N=2$ superconformal algebra. The extension is completely determined by the $sl(2|1)$ 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 of $sl(2|1)$ 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 extended $N=2$ superconformal algebras and all string theories which can be obtained in this way.Comment: 50 pages, LaTe