Skip to main content
Log in

On the algebraic structure ofN=2 string theory

  • Published:
Communications in Mathematical Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

InN=2 string theory the chiral algebra expresses the generations and anti-generations of the theory and the Yukawa couplings among them and is thus crucial to the phenomenological properties of the theory. Also the connection with complex geometry is largely through the algebras. These algebras are systematically investigated in this paper. A solution for the algebras is found in the context of rational conformal field theory based on Lie algebras. A statistical mechanics interpretation for the chiral algebra is given for a large family of theories and is used to derive a rich structure of equivalences among the theories (dihedralities). The Poincaré polynomials are shown to obey a resolution series which cast these in a form which is a sum of complete intersection Poincaré polynomials. It is suggested that the resolution series is the proper tool for studying allN=2 string theories and, in particular, exposing their geometrical nature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gepner, D.: Nucl. Phys.B296, 757 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lectures onN=2 string theory, in The Proceedings of the Trieste Spring School, 3–14 April 1989. Green, M. et al. (eds). Singapore: World Scientific 1990

  3. Gepner, D.: Princeton Univ. preprint, December (1987); Kato, A., Kitazawa, Y.: Nucl. Phys.B319, 474 (1989); Sotkov, G., Stanishkov, M.: Phys. Lett.215B, 674 (1988); Greene, B. R., Lutken, C. A., Ross, G. G.: Nordita preprint 89/8P, HUTP-88/A0602, March (1989); Ross, G. G.: Proceedings of Strings '89. Arnowitt, R. et al. (eds). Singapore: World Scientific 1990

  4. Ademollo, M. et al.: Phys. LettB62, 105 (1976); Nucl. Phys.B111, 77 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jacobson, N.: Basic algebra I. San-Francisco: W. H. Freeman 1974 Chap. 7

    Google Scholar 

  6. Atiyah, M. F., Macdonald, I. G.: Introduction to commutative algebra. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley 1969

    Google Scholar 

  7. Stanley, R. P.: Combinatorics and commutative algebra. Boston: Birkhauser 1983

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gepner, D.: Nucl. Phys.B322, 65 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Duff, M. J., Nilsson, B. E. W., Pope, C. N.: Phys. Lett.129B, 39 (1983); Candelas, P., Horowitz, G., Strominger, A., Witten, E.: Nucl. Phys.B258, 46 (1985); Strominger, A., Witten, E.: Commun. Math. Phys.101, 341 (1985); Strominger, A.: Phys. Rev. Lett.55, 2547 (1985); Candelas, P.: Nucl. Phys.B298, 458 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zamolodchikov, A. B., Fateev, V. A.: Zh. Eksp. Theor. Fiz.90, 1553 (1986); Boucher, W., Friedan, D., Kent, A.: Phys. Lett.B172, 316 (1986); Di Vecchia, P., Petersen, J. L., Yu, M.: Phys. Lett.172B, 211 (1986); Nam, S.: Phys. Lett.172B, 323 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gepner, D.: Phys. Lett.299B, 380 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Bourbaki, N.: Groups and Lie algebras, Chap. V, Sect. 5, no. 3

  13. Stanley, R. P.: Adv. Math.28, 57 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hiller, H.: Geometry of Coxeter groups. London: Pitman Press 1982; Grove, L. C., Benson, C. T.: Finite reflection groups. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1985

    Google Scholar 

  15. Arnold, V. I.: Singularity theory, London Mathematical Lecture Notes series: 53. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1981

    Google Scholar 

  16. Zamolodchikov, A. B.: Sov. J. Nucl. Phys.44, 529 (1987); Kastor, D., Martinec, E., Shenker, S.: EFT preprint 88-31, June (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Martinec, E.: EFT preprint 88-76, November (1988); Greene, B. R., Vafa, C., Warner, N. P.: Harvard preprint, HUTP-88/A047, November (1988); Vafa, C., Warner, N. P.: Harvard preprint, HUTP-88/A037

  18. Zamolodchikov, A. B., Fateev, V. A.: Sov. Phys. JETP62, 215 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gepner, D.: Nucl. Phys.B290 [FS20], 10 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kastor, D., Martinec, E., Qiu, Z.: Phys. Lett.B200, 434 (1988); Bagger J., Nemeshansky, D., Yankielowicz, S.: Phys. Rev. Lett.60, 389 (1988); Douglas, M. R.: Caltech preprint CALT-68-1453 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kazama, Y., Suzuki, H.: University of Tokyo preprint, UT-Komaba 88-8, September (1988)

  22. Gepner, D.: Phys. Lett.B222, 207 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Knizhnik, V., Zamolodchikov, A. B.: Nucl. Phys.B247, 83 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Gepner, D.: Princeton preprint, PUPT-1130, May (1989)

  25. Humphreys: Introduction to Lie algebras and representation theory. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1972

    Google Scholar 

  26. Helgason, S.: Differential geometry, Lie groups and symmetric spaces. New York: Academic Press 1978

    Google Scholar 

  27. Gepner, D., Witten, E.: Nucl. Phys.B278, 493 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kostant, B.: Ann. Math.74, 329 (1961); Garland, H., Lepowsky, J.: Invent. Math.34, 37 (1976); Kumar, S.: J. Differ. Geom.20, 389 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kac, V. G.: Infinite dimensional Lie algebras. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1985

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lerche, W. Vafa, C. Warner, N. P.: Harvard preprint HUTP-88/A065 (1989)

  31. Bott, R.: Ann. Math.66, 203 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Cohen, R.: (to appear)

  33. Stanley, R.: Unimodal sequences arising from Lie algebras, in Young day proceedings, pp. 127–136. Marcel Dekker 1980

  34. Macaulay, F. S.: The algebraic theory of modular systems. Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics and Physics, No. 1. London: Cambridge University Press 1916

    Google Scholar 

  35. Andrews, G. E.: Theory of partitions, Encyclopedia of Mathematics and its Applications, Vol. 2 (1976)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by S.-T. Yau

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gepner, D. On the algebraic structure ofN=2 string theory. Commun.Math. Phys. 142, 433–491 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02099097

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02099097

Keywords

Navigation