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Critical and non-critical W_{2,4} strings

H. Lu·C. N. Pope·X. J. Wang·S. C. Zhao
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Abstract

Nilpotent BRST operators for higher-spin $W_{2,s}$ strings, with currents of spins 2 and $s$, have recently been constructed for $s=4$, 5 and 6. In the case of $W_{2,4}$, this operator can be understood as being the BRST operator for the critical $W\!B_2$ string. In this paper, we construct a generalised BRST operator that can be associated with a non-critical $W_{2,4}$ string, in which $W\!B_2$ matter is coupled to the $W\!B_2$ gravity of the critical case. We also obtain the complete cohomology of the critical $W_{2,4}$ BRST operator, and investigate the physical spectra of the $s=5$ and $s=6$ string theories.

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H. Lu, C. N. Pope, X. J. Wang, S. C. Zhao. 1993-11-16. Critical and non-critical W_{2,4} strings. https://doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381%2F11%2F4%2F012

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