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arXiv · hep-th/9407190

N=4 Topological Strings

Nathan Berkovits·Cumrun Vafa
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Abstract

We show how to make a topological string theory starting from an $N=4$ superconformal theory. The critical dimension for this theory is $\hat c= 2$ ($c=6$). It is shown that superstrings (in both the RNS and GS formulations) and critical $N=2$ strings are special cases of this topological theory. Applications for this new topological theory include: 1) Proving the vanishing to all orders of all scattering amplitudes for the self-dual $N=2$ string with flat background, with the exception of the three-point function and the closed-string partition function; 2) Showing that the topological partition function of the $N=2$ string on the $K3$ background may be interpreted as computing the superpotential in harmonic superspace generated upon compactification of type II superstrings from 10 to 6 dimensions; and 3) Providing a new prescription for calculating superstring amplitudes which appears to be free of total-derivative ambiguities.

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Nathan Berkovits, Cumrun Vafa. 1994-11-16. N=4 Topological Strings. https://doi.org/10.1016/0550-3213(94)00419-f

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