arXiv subjects

Olaf Lechtenfeld

Publications and source records attributed to Olaf Lechtenfeld.

210 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

arXiv1997

Path-Integral Quantization of the (2,2) String

A complete treatment of the (2,2) NSR string in flat (2+2) dimensional space-time is given, from the formal path integral over N=2 super Riemann surfaces to the computational recipe for amplitudes at any loop or gauge instanton number. We perform in detail the superconformal gauge fixing, discuss the spectral flow, and analyze the supermoduli space with emphasis on the gauge moduli. Background gauge field configurations in all instanton sectors are constructed. We develop chiral bosonization on punctured higher-genus surfaces in the presence of gauge moduli and instantons. The BRST cohomology is recapitulated, with a new space-time interpretation for picture-changing. We point out two ways of combining left- and right-movers, which lead to different three-point functions.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

N=2 Worldsheet Instantons Yield Cubic Self-Dual Yang-Mills

When the gauge instantons on the N=2 string worldsheet are properly included in the sum over topologies, the breaking of SO(2,2) Lorentz symmetry in R^{2,2} is parametrized by a spacetime twistor containing the string coupling and theta angle. The resulting (tree-level) effective action for the open string is not Yang's but Leznov's cubic action for self-dual Yang-Mills in a light-cone gauge. In the closed case, Plebanski's action for self-dual gravity gets modified analogously. In contrast to the N=1 NSR string, picture-changing is not locally invertible, but produces a semi-infinite tower of massless physical states with ever-increasing spin, perhaps related to harmonic superspace. A truncation yields the two-field action of Chalmers and Siegel.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

Restoring Reality for the Self-Dual N=2 String

It is known that the critical N=(2,2) string describes 2+2 dimensional self-dual gravity in a non-covariant form, since it requires the choice of a complex structure in the target, which leaves only U(1,1) Lorentz symmetry. We briefly review picture-changing and spectral flow and show that the world-sheet Maxwell instantons individually break the Lorentz group further to SU(1,1). However, their contributions conspire to restore full SO(2,2) global symmetry if dilaton and axion fields are assembled in a null anti-self-dual two-form, denying them the status of Lorentz scalars. We present the fully SO(2,2) invariant tree-level three-point amplitude and the corresponding extension of the Plebanski action for self-dual gravity.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

The Self-Dual Critical N=2 String

I review the covariant quantization of the closed fermionic string with (2,2) extended world-sheet supersymmetry on R^{2,2}. Results on n-point scattering amplitudes are presented, for tree- and one-loop world-sheets with arbitrary Maxwell instanton number. I elaborate the connection between Maxwell moduli, spectral flow, and instantons. It is argued that the latter serve to extend the Lorentz symmetry from U(1,1) to SO(2,2) by undoing the choice of spacetime complex structure.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Integration Measure and Spectral Flow in the Critical N=2 String

I present the moduli space of the (2+2)-dimensional critical closed fermionic string with two world-sheet supersymmetries. The integration of fermionic and Maxwell moduli in the presence of punctures yields the string measure for n-point amplitudes at arbitrary genus and instanton number. Generalized picture-changing and spectral-flow operators emerge, connecting different instanton sectors. Tree and loop amplitudes are computed.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

On the BRST Cohomology of N=2 Strings

We analyze the BRST cohomology of the critical N=2 NSR string using chiral bosonization. Picture-changing and spectral flow is made explicit in a holomorphic field basis. The integration of fermionic and U(1) moduli is performed and yields picture- and U(1) ghost number-changing insertions into the string measure for n-point amplitudes at arbitrary genus and U(1) instanton number.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

The String Measure and Spectral Flow of Critical N=2 Strings

The general structure of N=2 moduli space at arbitrary genus and instanton number is investigated. The N=2 NSR string measure is calculated, yielding picture- and U(1) ghost number-changing operator insertions. An explicit formula for the spectral flow operator acting on vertex operators is given, and its effect on N=2 string amplitudes is discussed.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Exact Black-Hole Solution With Self-Interacting Scalar Field

Einstein gravity minimally coupled to a self-interacting scalar field is investigated in the static and isotropic situation. We explicitly construct in partially closed form a new black-hole solution with exponentially decaying scalar hair. The symmetric interaction potential has both signs and a triple-well shape with a smooth but non-analytic minimum at vanishing field. We present numerical data as well as double series expansions around spatial infinity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1994

From N=2 Fermionic Strings to Superstrings?

I review the covariant quantization of the critical $N{=}2$ fermionic string with and without a global ${\bf Z}_2$ twist. The BRST analysis yields massless bosonic and fermionic vertex operators in various ghost and picture number sectors, as well as picture-changers and their inverses, depending on the field basis chosen for bosonization. Two distinct GSO projections exist, one (untwisted) retaining merely the known bosonic scalar and its spectral-flow partner, the other (twisted) yielding two fermions and one boson, on the massless level. The absence of interactions in the latter case rules out standard spacetime supersymmetry. In the untwisted theory, the $U(1,1)$-invariant three-point and vanishing four-point functions are confirmed at tree level. I comment on the $N{=}2$ string field theory, the integration over moduli and the realization of spectral flow.

hep-th↗

arXiv1993

Collective Field Theory for D=0 Matrix Models

I investigate non-perturbative aspects of zero-dimensional matrix models. Subtleties in the large-$N$ limit of the semiclassical picture are pointed out. The tunneling of eigenvalues is seen to correspond to a chaotic sequence of recursion coefficients determining the orthogonal polynomials.

hep-th↗

arXiv1992

Dilaton Gravity and No-Hair Theorem in Two Dimensions

We study a general class of two-dimensional theories of the dilaton-gravity type inspired by string theory and show that they admit charged multiple-horizon black holes. These solutions are proved to satisfy scalar no-hair theorems.

hep-th↗

arXiv1991

Semiclassical Approach to Finite-N Matrix Models

We reformulate the zero-dimensional hermitean one-matrix model as a (nonlocal) collective field theory, for finite~$N$. The Jacobian arising by changing variables from matrix eigenvalues to their density distribution is treated {\it exactly\/}. The semiclassical loop expansion turns out {\it not\/} to coincide with the (topological) ${1\over N}$~expansion, because the classical background has a non-trivial $N$-dependence. We derive a simple integral equation for the classical eigenvalue density, which displays strong non-perturbative behavior around $N\!=\!\infty$. This leads to IR singularities in the large-$N$ expansion, but UV divergencies appear as well, despite remarkable cancellations among the Feynman diagrams. We evaluate the free energy at the two-loop level and discuss its regularization. A simple example serves to illustrate the problems and admits explicit comparison with orthogonal polynomial results.

hep-th↗