Contents

supersymmetry

# Contents

## Idea

Super-conformal field theory in dimension $d = 2$, locally given by a super vertex operator algebra.

For central charge 15 this is the worldsheet theory of the superstring.

May be regarded as a “2-spectral triple” (see there for more), the 2-dimensional generalization of spectral triples describing the quantum mechanics of spinning particles (super-particles).

## References

### General

A basic but detailed exposition focusing on the super-WZW model (and the perspective of 2-spectral triples) is in Fröhlich Gawedzki 93

Other accounts include

A hint for a relation to tmf, vaguely in line with the lift of the Witten genus to the string orientation of tmf:

### Relation to 2-spectral triples

Discussion of 2d SCFTs as a higher analog of spectral triples (“2-spectral triples”, see there for more) is in terms of vertex operator algebras in

and in terms of conformal nets in

### $D=2$ CFT as functorial field theory

Discussion of D=2 conformal field theory as a functorial field theory, namely as a monoidal functor from a 2d conformal cobordism category to Hilbert spaces:

• Graeme Segal, The definition of conformal field theory, in Differential geometrical methods in theoretical physics (Como, 1987), NATO Adv. Sci. Inst. Ser. C Math. Phys. Sci., 250, Kluwer Acad. Publ., Dordrecht, (1988), 165-171

• Graeme Segal, Two-dimensional conformal field theories and modular functors , in Proceedings of the IXth International Congress on Mathematical Physics , Swansea, 1988, Hilger, Bristol (1989) 22-37.

• Graeme Segal, The definition of conformal field theory, preprint, 1988; also in Ulrike Tillmann (ed.) Topology, geometry and quantum field theory , London Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser., Vol. 308. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2004) 421-577. (pdf, pdf)

Tentative suggestions for how to refine this to an extended 2-functorial construction:

A step towards generalization to 2d super-conformal field theory:

### Elliptic genera as super $p$-brane partition functions

The interpretation of elliptic genera (especially the Witten genus) as the partition function of a 2d superconformal field theory (or Landau-Ginzburg model) – and especially of the heterotic string (“H-string”) or type II superstring worldsheet theory – originates with:

Review in:

#### Via super vertex operator algebra

Formulation via super vertex operator algebras:

and for the topologically twisted 2d (2,0)-superconformal QFT (the heterotic string with enhanced supersymmetry) via sheaves of vertex operator algebras in

based on chiral differential operators:

#### Via Dirac-Ramond operators on free loop space

Tentative interpretation as indices of Dirac-Ramond operators as would-be Dirac operators on smooth loop space:

#### Via functorial QFT

Tentative formulation via functorial quantum field theory ((2,1)-dimensional Euclidean field theories and tmf):

#### Via conformal nets

Tentative formulation via conformal nets:

#### Occurrences in string theory

##### H-string elliptic genus

Further on the elliptic genus of the heterotic string being the Witten genus:

The interpretation of equivariant elliptic genera as partition functions of parametrized WZW models in heterotic string theory:

Speculations on physics aspects of lifting the Witten genus to topological modular forms:

##### M5-brane elliptic genus

On the M5-brane elliptic genus:

A 2d SCFT argued to describe the KK-compactification of the M5-brane on a 4-manifold (specifically: a complex surface) originates with

Discussion of the resulting elliptic genus (2d SCFT partition function) originates with:

Further discussion in:

##### M-string elliptic genus

On the elliptic genus of M-strings inside M5-branes:

##### E-string elliptic genus

On the elliptic genus of E-strings as wrapped M5-branes:

• J. A. Minahan, D. Nemeschansky, Cumrun Vafa, N. P. Warner, E-Strings and $N=4$ Topological Yang-Mills Theories, Nucl. Phys. B527 (1998) 581-623 (arXiv:hep-th/9802168)

• Wenhe Cai, Min-xin Huang, Kaiwen Sun, On the Elliptic Genus of Three E-strings and Heterotic Strings, J. High Energ. Phys. 2015, 79 (2015). (arXiv:1411.2801, doi:10.1007/JHEP01(2015)079)

Last revised on February 1, 2021 at 11:20:49. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.