The superconformal algebra in higher dimensions (Q1121367): Difference between revisions

It is shown that in higher dimensions (namely, for \(d\geq 7)\) no complex graded Lie algebra \({\mathcal L}\) can act on a complexified super-Minkowski space by infinitesimal automorphisms in such a way that this action extends the natural action of the super-Poincaré algebra \({\mathcal G}\) and that the reduced (`body', in terms of B. S. DeWitt) action of \({\mathcal L}^ 0\) on the Minkowski space extends the ordinary conformal algebra so(2,d) action. The super-Poincaré algebra \({\mathcal G}\) is understood in a somewhat generalized sense; it is constructed starting with the complex spinor representation of the algebra so(d,\({\mathbb{C}})\) for arbitrary \(d\geq 2\) so as to result in the common definition for habitual dimensions \(d=2,3,4,8,9 mod 8.\) Now turning to the graded Lie groups and their homogeneous spaces, one obtains as an immediate `global' corollary of the above `infinitesimal' result, that the most straightforward way of generalizing Manin's description [\textit{Yu. Manin}, Gauge field theory and complex geometry (Springer, 1988) (Russian original, Nauka 1984; Zbl 0576.53002)] of the supersymmetric Yang-Mills equations \((d=4)\) to arbitrary higher dimensions fails. Reviewer's remark. It is not quite clear if a similar result of the `no- go' type takes place in the realm of any other approach to supermanifold theory, e.g. that due to \textit{A. Jadczyk} and \textit{K. Pilch} [Commun. Math. Phys. 78, No.3, 373-390 (1981; Zbl 0464.58006)].