Division algebras and supersymmetry. II (Q1931332)

Deep connections between supersymmetry and the four normed division algebras (real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions) have been studied in [\textit{J. C. Baez} and \textit{J. Huerta}, Proceedings of Symposia in Pure Mathematics 81, 65--80 (2010; Zbl 1210.81117)], where it was shown how an \(n\)-dimensional normed division algebra gives rise to vectors and spinors in \((n+2)\)-dimensional spacetime, thereby yielding the 3-\(\psi\)'s rule. In this paper the authors construct vectors and spinors in \((n+3)\)-dimensional spacetime, thereby yielding the 4-\(\Psi\)'s rule. They show also that the 3-\(\psi\)'s rule and 4-\(\Psi\)'s rule can be interpreted as cocycle conditions. In every dimension, a symmetric bilinear intertwining operator eating two spinors and then splitting out a vector gives rise to a super-Minkowski spacetime. The infinitesimal translation symmetries of this entity constitute a Lie superalgebra called \textit{supertranslation algebra} in [Quantum fields and strings: a course for mathematicians. Vol. 1, 2. Material from the Special Year on Quantum Field Theory held at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ, 1996--1997. Providence, RI: AMS, American Mathematical Society (1999; Zbl 0984.00503)], whose third and fourth cohomologies are respectively nontrivial in dimensions 3, 4, 6 and 10 in deep deference to the 3-\(\psi\)'s rule, and in dimensions 4, 5, 7 and 11 in deep deference to the 4-\(\Psi\)'s rule. It is shown that an \((n+1)\)-cocycle on a Lie superalgebra naturally gives rise to a Lie \(n\)-superalgebra as an extension, thereby obtaining Lie \(2\)-superalgebras and Lie \(3\)-superalgebras as extensions of supertranslation algebras. The final section is devoted to constructing superstring Lie \(2\)-algebras and the \(2\)-brane Lie \(3\)-algebras.