On the unitarity of gauged non-compact WZNW strings

DOI10.1016/J.NUCLPHYSB.2007.11.027zbMATH Open1234.81106arXiv0710.1050OpenAlexW2018473782MaRDI QIDQ952328FDOQ952328

Authors: Jonas Björnsson, Stephen Hwang 

Publication date: 12 November 2008

Published in: Nuclear Physics B (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: In this paper we investigate the unitarity of gauged non-compact WZNW strings i.e. string theories formulated as G/H' WZNW models, where G is a non-compact group. These models represent string theories on non-trivial curved space-times with one time-like component. We will prove that for the class of models connected to Hermitian symmetric spaces, and a natural set of discrete highest weight representations, the BRST formulation, in which the gauging is defined through a BRST condition, yields unitarity. Unitarity requires the level times the Dynkin index to be an integer, as well as integer valued highest weights w.r.t. the compact subalgebra. We will also show that the BRST formulation is not equivalent to the conventional GKO coset formulation, defined by imposing a highest weight condition w.r.t. H'. The latter leads to non-unitary physical string states.This is, to our knowledge, the first example of a fundamental difference between the two formulations.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0710.1050

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zbMATH Keywords

Hermitian symmetric spacesCFTnon-compact backgroundsno ghost theoremWZNW-model

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

String and superstring theories; other extended objects (e.g., branes) in quantum field theory (81T30)

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Cited In (7)

• String theory of supertubes
• ON THE UNITARITY OF STRING PROPAGATION ON SU(1,1)
• Gauged non-compact WZNW models, revisited
• On the unitarity of gauged non-compact world-sheet supersymmetric WZNW models
• The BRST formulation of \(G/H\) WZNW models
• Unitarity for the bosonic Nappi-Witten string from BRST view
• Spectral flow and free field realizations of bosonic strings on Nappi -- Witten group manifold

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