Two-dimensional twisted sigma models and the theory of chiral differential operators

DOI10.4310/ATMP.2006.V10.N6.A1MaRDI QIDQ996116zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Meng-Chwan Tan

Publication date 11 September 2007

Published in Advances in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0604179

zbMATH Keywords

chiral algebrachiral differential operatorelliptic genusheterotic sigma modelnon-Kähler manifoldsupersymmetry

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Calabi-Yau manifolds (algebro-geometric aspects) (14J32) Complex manifolds (32Q99) Other complex differential geometry (53C56) Groups and algebras in quantum theory and relations with integrable systems (81R12) Spinor and twistor methods applied to problems in quantum theory (81R25) Model quantum field theories (81T10) Two-dimensional field theories, conformal field theories, etc. in quantum mechanics (81T40) Anomalies in quantum field theory (81T50) Supersymmetric field theories in quantum mechanics (81T60)

Abstract: In this paper, we study the perturbative aspects of a twisted version of the two-dimensional $(0,2)$ heterotic sigma model on a holomorphic gauge bundle $mathcalE$ over a complex, hermitian manifold $X$. We show that the model can be naturally described in terms of the mathematical theory of ``Chiral Differential Operators". In particular, the physical anomalies of the sigma model can be reinterpreted in terms of an obstruction to a global definition of the associated sheaf of vertex superalgebras derived from the free conformal field theory describing the model locally on $X$. One can also obtain a novel understanding of the sigma model one-loop beta function solely in terms of holomorphic data. At the $(2,2)$ locus, where the obstruction vanishes for $itany$ smooth manifold $X$, we obtain a purely mathematical description of the half-twisted variant of the topological A-model and (if $c_1(X)=0$) its elliptic genus. By studying the half-twisted $(2,2)$ model on $X=mathbb{CP}^1$, one can show that a subset of the infinite-dimensional space of physical operators generates an underlying super-affine Lie algebra. Furthermore, on a non-K"ahler, parallelised, group manifold with torsion, we uncover a direct relationship between the modulus of the corresponding sheaves of chiral de Rham complex, and the level of the underlying WZW theory.

Review text

Twisted version of the two-dimensional \((0,2)\) heterotic sigma model on a rank \(r\) holomorphic bundle \({\mathcal E}\) over a complex, Hermitian manifold \(X\) is studied describing the model in terms of the mathematical theory of ``Chiral Differential Operators. Such argument was presented in [\textit{E. Witten}, Two-dimensional models with \((0,2)\) supersymmetry: perturbative aspects, Adv. Theor. Math. Phys. 11, No. 1, 1--63 (2007; Zbl 1200.17014)], and the author says this paper consider a generalization of the model considered by Witten. Let \(\Sigma\) be a Riemann surface (worldsheet), \(K\), \(\overline K\) the canonical and anti-canonical bundles and let \(\Phi: \Sigma\to X\) be the map governs the model. Then the left and right moving Fermi fields \(\lambda^a\), \(\lambda_a\), \(\psi^i\), \(\psi^{\overline i}\) and auxiliary scalar fields \(l^a\), \(k_a\) of the twisted model are the sections of \(K^{(1-s)}\otimes\Phi^*{\mathcal E}^*\), \(K^s\otimes \Phi^*{\mathcal E}\), \(\overline K^{(1-\overline s)}\otimes \Phi^* TX\), \(\overline K^{\overline s}\otimes \Phi^*\overline{TX}\), \(K^{(1-s)}\otimes\overline K^{\overline s}\otimes \Phi^*{\mathcal E}^*\) and \(K^s\otimes\overline K^{(1-\overline s)}\otimes \Phi^*{\mathcal E}\), respectively. If \(s=\overline s= 1/2\), sections of these bundles give fields of untwisted model. The twisted model has just one canonical global symmetry generated by the supercharge \(\overline Q_+\). The action of the twisted model can be written as \[ S_{\text{twist}}= \int_\Sigma|d^2z|\{\overline Q_+, V\}+ S_{\text{top}},\quad V= -g_{i\overline j}\psi^i_{\overline z} \partial_z \phi^{\overline j}- \lambda_{za} l^a_z, \] and \(S_{\text{top}}= \Phi^*(K)\), \(K\) is the pull-back of the Kähler form. In perturbation theory (expansion in the inverse of the large-radius limit), we can set \(S_{\text{top}}= 0\), and eliminating the \(l_{za} l^a_z\) term via its own equation of motion, the action in perturbation theory takes simpler form than \(S_{\text{twist}}\) and takes the form \[ S_{\text{pert}}= \int_\Sigma |d^z|\{\overline Q_+, V\} \] (\S2). Classically, the trace of the stress tensor from \(S_{\text{pert}}\) vanishes and other components satisfy \[ T_{z\overline z}= \{\overline Q_+, -g_{i\overline j}\psi i_{\overline z}\partial_{\overline z}\phi^j\},\quad [\overline Q_+, T_{zz}]= 0. \] At the quantum level, these equalities do not hold, but operators remain in the \(\overline Q_+\)-cohomology after global translations and dilatations of the worldsheet. Then to examine operator product expansion (OPE), the \(\overline Q_+\)-cohomology of holomorphic local operators is shown to have a structure of a holomorphic chiral algebra, which is denoted by \({\mathcal A}\) (\S3.1). The moduli of \({\mathcal A}\) arises when non-Kähler deformation of \(X\) is considered. The moduli is shown to represented by the cohomology class of \(H^1(X,\Omega^{2,\text{cl}}_X)\), where \(\Omega^{2,\text{cl}}_X\) is the sheaf of germs of closed holomorphic 2-forms on \(X\) (\S3.2). Then in \S3.3, unitary model with \((0,2)\) supersymmetry is constructed by enlarging the worldsheet \(\Sigma\) to a supermanifold \(\widehat\Sigma\) with the bosonic coordinates \(z\), \(\overline z\) and fermionic coordinates \(\theta^+\), \(\overline\theta^+\). Generators of the supersymmetry are \[ \overline{\mathcal Q}_+= {\partial\over\partial\overline\theta^+}- i\theta^+ {\partial\over\partial\overline z},\quad {\mathcal Q}_+= {\partial\over\partial\theta^+}- i\overline\theta^+ {\partial\over\partial\overline z}, \] which commute with \(\partial_z\), \(\partial_{\overline z}\) and anticommute with \[ \overline D_+= {\partial\over\partial\overline\theta^+}+ i\theta^+ {\partial\over\partial\overline z},\quad D_+= {\partial\over\partial\theta^+}+ i\overline\theta^+ {\partial\over\partial\overline z}. \] The supersymmetric action of this model [cf. \textit{M. Dine} and \textit{N. Seiberg}, Superspace, Phys. Lett. B 180, 364 (1986)] can be written as \[ S= \int|d^2 z|\{\overline{\mathcal Q}_+, [D_+, W]\}|_{\theta_+}= \overline\theta_+= 0, \] \[ W= -{i\over 2}K_i(\Phi, \overline\Phi) \partial_z\Phi^i+ {i\over 2} \overline K_{\overline i}(\Phi, \overline\Phi) \partial_z \Phi^{\overline i}. \] Then in \S4, vanishing condition of the anomaly of this model is shown to be \[ {1\over 2}c_1(\Sigma)(c_1({\mathcal E})- c_1(TX)= 0,\quad \text{ch}_2({\mathcal E})- \text{ch}_2(TX)= 0. \] Both the \(\overline Q_+\)-cohomology of local operators (operators that are local on \(\Sigma\)) and the fermionic symmetry generator \(\overline Q_+\) can be described locally on \(X\), the sheaf \(\widehat{\mathcal A}\) of chiral algebras on \(X\) is introduced in \S5. Analyzing Čech cohomology of \(\widehat{\mathcal A}\), it is concluded that if the twisted heterotic sigma model is to be physically relevant, then it must be \(c_1({\mathcal E})= c_1(TX)\) (\S5.3). Twisted model on a local patch of the target space is described in terms of free \(bc-\beta\gamma\)-system (\S5.4). Then it is shown the mathematical obstruction to a global definition of the sheaf is \([c_1({\mathcal E})- c_1(TX)]\), so it is the physical anomaly of the model (\S5.7) via the study of local symmetry (\S5.4-\S5.6). \S6 studies the case \({\mathcal E}= TX\). In this case, at the \((2,2)\)-locus, the action coincide with the (perturbative) action of Witten's topological \(A\)-model [\textit{E. Witten}, Mirror manifolds and topological field theory, Essays on Mirror Manifolds, International Press, 120--158 (1992; Zbl 0834.58013)]. Then it is shown the supercharges of scalar supercharges are given by \[ \overline Q_+(\overline z)= Q_R(\overline z)= g_{i\overline j}\psi^{\overline j} \partial_{\overline z}\phi^i \] (\S6.1 and 2). Then the (physical) elliptic genus \[ \chi(X, y,q)= \text{Tr}_{\mathcal H}(-1)^F y^{J_L} q^{L_0- d/s},\quad q= e^{2\pi ir},\;y= e^{2\pi iz}, \] where \(d= \dim_{\mathbb C}X\), is expressed by using \(\overline Q_+\)-cohomology when \(X\) is a Calabi-Yau manifold (6.35). By using this expression, \[ \chi(X,y,q)= \int \text{ch}(\text{Ell})(\text{td}(X)), \] where \(\text{Ell}(X,y, q)\) is the mathematical definition of elliptic genus [\textit{A. Beilinson} and \textit{V. Drinfeld}, Chiral algebras. Colloquium Publications. American Mathematical Society 51. Providence, RI: AMS (2004; Zbl 1138.17300)], is derived when \(X\) is a Calabi-Yau Manifold (\S6.3). In \S7, the last Section, these results are applied to the cases \(X= \mathbb{CP}^1\) and \(S^3\times S^1\) and explicit computations are given.

Recommendations

• A heterotic sigma model with novel target geometry
• The half-twisted orbifold sigma model and the chiral de Rham complex
• The geometry of sigma models with twisted supersymmetry
• Chiral algebras of \((0,2)\) models: Beyond perturbation theory
• Topological sigma-models with \(H\)-flux and twisted generalized complex manifolds

Cited in

(27)

• Chiral algebras of \((0,2)\) models: Beyond perturbation theory
• Algebraic aspects of two-dimensional chiral fields. II
• The generalized chiral Schwinger model on the two-sphere
• On the twisted chiral potential in 2d and the analogue of rigid special geometry for 4-folds
• Localization of twisted \( \mathcal{N}=(0,2)\) gauged linear sigma models in two dimensions
• Toda-like (0,2) mirrors to products of projective spaces
• Little strings, quasi-topological sigma model on loop group, and toroidal Lie algebras
• B-branes and supersymmetric quivers in 2d
• Chiral algebras in Landau-Ginzburg models
• Beta-gamma system, pure spinors and Hilbert series of arc spaces
• Deformed quantum cohomology and (0,2) mirror symmetry
• Chiral algebras from \({\Omega}\)-deformation
• Chiral differential operators: formal loop group actions and associated modules
• Topological heterotic rings
• Two-dimensional models with (0,2) supersymmetry: perturbative aspects
• The equivariant A-twist and gauged linear sigma models on the two-sphere
• Boundary chiral algebras and holomorphic twists
• Instantons beyond topological theory. I
• Target spaces from chiral gauge theories
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4155390 (Why is no real title available?)
• Chiral differential operators on supermanifolds
• AST419 - Chiral Differential Operators via Batalin-Vilkovisky Quantization
• Quantum sheaf cohomology on Grassmannians
• Twisted holography on \(\mathrm{AdS}_3 \times S^3 \times\mathrm{K}3\) \& the planar chiral algebra
• A heterotic sigma model with novel target geometry
• The half-twisted orbifold sigma model and the chiral de Rham complex
• Y-formalism and curved \(\beta -\gamma \) systems

This page was built for publication: Two-dimensional twisted sigma models and the theory of chiral differential operators

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q996116)