Non-hermitian symmetric N = 2 coset models, Poincaré polynomials, and string compactification

Abstract

The field identification problem, including fixed point resolution, is solved for the non-hermitian symmetric N = 2 superconformal coset theories. Thereby these models are finally identified as well-defined modular invariant conformal field theories. As an application, the theories are used as subtheories in N = 2 tensor products with c = 9, which in turn are taken as the inner sector of heterotic superstring compactifications. All string theories of this type are classified, and the chiral ring as well as the number of massless generations and anti-generations are computed with the help of the extended Poincaré polynomial. Several equivalences between a priori different non-hermitian coset theories show up; in particular there is a level-rank duality for an infinite series of coset theories based on C-type Lie algebras. Further, some general results for generic N = 2 coset theories are proven: a simple formula for the number of identification currents is found, and it is shown that the set of Ramond ground states of any N = 2 coset model is invariant under charge conjugation.