Topology, Superspace, and Heterotic Gravitational Anomalies

Abstract

The (1,0) superdiffeomorphic and Lorentz anomalies are constructed using cohomology in heterotic superspace. The superfield gravitational Wess-Zumino term is presented, and the relationship between superdiffeomorphic and Lorentz anomalies discussed.In this paper I would like to discuss a topological approach to heterotic superdiffeomorphic and Lorentz anomalies developed in collaboration with J. Louis and R. Garreis [1]. This work is carried out using the superfield formulation of (1,0) supergravity [2] and, hence, world sheet supersymmetry is manifest. Although topology, and in particular cohomology, have been successfully applied [3] to the study of anomalies involving component fields, previous attempts to apply cohomology to superspace [4] were beset with difficulties. These difficulties arose, primarily, from the lack of a Stokes theorem for superspace. However, it was shown in [1] that for (1,0) superspace there is a modified notion of Stokes theorem which enables topological techniques to be employed. Using these techniques, a satisfactory superspace theory of gauge and gravitational anomalies can be developed. It is interesting to note that this modified notion of Stokes theorem is intimately related to the choice of torsion constraints [2] in (1,0) superspace.KeywordsHeterotic StringGhost NumberGravitational AnomalyBRST TransformationSupergravity MultipletThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.