Related papers: Operator algebra of the 4D W_3 string

The noncritical $D=4$ $W_3$ string is a model of $W_3$ gravity coupled to two free scalar fields. In this paper we discuss its BRST quantization in direct analogy with that of the $D=2$ (Virasoro) string. In particular, we calculate the…

I summarize some recent results obtained in collaboration with P.~Bouwknegt and K.~Pilch on the spectrum of physical states in $\cW_3$ gravity coupled to $c=2$ matter. In particular, it is shown that the algebra of operators corresponding…

We discuss the conditions under which the BRST operator of a $W$-string can be written as the sum of two operators that are separately nilpotent and anticommute with each other. We illustrate our results with the example of the non-critical…

We investigate the cohomology structure of a general noncritical $W_N$-string. We do this by introducing a new basis in the Hilbert space in which the BRST operator splits into a ``nested'' sum of nilpotent BRST operators. We give explicit…

We summarize some recent results obtained in collaboration with J. McCarthy on the spectrum of physical states in $W_3$ gravity coupled to $c=2$ matter. We show that the space of physical states, defined as a semi-infinite (or BRST)…

Nilpotent BRST operators for higher-spin $W_{2,s}$ strings, with currents of spins 2 and $s$, have recently been constructed for $s=4$, 5 and 6. In the case of $W_{2,4}$, this operator can be understood as being the BRST operator for the…

We study the cohomology of the critical $W_4$ string using the $W_4$ BRST charge in a special basis in which it contains three separately nilpotent BRST charges. This allows us to obtain the physical operators in three steps. In the first…

BRST operators for two-dimensional theories with spin-2 and spin-$s$ currents, generalising the $W_3$ BRST operator of Thierry-Mieg, have previously been obtained. The construction was based on demanding nilpotence of the BRST operators,…

We investigate new realisations of the $W_3$ algebra with arbitrary central charge, making use of the fact that this algebra can be linearised by the inclusion of a spin-1 current. We use the new realisations with $c=102$ and $c=100$ to…

We construct the BRST operator for non-critical $W_3$-strings and discuss the tachyon-like spectrum. For $N$-punctured spheres with $N \leq 5$ we briefly describe a formal definition of the integral over $W_3$-moduli space.

We present a simple procedure for constructing the complete cohomology of the BRST operator of the two-scalar and multi-scalar $W_3$ strings. The method consists of obtaining two level--15 physical operators in the two-scalar $W_3$ string…

Given a simple, simply laced, complex Lie algebra $\bfg$ corresponding to the Lie group $G$, let $\bfnp$ be the subalgebra generated by the positive roots. In this paper we construct a BV-algebra $\fA[\bfg]$ whose underlying graded…

We derive the recently proposed BRST charge for non-critical W strings from a Lagragian approach. The basic observation is that, despite appearances, the combination of two classical ``matter'' and ``Toda'' w_3 systems leads to a closed…

We review the detailed structure of the large $N=4$ superconformal algebra, and construct its BRST operator which constitutes the main object for analyzing $N=4$ strings. We then derive the general condition for the nilpotency of the BRST…

We discuss a realization of the bosonic string as a noncritical $W_3$-string. The relevant noncritical $W_3$-string is characterized by a Liouville sector which is restricted to a (non-unitary) $(3,2)$ $W_3$ minimal model with central…

We study the $N=2$ string with a real structure on the $(2,2)$ spacetime, using BRST methods. Several new features emerge. In the diagonal basis, the operator $\exp(\lambda \int^z J^{\rm tot})$, which is associated with the moduli for the…

We consider the sl(2) current algebra at level k=-4 when the sl(2) BRST operator is nilpotent. We formulate a spectral sequence converging to the cohomology of this BRST operator. At the second term of the spectral sequence, we observe an…

We construct the BRST operator for the nonlinear $WB_2$ and $W_4$ algebras. Contrary to the general belief, the nilpotent condition of the BRST operator doesn't determine all the coefficients. We find a three and seven parameter family of…

We construct BRST operators for certain higher-spin extensions of the Virasoro algebra, in which there is a spin-$s$ gauge field on the world sheet, as well as the spin-2 gauge field corrresponding to the two-dimensional metric. We use…

Remarks are given to the structure of physical states in 2D gravity coupled to $C\leq 1$ matter. The operator algebra of the discrete state operators is calculated for the theory with non-vanishing cosmological constant.