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The $\mathfrak{su}(2)_{-1}$ WZW model

High Energy Physics - Theory 2024-10-18 v1 Mathematical Physics math.MP Representation Theory

Abstract

Some WZW models on affine Lie superalgebras at critical level describe string theory on AdS backgrounds at critical values of the string tension. This is the case of psu(1,12)1\mathfrak{psu}(1,1|2)_1 for AdS3×S3{\rm AdS}_3 \times {\rm S}^3 and potentially of u(22)1\mathfrak{u}(2|2)_1 (or related algebras) for AdS5×S5{\rm AdS}_5 \times {\rm S}^5. Many interesting features of these superalgebra models are already captured by their affine subalgebra su(2)1\mathfrak{su}(2)_{-1}. In this paper we study the WZW model on su(2)1\mathfrak{su}(2)_{-1}: we classify the representations, introduce a free field realisation, and decompose the free field modules in terms of su(2)1\mathfrak{su}(2)_{-1}. We find continuous and discrete modular invariants and see that the latter naturally leads to considering superalgebra extensions of su(2)1\mathfrak{su}(2)_{-1}. Lastly, we find an invariant for the free field theory of four symplectic bosons.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2410.13017,
  title  = {The $\mathfrak{su}(2)_{-1}$ WZW model},
  author = {Elia Mazzucchelli},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2410.13017},
  year   = {2024}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-28T19:24:56.628Z