Abstract
An infinite-dimensional gauge algebra (DISG) is defined in terms of string vertex operators. The DISG reproduce the gauge algebra of 4D, N = 4 compactifications of the heterotic string, and is invariant under the full internal duality group O(6, 22, Z). The DISG is an indefinite signature lattice algebra which contains affine Lie algebras of any level. It uniquely specifies the N = 4 low-energy effective lagrangian for gravitational and matter N = 4 multiplets. The gauge symmetries are broken on any background to a finite-dimensional gauge group. Orbifold truncations to N = 1, 2 are defined and studied for the case of ZN orbifolds. Inclusion of higher spin fields and the appearance of "duality forms" due to integration of massive fields are discussed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 422-454 |
| Number of pages | 33 |
| Journal | Nuclear Physics B |
| Volume | 355 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 20 May 1991 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The low-energy effective action (LEEA) of superstring theory encodes the physics predicted by string theory at energies much below the Planck scale. Known effective actions in four dimensions (D - 4) give rise to gravity and N = 1, 2, 4 or 8 supergravities with finite dimensional gauge groups, depending on the type of superstring theory (type I, type It or heterotic) and the compactification from ten dimensions to D-4 (see for example ref. \[1\] for a review). Such field theories * This work was supported in part by the Director, Office of Energy Research, Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics, Division of High Energy Physics of the US Department of Energy under contract DE-AC03-76SF00098, and in part by the National Science Foundation under research grant PHY85-15857. ** Supported in part by a Chaim Weizmann fellowship. *** On leave of absence from INFN, Sezione di Pisa, Pisa 56100, Italy,