16 pages, various errors corrected, new title. in Superstrings, Geometry, Topology, and C*-algebras, eds. R. Doran, G. Friedman and J. Rosenberg, Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 81, AMS, Providence, 2010, pp. 65-80
Supersymmetry is deeply related to division algebras. Nonabelian Yang-Mills fields minimally coupled to massless spinors are supersymmetric if and only if the dimension of spacetime is 3, 4, 6 or 10. The same is true for the Green-Schwarz superstring. In both cases, supersymmetry relies on the vanishing of a certain trilinear expression involving a spinor field. The reason for this, in turn, is the existence of normed division algebras in dimensions 1, 2, 4 and 8: the real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions. Here we provide a self-contained account of how this works.
Starting from the four normed division algebras - the real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions - a systematic procedure gives a 3-cocycle on the Poincare Lie superalgebra in dimensions 3, 4, 6 and 10. A related procedure gives a 4-cocycle on the Poincare Lie superalgebra in dimensions 4, 5, 7 and 11. In general, an (n+1)-cocycle on a Lie superalgebra yields a "Lie n-superalgebra": that is, roughly speaking, an n-term chain complex equipped with a bracket satisfying the axioms of a Lie superalgebra up to chain homotopy. We thus obtain Lie 2-superalgebras extending the Poincare s…
Recent work applying higher gauge theory to the superstring has indicated the presence of 'higher symmetry', and the same methods work for the super-2-brane. In the previous paper in this series, we used a geometric technique to construct a 'Lie 2-supergroup' extending the Poincare supergroup in precisely those spacetime dimensions where the classical Green-Schwarz superstring makes sense: 3, 4, 6 and 10. In this paper, we use the same technique to construct a 'Lie 3-supergroup' extending the Poincare supergroup in precisely those spacetime dimensions where the classical Green-Schwarz super-2-…
Recent work applying higher gauge theory to the superstring has indicated the presence of `higher symmetry'. Infinitesimally, this is realized by a `Lie 2-superalgebra' extending the Poincare superalgebra in precisely the dimensions where the classical supersymmetric string makes sense: 3, 4, 6 and 10. In the previous paper in this series, we constructed this Lie 2-superalgebra using the normed division algebras. In this paper, we use an elegant geometric technique to integrate this Lie 2-superalgebra to a `Lie 2-supergroup' extending the Poincare supergroup in the same dimensions. Briefly, a …
We argue that once octonions are formulated as soft Lie algebras, they may be safely used and the non-associativity can be overcame. The necessary points are: (a) Fixing the direction of action by introducing the δoperator. (b) Closing the δalgebra by using structure functions f_{ijk} (ϕ). (c) Representation of the δalgebra can be developed. The E or E(ϕ) can be found and their structure functions can be computed easily. There may be different applications of soft seven sphere in physics. We have given two cases where the ring division algebras occupies a special position. Self-duality and Sim…
Intended for mathematical physicists interested in applications of the division algebras to physics, this article highlights some of their more elegant properties with connections to the theories of Galois fields and quadratic residues.
From the four normed division algebras--the real numbers, complex numbers, quaternions and octonions, of dimension k=1, 2, 4 and 8, respectively--a systematic procedure gives a 3-cocycle on the Poincare superalgebra in dimensions k+2=3, 4, 6 and 10, and a 4-cocycle on the Poincare superalgebra in dimensions k+3=4, 5, 7 and 11. The existence of these cocycles follow from spinor identities that hold only in these dimensions, and which are closely related to the existence of the superstring in dimensions k+2, and the super-2-brane in dimensions k+3. In general, an (n+1)-cocycle on a Lie superalge…
A carefully constructed explanation of my connection of the real normed division algebras to the particles, charges and fields of the Standard Model of quarks and leptons provided to an interested group of attendees of the 2nd Mile High Conference on Nonassociative Mathematics in Denver in 2009.06.
We give an octonionic formulation of the N = 1 supersymmetry algebra in D = 11, including all brane charges. We write this in terms of a novel outer product, which takes a pair of elements of the division algebra A and returns a real linear operator on A. More generally, with this product comes the power to rewrite any linear operation on R^n (n = 1,2,4,8) in terms of multiplication in the n-dimensional division algebra A. Finally, we consider the reinterpretation of the D = 11 supersymmetry algebra as an octonionic algebra in D = 4 and the truncation to division subalgebras.
The link of the Division Algebras to 10-dimensional spacetime and one leptoquark family is extended to 26-dimensional spacetime and three leptoquark families.
A very basic introduction is given to the rôles of division algebras and the related sphere algebras concerning the structure of space-time in the dimensionalities $D\is 3,4,6$ and $10$, with special emphasis on twistors transformations for light-likeness conditions and Hopf maps, together with some outlook for particle and string theory.
In this talk we present a division-algebra classification of the generalized supersymmetries admitting bosonic tensorial central charges. We show that for complex and quaternionic supersymmetries a whole class of compatible division-algebra constraints can be imposed. Possible applications to M-theory related dynamical systems are briefly mentioned.
Division algebras are used to explain the existence and symmetries of various sets of auxiliary fields for super Yang-Mills in dimensions $d=3,4,6,10$. (Contribution to Gürsey Memorial Conference I: Strings and Symmetries)
We study not necessarily associative (NNA) division algebras over the reals. We classify in this paper series those that admit a grading over a finite group $G$, and have a basis $\{v_g|g\in G\}$ as a real vector space, and the product of these basis elements respects the grading and includes a scalar structure constant with values only in $\{1,-1\}$. We classify here those graded by an abelian group $G$ of order $|G|\leq 8$ with $G$ non--isomorphic to $\z/8\z$. We will find the complex, quaternion, and octonion algebras, but also a remarkable set of novel non--associative division algebras.
The division algebras R, C, H, O are used to construct and analyze the N=1,2,4,8 supersymmetric extensions of the KdV hamiltonian equation. In particular a global N=8 super-KdV system is introduced and shown to admit a Poisson bracket structure given by the "Non-Associative N=8 Superconformal Algebra".
The partial breaking of supersymmetry in flat space can be accomplished using any one of three dual representations for the massive N=1 spin-3/2 multiplet. Each of the representations can be ``unHiggsed'', which gives rise to a set of dual N=2 supergravities and supersymmetry algebras.
The connection of (split-)division algebras with Clifford algebras and supersymmetry is investigated. At first we introduce the class of superalgebras constructed from any given (split-)division algebra. We further specify which real Clifford algebras and real fundamental spinors can be reexpressed in terms of split-quaternions. Finally, we construct generalized supersymmetries admitting bosonic tensorial central charges in terms of (split-)division algebras. In particular we prove that split-octonions allow to introduce a split-octonionic M-algebra which extends to the (6,5) signature the pro…
In this talk we will study the partial breaking of supersymmetry in flat and anti de Sitter space. We will see that partial breaking in flat space can be accomplished using either of two representations for the massive N=1 spin-3/2 multiplet. We will "unHiggs" each representation and find a new N=2 supergravity and a new N=2 supersymmetry algebra. We will also see that partial supersymmetry breaking in AdS space can give rise to a new N=2 supersymmetry algebra, one that is necessarily nonlinearly realized.
The tensor product of the division algebras, which is a kernel for the structure of the Standard Model, is also a root for the Clifford algebra of (1,9)-space-time. A conventional Dirac Lagrangian, employing the (1,9)-Dirac operator acting on the Standard Model hyperfield, gives rise to matter into antimatter transitions not mediated by any gauge field. These transitions are eliminated by restricting the dependencies of the components of the hyperfield on the extra six dimensions, which appear in this context as a complex triple.
The paper concerns standard supersymmetry algebras in diverse dimensions, involving bosonic translational generators and fermionic supersymmetry generators. A cohomology related to these supersymmetry algebras, termed supersymmetry algebra cohomology, and corresponding "primitive elements" are defined by means of a BRST-type coboundary operator. A method to systematically compute this cohomology is outlined and illustrated by simple examples.
We focus on a spin-3/2 supersymmetry (SUSY) algebra of Baaklini in D = 3 and explicitly show a nonlinear realization of the SUSY algebra. The unitary representation of the spin-3/2 SUSY algebra is discussed and compared with the ordinary (spin-1/2) SUSY algebra.
I present here some new results which make explicit the role of the division algebras R,C,H,O in the construction and classification of, respectively, N=1,2,4,8 global supersymmetric quantum mechanical and classical dynamical systems. In particular an N=8 Malcev superaffine algebra is introduced and its relation to the non-associative N=8 SCA is discussed. A list of present and possible future applications is given.
The construction of anyonic operators and algebra is generalized by using quons operators. Therefore, the particular versionof fractional supersymmetry is constructed on the two-dimensional lattice by associating two generalized anyons of different kinds. The fractional supersymmetry Hamiltonian operator is obtained on the two-dimensional lattice and the quantum algebra $U_{q}(sl_{2})$ is realized.
Relying upon the division-algebra classification of Clifford algebras and spinors, a classification of generalized supersymmetries (or, with a slight abuse of language,"generalized supertranslations") is provided. In each given space-time the maximal, saturated, generalized supersymmetry, compatible with the division-algebra constraint that can be consistently imposed on spinors and on superalgebra generators, is furnished. Constraining the superalgebra generators in both the complex and the quaternionic cases gives rise to the two classes of constrained hermitian and holomorphic generalized s…
We define a semi-Hopf algebra which is more general than a Hopf algebra. Then we construct the supersymmetry algebra via the adjoint action on this semi-Hopf algebra. As a result we have a supersymmetry theory with quantum gauge group, i.e., quantised enveloping algebra of a simple Lie algebra. For the example, we construct the Lagrangian N=1 and N=2 supersymmetry.
In this paper we show how to obtain from a scalar superfield its first component via a similarity transformation. We prove that in D=4 the generators of this similarity transformation live in the enveloping algebra of supersymmetry while for D=1 they belong to the basic algebra.
We give an explicit algebraic description of finite Lorentz transformations of vectors in 10-dimensional Minkowski space by means of a parameterization in terms of the octonions. The possible utility of these results for superstring theory is mentioned. Along the way we describe automorphisms of the two highest dimensional normed division algebras, namely the quaternions and the octonions, in terms of conjugation maps. We use similar techniques to define $SO(3)$ and $SO(7)$ via conjugation, $SO(4)$ via symmetric multiplication, and $SO(8)$ via both symmetric multiplication and one-sided multip…
We consider an inhomogeneous quantum supergroup which leaves invariant a supersymmetric particle algebra. The quantum sub-supergroups of this inhomogeneous quantum supergroup are investigated.
We study the unitary representation of supersymmetry (SUSY) algebra based on a spinor-vector generator for both massless and massive cases. A systematic linearization of nonlinear realization for the SUSY algebra is also discussed in the superspace formalism with a spinor-vector Grassmann coordinate.
The fractional supersymmetry chiral algebras in two-dimensional conformal field theory are extended Virasoro algebras with fractional spin currents. We show that associativity and closure of these algebras determines their structure constants in the case that the Virasoro algebra is extended by precisely one current. We compute the structure constants of these algebras explicitly and we show that correlators of the currents satisfy non-Abelian braiding relations.
The free action for the massless sector of the Type II superstring was recently constructed using closed RNS superstring field theory. The supersymmetry transformations of this action are shown to satisfy an N=2 D=10 SUSY algebra with Ramond-Ramond central charges.
The form of realistic space-time supersymmetry is fixed, by Haag-Lopuszanski-Sohnius theorem, either to the familiar form of Poincare supersymmetry or, in massless case, to that of conformal supersymmetry. We question necessity for such strict restriction in the context of theories with broken symmetries. In particular, we consider parabose N=4 algebra as an extension of conformal supersymmetry in four dimensions (coinciding with the, so called, generalized conformal supersymmetry). We show that sacrificing of manifest Lorentz covariance leads to interpretation of the generalized conformal sup…
We describe the set of generalized Poincare and conformal superalgebras in D=4,5 and 7 dimensions as two sequences of superalgebraic structures, taking values in the division algebras R, C and H. The generalized conformal superalgebras are described for D=4 by OSp(1;8| R), for D=5 by SU(4,4;1) and for D=7 by U_αU(8;1|H). The relation with other schemes, in particular the framework of conformal spin (super)algebras and Jordan (super)algebras is discussed. By extending the division-algebra-valued superalgebras to octonions we get in D=11 an octonionic generalized Poincare superalgebra, which we …
The primitive elements of the supersymmetry algebra cohomology as defined in a previous paper are computed for standard supersymmetry algebras in four and five dimensions, for all signatures of the metric and any number of supersymmetries.
We study the Weyl groups of hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebras of `over-extended' type and ranks 3, 4, 6 and 10, which are intimately linked with the four normed division algebras K=R,C,H,O, respectively. A crucial role is played by integral lattices of the division algebras and associated discrete matrix groups. Our findings can be summarized by saying that the even subgroups, W^+, of the Kac-Moody Weyl groups, W, are isomorphic to generalized modular groups over K for the simply laced algebras, and to certain finite extensions thereof for the non-simply laced algebras. This hints at an extended t…
We review various generalizations of supersymmetry and discuss their relationship. In particular, we show how supersymmetry, parasupersymmetry, fractional supersymmetry, orthosupersymmetry, and the Z_n-graded topological symmetries are related.
In an earlier work extensions of supersymmetry and super Lie algebras were constructed consistently starting from any representation $\D$ of any Lie algebra $\g$. Here it is shown how infinite dimensional Lie algebras appear naturally within the framework of fractional supersymmetry. Using a differential realization of $\g$ this infinite dimensional Lie algebra, containing the Lie algebra $\g$ as a sub-algebra, is explicitly constructed.
Supersymmetry and super-Lie algebras have been consistently generalized previously. The so-called fractional supersymmetry and $F-$Lie algebras could be constructed starting from any representation $\D$ of any Lie algebra $g$. This involves taking the $F^{\mathrm th}$ root of $\D$ in some sense. We show, after having constructed differential realization(s) of any Lie algebra, how fractional supersymmetry can be explicitly realized in terms of appropriate homogeneous monomials.
The primitive elements of the supersymmetry algebra cohomology as defined in a companion paper are computed exhaustively for standard supersymmetry algebras in dimensions D=2 and D=3, for all signatures (t,D-t) and all numbers N of sets of supersymmetries.
We give a unified division algebraic description of (D=3, N=1,2,4,8), (D=4, N=1,2,4), (D=6, N=1,2) and (D=10, N=1) super Yang-Mills theories. A given (D=n+2, N) theory is completely specified by selecting a pair (A_n, A_{nN}) of division algebras, A_n, A_{nN} = R, C, H, O, where the subscripts denote the dimension of the algebras. We present a master Lagrangian, defined over A_{nN}-valued fields, which encapsulates all cases. Each possibility is obtained from the unique (O, O) (D=10, N=1) theory by a combination of Cayley-Dickson halving, which amounts to dimensional reduction, and removing po…
