Conformal Field Theory III: Superconformal Field Theory

Abstract

In Chap. 4 we have demonstrated the usefulness of conformal field theory as a tool for the bosonic string. In the same way as conformal symmetry was a remnant of the reparametrization invariance of the bosonic string in conformal gauge, superconformal invariance is a remnant of local supersymmetry of the fermionic string in super-conformal gauge. This leads us to consider superconformal field theory. In many aspects our discussion of superconformal field theory parallels that of conformal field theory, and we will treat those rather briefly. Of special interest are N = 2 superconformal field theories, as they are related to space-time supersymmetry. These theories show some new features which we will present in more detail. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.