Physics 287a

Problem Set 2
Due 10/10/14
1. BRST Quantization
(a) Consider Bosonic string theory in general dimension D. Use the Noether procedure on
the gauge fixed action to derive the classical BRST current


1 bc
X
,
jB (z) = c T + T
2
where T X is the stress tensor of the free boson X CFT, and T bc is the stress tensor
of the bc CFT. Promote this classical BRST current to a quantum BRST current.
There is a normal ordering ambiguity on the quantum BRST current. Show that this
ambiguity can be fixed by requiring jB (z) being a primary of weight (1,0) for D = 26.
(b) Using your result from part (a) compute explicitly the OPE of jB (z1 )jB (z2 ).
(c) Now restrict yourself to D=26 so that the BRST charge is nilpotent. Carry out the
BRST quantization at level 2 of the open string and level 2 of the closed string.

2. Linear Dilaton CFT

An important free CFT which we have not yet discussed in class is the linear dilaton CFT.
This has the same action as the free-boson CFT but under an infinitesimal conformal transformation z z + (z) the field X transforms as:

X = X X

0 V

 +
2

(a) Find the finite form of the above transformation law for X and show that it is indeed
a symmetry of the free boson action.
(b) Use the Noether procedure to derive the energy-momentum tensor T (z) and determine
the central charge of this CFT.
3. Virasoro descendants
Let T (z) be a stress-energy tensor of central charge c. Define the local operator T T by
I
dw T (w)T (z)
(T T )(z) =
,
(1)
wz
Cz 2i
where Cz is a counterclockwise contour that encircles z.
(a) Under the state/operator map, determine the state of the CFT (on S 1 ) that corresponds
to the operator T T , expressed in terms of Virasoro generators acting on the vacuum.
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(b) Now consider the local operator Tww Tww at a point w = + i on the cylinder. Under
the map z = eiw to the complex plane, what does Tww Tww (w) map to? Express
your answer in the form of a local operator on the plane at the point z, using the
stress-energy tensor Tzz (z) on the plane. Is T T a primary operator?
4. Current algebra and Sugawara construction
(a) Consider a 2-dimensional CFT that possesses a set of conserved holomorphic currents
J a (z), where a = 1, 2, , dim(g) for some Lie algebra g, that obey the OPE
kab X
J c (0)
J a (z)J b (0) 2 +
.
(2)
ifabc
z
z
c
Here fabc are the structure constants of the Lie algebra g (i.e. fabc are completely
antisymmetric and obey Jacobi identity), and k is a constant coefficient. The currents
J a (z) have Laurent expansion
a

J (z) =

Jna
.
z n+1
n=

(3)

Find the commutator algebra of the generators Jna (regarded as operators in radial
quantization).
(b) A stress-energy tensor can be constructed as
"
#
X
kdim(g)
T (z) = lim
J a (w)J a (z)
wz
(w z)2
a

(4)

with some unknown constant . Fix this constant by requiring that the currents J a (z)
are primaries with respect to T (z). Also, find the central charge of T (z).
a
.
(c) Find the commutator algebra of the Virasoro generators Ln with Jm

5. Anomalous Currents
(a) Let ja denote a worldsheet current which is conserved on flat worldsheet. If we now consider a curved worldsheet, argue that the only possible modification of the conservation
of ja is:
a j a = QR
where R denotes the worldsheet scaler curvature, and Q an unknown coefficient. By
comparing the Weyl transformations of both sides of the above equation, show that the
sum of the coefficients of z 3 in T (z)j(0) and z3 in T(
z )j(0) is 4Q.
(b) As a specific example of part (a) consider the bc CFT at b weight . On a flat worldsheet
this system has a conserved ghost number current j(z) =: cb : (z) from the symmetry:
b ei b

c ei c

Show that on a curved worldsheet this current is anomalous, and compute its divergence.
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