How does the worldsheet turn spacetime vectors into spinors in string theory?

In summary, Cumrun Vafa introduces supersymmetry in his "Lightning Introduction" to string theory by adding anti-commuting fermionic coordinates \psi_{L,R}^{\mu} to the already existing coordinates X^{\mu}. These new coordinates are fermionic spinors on the worldsheet, with their chirality denoted by the subscripts L and R. The question of how the worldsheet makes spacetime vectors appear as spinors is still unclear.
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selfAdjoint
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In Cumrun Vafa's "Lightning Introduction" to string theory in his http://arxiv.org/hep-th/9702201 , he instroduces supersymmetry to string theory thus:

in addition to the coordinates [tex]X^{\mu}[/tex] we also have anti-commuting fermionic coordinates [tex]\psi_{L,R}^{\mu}[/tex] which are spacetime vectors but fermionic spinors on the worldsheet whose chirality is denoted by subscript L, R.


I have no problem with the anti-commutative coordinates themselve, but how does the worldsheet make vectors in spacetime appear as spinors?
 
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selfAdjoint said:
In Cumrun Vafa's "Lightning Introduction" to string theory in his http://archive.org/hep-th/9702201 , he instroduces supersymmetry to string theory thus:

in addition to the coordinates [tex]X^{\mu}[/tex] we also have anti-commuting fermionic coordinates [tex]\psi_{L,R}^{\mu}[/tex] which are spacetime vectors but fermionic spinors on the worldsheet whose chirality is denoted by subscript L, R.




I have no problem with the anti-commutative coordinates themselve, but how does the worldsheet make vectors in spacetime appear as spinors?

darnit selfAdjoint, you spelled arxiv wrong so the link does not work :smile:

http://archive.org/hep-th/9702201

make it
http://arxiv.org/hep-th/9702201
 
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  • #3
Sorry about that. It's fixed now.
 

1. What are superstring coordinates?

Superstring coordinates are a theoretical concept in physics that describe the position and movement of fundamental particles, such as strings, in space-time. They are a crucial aspect of string theory, a proposed theory of how the universe works at the most fundamental level.

2. How are superstring coordinates different from traditional coordinates?

Superstring coordinates are different from traditional coordinates because they involve more than three dimensions. Traditional coordinates, such as those used in Cartesian coordinates, only describe movement in three dimensions (x, y, and z). Superstring coordinates, on the other hand, require at least 10 dimensions to accurately describe particle movement.

3. How are superstring coordinates related to string theory?

Superstring coordinates are a key component of string theory, a proposed theory of how the universe works at the most fundamental level. In string theory, particles are represented as tiny strings, and their movement is described by superstring coordinates in a 10-dimensional space-time.

4. Can superstring coordinates be observed or measured?

Currently, there is no way to directly observe or measure superstring coordinates. They are a theoretical concept used in string theory to explain the behavior of particles at a microscopic level. However, scientists are working on experiments that may provide evidence of string theory and superstring coordinates in the future.

5. What are some potential implications of understanding superstring coordinates?

If superstring coordinates are proven to be accurate, it could have significant implications for our understanding of the universe. It could potentially help reconcile the discrepancies between general relativity and quantum mechanics and provide a better understanding of the nature of gravity and the other fundamental forces of the universe. It may also lead to advancements in technology, such as the development of faster-than-light travel or new energy sources.

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