Abstract
We analyse further the algebraic structure of dependent fermions, namely ones interrelated by the vertex operator construction. They are associated with special sorts of lattice systems which are introduced and discussed. The explicit evaluation of the relevant cocycles leads to the result that the operator product expansion of the fermions is related in a precise way to one or another of the division algebras given by complex numbers, quaternions or octonions. The latter case is seen to be realised in the light cone formalism of superstring theory.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ramond, P.: Dual theory for free fermions. Phys. Rev. D3, 2415 (1971)
Neveu, A., Schwarz, J.: Factorizable dual model of pions. Nucl. Phys. B31, 86 (1971); Quark model of dual pions. Phys. Rev. D4, 1109 (1971)
Gross, D., Harvey, J., Martinec, E., Rohm, R.: Heterotic string. Phys. Rev. Lett.54, 502 (1985), Heterotic string theory (I). The free heterotic string. Nucl. Phys. B256, 253 (1985)
Goddard, P., Olive, D., Schwimmer, A.: The heterotic string and a fermionic construction of theE 8 Kac-Moody algebra. Phys. Lett.157B, 393 (1985)
Kadanoff, L., Ceva, H.: Determination of an operator algebra for the two-dimensional Ising model. Phys. Rev. B3, 3918 (1970)
Onsager, L.: Crystal statistics. I. A two-dimensional model with an order-disorder transition. Phys. Rev.65, 117 (1944)
Kaufmann, B.: Crystal statistics. II. Partition function evaluated by spinor analysis. Phys. Rev.76, 1232 (1949)
Skyrme, T.H.R.: Particle states of a quantized meson field. Proc. Roy. Soc. A262, 237 (1961)
Jimbo, M., Miwa, T.: Solitons and infinite dimensional Lie algebras. Publ. RIMS Kyoto Univ.19, 943 (1983)
Goddard, P., Olive, D.: Kac-Moody and Virasoro algebras in relation to quantum physics. Int. J. Mod. Phys. A1, 303 (1986)
Green, M., Schwarz, J.: Supersymmetrical dual string theory. Nucl. Phys. B181, 502 (1981)
Gliozzi, F., Scherk, J., Olive, D.: Supergravity and the spinor dual model. Phys. Lett.65B, 282 (1976). Supersymmetry, supergravity theories and the dual spinor model. Nucl. Phys. B122, 253 (1977)
Mandelstam, S.: Soliton operators for the quantized sine-Gordon equation. Phys. Rev. D11, 3026 (1975)
Fubini, S., Veneziano, G.: Duality in operator formalism. Nuovo Cim.67A, 29 (1970)
Frenkel, I.: Two constructions of affine Lie algebra representations and boson-fermion correspondence in quantum field theory. J. Funct. Anal.44, 259 (1981)
Goddard, P., Olive, D.: Vertex operators in mathematics and physics. MSRI Publication No. 3. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1984, p. 51
Klein, O.: J. Phys. Radium9, 1 (1938)
Goddard, P., Nahm, W., Olive, D., Schwimmer, A.: Vertex operators for non-simply laced algebras. Commun. Math. Phys.107, 179 (1986)
See also Olive, D.: The vertex operator construction for non-simply laced Kac-Moody algebras I; and Goddard, P.: The vertex operator construction for non-simply laced Kac-Moody algebras II. In: Topological and geometrical methods in field theory. Hieterinta, J., Westerholm, J. (eds.) Singapore: World Scientific 1986 and in Proceedings of Symposia in Montreal, Bonn and Meudon
Bernard, D., Thierry-Mieg, J.: Level one representations of the simple affine Kac-Moody algebras in their homogeneous gradations. Commun. Math. Phys.111, 181–246 (1987)
Humphreys, J.E.: Introduction to Lie algebras and representation theory. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1972
Jacobsen, N.: Basic algebra. I. San Francisco, CA: Freeman 1974, Chap. 7
Freudenthal, H.: Lie groups in the foundations of geometry. Adv. Math.1, 145 (1964)
J. Tits: Proc. K. Ned. Akad. Wet. A69, 223 (1966)
Gunaydin, M., Gursey, F.: An octonionic representation of the Poincaré group. Lett. Nuovo Cim.6, 401 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by A. Jaffe
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goddard, P., Nahm, W., Olive, D.I. et al. Fermions and octonions. Commun.Math. Phys. 112, 385–408 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01218483
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01218483