The BV-algebra structure of W_3 cohomology

Abstract

We summarize some recent results obtained in collaboration with J. McCarthy on the spectrum of physical states in $W_3$ gravity coupled to $c=2$ matter. We show that the space of physical states, defined as a semi-infinite (or BRST) cohomology of the $W_3$ algebra, carries the structure of a BV-algebra. This BV-algebra has a quotient which is isomorphic to the BV-algebra of polyvector fields on the base affine space of $SL(3,C)$. Details have appeared elsewhere. [Published in the proceedings of "Gursey Memorial Conference I: Strings and Symmetries," Istanbul, June 1994, eds. G. Aktas et al., Lect. Notes in Phys. 447, (Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1995)]

8 pages; uses macros tables.tex and amssym.def (version 2.1 or later)

References in corpus (6)

• W-symmetry in Conformal Field Theory
• Batalin-Vilkovisky algebras and two-dimensional topological field theories
• New Perspectives on the BRST-algebraic Structure of String Theory
• A BRST Operator for non-critical W-Strings
• On Some Algebraic Structures Arising in String Theory
• Semi-infinite cohomology of W-algebras

Cited by in corpus (1)

• The W_3 algebra: modules, semi-infinite cohomology and BV-algebras