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In theoretical physics, the superconformal algebra is a graded Lie algebra or superalgebra that combines the conformal algebra and supersymmetry. In two dimensions, the superconformal algebra is infinite-dimensional. In higher dimensions, superconformal algebras are finite-dimensional and generate the superconformal group (in two Euclidean dimensions, the Lie superalgebra does not generate any Lie supergroup).

Superconformal algebra in dimension greater than 2

The conformal group of the ${\displaystyle (p+q)}$-dimensional space ${\displaystyle \mathbb {R} ^{p,q}}$ is ${\displaystyle SO(p+1,q+1)}$ and its Lie algebra is ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {so}}(p+1,q+1)}$. The superconformal algebra is a Lie superalgebra containing the bosonic factor ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {so}}(p+1,q+1)}$ and whose odd generators transform in spinor representations of ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {so}}(p+1,q+1)}$. Given Kac's classification of finite-dimensional simple Lie superalgebras, this can only happen for small values of ${\displaystyle p}$ and ${\displaystyle q}$. A (possibly incomplete) list is

• ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {osp}}^{*}(2N|2,2)}$ in 3+0D thanks to ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {usp}}(2,2)\simeq {\mathfrak {so}}(4,1)}$;
• ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {osp}}(N|4)}$ in 2+1D thanks to ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {sp}}(4,\mathbb {R} )\simeq {\mathfrak {so}}(3,2)}$;
• ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {su}}^{*}(2N|4)}$ in 4+0D thanks to ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {su}}^{*}(4)\simeq {\mathfrak {so}}(5,1)}$;
• ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {su}}(2,2|N)}$ in 3+1D thanks to ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {su}}(2,2)\simeq {\mathfrak {so}}(4,2)}$;
• ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {sl}}(4|N)}$ in 2+2D thanks to ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {sl}}(4,\mathbb {R} )\simeq {\mathfrak {so}}(3,3)}$;
• real forms of ${\displaystyle F(4)}$ in five dimensions
• ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {osp}}(8^{*}|2N)}$ in 5+1D, thanks to the fact that spinor and fundamental representations of ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {so}}(8,\mathbb {C} )}$ are mapped to each other by outer automorphisms.

Superconformal algebra in 3+1D

According to the superconformal algebra with ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {N}}}$ supersymmetries in 3+1 dimensions is given by the bosonic generators ${\displaystyle P_{\mu }}$, ${\displaystyle D}$, ${\displaystyle M_{\mu \nu }}$, ${\displaystyle K_{\mu }}$, the U(1) R-symmetry ${\displaystyle A}$, the SU(N) R-symmetry ${\displaystyle T_{j}^{i}}$ and the fermionic generators ${\displaystyle Q^{\alpha i}}$, ${\displaystyle {\overline {Q}}_{i}^{\dot {\alpha }}}$, ${\displaystyle S_{i}^{\alpha }}$ and ${\displaystyle {\overline {S}}^{{\dot {\alpha }}i}}$. Here, ${\displaystyle \mu ,\nu ,\rho ,\dots }$ denote spacetime indices; ${\displaystyle \alpha ,\beta ,\dots }$ left-handed Weyl spinor indices; ${\displaystyle {\dot {\alpha }},{\dot {\beta }},\dots }$ right-handed Weyl spinor indices; and ${\displaystyle i,j,\dots }$ the internal R-symmetry indices.

The Lie superbrackets of the bosonic conformal algebra are given by

${\displaystyle =\eta _{\nu \rho }M_{\mu \sigma }-\eta _{\mu \rho }M_{\nu \sigma }+\eta _{\nu \sigma }M_{\rho \mu }-\eta _{\mu \sigma }M_{\rho \nu }}$

${\displaystyle =\eta _{\nu \rho }P_{\mu }-\eta _{\mu \rho }P_{\nu }}$

${\displaystyle =\eta _{\nu \rho }K_{\mu }-\eta _{\mu \rho }K_{\nu }}$

${\displaystyle =0}$

${\displaystyle =-P_{\rho }}$

${\displaystyle =+K_{\rho }}$

${\displaystyle =-2M_{\mu \nu }+2\eta _{\mu \nu }D}$

${\displaystyle =0}$

${\displaystyle =0}$

where η is the Minkowski metric; while the ones for the fermionic generators are:

${\displaystyle \left\{Q_{\alpha i},{\overline {Q}}_{\dot {\beta }}^{j}\right\}=2\delta _{i}^{j}\sigma _{\alpha {\dot {\beta }}}^{\mu }P_{\mu }}$

${\displaystyle \left\{Q,Q\right\}=\left\{{\overline {Q}},{\overline {Q}}\right\}=0}$

${\displaystyle \left\{S_{\alpha }^{i},{\overline {S}}_{{\dot {\beta }}j}\right\}=2\delta _{j}^{i}\sigma _{\alpha {\dot {\beta }}}^{\mu }K_{\mu }}$

${\displaystyle \left\{S,S\right\}=\left\{{\overline {S}},{\overline {S}}\right\}=0}$

${\displaystyle \left\{Q,S\right\}=}$

${\displaystyle \left\{Q,{\overline {S}}\right\}=\left\{{\overline {Q}},S\right\}=0}$

The bosonic conformal generators do not carry any R-charges, as they commute with the R-symmetry generators:

${\displaystyle ====0}$

${\displaystyle ====0}$

But the fermionic generators do carry R-charge:

${\displaystyle =-{\frac {1}{2}}Q}$

${\displaystyle ={\frac {1}{2}}{\overline {Q}}}$

${\displaystyle ={\frac {1}{2}}S}$

${\displaystyle =-{\frac {1}{2}}{\overline {S}}}$

${\displaystyle =-\delta _{k}^{i}Q_{j}}$

${\displaystyle =\delta _{j}^{k}{\overline {Q}}^{i}}$

${\displaystyle =\delta _{j}^{k}S^{i}}$

${\displaystyle =-\delta _{k}^{i}{\overline {S}}_{j}}$

Under bosonic conformal transformations, the fermionic generators transform as:

${\displaystyle =-{\frac {1}{2}}Q}$

${\displaystyle =-{\frac {1}{2}}{\overline {Q}}}$

${\displaystyle ={\frac {1}{2}}S}$

${\displaystyle ={\frac {1}{2}}{\overline {S}}}$

${\displaystyle ==0}$

${\displaystyle ==0}$

Superconformal algebra in 2D

There are two possible algebras with minimal supersymmetry in two dimensions; a Neveu–Schwarz algebra and a Ramond algebra. Additional supersymmetry is possible, for instance the N = 2 superconformal algebra.

See also

• Conformal symmetry
• Super Virasoro algebra
• Supersymmetry algebra

References

1. West, P. C. (2002). "Introduction to Rigid Supersymmetric Theories". Confinement, Duality, and Non-Perturbative Aspects of QCD. NATO Science Series: B. Vol. 368. pp. 453–476. arXiv:hep-th/9805055. doi:10.1007/0-306-47056-X_17. ISBN 0-306-45826-8. S2CID 119413468.
2. Gates, S. J.; Grisaru, Marcus T.; Rocek, M.; Siegel, W. (1983). "Superspace, or one thousand and one lessons in supersymmetry". Frontiers in Physics. 58: 1–548. arXiv:hep-th/0108200. Bibcode:2001hep.th....8200G.

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