A Connection between Twistors and Superstring Sigma Models on Coset Superspaces

TL;DR

This paper explores the connection between superstring sigma models on coset superspaces and twistor theory, revealing a dimensional reduction from self-dual Yang-Mills equations that could aid in solving superstring equations and understanding their symmetries.

Contribution

It establishes a novel link between superstring sigma models on coset superspaces and higher-dimensional self-dual Yang-Mills equations via twistor theory.

Findings

Superstring equations relate to reduced self-dual Yang-Mills equations.

Twistor theory provides a framework for understanding superstring solutions.

Potential insights into gauge theory duals of superstring models.

Abstract

We consider superstring sigma models that are based on coset superspaces G/H in which H arises as the fixed point set of an order-4 automorphism of G. We show by means of twistor theory that the corresponding first-order system, consisting of the Maurer-Cartan equations and the equations of motion, arises from a dimensional reduction of some generalised self-dual Yang-Mills equations in eight dimensions. Such a relationship might help shed light on the explicit construction of solutions to the superstring equations including their hidden symmetry structures and thus on the properties of their gauge theory duals.