On the Worldsheet Formulation of the Six-Dimensional Self-Dual String

TL;DR

This paper proposes a potential worldsheet formulation for a recently theorized six-dimensional self-dual superstring using Z_4 parafermions, addressing a longstanding gap in string theory.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach employing Z_4 parafermions to model the worldsheet theory of the six-dimensional self-dual superstring.

Findings

Z_4 parafermions can describe the light-cone conformal field theory

Suggests a possible worldsheet formulation for the self-dual string

Provides a new direction for understanding six-dimensional superstrings

Abstract

Despite recent evidence indicating the existence of a new kind of self-dual six-dimensional superstring, no satisfactory worldsheet formulation of such a string has been proposed. In this note we point out that a theory built from Z_4 parafermions may have the right properties to describe the light-cone conformal field theory of this string. This indicates a possible worldsheet formulation of this theory.