A Superstring Theory in Four Curved Space-Time Dimensions

Abstract

Neveu-Schwarz-Ramond type heterotic and type-II superstrings in four dimensional curved space-time are constructed as exact $N=1$ superconformal theories. The tachyon is eliminated with a GSO projection. The theory is based on the N=1 superconformal gauged WZW model for the anti-de Sitter coset $SO(3,2)/SO(3,1)$ with integer central extension $k=5$. The model has dynamical duality properties in its space-time metric that are similar to the large-small ($R\rightarrow 1/R$) duality of tori. To first order in a $1/k$ expansion we give expressions for the metric, the dilaton, the Ricci tensor and their dual generalizations. The curvature scalar has several singularities at various locations in the 4-dimensional manifold. This provides a new singular solution to Einstein's equations in the presence of matter in four dimensions. A non-trivial path integral measure which we conjectured in previous work for gauged WZW models is verified.