Light Cone $W_n$ Geometry and its Symmetries and Projective Field Theory

Abstract

I show that the generalized Beltrami differentials and projective connections which appear naturally in induced light cone $W_n$ gravity are geometrical fields parametrizing in one-to-one fashion generalized projective structures on a fixed base Riemann surface. I also show that $W_n$ symmetries are nothing but gauge transformations of the flat ${SL}(n,{\bf C})$ vector bundles canonically associated to the generalized projective structures. This provides an original formulation of classical light cone $W_n$ geometry. From the knowledge of the symmetries, the full BRS algebra is derived. Inspired by the results of recent literature, I argue that quantum $W_n$ gravity may be formulated as an induced gauge theory of generalized projective connections. This leads to projective field theory. The possible anomalies arising at the quantum level are analyzed by solving Wess-Zumino consistency conditions. The implications for induced covariant $W_n$ gravity are briefly discussed. The results presented, valid for arbitrary $n$, reproduce those obtained for $n=2,3$ by different methods.