The Higher Cohomologies of E_8 Lie Algebra

Abstract

It is well known that anomaly cancellations for D_16 Lie algebra are at the root of the first string revolution. For E_8 Lie algebra, cancellation of anomalies is the principal fact leading to the existence of heterotic string. They are in fact nothing but the 6th order cohomologies of corresponding Lie algebras. Beyond 6th order, the calculations seem to require special care and it could be that their study will be worthwhile in the light of developments of the second string revolution. As we have shown in a recent article, for A_N Lie algebras, there is a method which are based on the calculations of Casimir eigenvalues. This is extended to E_8 Lie algebra in the present article. In the generality of any irreducible representation of E_8 Lie algebra, we consider 8th and 12th order cohomologies while emphasizing the diversities between the two. It is seen that one can respectively define 2 and 8 basic invariant polinomials in terms of which 8th and 12th order Casimir eigenvalues are always expressed as linear superpositions. All these can be easily investigated because each one of these invariant polinimials gives us a linear equation to calculate E_8 weight multiplicities. Our results beyond order 12 are not included here because they get more complicated though share the same characteristic properties with 12th order calculations.