2010/07/26 by Jacques Distler, Distler, Jacques, Daniel S. Freed +3
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #53C27 #58J20 #81T30 #81T50 #Algebraic Topology (math.AT) #Differential Geometry (math.DG) #FOS: Mathematics #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th) #hep-th #math.AT #math.DG #msc:53C27 #msc:58J20 #msc:81T30 #msc:81T50
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1007.4581
27 pages
arxiv created 2010/07/26 · arxiv updated 2010/07/29
In superstring theory spin structures are present on both the 2-dimensional worldsheet and 10-dimensional spacetime. We present a new proposal for the B-field in superstring theory and demonstrate its interaction with worldsheet spin structures. Our formulation generalizes to orientifolds, where various twistings appear. A special case of the orientifold worldsheet B-field amplitude is a KO-theoretic construction of the Z/8Z-valued Kervaire invariant on pin-minus surfaces.