2023/09/01 by Olaf Lechtenfeld, Lechtenfeld, Olaf · 1 citation
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Topics in Algebra #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #FOS: Physical sciences #High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th) #Mathematical Physics (math-ph) #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2309.00481
openalex publication_date 2023/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In 1980 Hermann Nicolai proposed a characterization of supersymmetric theories that became known as the Nicolai map. This is a particular nonlocal and nonlinear field transformation, whose perturbative expansion is given by fermion-line trees with bosonic leaves. Quantum correlation functions can by evaluated using the inversely transformed fields in the free theory. After initial promise and excitement (fuelling the author's PhD work!), the subject all but fell dormant for 35 years. Recently however, technical progress in the construction as well as a deeper insight into the nature of the map have been achieved, from quantum mechanics to super Yang-Mills in various dimensions. I will present the Nicolai map from this modern perspective and touch on some of the current developments.