Constructing classical and quantum superconformal algebras on the boundary of

Motivated by recent progress on the correspondence between string theory on anti-de Sitter space and conformal field theory, we address the question of constructing space–time N extended superconformal algebras on the boundary of AdS3. Based on a free field realization of an affine SL(2|N/2) current superalgebra residing on the world sheet, we construct explicitly the Virasoro generators and the N supercurrents, N is even. The resulting superconformal algebra has an affine SL(N/2)⊗U(1) current algebra as an internal subalgebra. Though we do not complete the general superalgebra, we outline the underlying construction and present supporting evidence for its validity. Particular attention is paid to its BRST invariance. In the classical limit where the free field realization may be substituted by a differential operator realization, we discuss further classes of generators needed in the closure of the algebra. We find sets of half-integer spin fields, and for N≥6 these include generators of negative weights. An interesting property of the construction is that for N≠2 it treats the supercurrents in an asymmetric way. Thus, we are witnessing a new class of superconformal algebras not obtainable by conventional Hamiltonian reduction. The complete classical algebra is provided in the case N=4 and is of a new and asymmetric form.