SISSA/ISAS 67/94/EP
hepth@xxx/9405174
IFUM 469/FT
May, 1994
1
CONSTRAINED TOPOLOGICAL FIELD THEORY
arXiv:hep-th/9405174v2 22 Jun 1994
Damiano Anselmi, Pietro Fré
International School for Advanced Studies (ISAS), via Beirut 2-4, I-34100 Trieste, Italia
and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) - Sezione di Trieste, Trieste, Italia
Luciano Girardello and Paolo Soriani
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Milano, via Celoria 6, I-20133 Milano, Italia
and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) - Sezione di Milano, Milano, Italia
Abstract
We derive a model of constrained topological gravity, a theory recently introduced by
us through the twist of N=2 Liouville theory, starting from the general BRST algebra
and imposing the moduli space constraint as a gauge fixing. To do this, it is necessary
to introduce a formalism that allows a careful treatment of the global and the local
degrees of freedom of the fields. Surprisingly, the moduli space constraint arises from the
simplest and most natural gauge-fermion (antighost × Lagrange multiplier), confirming
the previous results. The simplified technical set-up provides a deeper understanding for
constrained topological gravity and a convenient framework for future investigations, like
the matter coupling and the analysis of the effects of the constraint on the holomorphic
anomaly.
1
Partially supported by EEC, Science Project SC1∗ -CT92-0789.
1
In a recent paper [1], we analysed the topological twist of N=2 supergravity in two
dimensions and revealed some new features with respect to the known models of topo-
logical gravity. The key point (that, to our knowledge, was not previously noticed in the
literature) is that the gravitini must be U(1) charged with respect to the graviphoton in
order to close off-shell the supersymmetry transformations2 . This fact has crucial effects:
the graviphoton A appears, after the twist, in the BRST variation of some antighost and
can be interpreted as a BRST Lagrange multiplier; moreover, the U(1) current is non-
trivial and its vanishing projects the moduli space Mg of the genus g Riemann surfaces
onto a homology cycle Vg ∈ H2g−3 (Mg ) of codimension g.
Any topological field theory projects the functional integral onto the moduli space
of some instantons. Consequently, the Riemann surfaces lying in Vg are to be named
gravitational instantons in two dimensions.
In the present paper, we construct a model of constrained topological gravity inde-
pendently of any topological twist, that however captures the main suggestion springing
from the twist of the N=2 theory. For the details of the twisted model as well as for
many other technical points just alluded to in the present letter, the reader is referred to
ref. [1]. Here, in any case, we also trace back the match with the model of ref. [1]. We get
a theory whose formal structure is essentially the same as in the Verlinde and Verlinde
model [2], but such that the correlation functions are calculated on Vg instead of Mg .
As discussed in detail in ref. [1], constrained topological gravity is described by the
gauge-free BRST algebra of SL(2, R), the same as in the Verlinde and Verlinde model
[2],
se± = ψ ± − ∇c± ∓ c0 e± ,
sψ ± = −∇γ ± ∓ c0 ψ ± ± γ0 e± ± ψ0 c± ,
sγ ± = ∓c0 γ ± ± γ0 c± ,
sc± = γ ± ∓ c0 c± ,
sω = ψ0 − dc0 , sψ0 = −dγ0 , sc0 = γ0 , sγ0 = 0, (1)
but the gauge-fixing BRST algebra Bgauge−f ixing is enriched with an antighost one-form
ψ̄, a Lagrange multiplier one form A and the respective gauge ghosts, γ and c,
sψ̄ = A + dγ, sA = dc, sγ = c, sc = 0. (2)
The possibility of introducing a BRST constraint on the moduli space is due to the
fact that Bgauge−f ixing contains fields (ψ̄ and A) that possess global degrees of freedom:
instead of enlarging the moduli space, they reduce it.
Due to this, it is necessary to develop a formalism that permits to deal conveniently
with the global degrees of freedom, together with the local ones3 . Let us introduce fiducial
fields ê± , ψ̂ ± , ψ̄ˆ and  satisfying the “purely topological” BRST algebræ
sê± = ψ̂ ± , sψ̂ ± = 0, sψ̄ˆ = Â, s = 0. (3)
2
The corresponding supersymmetry algebra was called by us charged Poincarè superalgebra.
3
For this problem see also [3].
2
The hatted fields will represent the purely global degrees of freedom of the corresponding
unhatted fields. For example, ê± represents the conformal class of the metric represented
by e± .
To clarify this point, it is useful to write down the gauge-fixings of diffeomorphisms
and Lorentz rotations together with their fermionic counterparts,
e+ ∧ ê+ = 0, e− ∧ ê− = 0, e+ ∧ ê− + e− ∧ ê+ = 0,
ψ + ê+ = ψ̂ + e+ , ψ − ê− = ψ̂ − e− , ψ + ê− + ψ − ê+ = ψ̂ + e− + ψ̂ − e+ . (4)
We can solve these gauge-fixing conditions by writing
e± = eϕ ê± , ψ ± = eϕ (ηê± + ψ̂ ± ), (5)
ϕ being the Liouville field and η its superpartner. We see that ê± represent the differ-
± + +
entials dz and dz̄. Moreover, writing ψ̂ ± = ψ̂+ ± −
ê + ψ̂− ê , we are lead to identify ψ̂−
and ψ̂+ −
with m̂i µiz ˆ iz̄ ˆ
z̄ and m̄i µ̄z , respectively. Here m̂i and m̄i , i = 1, . . . , 3g − 3 are the
iz iz̄
supermoduli, while µz̄ and µ̄z are the Beltrami differentials. On the other hand, writing
ψ̄ˆ = ψ̄ˆ+ ê+ + ψ̄ˆ− ê− and  = Â+ ê+ + Â− ê− , we can identify ψ̄ˆ+ and ψ̄ˆ− with ν̂j ωzj and
ν̄ˆj ω̄z̄j , while Â+ and Â− can be identified with νj ωzj and ν̄j ω̄z̄j . Here ωzj is a basis of g
holomorphic differentials, g being the genus of the Riemann surface, and ω̄z̄j are their
complex conjugates. Finally, νj and ν̄j are the global degrees of freedom of the U(1)
gauge field A, while ν̂j and ν̄ˆ j are those of ψ̄. Formula (3) should be compared with
formula (9.1) of [1].
The functional measure dµ contains the integration dµ̂ over the hatted fields,
dµ̂ = dê+ dê− dψ̂ + dψ̂ − dÂdψ̄ˆ, (6)
where dê+ dê− is the integration over the moduli space Mg of genus g Riemann surfaces
Σg , while d is the integration over the moduli space of U(1) flat connections, which is
the Jacobian variety Cg /(Zg + ΩZg ), Ω being the period matrix of Σg . dψ̂ + dψ̂ − and dψ̄ˆ
are the integrations over the supermoduli.
The above identifications between hatted fields and moduli will be made only in the
final expressions: in the intermediate steps it is convenient to retain the hatted fields, in
order to avoid concepts like the “field dependent points” z and z̄, that are unusual in
quantum field theory.
(i) (i)
Let Ω(i) = Ω+ ê+ + Ω− ê− , i = 1, 2, be two one-forms such that sΩ(1) = Ω(2) . Then
(1) (1)
the formulæ for sΩ+ and sΩ− read
(1) +(2) − (1) (1)
sΩ+ = Ω+ − ψ̂+ Ω+ − ψ̂+ Ω− ,
(1) +(2) − (1) (1)
sΩ− = Ω− − ψ̂− Ω+ − ψ̂− Ω− . (7)
These expressions will be crucial when constraining the moduli space. Notice that even
(1)
when Ω(2) = 0, sΩ± are nonzero.
3
Another important point concerns the gauge-fixing of the local U(1) gauge symme-
tries. In section VII of ref. [1] we invented a suitable trick in order to reach a complete
chiral factorization between left and right moving sectors, at least in the limit when the
cosmological constant tends to zero. Here, we need to use the same trick twice, once for
ψ̄ and once for A. So, let us introduce two trivial BRST systems {Γ̄, ζ} and {ξ, c′ }, with
sΓ̄ = ζ, sζ = 0,
sξ = c′ , sc′ = 0. (8)
The gauge-fixings of the γ and c symmetries, as well as the above two trivial symmetries
are
ψ̄± = ψ̄ˆ± ∓ ∇± Γ̄, A± = ± ∓ ∇± ξ, (9)
where ∇± are such that the exterior derivative d is ê+ ∇+ + ê− ∇− .
Finally, we need to fix the topological symmetries and this can be achieved by setting
T ± = 0, R = a2 e+ e− , dψ̄ = 0, (10)
T ± = de± ± ω ∧ e± being the torsions. The condition dψ̄ = 0 and its BRST variation
dA = 0 do not depend on the global degrees of freedom ν and ν̂. The gauge-fixing for
them (moduli space constraint) will be treated in detail later on.
With obvious notation, the gauge fermions for the gauge-fixings that we have so far
introduced are
Ψ1 = π̄± T ± + π̄(R − a2 e+ e− ),
Ψ2 = χdψ̄,
Ψ3 = b++ e+ ê+ + b−− e− ê− + b+− (e+ ê− + e− ê+ ) + β++ (ψ + ê+ − ψ̂ + e+ )
+β−− (ψ − ê− − ψ̂ − e− ) + β+− (ψ + ê− + ψ − ê+ − ψ̂ + e− − ψ̂ − e+ ),
Ψ = β (ψ̄ − ψ̄ˆ − ∇ Γ̄)ê+ ê− + b (A − Â − ∇ ξ)ê+ ê−
4 + − − − + − − −
+β− (ψ̄+ − ψ̄ˆ+ + ∇+ Γ̄)ê+ ê− + b− (A+ − Â+ + ∇+ ξ)ê+ ê− . (11)
Let π = sπ̄ and λ = sχ. Focusing on the local degrees of freedom, the Lagrangian
L = −s 4i=1 Ψi turns out to be, after some simple field redefinitions similar to those
P
discussed in section VII of ref. [1] and in the limit a2 → 0,
L = π∂z ∂z̄ ϕ + χ∂z ∂z̄ ξ − π̄∂z ∂z̄ η + λ∂z ∂z̄ Γ̄
−bzz ∂z̄ cz − βzz ∂z̄ γ z − βz ∂z̄ γ − bz ∂z̄ c
+bz̄ z̄ ∂z cz̄ + βz̄z̄ ∂z γ z̄ − βz̄ ∂z γ̄ − bz̄ ∂z c̄. (12)
Notice that there are second order fermions, differently from the model of ref. [1].
The BRST charge Q can be easily found with the method of ref. [1], i.e. by means of
a local BRST variation of the Lagrangian. One can then write
Q = Qs + Qv , (13)
4
where Q2s = Q2v = {Qs , Qv } = 0. Explicitly,
I
Qs = −∂z πη − λ∂z ξ + bzz γ z − βz c, (14)
while Qv is the same as in the Verlinde and Verlinde model plus −∂z χc−∂z λγ. To recover
the correct energy momentum tensor, one has to perform the following redefinitions (left
moving part)
bzz → bzz − bz ∂z γ + ∂z χ∂z Γ̄, βz → βz + ∂z (bz cz ),
ξ → ξ − ∂z Γ̄cz , λ → λ + ∂z χcz ,
c → c + ∂z γcz . (15)
The operator product expansions among the fields are left unchanged (and so the form
of the Lagrangian). The final BRST charge Q is Qs + Qv with Qs as before and
I
1 1 1
Qv = −cz Tzz − γ z Gzz − cJz′ + γGz′ . (16)
2 2 2
One has4
grav 1 gh 1
Tzz = Tzz + Tzz , Gzz = Ggrav
zz + Ggh ,
2 2 zz
grav grav
grav
Tzz = T(1)zz + T(2)zz , Ggrav
zz = Ggrav grav
(1)zz + G(2)zz ,
gh gh gh gh gh
Tzz = T(1)zz + T(2)zz , Ggh
zz = G(1)zz + G(2)zz , (17)
and
grav 1 grav
T(1)zz = ∂z π∂z ϕ − ∂z2 π − ∂z π̄∂z η, T(2)zz = ∂z χ∂z ξ + ∂z λ∂z Γ̄,
2
Ggrav 2
(1)zz = ∂z π̄ − 2∂z π̄∂z ϕ, Ggrav
(2)zz = −2∂z χ∂z Γ̄,
gh gh
T(1)zz = 2bzz ∂z cz + ∂z bzz cz + 2βzz ∂z γ z + ∂z βzz γ z , T(2)zz = βz ∂z γ + bz ∂z c,
Ggh z z
(1)zz = −4βzz ∂z c − 2∂z βzz c , Ggh
(2)zz = 2bz ∂z γ. (18)
On the other hand, the U(1) current Jz′ = 2{Qv , bz } and the associated supercurrent
G′z = −2[Qv , βz ] are trivial:
Jz′ = 2∂z χ + 2∂z (bz cz ), Jz′ = 2∂z χ + ∂z (bz cz ),
G′z = −2∂z λ + 2∂z (βz cz ) + 2∂z (bz γ z ), Gz′ = −2∂z λ + ∂z (βz cz ) + ∂z (bz γ z ), (19)
in the sense that ω̄z̄j Jz′ = 0 and ω̄z̄j G′z = 0, ∀j. Recall that in ref. [1] it was precisely
R R
the nontriviality of ω̄z̄j Jz that was responsible of the constraint on the moduli space.
R
This was due to the outlined fact that the gravitini need to be U(1) charged in order to
4
We have normalized the currents in such a way that {Qs , Gzz } = 2Tzz .
5
close the N=2 supersymmetry transformations off-shell. In the present model, however,
we have not dealt so far with the moduli space constraint and no field is U(1) charged.
Indeed, the present approach is “constructive”, in the sense that we are not getting the
topological theory from an already formulated independent model (like N=2 Liouville
theory). This means that the moduli space constraint has to be introduced “by hand”.
As a matter of fact, the topological Halgebra is not closed by G′z and Jz′ , but by the
topological current Gz , such that Qs = Gz , and by the ghost current Jz ,
Gz = Ggrav grav gh gh
(1)z + G(2)z + G(1)z + G(2)z ,
grav
Jz = J(1)z grav
+ J(2)z gh
+ J(1)z gh
+ J(2)z ,
Ggrav
(1)z = −∂z πη, Ggrav
(2)z = −λ∂z ξ, Ggh z
(1)z = bzz γ , Ggh
(2)z = −βz c,
grav 1 grav gh gh
J(1)z = − ∂z π + η∂z π̄, J(2)z = λ∂z Γ̄, J(1)z = bzz cz + 2βzz γ z , J(2)z = bz c.
2
(20)
This is more similar to what happens in the Verlinde and Verlinde model. Indeed, the
topological algebra Tzz -Gzz -Gz -Jz is the tensor product of the Verlinde and Verlinde one
(denoted by the subscript 1), and the constraining topological algebra, corresponding
to equation (2) and denoted by the subscript 2. The Verlinde and Verlinde topological
algebra can be untwisted according to Tzz → Tzz − 12 ∂z Jz , to give an N=2 superconformal
algebra with central charge c1 = cgrav 1 + cgh grav
1 , c1 = 3, cgh
1 = −9, while the constraining
topological algebra can be untwisted to give an N=2 superconformal algebra with central
charge c2 = cgrav
2 + cgh grav
2 , c2 = 3, cgh
2 = 3. Thus the total topological algebra has central
grav gh grav
charge c = c +c , c = 6, cgh = −6, as in ref. [1]. Nevertheless, the above
representation of the topological algebra is different from the one of ref. [1]. A map
between the present conformal theory and the one of ref. [1] is easily derived as follows5 .
Following a procedure similar to the one of section VIII of [1], we can write (see also [4])
I
Qv = {Qs , [Qv , S]}, S= bz γ − βzz cz , S 2 = 0, U1 = e[Qv ,S] , U1 QU1−1 = Qs .
(21)
Now, the topological charge Qs is the same as in the theory of ref. [1] and there exists an
operator U2 (see section VIII of [1]) such that U2 Q′ U2−1 = Qs , Q′ = Qs + Q′v denoting
the total BRST charge of the topological model of ref. [1]. Then the operator U = U2−1 U1
maps between the conformal field theories corresponding to the two models of constrained
topological gravity:
Q′ = UQU −1 . (22)
The “singular” character of U2 (the field redefinitions contain negative powers of 1 − γ)
is thus explained by the fact that the U(1) currents are different in the two cases and the
moduli space constraint is imposed in a different way.
5
For this pourpose, it is convenient to introduce first order fermions π̄z = ∂z π̄ and Γ̄z = ∂z Γ̄ (and
their complex conjugates).
6
We now discuss the constraint on the moduli space. It is easy to see that the La-
grangian L = 4i=1 −sΨi is independent of the global degrees of freedom ν and ν̂. In-
P
deed, from (7) and (11) it follows that L4 = −sΨ4 only depends on the differences
A± − ± = ∓∇± ξ and ψ̄± − ψ̄ˆ± = ∓∇± Γ̄ and never on A± , ψ̄± , ± , ψ̄ˆ± , separately. On
the other hand, L2 = −sΨ2 contains dψ̄ and dA, which are the same as d(ψ̄ − ψ̄ˆ) and
d(A − Â), if we take into account that dψ̄ˆ = 0 and d = 0.
Thus the ν-ν̂ dependence is completely confined to a fifth gauge fermion Ψ5 , by means
of which we now impose the moduli space constraint. We have two possibilities that are
related to two different descriptions given in ref. [1].
The first possibility is represented by a rather natural gauge-fermion: antighost ×
Lagrange multiplier; precisely
1
Ψ5 = (ψ̄ˆ+ Â− + ψ̄ˆ− Â+ )ê+ ê− . (23)
2
Then, we have, using (3) and (7),
− ˆ + ˆ
L5 = sΨ5 = (Â+ Â− − ψ̂+ ψ̄ − Â− − ψ̂− ψ̄ + Â+ )ê+ ê−
Z Z Z
= νj ν̄ k ωzj ω̄z̄k d2 z − m̄
ˆ i ν̄ˆ j ν̄ k µ̄iz̄ j k 2
z ω̄z̄ ω̄z̄ d z − m̂i ν̂j ν
k
µiz j k 2
z̄ ωz ωz d z. (24)
Σg Σg Σg
Now we want to perform the ν-ν̂ integration. First of all, we notice that the ν integra-
tion can be performed over all Cg instead of Cg /(Zg + ΩZg ). Indeed, the restriction to
Cg /(Zg + ΩZg ) is due to the invariance with respect to the U(1) gauge transformations
that are not continuously deformable to the identity. However, such invariance is explic-
itly broken by Ψ5 , since the Â+ Â− term is a kind of mass term for the U(1) connection.
When there is a gauge-invariance, one can break it either by solving a certain gauge-
fixing condition or by introducing a corresponding gauge-fermion in the action. The first
possibility is not practicable, in general, since solving a gauge-fixing condition usually
requires to invert derivative operators. In the present case, however, the two possibilities
are equally practicable, but the second one is more convenient. The BRST equivalence
of the two possibilities can be proved by using a stretching argument like the one of ref.
[1] and convert the integration over Cg /(Zg + ΩZg ) to the integration over the full Cg .
Using the properties (see [5] for example)
Z Z
∂Ωjk Z
∂ Ω̄jk
ωzj ω̄z̄k d2 z = (Ω̄ − Ω)jk , µiz j k 2
z̄ ωz ωz d z = i , µ̄iz̄ j k 2
z ω̄z̄ ω̄z̄ d z = −i ,
Σg Σg ∂mi Σg ∂ m̄i
(25)
and using the well known formulæ for a superdeterminant, we get
g
1 ¯ 1
Z Y R
L5
dνj dν̄j dν̂j dν̄ˆj e Σg
= det ∂ Ω̄ ∂Ω , (26)
j=1 Ω − Ω̄ Ω − Ω̄
∂
where ∂ = m̂i ∂m i
and a suitable normalization factor has been introduced. This is pre-
cisely the top Chern class cg (Ehol ) of the Hodge vector bundle Ehol → Mg whose sections
7
are the holomorphic differentials. This representation of cg (Ehol ) is easily obtained (see
section IX of ref. [1]) by choosing the imaginary part of the period matrix as fiber metric.
It is amazing to notice that this result follows naturally from the simplest gauge-fermion
that comes to one’s mind, i.e. (23). In some sense, we can still say that the constraint
comes automatically and is not imposed “by hand”, since at first sight there is no gauge-
fixing condition in (23).
Now, let us discuss a second possibility, which better “simulates” what one gets
automatically by twisting the N=2 Liouville theory. Again, the form of the gauge-fermion
is quite typical, namely antighost × gauge-condition. This requires, however, that we
know a priori what condition to impose. Let S = Sz dz be a section of Ehol . As discussed
in [1],R we can project onto the Poincarè dual of cg (Ehol ) by requiring the vanishing of
aj ≡ Σg ω̄z̄j Sz d2 z ∀j [6]. This is achieved by choosing
Ψ5 = ψ̄ˆ− ê− S + ψ̄ˆ+ ê+ S̄. (27)
Then, we get
+ ˆ − ˆ +
L5 = sΨ5 = (Â− − ψ̂− ψ̄ + )ê− S + ψ̂+ ψ̄ − ê S + ψ̄ˆ− ê− sS + h.c.
= (νj āk − ν̄j ak + ν̂j sāk − ν̄ˆ j sak )(Ω̄ − Ω)jk + R, (28)
where R is an addend made of terms proportional to aj or āj and independent of ν-ν̄.
The integration over ν-ν̄ gives delta functions that permit to neglect R. At the end,
noticing that saj can be replaced by daj , d being the exterior derivative on the moduli
space, we get
2
g
Z Y R g
L5
dνj dν̄j dν̂j dν̄ˆ j e
Y
Σg
= δ(aj ) daj , (29)
j=1 j=1
which is the representation of cg (Ehol ) in the de Rham current cohomology [1].
Both choices (23) and (27) of Ψ5 do not depend, by construction, on the local degrees
of freedom of the fields. Moreover, the observables σn = γ0n are independent of sector
of Bgauge−f ixing that implements the constraint on the moduli space. After integrating
over the global degrees of freedom ν-ν̂ of ψ̄ and A, one can also integrate over the local
degrees of freedom of the constraining sector (λ, Γ̄, χ, ξ, bz , c, βz , γ). When zero modes
are suitably taken into account, such integrations give a net unit factor, since fermionic
and bosonic determinants compensate, as it is common in topological field theory. The
surviving fields are precisely those of the Verlinde and Verlinde model and the only
remnant of the constraining procedure is the insertion of cg (Ehol ). Thus, the physical
amplitudes are
s Z s
[c1 (Li )]di ,
Y Y
< σdi (xi ) >= cg (Ehol ) (30)
i=1 Mg,s i=1
as claimed in [1]. Mg,s is the moduli space of Riemann surfaces Σg of genus g and s
marked points, while c1 (Li ) are the Mumford-Morita classes [7]. The selection rule is
8
clearly
s
X
di = 2g − 3 + s. (31)
i=1
Notice that, after the above integrations, the problem of the difference between true
and formal dimensions [1] is bypassed. Neverthelsss, the fact that the right hand side of
(31) contains 2g − 3 instead of something proportional to g − 1 (and so to the curvature)
seems intriguing, since it is not straightforward to repeat the Verlinde and Verlinde
analysis of contact terms. This is, to our opinion, a challenging feature of constrained
topological gravity.
In the case of the sphere the correlation functions are the same as in ordinary topo-
logical gravity. For g = 1, on the other hand, Ω = τ and c1 (Ehol ) = (τdτ−τ̄
∧dτ̄
)2
, which is
the Poincaré metric. Its Poincaré dual is a point, that can be chosen at infinity. This
corresponds to a torus with a pinched cycle or, equivalently, a sphere with two identified
points. For s = 1, (31) is zero, so that the moduli space is a point and we can write
1
< σ0 >= , (32)
2
the one half being a symmetry factor due to the identification of the two points. This
correlation function is the analogue of < σ0 σ0 σ0 > in genus zero. In view of the above
remarks, it is natural to expect that the correlation functions in genus one are a half of
the corresponding correlation functions in genus zero, namely when ki=1 ni = k, then
P
k k
Y 1 Y 1 k!
< σ0 σni >= < σ0 σ0 σ0 σni >= Qk . (33)
i=1 2 i=1 2 i=1 ni !
One can conceive several variants of (30), in which correlation functions are products
of Mumford-Morita classes times a fixed moduli space cocycle. For example, one could
replace cg (Ehol ) with cg−k (Ehol ), 0 < k < g. However, the case that we have considered
is the one that deserves particular attention, firstly because it is suggested by physics,
secondly because only cg (Ehol ) is expressible as a determinant and can be easily inserted
in a field theoretical model, thirdly because cg−k (Ehol ) is not meaningful for all genera,
but only for g ≥ k. (Anyway, the fact that for k = 1, the right hand side of (31) is
2g − 2 + s perhaps deserves attention).
To conclude, many open questions still remain to be answered and lots of possible
applications should be investigated in the future. The first question is whether the
correlation functions of constrained topological gravity satisfy any integrable hierarchy.
In other words, one would like to know if one can generalize the Kontsevich contruction
[8], by identifying the set of fat graphs that describe the gravitational instantons in two
dimensions and by finding the corresponding matrix model.
A very promising chapter, still to be open, concerns the possible couplings of con-
trained topological gravity to topological matter. One should generalize to this case the
analysis done for standard topological gravity. In particular, one should investigate the
9
meaning of the equivariance condition [2, 4] on the physical states and what are the
possible matter representatives for the gravitational observables [9]. Moreover it would
be very interesting to know what are the effects of the moduli space constraint on the
holomorphic anomaly [10].
Finally, one can also think of a generalization of the contraining mechanism proposed
in this letter, by studying different gauge-fixing terms for the global degrees of freedom.
In particular, one can wonder whether in the standard theory of topological gravity
coupled to matter the moduli space contraint possesses a representation in some sort of
“matter picture” similar to the ones of [4, 9].
References
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10