Two-loop superstrings. I. Main formulas

An unambiguous and slice-independent formula for the two-loop superstring measure on moduli space for even spin structure is constructed from first principles. The construction uses the super-period matrix as moduli invariant under worldsheet supersymmetry. This produces new subtle contributions to the gauge-fixing process. which eliminate all the ambiguities plaguing earlier gauge-fixed formulas. The superstring measure can be computed explicitly and a simple expression in terms of modular forms is obtained. For fixed spin structure, the measure exhibits the expected behavior under degenerations of the surface. The measure allows for a unique modular covariant GSO projection. Under this GSO projection. the cosmological constant, the 1-, 2- and 3-point functions of massless supergravitons all vanish pointwise on moduli space without the appearance of boundary terms. A certain disconnected part of the 4-point function is shown to be given by a convergent, finite integral on moduli space. A general slice-independent formula is given for the two-loop cosmological constant in compactifications with central charge c = 15 and N = 1 worldsheet supersymmetry in terms of the data of the compactification conformal field theory. In this Letter, a summary of the above results is presented with detailed constructions. derivations and proofs to be provided in a series of subsequent publications. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.