= Massless chiral RNS spectrum after GSO projection
{title2=$8_v\oplus8_{s\text{ or }c}$}
In one critical chiral <RNS string> sector, <light-cone gauge in string theory> leaves eight transverse directions. The <Neveu–Schwarz sector> massless states $b_{-1/2}^i|0;k\rangle$ give eight spacetime bosonic polarizations. The <Ramond zero-mode Clifford algebra> gives sixteen ground-state polarizations, split into two eight-dimensional spinor chiralities. The supersymmetric <GSO projection> keeps one chirality, giving eight spacetime fermionic polarizations. Without that projection the massless counts do not agree. Counting a chiral sector is distinct from tensoring left and right sectors into closed-string states.
Back to article page
