Supersymmetric sigma models and the heterotic string

We define the (1 + 1)-dimensional supersymmetry algebra of type (p, q) to be that generated by p right-handed Majorana-Weyl supercharges and q left-handed ones. We construct the non-linear sigma models with supersymmetry of type (1,0) and (2,0) and discuss their geometry and their relevance to compactifications of the heterotic superstring. The sigma-model anomalies can be cancelled by a mechanism closely related to that used by Green and Schwarz to cancel gravitational and Yang-Mills anomalies for the superstring.