Extended string field theory for massless higher-spin fields

We propose a new gauge field theory which is an extension of ordinary string field theory by assembling multiple state spaces of the bosonic string. The theory includes higher-spin fields in its massless spectrum together with the infinite tower of massive fields. From the theory, we can easily extract the minimal gauge-invariant quadratic action for tensor fields with any symmetry. As examples, we explicitly derive the gauge-invariant actions for some simple mixed symmetric tensor fields. We also construct covariantly gauge-fixed action by extending the method developed for string field theory.     

Frame-like action and unfolded formulation for massive higher-spin fields

Unfolded equations of motion for symmetric massive bosonic fields of any spin in Minkowski and (A)dS$(A)\mathit{dS}$ spaces are presented. Manifestly gauge invariant action for a spin s?2$s?2$ massive field in any dimension is constructed in terms of gauge invariant curvatures.     

Real forms of complex higher spin field equations and new exact solutions

We formulate four-dimensional higher spin gauge theories in spacetimes with signature (4−p,p)$(4-p,p)$ and non-vanishing cosmological constant. Among them are chiral models in Euclidean (4,0)$(4,0)$ and Kleinian (2,2)$(2,2)$ signature involving half-flat gauge fields. Apart from the maximally symmetric solutions, including de Sitter spacetime, we find: (a) SO(4−p,p)$\mathit{SO}(4-p,p)$ invariant deformations, depending on one continuous and infinitely many discrete parameters, including a degenerate metric of rank one; (b) non-maximally symmetric solutions with vanishing Weyl tensors and higher spin gauge fields, that differ from the maximally symmetric solutions in the auxiliary field sector; and (c) solutions of the chiral models furnishing higher spin generalizations of type D gravitational instantons, with an infinite tower of Weyl tensors proportional to totally symmetric products of two principal spinors. These are apparently the first exact 4D solutions with non-vanishing massless higher spin fields.     

Higher-order singletons,partially massless fields,and their boundary values in the ambient approach

Using ambient space we develop a fully gauge and o(d,2)$\mathfrak{o}(d,2)$-covariant approach to boundary values of _AdSd+1${\mathit{AdS}}_{d+1}$ gauge fields. It is applied to the study of (partially) massless fields in the bulk and (higher-order) conformal scalars, i.e. singletons, as well as (higher-depth) conformal gauge fields on the boundary. In particular, we identify the corresponding generalized Fradkin–Tseytlin equations as obstructions to the extension of the off-shell boundary value to the bulk, generalizing the usual considerations for the holographic anomalies to the partially massless fields. We also relate the background fields for the higher-order singleton to the boundary values of partially massless fields and prove the appropriate generalization of the Flato–Fronsdal theorem, which is in agreement with the known structure of symmetries for the higher-order wave operator. All these facts support the following generalization of the higher-spin holographic duality: the O(N)$O(N)$ model at a multicritical isotropic Lifshitz point should be dual to the theory of partially massless symmetric tensor fields described by the Vasiliev equations based on the higher-order singleton symmetry algebra.     

Tractors,mass, and Weyl invariance

Deser and Nepomechie established a relationship between masslessness and rigid conformal invariance by coupling to a background metric and demanding local Weyl invariance, a method which applies neither to massive theories nor theories which rely upon gauge invariances for masslessness. We extend this method to describe massive and gauge invariant theories using Weyl invariance. The key idea is to introduce a new scalar field which is constant when evaluated at the scale corresponding to the metric of physical interest. This technique relies on being able to efficiently construct Weyl invariant theories. This is achieved using tractor calculus—a mathematical machinery designed for the study of conformal geometry. From a physics standpoint, this amounts to arranging fields in multiplets with respect to the conformal group but with novel Weyl transformation laws. Our approach gives a mechanism for generating masses from Weyl weights. Breitenlohner–Freedman stability bounds for Anti-de Sitter theories arise naturally as do direct derivations of the novel Weyl invariant theories given by Deser and Nepomechie. In constant curvature spaces, partially massless theories—which rely on the interplay between mass and gauge invariance—are also generated by our method. Another simple consequence is conformal invariance of the maximal depth partially massless theories. Detailed examples for spins s?2$s?2$ are given including tractor and component actions, on-shell and off-shell approaches and gauge invariances. For all spins s?2$s?2$ we give tractor equations of motion unifying massive, massless, and partially massless theories.     

Magnetic solutions in AdS5 and trace anomalies

We discuss black hole and black string solutions in d=5$d=5$ Einstein–Yang–Mills theory with negative cosmological constant, proposing a method to compute their mass and action. The magnetic gauge field of these configurations does not vanish at infinity. We argue that this implies a nonvanishing trace for the stress tensor of the dual d=4$d=4$ theory.     

Galilean anti-de-Sitter spacetime in Romans theory

The Romans type IIA theory is the only known example of 10-dimensional maximal supergravity where (tensor) fields are explicitly massive. We provide an example of a non-relativistic anti-de-Sitter NRadS₄×S⁶${\mathit{NRadS}}_4\times S^6$ background as a solution in massive type IIA. A compactification of which on S⁶$S^6$ gives immediately the prototype NRadS background in D=4$D=4$ which is proposed to be dual to ‘cold atoms’ or unitary fermions on a wire.     

Cubic interactions of massless higher spins in (A)dS: Metric-like approach

Cubic interactions of higher-spin gauge fields in (A)d_Sd$(A)d{S}_d$ are studied in the metric-like approach. Making use of the traceless and transverse constraints together with the ambient-space formalism, all consistent parity-invariant cubic vertices are obtained for d?4$d?4$ in a closed form pointing out the key role of their flat-space counterparts.     

Dynamical SUSY breaking in heterotic M-theory

It is shown that four-dimensional N=1$N=1$ supersymmetric QCD with massive flavors in the fundamental representation of the gauge group can be realized in the hidden sector of E₈×E₈$E_8\times E_8$ heterotic string vacua. The number of flavors can be chosen to lie in the range of validity of the free-magnetic dual, using which one can demonstrate the existence of long-lived meta-stable non-supersymmetric vacua. This is shown explicitly for the gauge group Spin(10)$\mathit{Spin}(10)$, but the methods are applicable to Spin(Nc)$\mathit{Spin}(N_c)$, SU(Nc)$\mathit{SU}(N_c)$ and Sp(Nc)$\mathit{Sp}(N_c)$ for a wide range of color index Nc$N_c$. Hidden sectors of this type can potentially be used as a mechanism to break supersymmetry within the context of heterotic M-theory.     

Decay widths of lowest massive Regge excitations of open strings

With the advent of the LHC there is widespread interest in the discovery potential for physics beyond the standard model. In TeV-scale open string theory, the new physics can be manifest in the excitation and decay of new resonant structures, corresponding to Regge recurrences of standard model particles. An essential input for the prediction of invariant mass spectra of the decay products (which could serve to identify the resonance as a string excitation) are the partial and total widths of the decay products. We present a parameter-free calculation of these widths for the first Regge recurrence of the SU(3)$\mathit{SU}(3)$ gluon octet, of the U(1)$U(1)$ gauge boson which accompanies gluons in D-brane constructions, and of the quark triplet.     

Towards a quantum field theory of primitive string fields

We denote generating functions of massless even higher-spin fields ??primitive string fields?? (PSF??s). In an introduction we present the necessary definitions and derive propagators and currents of these PDF??s on flat space. Their off-shell cubic interaction can be derived after all off-shell cubic interactions of triplets of higher-spin fields have become known. Then we discuss four-point functions of any quartet of PSF??s. In subsequent sections we exploit the fact that higher-spin field theories in AdS _d+1 are determined by AdS/CFT correspondence from universality classes of critical systems in d-dimensional flat spaces. The O(N) invariant sectors of the O(N) vector models for 1 ?? N ??? play for us the role of ??standard models??, for varying N, they contain, e.g., the Ising model for N = 1 and the spherical model for N = ??. A formula for the masses squared that break gauge symmetry for these O(N) classes is presented for d = 3. For the PSF on AdS space it is shown that it can be derived by lifting the PSF on flat space by a simple kernel which contains the sum over all spins. Finally we use an algorithm to derive all symmetric tensor higher-spin fields. They arise from monomials of scalar fields by derivation and selection of conformal (quasiprimary) fields. Typically one monomial produces a multiplet of spin s conformal higher-spin fields for all s ?? 4, they are distinguished by their anomalous dimensions (in CFT ₃) or by theirmass (in AdS ₄). We sum over these multiplets and the spins to obtain ??string type fields??, one for each such monomial.     

Topologically massive AdS gravity

We analyze (2+1)$(2+1)$-dimensional gravity with a Chern–Simons term and a negative cosmological constant, primarily at the weak field level. The full theory is expressible as the sum of two higher derivative SL(2,R)$\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{R})$ “vector” Chern–Simons terms, while the physical bulk degrees of freedom correspond to a single massive scalar field, just as for Λ=0$\Lambda =0$. The interplay of Λ and the mass parameter μ can be studied, and any physical mass—including the conformal value with null propagation—is accessible by tuning μ. The single bulk mode yields a complete set of normalizable positive energy wave packets, as long as one chooses the usual, “wrong” sign of G   necessary to connect smoothly with the known Λ=0$\Lambda =0$ limit. The chiral Chern–Simons coupling leads to gauge invariant linearized curvatures propagating with chirality-dependent masses. Linearized metric fluctuations have a finite asymptotic Fefferman–Graham expansion about the Poincaré metric for any mass value greater or equal to a “critical” one, where various amusing effects appear, such as vanishing of one of the two “vector” Chern–Simons terms and an equivalence between tensor and vector excitations. We also find a set of chiral, pp-wave metrics that exactly solve the full nonlinear equations.     

Composite representation invariants and unoriented topological string amplitudes

Sinha and Vafa [1] had conjectured that the SO   Chern–Simons gauge theory on S³$S^3$ must be dual to the closed A  -model topological string on the orientifold of a resolved conifold. Though the Chern–Simons free energy could be rewritten in terms of the topological string amplitudes providing evidence for the conjecture, we needed a novel idea in the context of Wilson loop observables to extract cross-cap c=0,1,2$c=0,1,2$ topological amplitudes. Recent paper of Marino [2] based on the work of Morton and Ryder [3] has clearly shown that the composite representation placed on the knots and links plays a crucial role to rewrite the topological string cross-cap c=0$c=0$ amplitude. This enables extracting the unoriented cross-cap c=2$c=2$ topological amplitude. In this paper, we have explicitly worked out the composite invariants for some framed knots and links carrying composite representations in U(N)$U(N)$ Chern–Simons theory. We have verified generalised Rudolph's theorem, which relates composite invariants to the invariants in SO(N)$\mathit{SO}(N)$ Chern–Simons theory, and also verified Marino's conjectures on the integrality properties of the topological string amplitudes. For some framed knots and links, we have tabulated the BPS integer invariants for cross-cap c=0$c=0$ and c=2$c=2$ giving the open-string topological amplitude on the orientifold of the resolved conifold.