Gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for various higher-spin fields from string field theory

We propose a systematic procedure for extracting gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for various higher-spin gauge field theories from covariant bosonic open string field theory. By identifying minimal gauge invariant part for the original free string field theory action, we explicitly construct a class of covariantly gauge fixed actions with BRST and anti-BRST invariance. By expanding the actions with respect to the level N   of string states, the actions for various massive fields including higher-spin fields are systematically obtained. As illustrating examples, we explicitly investigate the level N?3$N?3$ part and obtain the consistent actions for massive graviton field, massive 3rd rank symmetric tensor field, or anti-symmetric field. We also investigate the tensionless limit of the actions and explicitly derive the gauge invariant and gauge fixed actions for general rank n symmetric and anti-symmetric tensor fields.     

String theory and cosmological singularities

In general relativity space-like or null singularities are common: they imply that ‘time’ can have a beginning or end. Well-known examples are singularities inside black holes and initial or final singularities in expanding or contracting universes. In recent times, string theory is providing new perspectives of such singularities which may lead to an understanding of these in the standard framework of time evolution in quantum mechanics. In this article, we describe some of these approaches.      

String cosmology

In this review, we discuss various cosmological issues related to our Universe from a string theoretic perspective. We analyse the pre-big bang cosmological scenario which appears naturally in this context due to the existence of scale factor duality symmetry in string theory. We then discuss some of the attractive and problematic features of this scenario. Finally, we introduce a method which is powerful enough to search for cosmological solutions in various low energy limits of string theories.     

String theory in five dimensional cosmological models

A study on string theory has been done in five dimensional flat space-time. Barotropic equation of state andp-string model are discussed. Also a polynomial relation between the two scale factors is assumed. In some special cases the solution reduces to generalized Kasner metric. Further diminision of extra dimension with the evolution of universe is exhibited. A detailed study of phase-space analysis is done for geometric string model.     

String theory as a theory of quantum gravity: a status report

We review the status of string theory as a quantum theory of gravity. Our emphasis is on outstanding questions and remaining challenges rather then on well-established results and successes.     

Heisenberg groups and noncommutative fluxes

We develop a group-theoretical approach to the formulation of generalized abelian gauge theories, such as those appearing in string theory and M-theory. We explore several applications of this approach. First, we show that there is an uncertainty relation which obstructs simultaneous measurement of electric and magnetic flux when torsion fluxes are included. Next, we show how to define the Hilbert space of a self-dual field. The Hilbert space is Z₂-graded and we show that, in general, self-dual theories (including the RR fields of string theory) have fermionic sectors. We indicate how rational conformal field theories associated to the two-dimensional Gaussian model generalize to (4k + 2)-dimensional conformal field theories. When our ideas are applied to the RR fields of string theory we learn that it is impossible to measure the K-theory class of a RR field. Only the reduction modulo torsion can be measured.     

Hyperconifold transitions,mirror symmetry,and string theory

Multiply-connected Calabi–Yau threefolds are of particular interest for both string theorists and mathematicians. Recently it was pointed out that one of the generic degenerations of these spaces (occurring at codimension one in moduli space) is an isolated singularity which is a finite cyclic quotient of the conifold; these were called hyperconifolds. It was also shown that if the order of the quotient group is even, such singular varieties have projective crepant resolutions, which are therefore smooth Calabi–Yau manifolds. The resulting topological transitions were called hyperconifold transitions, and change the fundamental group as well as the Hodge numbers. Here Batyrev?s construction of Calabi–Yau hypersurfaces in toric fourfolds is used to demonstrate that certain compact examples containing the remaining hyperconifolds — the Z₃${\mathbb{Z}}_3$ and Z₅${\mathbb{Z}}_5$ cases — also have Calabi–Yau resolutions. The mirrors of the resulting transitions are studied and it is found, surprisingly, that they are ordinary conifold transitions. These are the first examples of conifold transitions with mirrors which are more exotic extremal transitions. The new hyperconifold transitions are also used to construct a small number of new Calabi–Yau manifolds, with small Hodge numbers and fundamental group Z₃${\mathbb{Z}}_3$ or Z₅${\mathbb{Z}}_5$. Finally, it is demonstrated that a hyperconifold is a physically sensible background in Type IIB string theory. In analogy to the conifold case, non-perturbative dynamics smooth the physical moduli space, such that hyperconifold transitions correspond to non-singular processes in the full theory.     

On climbing scalars in String Theory

In string models with “brane supersymmetry breaking” exponential potentials emerge at (closed-string) tree level but are not accompanied by tachyons. Potentials of this type have long been a source of embarrassment in flat space, but can have interesting implications for Cosmology. For instance, in ten dimensions the logarithmic slope |V^′/V|$|V^{\prime }/V|$ lies precisely at a “critical” value where the Lucchin–Matarrese attractor disappears while the scalar field is forced to climb up the potential when it emerges from the Big Bang. This type of behavior is in principle perturbative in the string coupling, persists after compactification, could have trapped scalar fields inside potential wells as a result of the cosmological evolution and could have also injected the inflationary phase of our Universe.     

Massive String Cloud Cosmologies in Saez-Ballester Theory of Gravitation

String cloud cosmological models are studied using spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type VI₀ metric in Saez-Ballester Scalar-Tensor theory of gravitation. The field equations are solved for massive string cloud with particles attached to them. A more general linear equation of state of the cosmic string tension density with the proper energy density of the universe is considered instead of taking any particular relationships like pure geometric string or the case of the p-string. The pure geometric string and p-string solutions can be easily inferred from the models. For all viable models the possible limiting values of the linear connection between the proper energy density and string tension density have been calculated. The physical and kinematical properties of the models have been discussed in detail.     

An overview of progress in string theory

There has been many interesting developments in string theory in last couple of years. The purpose of this article is to present a brief account of the progress made in string theory. The two invited talks by S R Das and S Mukhi in this volume contain more detailed accounts of our understanding of black hole physics and the intimate connections between string theory and gauge theories.     

Tachyon dynamics in string theory

We summarize the recent developments in the study of time dependent solutions describing the rolling of a tachyon on a non-BPS D-brane system.     

Loop variables and gauge invariant exact renormalization group equations for (open) string theory II

In arXiv:1202.4298 gauge invariant interacting equations were written down for the spin 2 and spin 3 massive modes using the exact renormalization group of a world sheet theory. This is generalized to all the higher levels in this paper. An interacting theory of an infinite tower of massive higher spins is obtained. They appear as a compactification of a massless theory in one higher dimension. The compactification and consequent mass is essential for writing the interaction terms. Just as for spin 2 and spin 3, the interactions are in terms of gauge invariant “field strengths” and the gauge transformations are the same as for the free theory. This theory can then be truncated in a gauge invariant way by removing one oscillator of the extra dimension to match the field content of BRST string (field) theory. The truncation has to be done level by level and results are given explicitly for level 4. At least up to level 5, the truncation can be done in a way that preserves the higher-dimensional structure. There is a relatively straightforward generalization of this construction to (arbitrary) curved space–time and this is also outlined.     

Matrix string theory

Via compactification on a circle, the matrix mode] of M-theory proposed by Banks et a]. suggests a concrete identification between the large N limit of two-dimensional N = 8 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory and type IIA string theory. In this paper we collect evidence that supports this identification. We explicitly identify the perturbative string states and their interactions, and describe the appearance of D-particle and D-membrane states.     

Realistic four-generation MSSM in Type II string theory

We construct a four-generation MSSM with rank-4 Yukawa matrices from intersecting D6 branes on a T⁶/(Z₂×Z₂)$T^6/({\mathbb{Z}}_2\times {\mathbb{Z}}_2)$ orientifold. The Yukawa matrices obtained provide an example of Flavor Democracy (FD), where the Yukawa couplings are all nearly equal. Mass hierarchies may then be generated by slight perturbations away from FD. We find that it is possible to obtain hierarchical masses for the quarks and leptons of each generation and mixings between them. In addition, the tree-level gauge couplings are unified at the string scale. Finally, we also construct similar models with one, two, and three generations in which the rank of the Yukawa matrices is equal to the number of generations in each model.     

A proposal for covariant renormalizable field theory of gravity

The class of covariant gravity theories which have nice ultraviolet behavior and seem to be (super)-renormalizable is proposed. The apparent breaking of Lorentz invariance occurs due to the coupling with the effective fluid which is induced by Lagrange multiplier constrained scalar field. Spatially-flat FRW cosmology for such covariant field gravity may have accelerating solutions. Renormalizable versions of more complicated modified gravity which depends on Riemann and Ricci tensor squared may be constructed in the same way.     

Quark masses,the Dashen phase,and gauge field topology

The CP violating Dashen phase in QCD is predicted by chiral perturbation theory to occur when the up–down quark mass difference becomes sufficiently large at fixed down-quark mass. Before reaching this phase, all physical hadronic masses and scattering amplitudes are expected to behave smoothly with the up-quark mass, even as this mass passes through zero. In Euclidean space, the topological susceptibility of the gauge fields is positive at positive quark masses but diverges to negative infinity as the Dashen phase is approached. A zero in this susceptibility provides a tentative signal for the point where the mass of the up quark vanishes. I discuss potential ambiguities with this determination.     

Star products from commutative string theory

A boundary-state computation is performed to obtain derivative corrections to the Chern-Simons coupling between a p-brane and the RR gauge potential C ^p −3. We work to quadratic order in the gauge field strength F, but all orders in derivatives. In a certain limit, which requires the presence of a constant B-field background, it is found that these corrections neatly sum up into the *₂ product of (commutative) gauge fields. The result is in agreement with a recent prediction using noncommutativity.     

Topological gravity from a transgression gauge field theory

It is shown that a topological action for gravity in even dimensions can be obtained from a gravity theory whose Lagrangian is given by a transgression form invariant under the Poincaré group.     

De Sitter universes and the emerging landscape in string theory

We discuss a recent proposal to construct de Sitter vacua in string theory. It is based on flux compactifications in string theory where all the moduli are stabilised and supersymmetry is broken with control. The resulting picture is that of a complicated landscape with many vacua of widely varying values for the cosmological constant.