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.     

Schnabl's solution and boundary states in open string field theory

We discuss that Schnabl's solution is an off-shell extension of the boundary state describing a D-brane in the closed string sector. It gives the physical meaning of the gauge-invariant overlaps for the solution in our previous paper and supports Ellwood's recent proposal in the operator formalism.     

All the fundamental massless fields in bosonic string theory

A systematic analysis of the massless fields in the mass spectra of bosonic strings is carried in arbitrary spacetime dimension D > 2. The emphasis is put on the derivations of their propagators, their polarization aspects and the underlying constraints involved. The treatment is given, in the presence of external sources, in the celebrated Coulomb gauge for the second rank tensors and vector fields, which ensures positivity – a result which is also established in the process. No constraints are imposed on the external sources so that their components may be varied independently generating complete expressions for the propagators. This latter condition is an important one in the generation of dynamical theories with constraints involving such modifications as Faddeev‐Popov factors.     

N=2 boundary supersymmetry in integrable models and perturbed boundary conformal field theory

Boundary integrable models with N=2 supersymmetry are considered. For the simplest boundary N=2 superconformal minimal model with a Chebyshev bulk perturbation we show explicitly how fermionic boundary degrees of freedom arise naturally in the boundary perturbation in order to maintain integrability and N=2 supersymmetry. A new boundary reflection matrix is obtained for this model and N=2 boundary superalgebra is studied. A factorized scattering theory is proposed for a N=2 supersymmetric extension of the boundary sine-Gordon model with either (i) fermionic or (ii) bosonic and fermionic boundary degrees of freedom. Exact results are obtained for some quantum impurity problems: the boundary scaling Lee–Yang model, a massive deformation of the anisotropic Kondo model at the filling values g=2/(2n+3) and the boundary Ashkin–Teller model.     

Modular structure of the local algebras associated with the free massless scalar field theory

The modular structure of the von Neumann algebra of local observables associated with a double cone in the vacuum representation of the free massless scalar field theory of any number of dimensions is described. The modular automorphism group is induced by the unitary implementation of a family of generalized fractional linear transformations on Minkowski space and is a subgroup of the conformal group. The modular conjugation operator is the anti-unitary implementation of a product of time reversal and relativistic ray inversion. The group generated by the modular conjugation operators for the local algebras associated with the family of double cone regions is the group of proper conformal transformations. A theorem is presented asserting the unitary equivalence of local algebras associated with lightcones, double cones, and wedge regions. For the double cone algebras, this provides an explicit realization of spacelike duality and establishes the known typeIII ₁ factor property. It is shown that the timelike duality property of the lightcone algebras does not hold for the double cone algebras. A different definition of the von Neumann algebras associated with a region is introduced which agrees with the standard one for a lightcone or a double cone region but which allows the timelike duality property for the double cone algebras. In the case of one spatial dimension, the standard local algebras associated with the double cone regions satisfy both spacelike and timelike duality.Supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHY-79-23251Supported in part by C. N. R.     

Quenched string field theory

We construct a toy model of Witten's open string field theory by truncating the Virasoro group to its SU(1,1) subgroup. The string field is given in terms of finite-dimensional matrices, which satisfy a non-trivial BRST cohomology. The string gauge group is found to be SO(3). Finally, we perform the gauge fixing of the action, finding an explicit formula for calculating the partition function.     

Reparametrisation -invariant string field theory

A differential-geometric approach to the closed Bose-string field theory is developed in a framework where the Lorentz and reparametrisation invariances are manifest. The Virasoro anomaly in the quantum theory is cancelled by the minimal introduction of the conformal mode, extending the usual string functionals defined on the space of embeddings. An action is written down, and this approach to strings is compared with the second-quantised formalism for the single particle.     

Exact solution of a massless scalar field with a relevant boundary interaction

We solve exactly the “boundary sine-Gordon” system of a massless scalar field with a potential at a boundary. This model has appeared in several contexts, including tunneling between quantum-Hall edge states and in dissipative quantum mechanics. For β² < 8π, this system exhibits a boundary renormalization-group flow from Neumann to Dirichlet boundary conditions. By taking the massless limit of the sine-Gordon model with boundary potential, we find the exact S-matrix for particles scattering off the boundary. Using the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz, we calculate the boundary entropy along the entire flow. We show how these particles correspond to wave packets in the classical Klein-Gordon equation, thus giving a more precise explanation of scattering in a massless theory.     

Conformal field theory and the symmetries of string field theory

The two-dimensional conformal field theory representation of Witten's bosonic string field theory is discussed. The basic overlap equations, K_n symmetry and BRST invariance are proved directly, without the usual expansion in oscillators. The conformal field theory approach naturally provides local overlap identities which (when integrated over half the string) can be used to verify properties of the cubic action. In particular, a recently proposed diffeomorphism invariance is shown to be free of anomalies. Finally, a new class of symmetries, including generalizations of the K_n symmetries which are local in spacetime, are presented.     

Hamiltonian formulation of string field theory

Witten's string field theory is quantized in the hamiltonian formalism. The constraints are solved and the hamiltonian is expressed in terms of only physical degrees of freedom. Thus, no Faddeev-Popov ghosts are introduced. Instead, the action contains terms of arbitrarily high order in the string functionals. Agreement with the standard results is demonstrated by an explicit calculation of the residues of the first few poles of the four-tachyon tree amplitude.     

Closed string-open string transitions and Witten's string field theory

Using conformal mapping techniques, we obtain a new BRST invariant operator ϒ encoding in closed form transition amplitudes between open strings and closed strings. The residues of the closed string poles in the non-planar one-loop two-point diagram of Witten's string field theory are finite sums of products of these amplitudes.     

Conformal geometry and string field theory

The covariant perturbation theory rules that should arise from any gauge invariant string field theory, such as those proposed on the basis of BRST formalism, are set forth. The resulting path integral expressions naturally produce coordinate invariant densities on the moduli space of Riemann surfaces; these include the Koba-Nielsen amplitudes. The connection between string field theory and modular invariance is discussed, and it is proposed that future explorations in string field theory focus on coordinate invariant quantities on moduli space.     

Introduction to string theory and conformal field theory

A concise survey of noncritical string theory and two-dimensional conformal field theory is presented. A detailed derivation of a conformal anomaly and the definition and general properties of conformal field theory are given. Minimal string theory, which is a special version of the theory, is considered. Expressions for the string susceptibility and gravitational dimensions are derived.     

Relativistic string model of light mesons with massless quarks

The straightline string model of mesons with massless fermions (“quarks”) at the string endpoints is constructed. The spectrum of the model, consisting of four Regge trajectories weakly non-linear atM ²～0, is obtained. A comparison of the model predictions with the experimental spectrum of light mesons and prospects for future searches are discussed.     

BRST-symmetries in free string field theory

A unitary field transformation useful for examination of the BRST-symmetries in free bosonic open-string field theory is introduced. It is similar to Siegel and Zwiebach's transformation, but leads to a hermitian BRST-charge in contrast to theirs. The transformed BRST-transformation factorizes into two parts, making the gauge-unfixing procedure rather trivial. Both the minimal-type gauge-invariant action and Witten's action are dealt with.