Fock space formulation of gauge invariant interacting field theories of open and closed strings

Abstract

We derive the conditions that must be satisfied by three string vertex operators, in order to have a gauge invariant Chern-Simons type action as proposed by Witten for the open bosonic string, in a Fock space formulation. Given a vertex which satisfies these conditions for the open string, we show how to construct an invariant action for the closed string.