Type II superstring field theory with cyclic $L_\infty$ structure

Abstract

Abstract We construct a complete type II superstring field theory that includes all the NS–NS, R–NS, NS–R, and R–R sectors. As in the open and heterotic superstring cases, the R–NS, NS–R, and R–R string fields are constrained by using the picture-changing operators. In particular, we use a non-local inverse picture-changing operator for the constraint on the R–R string field, which seems to be inevitable due to the compatibility of the extra constraint with the closed string constraints. The natural symplectic form in the restricted Hilbert space gives a non-local kinetic action for the R–R sector, but it correctly provides the propagator expected from the first-quantized formulation. Extending the prescription previously obtained for the heterotic string field theory, we give a construction of general type II superstring products, which realizes a cyclic $L_\infty$ structure, and thus provides a gauge-invariant action based on the homotopy algebraic formulation. Three typical four-string amplitudes derived from the constructed string field theory are demonstrated to agree with those in the first-quantized formulation. We also give the half-Wess–Zumino–Witten action defined in the medium Hilbert space whose left-moving sector is still restricted to the small Hilbert space.