Open String Field Theory Research Articles

Closed string deformations in open string field theory. Part I. Bosonic string

This is the first of a series of three papers on open string field theories based on Witten star product deformed with a gauge invariant open/closed coupling. This de- formation is a tree-level tadpole which destabilizes the initial perturbative vacuum. We discuss the existence of vacuum-shift solutions which cancel the tadpole and represent a new configuration where the initial D-brane system has adapted to the change in the closed string background. As an example we consider the bulk deformation which changes the compactification radius and, to first order in the deformation, we reproduce the shift in the mass of the open string KK modes from the new kinetic operator after the vacuum shift. We also discuss the possibility of taming closed string degenerations with the open string propagator in the simplest amplitude corresponding to two closed strings off a disk.

KBc algebra and the gauge invariant overlap in open string field theory

Abstract We study in detail the evaluation of the gauge invariant overlap for analytic solutions constructed out of elements in the $KBc$ algebra in open string field theory. We compute this gauge invariant observable using analytical and numerical techniques based on the sliver frame $\mathcal{L}_0$ and traditional Virasoro $L_0$ level expansions of the solutions.

Interior product, Lie derivative and Wilson line in the KBc subsector of open string field theory

The open string field theory of Witten (SFT) has a close formal similarity with Chern-Simons theory in three dimensions. This similarity is due to the fact that the former theory has concepts corresponding to forms, exterior derivative, wedge product and integration over the manifold. In this paper, we introduce the interior product and the Lie derivative in the KBc subsector of SFT. The interior product in SFT is specified by a two-component “tangent vector” and lowers the ghost number by one (like the ordinary interior product maps a p-form to (p − 1)-form). The Lie derivative in SFT is defined as the anti-commutator of the interior product and the BRST operator. The important property of these two operations is that they respect the KBc algebra.Deforming the original (K, B, c) by using the Lie derivative, we can consider an infinite copies of the KBc algebra, which we call the KBc manifold. As an application, we construct the Wilson line on the manifold, which could play a role in reproducing degenerate fluctuation modes around a multi-brane solution.

Gravitational field of scalar lumps in higher-derivative gravity

We study the gravitational field sourced by localized scalar fields (lumps) in higher-derivative theories of gravity. By working in a static and spherically symmetric configuration, we find the linearized spacetime metrics generated by scalar lumps for several Lagrangians: the vanishing potential, i.e., free massive scalar field, a polynomial potential, and the tachyon potential in open string field theory. We perform the analysis for different theories of gravity: Einstein's general relativity, four-derivative gravity, and ghost-free nonlocal gravity. We discuss the limit of validity of our analysis and comment on possible future applications in the context of astrophysical compact objects.

Numerical twist-even SU(1,1)-singlet solutions in open string field theory around the identity-based solution

Using the level truncation method, we construct numerical solutions, which are twist even and SU(1) singlet, in the theory around the Takahashi-Tanimoto identity-based solution (TT solution) with a real parameter a in the framework of bosonic open string field theory. We find solutions corresponding to “double brane” and “ghost brane” solutions which were constructed by Kudrna and Schnabl in the conventional theory around the perturbative vacuum. Our solutions show somewhat similar a-dependence to tachyon vacuum and single brane solutions, which we found in the earlier works. In this sense, we might be able to expect that they are consistent with the conventional interpretation of a-dependence of the TT solution. We observe that numerical complex solutions at low levels become real ones at higher levels for some region of the parameter a. However, these real solutions do not so improve interpretation for double brane.

Conformal defects from string field theory

Unlike conformal boundary conditions, conformal defects of Virasoro minimal models lack classification. Alternatively to the defect perturbation theory and the truncated conformal space approach, we employ open string field theory (OSFT) techniques to explore the space of conformal defects. We illustrate the method by an analysis of OSFT around the background associated to the (1, 2) topological defect in diagonal unitary minimal models. Numerical analysis of OSFT equations of motion leads to an identification of a nice family of solutions, recovering the picture of infrared fixed points due to Kormos, Runkel and Watts. In particular, we find a continuum of solutions in the Ising model case and 6 solutions for other minimal models. OSFT provides us with numerical estimates of the g-function and other coefficients of the boundary state.

Classical algebraic structures in string theory effective actions

We study generic properties of string theory effective actions obtained by classically integrating out massive excitations from string field theories based on cyclic homotopy algebras of A∞ or L∞ type. We construct observables in the UV theory and we discuss their fate after integration-out. Furthermore, we discuss how to compose two subsequent integrations of degrees of freedom (horizontal composition) and how to integrate out degrees of freedom after deforming the UV theory with a new consistent interaction (vertical decomposition). We then apply our general results to the open bosonic string using Witten’s open string field theory. There we show how the horizontal composition can be used to systematically integrate out the Nakanishi-Lautrup field from the set of massless excitations, ending with a non-abelian A∞-gauge theory for just the open string gluon. Moreover we show how the vertical decomposition can be used to construct effective open-closed couplings by deforming Witten OSFT with a tadpole given by the Ellwood invariant. Also, we discuss how the effective theory controls the possibility of removing the tadpole in the microscopic theory, giving a new framework for studying D-brane deformations induced by changes in the closed string background.

Rolling near the tachyon vacuum

In a linear dilaton background, it has been argued that an unstable D-brane can decay to the tachyon vacuum without leaving behind a remnant of tachyon matter. Here we address the question of how the D-brane can decay to the tachyon vacuum when the tachyon vacuum does not support physical fluctuations. Using the formalism of open string field theory, we find that the tachyon vacuum can support fluctuations provided they are “hidden” as nonperturbative effects behind a pure gauge asymptotic series.

String field theory solution for any open string background. Part II

Generalizing previous work, we give a new analytic solution in Witten’s open bosonic string field theory which can describe any open string background. The central idea is to use Riemann surface degenerations as a mechanism for taming OPE singularities. This requires leaving the familiar subalgebra of wedge states with insertions, but the payoff is that the solution makes no assumptions about the reference and target D-brane systems, and is therefore truly general. For example, unlike in previous work, the solution can describe time dependent backgrounds and multiple copies of the reference D-brane within the universal sector. The construction also resolves some subtle issues resulting from associativity anomalies, giving a more complete understanding of the relation between the degrees of freedom of different D-brane systems, and a nonperturbative proof of background independence in classical open bosonic string field theory.

Solutions for mixed states in open bosonic string theory

We describe the family of normalizable solutions in linearized open string field theory, defined by QΨ0=0 (Q is BRST charge) understood in the sense <<QΨ0,Φ>>=0 for an arbitrary string field Φ. The solutions depend on shifted partition numbers and are parametrized in terms of values of ζ-function at pairs of positive numbers greater than 2. We argue that the operators, defined by these solutions, create mixed quantum-mechanical states by acting on the vacuum (as opposed to standard vertex operators, creating the pure states with definite masses and spins).

Analytic construction of multi-brane solutions in cubic string field theory for any brane number

Abstract We present an analytic construction of multi-brane solutions with any integer brane number in cubic open string field theory (CSFT) on the basis of the ${K\!Bc}$ algebra. Our solution is given in the pure-gauge form $\Psi=U{Q_\textrm{B}} U^{-1}$ by a unitary string field $U$, which we choose to satisfy two requirements. First, the energy density of the solution should reproduce that of the $(N+1)$-branes. Second, the equations of motion (EOM) of the solution should hold against the solution itself. In spite of the pure-gauge form of $\Psi$, these two conditions are non-trivial ones due to the singularity at $K=0$. For the $(N+1)$-brane solution, our $U$ is specified by $[N/2]$ independent real parameters $\alpha_k$. For the 2-brane ($N=1$), the solution is unique and reproduces the known one. We find that $\alpha_k$ satisfying the two conditions indeed exist as far as we have tested for various integer values of $N\ (=2, 3, 4, 5, \ldots)$. Our multi-brane solutions consisting only of the elements of the ${K\!Bc}$ algebra have the problem that the EOM is not satisfied against the Fock states and therefore are not complete ones. However, our construction should be an important step toward understanding the topological nature of CSFT, which has similarities to the Chern–Simons theory in three dimensions.

Classical open string amplitudes from boundary string field theory

We calculate the corrections to the open string BRST charge in boundary string field theory and show that the expansion coefficients agree with the perturbative S-matrix to all orders. In mathematical terms, boundary string field theory describes the minimal model of open string field theory.

Light-cone reduction of Witten\u2019s open string field theory

We elucidate some exact relations between light-cone and covariant string field theories on the basis of the homological perturbation lemma for A∞. The covariant string field splits into the light-cone string field and trivial excitations of BRST quartets: the latter generates the gauge symmetry and covariance. We first show that the reduction of gauge degrees can be performed by applying the lemma, which gives a refined version of the no-ghost theorem of covariant strings. Then, we demonstrate that after the reduction, gauge-fixed theory can be regarded as a kind of effective field theory and it provides an exact gauge-fixing procedure taking into account interactions. As a result, a novel light-cone string field theory is obtained from Witten’s open string field theory.

Continuous Virasoro algebra in open string field theory

It is known that the Takahashi-Tanimoto identity-based solution in open string field theory derives a kinetic operator which is a sum of twisted Virasoro generators. Applying the infinite circumstance description of conformal field theory, we derive continuous Virasoro algebra associated with the kinetic operator. Mode expansions of Virasoro generators and the modified BRST charge are given.

Closed string symmetries in open string field theory: tachyon vacuum as sine-square deformation

We revisit the identity-based solutions for tachyon condensation in open bosonic string field theory (SFT) from the viewpoint of the sine-square deformation (SSD). The string Hamiltonian derived from the simplest solution includes the sine-square factor, which is the same as that of an open system with SSD in the context of condensed matter physics. We show that the open string system with SSD or its generalization exhibits decoupling of the left and right moving modes and so it behaves like a system with a periodic boundary condition. With a method developed by Ishibashi and Tada, we construct pairs of Virasoro generators in this system, which represent symmetries for a closed string system. Moreover, we find that the modified BRST operator in the open SFT at the identity-based tachyon vacuum decomposes to holomorphic and antiholomorphic parts, and these reflect closed string symmetries in the open SFT. On the basis of SSD and these decomposed operators, we construct holomorphic and antiholomorphic continuous Virasoro algebras at the tachyon vacuum. These results imply that it is possible to formulate a pure closed string theory in terms of the open SFT at the identity-based tachyon vacuum.

Covariant open string field theory on multiple Dp-branes**Supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2017R1D1A1A02017805)

We study covariant open bosonic string field theories on multiple Dp-branes by using the deformed cubic string field theory, which is equivalent to string field theory in the proper-time gauge. Constructing the Fock space representations of the three-string vertex and the four-string vertex on multiple Dp-branes, we obtain the field theoretical effective action in the zero-slope limit. On multiple D0-branes, the effective action reduces to the Banks-Fishler-Shenker-Susskind (BFSS) matrix model. We also discuss the relation between open string field theory on multiple D-instantons in the zero-slope limit and the Ishibashi-Kawai-Kitazawa-Tsuchiya (IKKT) matrix model. The covariant open string field theory on multiple Dp-branes could be useful to study the non-perturbative properties of quantum field theories in (p + 1)-dimensions in the framework of the string theory. The non-zero-slope corrections may be evaluated systematically by using covariant string field theory.

Entanglement entropy for open bosonic strings on Dp-branes

We study the entanglement entropy for open bosonic strings on multiple Dp-branes by using the covariant open string field theory. Choosing one of the spatial coordinates which are tangential to the hyperplane on which Dp-branes are located, we divide the hyperplane into two halves. By using the string wavefunction in the Fock space representation, we evaluate the entanglement entropy. The entanglement entropy is found to be proportional to the area of (p−1)-dimensional boundary of the bipartite hyperplanes and divergent in the ultraviolet (UV) region as well as in the infrared (IR) region. However, the leading divergences are mainly due to tachyon contributions to the entanglement entropy, which may be absent in supersymmetric string theories. Apart from the divergences thanks to tachyons, the entanglement entropy for open bosonic strings on Dp-branes is finite for 2≤p≤dcritical−2 and logarithmically divergent for p=1,dcritical−1.

Vector profile and gauge invariant observables of string field theory solutions for constant magnetic field background

We study profiles and gauge invariant observables of classical solutions corresponding to a constant magnetic field on a torus in open string field theory. We numerically find that the profile is not discontinuous on the torus, although the solution describes topologically nontrivial configurations in the context of low energy effective theory. From the gauge invariant observables, we show that the solution provide correct couplings of closed strings to a D-brane with constant magnetic field.

Topological defects in open string field theory

We show how conformal field theory topological defects can relate solutions of open string field theory for different boundary conditions. To this end we generalize the results of Graham and Watts to include the action of defects on boundary condition changing fields. Special care is devoted to the general case when nontrivial multiplicities arise upon defect action. Surprisingly the fusion algebra of defects is realized on open string fields only up to a (star algebra) isomorphism.

Solvability of a Nonlinear Integral Equation in Dynamical String Theory

We investigate an integral equation of the convolution type with a cubic nonlinearity on the entire real line. This equation has a direct application in open-string field theory and in p-adic string theory and describes nonlocal interactions. We prove that there exists a one-parameter family of bounded monotonic solutions and calculate the limits of solutions constructed at infinity.