English

Mass Renormalization in String Theory: Special States

High Energy Physics - Theory 2015-06-17 v3

Abstract

String theory gives a well defined procedure for computing the S-matrix of BPS or a class of massless states, but similar calculation for general massive states is plagued with difficulties due to mass renormalization effect. In this paper we describe a procedure for computing the renormalized masses and S-matrix elements in bosonic string theory for a special class of massive states which do not mix with unphysical states under renormalization. Even though this requires working with off-shell amplitudes which are ambiguous, we show that the renormalized masses and S-matrix elements are free from these ambiguities. We also argue that the masses and S-matrix elements for general external states can be found by examining the locations of the poles and the residues of the S-matrix of special states. Finally we discuss generalizations to heterotic and superstring theories.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1311.1257,
  title  = {Mass Renormalization in String Theory: Special States},
  author = {Roji Pius and Arnab Rudra and Ashoke Sen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1311.1257},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

LaTeX file, 28 pages; v2: clarifications added; v3: minor changes

R2 v1 2026-06-22T02:01:56.005Z