Related papers: Chiral string theories as an interpolation between…
It is shown that conformal matter with $c_{\ssc L}\not=c_{\ssc R}$ can be consistently coupled to two-dimensional `frame' gravity. The theory is quantized, following David, and Distler and Kawai, using the derivation of their {\it ansatz}…
String field theory for the non-critical NSR string is described. In particular it gives string field theory for the 2D super-gravity coupled to a $\hat{c}=1$ matter field. For this purpose double-step pictures changing operators for the…
Sum rules in effective field theories, predicated upon causality, place restrictions on scattering amplitudes mediated by effective contact interactions. Through unitarity of the $S$-matrix, these imply that the size of higher dimensional…
Hadron dynamics is formulated in terms of interacting composite strings. Consistent composite string model with extended Virasoro superconformal symmetry is found. These composite strings carry flavour and chiral degrees of freedom on…
Chiral gauge theories in two dimensions with (0,2) supersymmetry are central in the study of string compactifications. Remarkably little is known about generic (0,2) theories. We consider theories with branches on which multiplets with a…
We review some of the recent developments in the construction of $W$-string theories. These are generalisations of ordinary strings in which the two-dimensional ``worldsheet'' theory, instead of being a gauging of the Virasoro algebra, is a…
In this paper, we study open-closed string field theory in the background B-field in the so-called alpha=p^{+} formulation. The string field theory in the infrared gives noncommutative gauge theory in the open string sector. Since this…
Superstring theory, and a recent extension called M theory, are leading candidates for a quantum theory that unifies gravity with the other forces. As such, they are certainly not ordinary quantum field theories. However, recent duality…
We construct a Galilean invariant non-gravitational closed string theory whose excitations satisfy a non-relativistic dispersion relation. This theory can be obtained by taking a consistent low energy limit of any of the conventional string…
Perturbative spectra and related factorization properties of one-loop open string amplitudes in the presence of a constant external background B are analysed in detail. While the pattern of the closed string spectrum, obtained after a…
This essay presents a critical evaluation of the concepts of string theory and its impact on particle physics. The point of departure is a historical review of four decades of string theory within the broader context of six decades of…
We review the current status of the singularity problem in string theory for non-experts. After the problem is discussed from the point of view of supergravity, we discuss classic examples and recent examples of singularity resolution in…
We review the status of duality symmetries in superstring theories. These discrete symmetries mark the striking differences between theories of pointlike objects and theories of extended objects. They prove to be very helpful in…
The well known N=2 string theory describes self-dual gravity, as was shown by Ooguri and Vafa sometime ago. In search of a variant of this theory which would describe self-dual supergravity in 2+2 dimensions, we have constructed two new N=2…
We study some of the novel properties of conformal field theories with noncompact target spaces as applied to string theory. Standard CFT results get corrected by boundary terms in the target space in a way consistent with the expected…
After a brief description of the basic theoretical concepts of the string model approach, we discuss the limitations of the method, at low energies, at high energies, and at high particle densities. We also report on recent efforts to…
The string tension does not have to be put in by hand, it can be dynamically generated, as in the case when we formulate string theory in the modified measure formalism, and other formulations as well. Then string tension appears, but as an…
Recent developments in string duality suggest that the string scale may not be irrevocably tied to the Planck scale. Two explicit but unrealistic examples are described where the ratio of the string scale to the Planck scale is arbitrarily…
It appears that string-M-theory is the only viable candidate for a complete theory of matter. It must therefore contain both gravity and QCD. What is particularly surprising is the recent conjecture that strongly coupled QCD matrix elements…
This is a pedagogical review article surveying the various approaches towards understanding gauge coupling unification within string theory. As is well known, one of the major problems confronting string phenomenology has been an apparent…