Related papers: Comment on the Background Independent Open String …
The WZW form of open superstring field theory has linearized gauge invariances associated with the BRST operator Q and the zero mode eta_0 of the picture minus-one fermionic superconformal ghost. We discuss gauge fixing of the free theory…
String theory, if it describes nature, is probably strongly coupled. As a result, one might despair of making any statements about the theory. In the framework of a set of clearly spelled out assumptions, we show that this is not…
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 $A_\infty$ or $L_\infty$ type. We construct…
This elementary introduction to string field theory highlights the features and the limitations of this approach to quantum gravity as it is currently understood. String field theory is a formulation of string theory as a field theory in…
Using light cone string field theory we derive recursion relations for closed string correlation functions and scattering amplitudes which hold to all orders in perturbation theory. These results extend to strings in a plane wave…
We consider the effects on cosmology of higher-derivative modifications of (effective) gravity that make it asymptotically free without introducing ghosts. The weakening of gravity at short distances allows pressure to prevent the…
We prove the decomposition theorem for the loop homotopy algebra of quantum closed string field theory and use it to show that closed string field theory is unique up to gauge transformations on a given string background and given S-matrix.…
We refine the relation between the renormalized partition function of the open bosonic string in background fields and the effective action. In the process, we get some leading derivative corrections to the Born-Infeld action which include…
A minimal area problem imposing different length conditions on open and closed curves is shown to define a one parameter family of covariant open-closed quantum string field theories. These interpolate from a recently proposed factorizable…
We study a family of kinetic operators in string field theory describing the theory around the closed string vacuum. Those operators are based on the analytical classical solutions of Takahashi and Tanimoto and are analogous to the pure…
This paper examines the causal structure of the commutator of two string fields, in free light-cone string field theory. By treating the commutator as a distribution on infinite dimensional loop space, it is shown that the commutator…
Motivated by noncommutative Chern-Simons theory, we construct an infinite class of field theories that satisfy the axioms of Witten's string field theory. These constructions have no propagating open string degrees of freedom. We…
It is argued that the complete S-matrix of string theory at tree level in a flat background can be obtained from a small set of target space properties, without recourse to the worldsheet description. The main non-standard inputs are…
We discuss the meaning of background independence in quantum theories of gravity where geometry and gravity are emergent and illustrate the possibilities using the framework of quantum causal histories.
In the tensionless limit of string theory on flat background all the massive tower of states gets squeezed to a common zero mass level and the free theory is described by an infinite amount of massless free fields with arbitrary integer…
The aim of this paper is to explain carefully the arguments behind the assertion that the correct quantum theory of gravity must be background independent. We begin by recounting how the debate over whether quantum gravity must be…
Sen's superstring field theory successfully formulates perturbative superstring theory but has a number of unusual features. The action is not background independent and the resulting effective field theory does not appear to have standard…
The wedge states form an important subalgebra in the string field theory. We review and further investigate their various properties. We find in particular a novel expression for the wedge states, which allows to understand their star…
Recently, several works have investigated the coupling to matter in ghost-free massive (bi-&multi-)gravity and a new effective coupling to matter has been proposed. In this note we clarify some confusion on the existence and the…
The possible tensor constructions of open string theories are analyzed from first principles. To this end the algebraic framework of open string field theory is clarified, including the role of the homotopy associative A_\infty algebra, the…