Related papers: Quantising Higher-spin String Theories
We show how to relate the parafermions that occur in the $W_3$ string to the standard construction of parafermions. This result is then used to show that one of the screening charges that occurs in parafermionic theories is precisely the…
We consider the previous proposal of the author to use an extension of spacetime obtained by taking the non-linear realisation of the semi-direct product of E_{11} with a set of generators belonging to one of the fundamental representations…
The open string on the plane-wave limit of $dS_n\times S^n $ with constant $B_2$ and dilaton background fields is canonically quantized. This entails solving the classical equations of motion for the string, computing the symplectic form,…
The quantization of a free boson whose momentum satisfies a cubic constraint leads to a $c=\ha$ conformal field theory with a BRST symmetry. The theory also has a $W_\infty $ symmetry in which all the generators except the stress-tensor are…
Tensionless string theory on AdS3 x S3 x T4, as captured by a free symmetric product orbifold, has a large set of conserved currents which can be usefully organised in terms of representations of a N=(4,4) supersymmetric higher spin…
We investigate the special case of quintic interactions for massless higher spin gauge fields using the string-theoretic vertex operator construction for higher spin gauge fields in Vasiliev's frame-like formalism. We compute explicitly the…
A comprehensive approach to the theory of higher spin gauge fields is proposed. By explicitly separating out details of implementation from general principles, it becomes possible to focus on the bare minimum of requirements that such a…
We construct a class of quantum mechanical theories which are invariant under fermionic transformations similar to supersymmetry transformations. The generators of the transformations in this case, however, satisfy a BRST-like algebra.
We present an algebraic approach to string theory. An embedding of $sl(2|1)$ in a super Lie algebra together with a grading on the Lie algebra determines a nilpotent subalgebra of the super Lie algebra. Chirally gauging this subalgebra in…
I describe how superstring theory may violate spin-statistics in an experimentally observable manner. Reviewing the basics of superstring interactions and how to utilize these to produce a statistical phase, I then apply these ideas to two…
Practically measurable quantities resulting from quantum field theory are not described by hermitian operators, contradicting one of the cornerstone axioms of orthodox quantum theory. This could be a sign that some of the axioms of orthodox…
We provide a review of gauge field theories with higher spin, focusing on the classical theory of massless bosons in flat Minkowski spacetime. A brief introduction to the concept of spin is provided along with a historical review of some of…
The symmetries of string theory on ${\rm AdS}_3 \times {\rm S}^3 \times \mathbb{T}^4$ at the dual of the symmetric product orbifold point are described by a so-called Higher Spin Square (HSS). We show that the massive string spectrum in…
Some puzzling aspects of higher spin field theory in Minkowski space-time, such as the tracelessness constraints and the search for an underlying physical principle, are discussed. A connecting idea might be provided by the recently much…
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…
Higher-spin theories are most commonly modelled on the example of spin 2. While this is appropriate for the description of free irreducible spin-s particles, alternative options could be equally interesting. In particular Maxwell's…
Deformation quantization is a powerful tool for quantizing theories with bosonic and fermionic degrees of freedom. The star products involved generate the mathematical structures which have recently been used in attempts to analyze the…
The Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background (SGWB) from cosmic superstrings offers one of the few known possibilities to test String Theory within current experimental reach. However, in order to be compatible with the existing…
Higher-spin gravity in three dimensions is efficiently formulated as a Chern-Simons gauge-theory, typically with gauge algebra sl(N)+sl(N). The classical and quantum properties of the higher-spin theory depend crucially on the embedding…
We discuss the role of formal deformation theory in quantum field theories and present various ``higher operations'' which control their deformations, (generalized) OPEs, and anomalies. Particular attention is paid to…