Closed String Cohomology in Open String Field Theory

We show that closed string states in bosonic string field theory are encoded in the cyclic cohomology of cubic open string field theory (OSFT) which, in turn, classifies the deformations of OSFT. This cohomology is then shown to be independent of the open string background. Exact elements correspond to closed string gauge transformations, generic boundary deformations of Witten's 3-vertex and infinitesimal shifts of the open string background. Finally it is argued that the closed string cohomology and the cyclic cohomology of OSFT are isomorphic to each other.Comment: 21 pages + appendix, 7 figure

On String Field Theory and Effective Actions

A truncation of string field theory is compared with the duality invariant effective action of $D=4, N=4$ heterotic strings to cubic order. The three string vertex must satisfy a set of compatibility conditions. Any cyclic three string vertex is compatible with the $D=4, N=4$ effective field theory. The effective actions may be useful in understanding the non--polynomial structure and the underlying symmetry of covariant closed string field theory, and in addressing issues of background independence. We also discuss the effective action and string field theory of the $N=2$ string.Comment: 33 pages, IASSNS-HEP-92/3

Cyclic Universe \`{a} la string theory

We shall present a model of the "cyclic universe" that can be constructed only by assuming a minimal set of properties of string theory. We clarify our viewpoint of the cyclic universe and show some attempts to mateliarize the idea as field theoretical manner.Comment: Proceeding of International Workshop "Frontier of Quantum Physics" February 17(Thu.)-19(Sat.) 200

Heterotic string field theory with cyclic L-infinity structure

We construct a complete heterotic string field theory that includes both the Neveu-Schwarz and Ramond sectors. We give a construction of general string products, which realizes a cyclic L-infinity structure and thus provides with a gauge-invariant action in the homotopy algebraic formulation. Through a map of the string fields, we also give the Wess-Zumino-Witten-like action in the large Hilbert space, and verify its gauge invariance independently.Comment: 31 pages, 1figure, section for four point amplitudes is inserted; v3 English has been improved; v4 English is improved, Eq(5.16b) is corrected (published as erratum), Eq (A.19) is adde

Rolling Closed String Tachyons and the Big Crunch

We study the low-energy effective field equations that couple gravity, the dilaton, and the bulk closed string tachyon of bosonic closed string theory. We establish that whenever the tachyon induces the rolling process, the string metric remains fixed while the dilaton rolls to strong coupling. For negative definite potentials we show that this results in an Einstein metric that crunches the universe in finite time. This behavior is shown to be rather generic even if the potentials are not negative definite. The solutions are reminiscent of those in the collapse stage of a cyclic universe cosmology where scalar field potentials with negative energies play a central role.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX. Replaced version: one reference adde