String Theory

This is a rendering of a review talk on the state of String Theory, given at the EPS-2003 Conference, intended for a wide audience of experimental and theoretical physicists. It emphasizes general ideas rather than technical aspects.Comment: 11 pages. Contribution to the EPS2003 conferenc

A Universal w String Theory

It has been shown that there is a sequential embedding structure in a $w_N$\ string theory based on a linearized $W_N$\ algebra. The $w_N$\ string theory is obtained as a special realization of the $w_{N+1}$\ string. The $w_{\infty}$\ string theory is a universal string theory in this sense. We have also shown that there is a similar sequence for $N=1$\ string theory. The $N=1\ w_N$\ string can be given as a special case of the $N=1\ w_{N+1}$\ string. In addition, we show that the $w_3$\ string theory is obtained as a special realization of the $N=1\ w_3$\ string. We conjecture that the $w_N$\ string can be obtained as a special $N=1\ w_N$\ string for general $w_N$. If this is the case, $N=1\ w_{\infty}$\ string theory is more universal since it includes both $N=0$\ and $N=1$\ $w_N$\ string theories.Comment: 19 pages, uses PHYZZX, typological errors corrected, OU-HET 18

Gravitational Scattering Amplitudes and Closed String Field Theory in the Proper-Time Gauge

We construct a covariant closed string field theory by extending recent works on the covariant open string field theory in the proper-time gauge. Rewriting the string scattering amplitudes generated by the closed string field theory in terms of the Polyakov string path integrals, we identify the Fock space representations of the closed string vertices. We show that the Fock space representations of the closed string field theory may be completely factorized into those of the open string field theory. It implies that the well known Kawai-Lewellen-Tye (KLT) relations of the first quantized string theory may be promoted to the second quantized closed string theory. We explicitly calculate the scattering amplitudes of three gravitons by using the closed string field theory in the proper-time gauge.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, Talk given at 13th International Conference on Gravitation, Astrophysics, and Cosmolog

D-Branes, Tachyons, and String Field Theory

In these notes we provide a pedagogical introduction to the subject of tachyon condensation in Witten's cubic bosonic open string field theory. We use both the low-energy Yang-Mills description and the language of string field theory to explain the problem of tachyon condensation on unstable D-branes. We give a self-contained introduction to open string field theory using both conformal field theory and overlap integrals. Our main subjects are the Sen conjectures on tachyon condensation in open string field theory and the evidence that supports these conjectures. We conclude with a discussion of vacuum string field theory and projectors of the star-algebra of open string fields. We comment on the possible role of string field theory in the construction of a nonperturbative formulation of string theory that captures all possible string backgrounds.Comment: 103 pages, 11 figures. Lectures presented at TASI 2001. v2: references added. v3: minor errors corrected; reference, discussion added regarding other results on open string spectrum in stable vacuu

String Interactions from Matrix String Theory

The Matrix String Theory, i.e. the two dimensional U(N) SYM with N=(8,8) supersymmetry, has classical BPS solutions that interpolate between an initial and a final string configuration via a bordered Riemann surface. The Matrix String Theory amplitudes around such a classical BPS background, in the strong Yang--Mills coupling, are therefore candidates to be interpreted in a stringy way as the transition amplitude between given initial and final string configurations. In this paper we calculate these amplitudes and show that the leading contribution is proportional to the factor g_s^{-\chi}, where \chi is the Euler characteristic of the interpolating Riemann surface and g_s is the string coupling. This is the factor one expects from perturbative string interaction theory.Comment: 15 pages, 2 eps figures, JHEP Latex class, misprints correcte

Nonrelativistic String Theory in Background Fields

Nonrelativistic string theory is a unitary, ultraviolet finite quantum gravity theory with a nonrelativistic string spectrum. The vertex operators of the worldsheet theory determine the spacetime geometry of nonrelativistic string theory, known as the string Newton-Cartan geometry. We compute the Weyl anomaly of the nonrelativistic string worldsheet sigma model describing strings propagating in a string Newton-Cartan geometry, Kalb-Ramond and dilaton background. We derive the equations of motion that dictate the backgrounds on which nonrelativistic string theory can be consistently defined quantum mechanically. The equations of motion we find from our study of the conformal anomaly of the worldsheet theory are to nonrelativistic string theory what the (super)gravity equations of motion are to relativistic string theory.Comment: 32 pages; v2: minor clarifications, fixed typos, references added; v3: a reference adde

Twist Field as Three String Interaction Vertex in Light Cone String Field Theory

It has been suggested that matrix string theory and light-cone string field theory are closely related. In this paper, we investigate the relation between the twist field, which represents string interactions in matrix string theory, and the three-string interaction vertex in light-cone string field theory carefully. We find that the three-string interaction vertex can reproduce some of the most important OPEs satisfied by the twist field.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX2e; v2: minor corrections, a reference adde