Some Issues In The Loop Variable Approach to Open Strings and an Extension to Closed Strings

Some issues in the loop variable renormalization group approach to gauge invariant equations for the free fields of the open string are discussed. It had been shown in an earlier paper that this leads to a simple form of the gauge transformation law. We discuss in some detail some of the curious features encountered there. The theory looks a little like a massless theory in one higher dimension that can be dimensionally reduced to give a massive theory. We discuss the origin of some constraints that are needed for gauge invariance and also for reducing the set of fields to that of standard string theory. The mechanism of gauge invariance and the connection with the Virasoro algebra is a little different from the usual story and is discussed. It is also shown that these results can be extended in a straightforward manner to closed strings.Comment: 24 page

Loop Variables and Gauge Invariant Exact Renormalization Group Equations for (Open) String Theory

An exact renormalization group equation is written down for the world sheet theory describing the bosonic open string in general backgrounds. Loop variable techniques are used to make the equation gauge invariant. This is worked out explicitly up to level 3. The equation is quadratic in the fields and can be viewed as a proposal for a string field theory equation. As in the earlier loop variable approach, the theory has one extra space dimension and mass is obtained by dimensional reduction. Being based on the sigma model RG, it is background independent. It is intriguing that in contrast to BRST string field theory, the gauge transformations are not modified by the interactions up to the level calculated. The interactions can be written in terms of gauge invariant field strengths for the massive higher spin fields and the non zero mass is essential for this. This is reminiscent of Abelian Born-Infeld action (along with derivative corrections) for the massless vector field, which is also written in terms of the field strength.Comment: Latex file, 40 pages.Some typos corrected and cosmetic change

Proper Time Formalism, Gauge Invariance and the Effects of a Finite World Sheet Cutoff in String Theory

We discuss the issue of going off-shell in the proper time formalism. This is done by keeping a finite world sheet cutoff. We construct one example of an off-shell covariant Klein Gordon type interaction. For a suitable choice of the gauge transformation of the scalar field, gauge invariance is maintained off mass shell. However at second order in the gauge field interaction, one finds that (U(1)) gauge invariance is violated due to the finite cutoff. Interestingly, we find, to lowest order, that by adding a massive mode with appropriate gauge transformation laws to the sigma model background, one can restore gauge invariance. The gauge transformation law is found to be consistent, to the order calculated, with what one expects from the interacting equation of motion of the massive field. We also extend some previous discussion on applying the proper time formalism for propagating gauge particles, to the interacting (i.e. Yang Mills) case.Comment: 24 pages, Latex file. (This is a revised version, to appear in Int. J. of Mod. Phys. Section 2 has been extensively revised. Minor revisions in the other sections

The Proper Time Equation and the Zamolodchikov Metric

The connection between the proper time equation and the Zamolodchikov metric is discussed. The connection is two-fold: First, as already known, the proper time equation is the product of the Zamolodchikov metric and the renormalization group beta function. Second, the condition that the two-point function is the Zamolodchikov metric, implies the proper time equation. We study the massless vector of the open string in detail. In the exactly calculable case of a uniform electromgnetic field strength we recover the Born-Infeld equation. We describe the systematics of the perturbative evaluation of the gauge invariant proper time equation for the massless vector field. The method is valid for non-uniform fields and gives results that are exact to all orders in derivatives. As a non trivial check, we show that in the limit of uniform fields it reproduces the lowest order Born-Infeld equation.Comment: Latex file, 29 pages, A couple of minor typos corrected. Final version, to appear in Int. Journal of Mod. Phys.

Loop Variables and Gauge Invariant Interactions of Massive Modes in String Theory

The loop variable approach used earlier to obtain free equations of motion for the massive modes of the open string, is generalized to include interaction terms. These terms, which are polynomial, involve only modes of strictly lower mass. Considerations based on operator product expansions suggest that these equations are particular truncations of the full string equations. The method involves broadening the loop to a band of finite thickness that describes all the different interacting strings. Interestingly, in terms of these variables, the theory appears non-interacting.Comment: Latex file, 19 page

Fundamental Strings and D-strings in the IIB Matrix Model

The matrix model for IIB Superstring proposed by Ishibashi, Kawai, Kitazawa and Tsuchiya is investigated. Consideration of planar and non-planar diagrams suggests that the large N perturbative expansion is consistent with the double scaling limit proposed by the above authors. We write down a Wilson loop that can be interpreted as a fundamental string vertex operator. The one point tadpole in the presence of a D-string has the right form and this can be viewed as a matrix model derivation of the boundary conditions that define a D-string. We also argue that if world sheet coordinates $\sigma$ and $\tau$ are introduced for the fundamental string, then the conjugate variable ${d}/{d\sigma}$ and ${d}/{d\tau}$ can be interpreted as the D-string world sheet coordinates. In this way the $SL(2Z)$ duality group of the IIB superstring becomes identified with the symplectic group acting on ($p,q$).Comment: 21 pages, Latex file. Two references added and two figures include

Loop Variables and Gauge Invariant Interactions - I

We describe a method of writing down interacting equations for all the modes of the bosonic open string. It is a generalization of the loop variable approach that was used earlier for the free, and lowest order interacting cases. The generalization involves, as before, the introduction of a parameter to label the different strings involved in an interaction. The interacting string has thus becomes a ``band'' of finite width. The interaction equations expressed in terms of loop variables, has a simple invariance that is exact even off shell. A consistent definition of space-time fields requires the fields to be functions of all the infinite number of gauge coordinates (in addition to space time coordinates). The theory is formulated in one higher dimension, where the modes appear massless. The dimensional reduction that is needed to make contact with string theory (which has been discussed earlier for the free case) is not discussed here.Comment: 40 pages, Latex. Revised version: some typos corrected. Final version to appear in Int. J. of Mod. Phys.

Proper Time Formalism and Gauge Invariance in Open String Interactions

The issue of gauge invariances in the sigma model formalism is discussed at the free and interacting level. The problem of deriving gauge invariant interacting equations can be addressed using the proper time formalism. This formalism is discussed, both for point particles and strings. The covariant Klein Gordon equation arises in a geometric way from the boundary terms. This formalism is similar to the background independent open string formalism introduced by Witten.Comment: 19 page