Gauge-invariant field theory of the Ramond string

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5017128

Yamron, J P

Over the past two years bosonic string field theory has become fairly well understood. By defining a string functional {Phi} that depends on the first-quantized ghosts, one is lead to a field equation Q {Phi} = 0 (based on the BRST physical state condition) and an action {integral} {Phi} Q {Phi}. In this paper, after reviewing the bosonic case, this procedure is applied to the Ramond string. A new feature of the first-quantized Ramond theory is the presence of commuting ghost zero modes that cause an infinite degeneracy in the BRST ground state. Once a suitable inner product is defined in this sector, it is found that the canonical action above cannot work, but a modified version {integral}{Phi}GQ{Phi} is gauge-invariant and yields the correct equations of motion for a carefully chosen operator G. This form is then compared to a Ramond action found by Witten, which has similar features but is defined using bosonized ghosts. A possible mapping between the two formalisms is suggested.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5017128
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

651000* -- Nuclear Physics
653000 -- Nuclear Theory
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
BOSONS
CALCULATION METHODS
COMPOSITE MODELS
EXTENDED PARTICLE MODEL
FIELD THEORIES
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PARTICLE MODELS
QUARK MODEL
STRING MODELS