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The spontaneous symmetry breaking of closed strings into open strings

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5834363
The open string is studied from the Polyakov path integral approach to string theory. Of particular concern is an understanding of the consistency conditions which are necessary to insure a theory which is anomaly free and finite. A modular-invariant formulation for the open string is given which shows that all open string theories may be viewed as a Z{sub 2}-orbifold of some closed string theory. This reinforces an earlier suggestion by Freund that all string theories are derivable from the 26-dimensional orientable closed bosonic string.
Research Organization:
Texas Univ., Austin, TX (USA)
OSTI ID:
5834363
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English