Contact interactions in covariant superstring field theory

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6901815

Wendt, C H

The amplitudes for scattering of four massless particles are calculated within the covariant formulation of superstring field theory proposed by E. Witten. Feynman diagrams are constructed by composing propagators and three-string interaction vertices. The propagator is obtained in both Ramond and Neveu-Schwarz sectors. The Neveu-Schwarz propagator has the effect of generating the integral over moduli space. The Ramond propagator contains this piece times an additional factor, whose picture-changing effect is demonstrated. The three-boson vertex also plays a role in picture-changing. The amplitudes following from the field theory calculation are shown to agree with those of the dual theory calculation, with the exception of an unexpected pure divergence which appears as part of the four-boson amplitude. This extra divergent part can be canceled by adding a four-boson counterterm, called a contact term. Upon examining the gauge transformation law, it is seen that the same counterterm is required in order that the action be gauge invariant. The possible implications of the contact term are discussed.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6901815
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645200 -- High Energy Physics-- Particle Interactions & Properties-Theoretical
645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
657000 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
AMPLITUDES
CALCULATION METHODS
COMPOSITE MODELS
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
DIAGRAMS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EXTENDED PARTICLE MODEL
FEYNMAN DIAGRAM
FIELD THEORIES
INFORMATION
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL DATA
PARTICLE MODELS
PROPAGATOR
QUARK MODEL
SCATTERING AMPLITUDES
STRING MODELS
THEORETICAL DATA