Towards a quantum field theory of primitive string fields

Abstract

We denote generating functions of massless even higher spin fields "primitive string fields" (PSF's). In an introduction we present the necessary definitions and derive propagators and currents of these PDF's on flat space. Their off-shell cubic interaction can be derived after all off-shell cubic interactions of triplets of higher spin fields have become known [2],[3]. Then we discuss four-point functions of any quartet of PSF's. In subsequent sections we exploit the fact that higher spin field theories in $AdS_{d+1}$ are determined by AdS/CFT correspondence from universality classes of critical systems in $d$ dimensional flat spaces. The O(N) invariant sectors of the O(N) vector models for $1\leq N \leq \infty$ play for us the role of "standard models", for varying $N$, they contain e.g. the Ising model for N=1 and the spherical model for $N=\infty$. A formula for the masses squared that break gauge symmetry for these O(N) classes is presented for d = 3. For the PSF on $AdS$ space it is shown that it can be derived by lifting the PSF on flat space by a simple kernel which contains the sum over all spins. Finally we use an algorithm to derive all symmetric tensor higher spin fields. They arise from monomials of scalar fields by derivation and selection of conformal (quasiprimary) fields. Typically one monomial produces a multiplet of spin $s$ conformal higher spin fields for all $s \geq 4$, they are distinguished by their anomalous dimensions (in $CFT_3$) or by their mass (in $AdS_4$). We sum over these multiplets and the spins to obtain "string type fields", one for each such monomial.