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The $W_3$-string spectrum

C. N. Pope·L. J. Romans·E. Sezgin·K. S. Stelle
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Abstract

We study the spectrum of $W_3$ strings. In particular, we show that for appropriately chosen space-time signature, one of the scalar fields is singled out by the spin-3 constraint and is ``frozen'': no creation operators from it can appear in physical states and the corresponding momentum must assume a specific fixed value. The remaining theory is unitary and resembles an ordinary string theory in $d\ne26$ with anomalies cancelled by appropriate background charges. In the case of the $W_3$ string, however, the spin-two ``graviton'' is massive.

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C. N. Pope, L. J. Romans, E. Sezgin, K. S. Stelle. 1991-10-05. The $W_3$-string spectrum. https://doi.org/10.1016/0370-2693(92)91989-m

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