arXiv subjects

Barton Zwiebach

Publications and source records attributed to Barton Zwiebach.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2000

Duality and Weyl Symmetry of 7-brane Configurations

Extending earlier results on the duality symmetries of three-brane probe theories we define the duality subgroup of SL(2,Z) as the symmetry group of the background 7-branes configurations. We establish that the action of Weyl reflections is implemented on junctions by brane transpositions that amount to exchanging branes that can be connected by open strings. This enables us to characterize duality groups of brane configurations by a map to the symmetry group of the Dynkin diagram. We compute the duality groups and their actions for all localizable 7-brane configurations. Surprisingly, for the case of affine configurations there are brane transpositions leaving them invariant but acting nontrivially on the charges of junctions.

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arXiv1999

Tachyon condensation in string field theory

It has been conjectured that at a stationary point of the tachyon potential for the D-brane of bosonic string theory, the negative energy density exactly cancels the D-brane tension. We evaluate this tachyon potential by off-shell calculations in open string field theory. Surprisingly, the condensation of the tachyon mode alone into the stationary point of its cubic potential is found to cancel about 70% of the D-brane tension. Keeping relevant scalars up to four mass levels above the tachyon, the energy density at the shifted stationary point cancels 99% of the D-brane tension.

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arXiv1999

Uncovering the Symmetries on [p,q] 7-branes: Beyond the Kodaira Classification

We begin a classification of the symmetry algebras arising on configurations of type IIB [p,q] 7-branes. These include not just the Kodaira symmetries that occur when branes coalesce into a singularity, but also algebras associated to other physically interesting brane configurations that cannot be collapsed. We demonstrate how the monodromy around the 7-branes essentially determines the algebra, and thus 7-brane gauge symmetries are classified by conjugacy classes of the modular group SL(2,Z). Through a classic map between the modular group and binary quadratic forms, the monodromy fixes the asymptotic charge form which determines the representations of the various (p,q) dyons in probe D3-brane theories. This quadratic form also controls the change in the algebra during transitions between different brane configurations. We give a unified description of the brane configurations extending the D_N, E_N and Argyres-Douglas H_N series beyond the Kodaira cases. We anticipate the appearance of affine and indefinite infinite-dimensional algebras, which we explore in a sequel paper.

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arXiv1999

Uncovering Infinite Symmetries on [p,q] 7-branes: Kac-Moody Algebras and Beyond

In a previous paper we explored how conjugacy classes of the modular group classify the symmetry algebras that arise on type IIB [p,q] 7-branes. The Kodaira list of finite Lie algebras completely fills the elliptic classes as well as some parabolic classes. Loop algebras of E_N fill additional parabolic classes, and exotic finite algebras, hyperbolic extensions of E_N and more general indefinite Lie algebras fill the hyperbolic classes. Since they correspond to brane configurations that cannot be made into strict singularities, these non-Kodaira algebras are spectrum generating and organize towers of massive BPS states into representations. The smallest brane configuration with unit monodromy gives rise to the loop algebra \hat{E}_9 which plays a central role in the theory. We elucidate the patterns of enhancement relating E_8, E_9, \hat{E}_9 and E_10. We examine configurations of 24 7-branes relevant to type IIB compactifications on a two-sphere, or F-theory on K3. A particularly symmetric configuration separates the 7-branes into two groups of twelve branes and the massive BPS spectrum is organized by E_10 + E_10.

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arXiv1999

Stable Non-BPS States in F- theory

F-theory on K3 admits non-BPS states that are represented as string junctions extending between 7-branes. We classify the non-BPS states which are guaranteed to be stable on account of charge conservation and the existence of a region of moduli space where the 7-branes supporting the junction can be isolated from the rest of the branes. We find three possibilities; the 7-brane configurations carrying: (i) the D_1 algebra representing a D7-brane near an orientifold O7-plane, whose stable non-BPS state was identified before, (ii) the exotic affine E_1 algebra, whose stable non-BPS state seems to be genuinely non-perturbative, and, (iii) the affine E_2 algebra representing a D7-brane near a pair of O7-planes. As a byproduct of our work we construct explicitly all 7-brane configurations that can be isolated in a K3. These include non-collapsible configurations of affine type.

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arXiv1998

Constraints on the BPS Spectrum of N = 2, D = 4 Theories with A-D-E Flavor Symmetry

BPS states of N=2, D=4 Super Yang-Mills theories with ADE flavor symmetry arise as junctions joining a D3-brane to a set of 7-branes defining the enhanced flavor algebra. We show that the familiar BPS spectrum of SU(2) theories with N_f <= 4 is simply given by the set of junctions whose self-intersection is bounded below as required by supersymmetry. This constraint, together with the relations between junction and weight lattices, is used to establish the appearance of arbitrarily large flavor representations for the case of D_{n>=5} and E_n symmetries. Such representations are required by consistency with decoupling down to smaller flavor symmetries.

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arXiv1998

String Junctions for Arbitrary Lie Algebra Representations

We consider string junctions with endpoints on a set of branes of IIB string theory defining an ADE-type gauge Lie algebra. We show how to characterize uniquely equivalence classes of junctions related by string/brane crossing through invariant charges that count the effective number of prongs ending on each brane. Each equivalence class defines a point on a lattice of junctions. We define a metric on this lattice arising from the intersection pairing of junctions, and use self-intersection to identify junctions in the adjoint and fundamental representations of all ADE algebras. This information suffices to determine the relation between junction lattices and the Lie-algebra weight lattices. Arbitrary representations are built by allowing junctions with asymptotic (p,q) charges, on which the group of conjugacy classes of representations is represented additively. One can view the (p,q) asymptotic charges as Dynkin labels associated to two new fundamental weight vectors.

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arXiv1998

Open string - string junction transitions

It is confirmed that geodesic string junctions are necessary to describe the gauge vectors of symmetry groups that arise in the context of IIB superstrings compactified in the presence of nonlocal 7-branes. By examining the moduli space of 7-brane backgrounds for which the dilaton and axion fields are constant, we are able to describe explicitly and geometrically how open string geodesics can fail to be smooth, and how geodesic string junctions then become the relevant BPS representatives of the gauge bosons. The mechanisms that guarantee the existence and uniqueness of the BPS representative of any gauge vector are also shown to generalize to the case where the dilaton and axion fields are not constant.

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arXiv1997

On the Picture Dependence of Ramond-Ramond Cohomology

Closed string physical states are BRST cohomology classes computed on the space of states annihilated by $b_0^-$. Since $b_0^-$ does not commute with the operations of picture changing, BRST cohomologies at different pictures need not agree. We show explicitly that Ramond-Ramond (RR) zero-momentum physical states are inequivalent at different pictures, and prove that non-zero momentum physical states are equivalent in all pictures. We find that D-brane states represent BRST classes that are nonpolynomial on the superghost zero modes, while RR gauge fields appear as polynomial BRST classes. We also prove that in $x$-cohomology, the cohomology where the zero mode of the spatial coordinates is included, there is a unique ghost-number one BRST class responsible for the Green-Schwarz anomaly, and a unique ghost number minus one BRST class associated with RR charge.

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arXiv1997

Exceptional groups from open strings

We consider type IIB theory compactified on a two-sphere in the presence of mutually nonlocal 7-branes. The BPS states associated with the gauge vectors of exceptional groups are seen to arise from open strings connecting the 7-branes, and multi-pronged open strings capable of ending on more than two 7-branes. These multi-pronged strings are built from open string junctions that arise naturally when strings cross 7-branes. The different string configurations can be multiplied as traditional open strings, and are shown to generate the structure of exceptional groups.

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arXiv1997

Tensor Constructions of Open String Theories II: Vector bundles, D-branes and orientifold groups

A generalized Chan-Paton construction is presented which is analogous to the tensor product of vector bundles. To this end open string theories are considered where the space of states decomposes into sectors whose product is described by a semigroup. The cyclicity properties of the open string theory are used to prove that the relevant semigroups are direct unions of Brandt semigroups. The known classification of Brandt semigroups then implies that all such theories have the structure of a theory with Dirichlet-branes. We also describe the structure of an arbitrary orientifold group, and show that the truncation to the invariant subspace defines a consistent open string theory. Finally, we analyze the possible orientifold projections of a theory with several kinds of branes.

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arXiv1997

Oriented Open-Closed String Theory Revisited

String theory on D-brane backgrounds is open-closed string theory. Given the relevance of this fact, we give details and elaborate upon our earlier construction of oriented open-closed string field theory. In order to incorporate explicitly closed strings, the classical sector of this theory is open strings with a homotopy associative A_\infty algebraic structure. We build a suitable Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra on moduli spaces of bordered Riemann surfaces, the construction of which involves a few subtleties arising from the open string punctures and cyclicity conditions. All vertices coupling open and closed strings through disks are described explicitly. Subalgebras of the algebra of surfaces with boundaries are used to discuss symmetries of classical open string theory induced by the closed string sector, and to write classical open string field theory on general closed string backgrounds. We give a preliminary analysis of the ghost-dilaton theorem.

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arXiv1997

Tensor Constructions of Open String Theories I: Foundations

The possible tensor constructions of open string theories are analyzed from first principles. To this end the algebraic framework of open string field theory is clarified, including the role of the homotopy associative A_\infty algebra, the odd symplectic structure, cyclicity, star conjugation, and twist. It is also shown that two string theories are off-shell equivalent if the corresponding homotopy associative algebras are homotopy equivalent in a strict sense. It is demonstrated that a homotopy associative star algebra with a compatible even bilinear form can be attached to an open string theory. If this algebra does not have a spacetime interpretation, positivity and the existence of a conserved ghost number require that its cohomology is at degree zero, and that it has the structure of a direct sum of full matrix algebras. The resulting string theory is shown to be physically equivalent to a string theory with a familiar open string gauge group.

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arXiv1997

N=1 Dualities of SO and USp Gauge Theories and T-Duality of String Theory

Extending recent work on SU gauge theory, we engineer local string models for N=1 four-dimensional SO and USp gauge theories coupled to matter in the fundamental. The local models are type IIB orientifolds with D7 branes on a curved orientifold 7-plane, and matter realized by adding D3 branes on the orientifold plane. The Higgs branches of the SO and USp theories can be matched with the moduli spaces of SO and USp instantons on the compact four-dimensional part of the D7 branes worldvolume. The R-charge of the gauge theories is identified with a U(1) symmetry on the worldvolume of an Euclidean D3 brane instanton. We argue that the quantum field theory dualities of these gauge theories arise from T-dualities of type IIB strings exchanging D7 and D3 charges. A crucial role is played by the induced D3 charge of D7 branes and an orientifold 7-plane, both partially compactified on a $Z_2$ orbifold of K3.

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arXiv1996

Building string field theory around non-conformal backgrounds

The main limitations of string field theory arise because its present formulation requires a background representing a classical solution, a background defined by a strictly conformally invariant theory. Here we sketch a construction for a gauge-invariant string field action around non-conformal backgrounds. The construction makes no reference to any conformal theory. Its two-dimensional field-theoretic aspect is based on a generalized BRST operator satisfying a set of Weyl descent equations. Its geometric aspect uses a complex of moduli spaces of two-dimensional Riemannian manifolds having ordinary punctures, and organized by the number of special punctures which goes from zero to infinity. In this complex there is a Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra that includes naturally the operator which adds one special puncture. We obtain a classical field equation that appears to relax the condition of conformal invariance usually taken to define classical string backgrounds.

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arXiv1996

New Moduli Spaces from String Background Independence Consistency Conditions

In string field theory an infinitesimal background deformation is implemented as a canonical transformation whose hamiltonian function is defined by moduli spaces of punctured Riemann surfaces having one special puncture. We show that the consistency conditions associated to the commutator of two deformations are implemented by virtue of the existence of moduli spaces of punctured surfaces with two special punctures. The spaces are antisymmetric under the exchange of the special punctures, and satisfy recursion relations relating them to moduli spaces with one special puncture and to string vertices. We develop the theory of moduli spaces of surfaces with arbitrary number of special punctures and indicate their relevance to the construction of a string field theory that makes no reference to a conformal background. Our results also imply a partial antibracket cohomology theorem for the string action.

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arXiv1995

Who changes the string coupling ?

In general bosonic closed string backgrounds the ghost-dilaton is not the only state in the semi-relative BRST cohomology that can change the dimensionless string coupling. This fact is used to establish complete dilaton theorems in closed string field theory. The ghost-dilaton, however, is the crucial state: for backgrounds where it becomes BRST trivial we prove that the string coupling becomes an unobservable parameter of the string action. For backgrounds where the matter CFT includes free uncompactified bosons we introduce a refined BRST problem by including the zero-modes "x" of the bosons as legal operators on the complex. We argue that string field theory can be defined on this enlarged complex and that its BRST cohomology captures accurately the notion of a string background. In this complex the ghost-dilaton appears to be the only BRST-physical state changing the string coupling.

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arXiv1995

Vacuum vertices and the ghost-dilaton

We complete the proof of the ghost-dilaton theorem in string theory by showing that the coupling constant dependence of the vacuum vertices appearing in the closed string action is given correctly by one-point functions of the ghost-dilaton. To prove this at genus one we develop the formalism required to evaluate off-shell amplitudes on tori.

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