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IX Avogadro Meeting on String Theory, Supergravity and Gauge Theories

Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati — Aula 128-129

December 18—20, 2013

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Scientific Program

Wednesday, December 18 15:00—17:00 Aula 128-129

C. Maccaferri (Torino U. and INFN) and M. Schnabl (AS CR Prague)

Recent trends in string field theory

Abstract:

These lectures are meant to give an introduction to the recent developments in open string field theory, with an emphasis towards the correspondence between classical solutions and boundary conformal field theories.

  • Closed and open string backgrounds
  • The open string field algebra and some useful subalgebras (surfaces, wedges, KBc algebra)
  • Construction of bosonic cubic open string field theory, gauge symmetries, gauge fixing, equation of motion, fluctuations on classical backgrounds
  • The OSFT conjecture: classical solutions as new conformal boundary conditions (D-branes)
  • Classical observables (action and closed string overlap)
  • Ellwood conjecture
  • Boundary state from open string field theory solutions
  • Examples of classical solutions and their relation to boundary conformal field theories: tachyon vacuum and other universal solutions, marginal deformations, relevant deformations, Ising and minimal models D-branes
  • Recent results in WZW-open superstring field theory and pure-spinor string field theory
  • Future directions

Modern reviews:

  • Y. Okawa,``Analytic methods in open string field theory,'' Prog. Theor. Phys. 128 (2012) 1001.
  • M. Schnabl, ``Algebraic solutions in Open String Field Theory - A Lightning Review,'' Acta Polytechnica 50, no. 3 (2010) 102 arXiv:1004.4858 [hep-th]].
  • E. Fuchs and M. Kroyter, ``Analytical Solutions of Open String Field Theory,' Phys. Rept. 502 (2011) 89 [arXiv:0807.4722 [hep-th]].

A couple of older but excellent reviews:

  • W. Taylor and B. Zwiebach, ``D-branes, tachyons, and string field theory,'' hep-th/0311017.
  • C.B.Thorn, ``String Field Theory,'' Phys. Rept. 175 (1989) 1.

References for the lectures:

  • T. Erler, ``Analytic solution for tachyon condensation in Berkovits` open superstring field theory,'' JHEP 1311 (2013) 007 [arXiv:1308.4400].
  • M. Kroyter, ``Analytical solutions of pure-spinor superstring field theory,'' JHEP 1307 (2013) 019 [arXiv:1211.5172 [hep-th]].
  • T. Baba and N. Ishibashi, ``Energy from the gauge invariant observables,'' JHEP 1304(2013) 050 [arXiv:1208.6206].
  • M. Kudrna, C. Maccaferri and M. Schnabl, ``Boundary State from Ellwood Invariants,'' JHEP 1307 (2013) 033 [arXiv:1207.4785 ].
  • M. Murata and M. Schnabl, ``Multibrane Solutions in Open String Field Theory,'' JHEP 1207 (2012) 063 [arXiv:1112.0591 [hep-th]].
  • M. Kiermaier, Y. Okawa and P. Soler, ``Solutions from boundary condition changing operators in open string field theory,'' JHEP 1103 (2011) 122 [arXiv:1009.6185].
  • L. Bonora, C. Maccaferri and D. D. Tolla, ``Relevant Deformations in Open String Field Theory: a Simple Solution for Lumps,'' JHEP 1111 (2011) 107 [arXiv:1009.4158].
  • T. Erler and M. Schnabl, ``A Simple Analytic Solution for Tachyon Condensation,'' JHEP 0910 (2009) 066 [arXiv:0906.0979 ].
  • M. Kiermaier, Y. Okawa and B. Zwiebach, ``The boundary state from open string fields,'' arXiv:0810.1737 .
  • I. Ellwood, ``The Closed string tadpole in open string field theory,'' JHEP 0808 (2008) 063 [arXiv:0804.1131 ].
  • M. Kiermaier and Y. Okawa, ``Exact marginality in open string field theory: A General framework,'' JHEP 0911 (2009) 041 [arXiv:0707.4472 ].
  • E. Fuchs, M. Kroyter and R. Potting, ``Marginal deformations in string field theory,'' JHEP 0709 (2007) 101 [arXiv:0704.2222].
  • M. Kiermaier, Y. Okawa, L. Rastelli and B. Zwiebach, ``Analytic solutions for marginal deformations in open string field theory,'' JHEP 0801 (2008) 028 [hep-th/0701249].
  • M. Schnabl, ``Comments on marginal deformations in open string field theory,'' Phys. Lett. B 654 (2007) 194 [hep-th/0701248].
  • I. Ellwood and M. Schnabl, ``Proof of vanishing cohomology at the tachyon vacuum,'' JHEP 0702 (2007) 096 [hep-th/0606142].
  • Y. Okawa, ``Comments on Schnabl's analytic solution for tachyon condensation in Witten's open string field theory,'' JHEP 0604 (2006) 05 [hep-th/0603159].
  • M. Schnabl, ``Analytic solution for tachyon condensation in open string field theory,'' Adv. Theor. Math. Phys. 10 (2006) 433 [hep-th/0511286].