String propagation in backgrounds with curved space-time

We study propagation of bosonic strings and superstrings in background metrics with curved space-time using non-compact current algebras. We discuss 2 + 1 dimensional (super)strings on the SO(2,1) group manifold. Using a coset model we construct a ( d − 1)+1 dimensional de Sitter (super)strings for...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear physics. B 1991-01, Vol.348 (1), p.89-107
Main Authors: Bars, Itzhak, Nemeschansky, Dennis
Format: Article
Language:English
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We study propagation of bosonic strings and superstrings in background metrics with curved space-time using non-compact current algebras. We discuss 2 + 1 dimensional (super)strings on the SO(2,1) group manifold. Using a coset model we construct a ( d − 1)+1 dimensional de Sitter (super)strings for d=2,3,4…10 or 26. We also discuss the posibility of a discrepancy in counting the number of time (i.e. non-compact) coordinates for the classical string versus the quantum string. We illustrate this with several examples. We show evidence that a string or superstring propagating in a background with curved time cannot be excited to arbitrarily high states and that it is unitary only in low lying states. We offer a possible interpretation of this phenomenon.
ISSN:0550-3213
1873-1562
DOI:10.1016/0550-3213(91)90223-K