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Related Experiment Videos

Background Independence and Duality Invariance in String Theory.

Olaf Hohm1

  • 1Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-3636, USA.

Physical Review Letters
|April 15, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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This study shows that a background-independent formulation of bosonic string theory is not possible at first order. The proposed gauge algebra is inconsistent with the Jacobi identity, suggesting alternative formulations are needed.

Area of Science:

  • Theoretical physics
  • String theory
  • Quantum gravity

Background:

  • Closed string theory possesses O(D,D) duality symmetry on tori.
  • Double field theory exhibits this duality before compactification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the existence of a manifestly background-independent and duality-invariant formulation of bosonic string theory.
  • To analyze the consistency of candidate formulations at first order in α^{'}.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized O(D,D) invariant second-order perturbation theory around flat space.
  • Examined the gauge algebra's consistency with the Jacobi identity.

Main Results:

  • Proved that no manifestly background-independent and duality-invariant formulation exists for metric, b field, and dilaton at first order in α^{'} (alpha-prime).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Demonstrated the inconsistency of the unique background-independent candidate gauge algebra with the Jacobi identity.

    • Conclusions:

    • A background-independent formulation is not achievable for bosonic string theory at this order using standard variables.
    • A viable background-independent formulation exists for frame variables under α^{'}-deformed frame transformations.
    • Findings have potential implications for cosmology and curved background scenarios.