Quantum Strings and Superstrings

The gauge invariant observables of the closed bosonic string are quantized without anomalies in four space-time dimensions by constructing their quantum algebra in a manifestly covariant approach. The quantum algebra is the kernel of a derivation on the universal envelopping algebra of an infinite-dimensional Lie algebra. The search for Hilbert space representations of this algebra is separated from its construction, and postponed.

The covariant quantization of the tensionless free bosonic (open and closed) strings in AdS spaces is obtained. This is done by representing the AdS space as an hyperboloid in a flat auxiliary space and by studying the resulting string constrained hamiltonian system in the tensionless limit. It turns out that the constraint algebra simplifies in the tensionless case in such a way that the closed BRST quantization can be formulated and the theory admits then an explicit covari...

We construct complete sets of (open and closed string) covariant coherent state and mass eigenstate vertex operators in bosonic string theory. This construction can be used to study the evolution of fundamental cosmic strings as predicted by string theory, and is expected to serve as a self-contained prototype toy model on which realistic cosmic superstring vertex operators can be based on. It is also expected to be useful for other applications where massive string vertex op...

We provide a detailed analysis of the problems and prospects of superstring theory c. 1986, anticipating much of the progress of the decades to follow.

We develop the idea for a new string field theory of ours that was proposed earlier in a very rudimentary form in a talk in the Symposium of Tohwa University [1]. The main point is to describe the system of strings in the Universe by means of the images of the derivatives of the right and left mover parts of the 26-position vector on the strings w.r.t. tau. The major progress since the Tohwa-talks [1] is to imagine a discretization of the variables on which right and left mov...

Recent years have seen noteworthy progress in the mathematical formulation of quantum field theory and perturbative string theory. We give a brief survey of these developments. It serves as an introduction to the more detailed collection "Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Field Theory and Perturbative String Theory".

We review the recent advances towards finding the spectrum of the AdS_5 x S^5 superstring. We thoroughly explain the theoretical techniques which should be useful for the ultimate solution of the spectral problem. In certain cases our exposition is original and cannot be found in the existing literature. The present Part I deals with foundations of classical string theory in AdS_5 x S^5, light-cone perturbative quantization and derivation of the exact light-cone world-sheet s...

In a recent work it has been shown that the bosonic strings could be embedded into a special class of $N=1$ fermionic strings. We argue that the superpartners of any physical state in the spectrum of this fermionic string is non-physical. So, there is no supersymmetry in the space of physical states and the embedding is, in this sense, ``trivial''. We here propose two different constructions as possible candidates of non-trivial embeddings of the non-critical bosonic strings ...

This paper comprises the written version of the lectures on string theory delivered at the 31st British Universities Summer School on Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics which was held in Manchester, England, August 28 - September 12 2001.

We give a lightning introduction to critical string theory, including the 26-dimensional bosonic string, the 10-dimensional superstrings and heterotic strings with and without spacetime supersymmetry. We also discuss open strings and D-branes, as well as the orientifold constructions, in ten dimensions.