Covariant Quantization of the String in Dimensions D <= 26 Using a BRS Formulation

Oct, 1982
24 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.D 28 (1983) 2614
Report number:
  • GOTEBORG-82-36

Citations per year

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Abstract: (APS)
The conventional open string theory is cast into the Becchi-Rouet-Stora (BRS) formulation of Fradkin and Vilkovisky. Upon quantizing this theory, the nilpotency condition Q^2=0 of the BRS charge requires D=26 and α0=1 for the space-time dimension D and intercept parameter α0. Unitarity is proved by relating this theory to the old covariant quantization. The string theory is then generalized as suggested by Polyakov, taking into account the conformal or trace anomaly by L=Lstring+CL1, where L1 yields the Liouville equation in the orthonormal gauge. Under the assumption that the exact quantization of Liouville's equation does not yield any additional anomalies, we show that the condition Q^2=0 implies C=(D−26)48π, in agreement with Polyakov's result, and the "intercept parameter" β=(D−2)24.
  • MODEL: STRING
  • QUANTIZATION
  • FIELD THEORY: HIGHER-DIMENSIONAL
  • FIELD EQUATIONS: LIOUVILLE
  • TRANSFORMATION: BECCHI-ROUET-STORA
  • UNITARITY