String Theory and Non-Riemannian Geometry
Jeong-Hyuck Park, Shigeki Sugimoto
Abstract
The O(D,D) covariant generalized metric, postulated as a truly fundamental variable, can describe novel geometries where the notion of Riemannian metric ceases to exist. Here we quantize a closed string upon such backgrounds and identify flat, anomaly free, non-Riemannian string vacua in the familiar critical dimension, D=26 (or D=10). Remarkably, the whole Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin closed string spectrum is restricted to just one level with no tachyon, and matches the linearized equations of motion of double field theory. Taken as an internal space, our non-Riemannian vacua may open up novel avenues alternative to traditional string compactification.
Topics & Concepts
Compactification (mathematics)PhysicsString field theoryNon-critical string theoryRiemannian geometryString theoryTheoretical physicsBosonic string theoryMathematical physicsCovariant transformationTachyonString (physics)Relationship between string theory and quantum field theoryGeometryQuantum mechanicsPure mathematicsMathematicsQuantum gravityQuantumBlack Holes and Theoretical PhysicsCosmology and Gravitation TheoriesParticle physics theoretical and experimental studies