String Theory and Non-Riemannian Geometry

2020/08/31 by Jeong-Hyuck Park, Shigeki Sugimoto
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Bosonic string theory #Compactification (mathematics) #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Covariant transformation #Geometry #Mathematical physics #Mathematics #Non-critical string theory #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #Physics #Pure mathematics #Quantum #Quantum gravity #Quantum mechanics #Relationship between string theory and quantum field theory #Riemannian geometry #String (physics) #String field theory #String theory #Tachyon #Theoretical physics #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.125.211601

published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 211601 (2020) · 6 pages. [v2] comment/reference added, title changed from "Single Level String Theory", to appear in PRL

arxiv created 2020/10/17 · openalex publication_date 2020/11/19 · arxiv updated 2020/11/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

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.

Citations

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