Picture (string theory)
In superstring theory, a picture is a choice of Fock space or, equivalently, a choice of ground state that defines a representation of the theory's state space. Each picture is denoted by a number, such as the 0 picture or −1 picture, and picture-changing operators transform from one representation to another.[1][2][3] The use of these operators in BRST quantization is credited to Daniel Friedan, Emil Martinec, and Stephen Shenker in the 1980s, though it has a predecessor in the dual models of the early 1970s.[1][4][5]
The difference between the ground states is indicated by the action of the superghost oscillators on them, and the number of the picture (plus 1/2) reflects the highest superghost oscillator which does not annihilate the ground state.[citation needed]
Further reading
- Polchinski, Joseph (2005). String Theory, Volume II: Superstring Theory and Beyond. Cambridge University Press. pp. 108–110, 118–121, 126, 469. ISBN 978-0-521-63304-8.
References
- ^ a b Witten, Edward (October 1986). "Interacting field theory of open superstrings". Nuclear Physics B. 276 (2): 291–324. doi:10.1016/0550-3213(86)90298-1.
- ^ Horowitz, Gary T.; Myers, Robert C.; Martin, Stephen P. (February 1989). "BRST cohomology of the superstring at arbitrary ghost number". Physics Letters B. 218 (3): 309–314. doi:10.1016/0370-2693(89)91587-6.
- ^ Kroyter, Michael (2009-08-12). "On string fields and superstring field theories". Journal of High Energy Physics. 2009 (08): 044–044. arXiv:0905.1170. doi:10.1088/1126-6708/2009/08/044. ISSN 1029-8479.
- ^ Friedan, Daniel; Martinec, Emil; Shenker, Stephen (June 1986). "Conformal invariance, supersymmetry and string theory" (PDF). Nuclear Physics B. 271 (1): 93–165. doi:10.1016/0550-3213(86)90356-1.
- ^ Neveu, A.; Schwarz, J. H.; Thorn, C. B. (July 1971). "Reformulation of the dual pion model". Physics Letters B. 35 (6): 529–533. doi:10.1016/0370-2693(71)90391-1.
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