On Semiclassical Limits of String States

TL;DR

This paper investigates the connection between classical and quantum string states, emphasizing the role of coherent states as semiclassical approximations, with explicit examples and gauge-fixing procedures for closed strings.

Contribution

It introduces a method to construct semiclassical states in string theory using coherent states, including explicit gauge-fixing for closed strings and detailed examples.

Findings

Coherent states serve as effective semiclassical approximations for string states.

Explicit gauge-fixing is necessary for constructing semiclassical states in closed strings.

The circular target-space loop example illustrates the construction process.

Abstract

We explore the relation between classical and quantum states in both open and closed (super)strings discussing the relevance of coherent states as a semiclassical approximation. For the closed string sector a gauge-fixing of the residual world-sheet rigid translation symmetry of the light-cone gauge is needed for the construction to be possible. The circular target-space loop example is worked out explicitly.