On stable higher spin states in Heterotic String Theories

TL;DR

This paper investigates the properties, interactions, and scattering behaviors of higher spin states in heterotic string theories, revealing stability of BPS states and providing explicit vertex operator expressions.

Contribution

It offers explicit vertex operators for massive higher spin states and analyzes their stability and scattering, advancing understanding of higher spin dynamics in heterotic strings.

Findings

BPS higher spin states are stable against decay in perturbation theory

Explicit expressions for vertex operators at the first two massive levels

Scattering analysis reveals form factors and polarization effects

Abstract

We study properties of 1/2 BPS Higher Spin states in heterotic compactifications with extended supersymmetry. We also analyze non BPS Higher Spin states and give explicit expressions for physical vertex operators of the first two massive levels. We then study on-shell tri-linear couplings of these Higher Spin states and confirm that BPS states with arbitrary spin cannot decay into lower spin states in perturbation theory. Finally, we consider scattering of vector bosons off higher spin BPS states and extract form factors and polarization effects in various limits.