Effective String Theory Simplified

TL;DR

This paper simplifies the formulation of Poincare'-invariant effective string theory using the Polyakov formalism, enabling gauge-invariant operator construction and analysis of observable universality up to next-to-next-to-leading order.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified, gauge-invariant framework for effective string theory using an intrinsic metric and the Polyakov formalism, advancing the analysis of observable universality.

Findings

Constructed operators order by order in inverse string length

Analyzed universality and nonuniversality of observables

Provided a gauge-invariant formulation of effective string theory

Abstract

In this set of notes we simplify the formulation of the Poincare'-invariant effective string theory in D dimensions by adding an intrinsic metric and embedding its dynamics into the Polyakov formalism. We use this formalism to construct operators order by order in the inverse physical length of the string, in a fully gauge-invariant framework. We use this construction to discuss universality and nonuniversality of observables up to and including next-to-next-to-leading order in the long string expansion.