The Tachyon Potential in Witten's Superstring Field Theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the tachyon potential within Witten's cubic superstring field theory, revealing that even with higher modes included, the potential lacks a minimum, indicating challenges in tachyon condensation.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the tachyon potential in superstring field theory, showing the absence of a minimum even when higher modes are considered.

Findings

Pure tachyon potential has no minimum.

Including higher modes up to level two does not change this.

Implications for tachyon condensation in superstring theory.

Abstract

We study the tachyon potential in the NS sector of Witten's cubic superstring field theory. In this theory, the pure tachyon contribution to the potential has no minimum. We find that this remains the case when higher modes up to level two are included.