Mass generation from tachyon condensation for vector fields on D-branes

TL;DR

This paper uses string field theory to show that tachyon condensation on D-branes leads to mass generation for vector fields and the lifting of zero modes, indicating a transition to a true vacuum.

Contribution

It demonstrates how tachyon condensation results in mass terms for gauge fields and scalar zero modes on D-branes using the level truncation approach.

Findings

U(1) gauge field acquires a nonzero mass in the true vacuum

Transverse scalar zero modes are lifted by mass generation

Supports the picture of D-brane decay via tachyon condensation

Abstract

The level truncation approach to string field theory is used to study the zero-momentum action for vector excitations on a bosonic D-brane which has been annihilated by tachyon condensation. It is shown that in the true vacuum the translation zero modes associated with transverse scalars on the D-brane are lifted by spontaneous generation of mass terms. Similarly, the U(1) gauge field on the brane develops a nonzero mass term.