Some Computations of Partition Functions and Tachyon Potentials in Background Independent Off-Shell String Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores how background independent off-shell string theory can yield insights into tachyon and gauge field potentials despite unknown renormalization conditions, by leveraging scheme independence.

Contribution

It demonstrates the use of universality principles to extract potential information in off-shell string theory without complete renormalization details.

Findings

Asymptotics of potentials obey universality

Scheme independence helps infer potential behaviors

Applicable to both bosonic and superstring theories

Abstract

We discuss what information can be safely extracted from background independent off-shell string theory. The major obstacle in doing so is that renormalization conditions of the underlying world-sheet theories are not exactly known. To get some insight, we first consider the tachyon and gauge field backgrounds and carry out computations in different renormalization schemes for both, bosonic string and superstring. Next, we use a principle of universality (renormalization scheme independence) to somehow compensate the missing of the renormalization conditions and get information we are looking for. It turns out that some asymptotics which are responsible for the potentials only obey the principle of universality.