Loop Variables in String Theory

TL;DR

The paper introduces the loop variable approach as a gauge invariant method for deriving string theory equations of motion, incorporating all massive modes and connecting with the renormalization group, applicable off-shell.

Contribution

It presents a novel gauge invariant framework for string equations of motion using loop variables, extending the renormalization group approach off-shell.

Findings

Reproduces on-shell string tree amplitudes

Provides gauge invariance off-shell

Incorporates all massive string modes

Abstract

The loop variable approach is a proposal for a gauge invariant generalization of the sigma-model renormalization group method of obtaining equations of motion in string theory. The basic guiding principle is space-time gauge invariance rather than world-sheet properties. In essence it is a version of Wilson's exact renormalization group equation for the world sheet theory. It involves all the massive modes and is defined with a finite world-sheet cutoff, which allows one to go off the mass-shell. On shell the tree amplitudes of string theory are reproduced. The equations are gauge invariant off shell also. This article is a self-contained discussion of the loop variable approach as well as its connection with the renormalization group.