On the polarization of closed strings by Ramond-Ramond fluxes

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Ramond-Ramond fluxes influence closed string polarization in type IIB theory, revealing that RR fields induce spinor vevs and potentially source RR moments through worldsheet configurations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the supersymmetry transformations of the worldsheet in RR backgrounds, showing how closed strings become polarized by RR fluxes and suggesting new worldsheet configurations that source RR moments.

Findings

Closed strings can acquire polarization in RR backgrounds.

RR fluxes induce non-zero spinor vevs on the worldsheet.

Worldsheet configurations may source RR moments.

Abstract

In the Green-Schwarz formalism, the closed string worldsheet of the IIB theory couples to Ramond-Ramond (RR) fluxes through spinor bilinears. We study the effect of such fluxes by analyzing the supersymmetry transformation of the worldsheet in general backgrounds. We show that, in the presence RR fields, the closed string can get `polarized', as the spinors acquire non-zero vevs in directions correlating with the orientation of close-by D-branes. Reversing the argument, this may allow for worldsheet configurations - with non-trivial spinor structure - that source RR moments.