On the CSFT approach to localized closed string tachyons

TL;DR

This paper calculates the potential for localized closed string tachyons in bosonic string theory on an orbifold using level-truncated string field theory, confirming some conjectures but also raising questions about quantitative predictions.

Contribution

It applies level-truncated closed string field theory to compute tachyon potentials on orbifolds, providing evidence for conjectured orbifold identifications and highlighting limitations.

Findings

Critical points match lower-order orbifold features

Results support some conjectures about orbifold tachyons

Raises questions about quantitative accuracy of predictions

Abstract

We compute the potential for localized closed string tachyons in bosonic string theory on the orbifold C/Z_4 using level-truncated closed string field theory. The critical points of the potential exhibit features which agree with their conjectured identification as lower-order orbifolds. However this case also raises some questions regarding the quantitative predictions associated with these conjectures.