Exploring Vacuum Manifold of Open String Field Theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the vacuum structure of open string field theory, providing evidence that certain classical solutions are related by gauge symmetry and represent the same tachyon vacuum.

Contribution

It demonstrates that solutions previously thought to be distinct are connected by a subgroup of gauge symmetry, clarifying the structure of the vacuum manifold in string field theory.

Findings

Classical solutions are related by gauge symmetry.

All solutions describe the same tachyon vacuum.

Some subtleties in the symmetry relations are identified.

Abstract

The global symmetry generated by K_n is a subgroup of the stringy gauge symmetry. We explore the part of the vacuum manifold related by this symmetry. A strong evidence is presented that the analytic classical solutions to the cubic string field theory found earlier in Refs. [5,6] are actually related by the symmetry and, therefore, all of them describe the same tachyon vacuum. Some remaining subtlety is pointed out.