Higher-Spin Geometry and String Theory

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new geometric framework for higher-spin theories that removes trace constraints by introducing additional fields, linking the formulation to string theory and resulting in a non-local, geometric description.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to higher-spin gauge theories that eliminates trace constraints using extra fields, connecting to string field theory and revealing a geometric, non-local formulation.

Findings

External currents obey standard conservation laws.

Field equations relate to open string field theory in the low-tension limit.

A geometric, non-local description emerges when additional fields are eliminated.

Abstract

The theory of freely-propagating massless higher spins is usually formulated via gauge fields and parameters subject to trace constraints. We summarize a proposal allowing to forego them by introducing only a pair of additional fields in the Lagrangians. In this setting, external currents satisfy usual Noether-like conservation laws, the field equations can be nicely related to those emerging from Open String Field Theory in the low-tension limit, and if the additional fields are eliminated without reintroducing the constraints a geometric, non-local description of the theory manifests itself.