Doubly Supersymmetric Null Strings and String Tension Generation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a twistor-like formulation for null superstrings across various dimensions, revealing a tension generation mechanism that makes the model classically equivalent to heterotic strings.

Contribution

It presents a novel twistor-like approach to null superstrings with target space supersymmetry and local worldsheet supersymmetry, replacing kappa-symmetry and demonstrating tension generation.

Findings

String tension is dynamically generated via a Wess--Zumino term.

The model becomes classically equivalent to heterotic strings.

Provides a new formulation for null superstrings in multiple dimensions.

Abstract

We propose a twistor--like formulation of N=1, D=3,4,6 and 10 null superstrings. The model possesses N=1 target space supersymmetry and n=D-2 local worldsheet supersymmetry, the latter replaces the kappa-symmetry of the conventional approach to the strings. Adding a Wess--Zumino term to a null superstring action we observe a string tension generation mechanism: the induced worldsheet metric becomes non-degenerate and the resulting model turns out to be classically equivalent to the heterotic string.