On the Lagrangian Realization of Non-Critical ${\cal W}$-Strings

TL;DR

This paper explores non-critical string theories with extended gauge symmetries, using coupled Wess-Zumino-Witten models, and analyzes gauge fixing and BRST symmetries, with applications to ${\

Contribution

It provides a detailed gauge-invariant formulation and BRST analysis for non-critical ${\cal W}$-strings, extending the understanding of their structure and symmetries.

Findings

Explicit gauge fixing procedure for ${\cal W}_3$ strings

BRST symmetry structure elucidated for coupled WZW models

Application to non-critical string theory models

Abstract

A large class of non-critical string theories with extended worldsheet gauge symmetry are described by two coupled, gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten Models. We give a detailed analysis of the gauge invariant action and in particular the gauge fixing procedure and the resulting BRST symmetries. The results are applied to the example of ${\cal W}_3$ strings.