String Winding Modes From Charge Non-Conservation in Compact Chern-Simons Theory

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how string winding modes can be derived from charge non-conservation phenomena in a topological membrane framework, linking gauge theory instantons to string spectrum features.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to construct string winding modes via charge non-conservation in topologically massive gauge theories, connecting gauge instantons to string spectra.

Findings

Charge non-conservation leads to vertex operators with different momenta.

Winding mode momentum matches the full string mass spectrum.

Topological membranes provide a new perspective on string compactification.

Abstract

In this letter we show how string winding modes can be constructed using topological membranes. We use the fact that monopole-instantons in compact topologically massive gauge theory lead to charge non-conservation inside the membrane which, in turn, enables us to construct vertex operators with different left and right momenta. The amount of charge non-conservation inside the membrane is interpreted as giving the momentum associated with the string winding mode and is shown to match precisely the full mass spectrum of compactified string theory.