Can the effective string see higher partial waves?

TL;DR

This paper investigates whether the effective string model can explain higher partial wave scattering in five-dimensional black holes, analyzing the kinematics and limitations of the model in reproducing semi-classical cross-sections.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the effective string model can reproduce the form of semi-classical cross-sections for higher partial waves with specific tension choices and discusses limitations related to locality and statistics.

Findings

Effective string reproduces semi-classical cross-section form

A peculiar tension value is necessary for correct scaling

Effective string absorption is limited to finite partial waves

Abstract

The semi-classical cross-sections for arbitrary partial waves of ordinary scalars to fall into certain five-dimensional black holes have a form that seems capable of explanation in terms of the effective string model. The kinematics of these processes is analyzed in detail on the effective string and is shown to reproduce the correct functional form of the semi-classical cross-sections. But it is necessary to choose a peculiar value of the effective string tension to obtain the correct scaling properties. Furthermore, the assumptions of locality and statistics combine to forbid the effective string from absorbing more than a finite number of partial waves. The relation of this limitation to cosmic censorship is discussed.