Loop Homotopy Algebras in Closed String Field Theory

TL;DR

This paper characterizes the algebraic structures of string products in closed string field theory across all genera, extending known tree-level results to more general cases using advanced algebraic frameworks.

Contribution

It provides two novel characterizations of string products in closed string field theory for arbitrary genera, utilizing higher order coderivations and modular operads.

Findings

Characterization via higher order coderivations

Use of modular operads for structure analysis

Discussion of potential generalizations to open string theory

Abstract

Barton Zwiebach constructed the `string products' on the Hilbert space of combined conformal field theory of matter and ghosts. It is well-known that the `tree level' specialization of these products forms a strongly homotopy Lie algebra. A strongly homotopy Lie algebra is given by a square zero coderivation on the cofree cocommutative connected coalgebra, on the other hand, strongly homotopy Lie algebras are algebras over the cobar construction on the commutative algebras operad. The aim of our paper is to give two similar characterizations of the structure formed by the `string products' of arbitrary genera. Our first characterization will be based on the notion of a higher order coderivation, the second characterization will be based on the machinery of modular operads. We will also discuss possible generalizations to open string field theory.