Lecture 25

8.251 Spring 2007

Last time considered eects of Cal-Baron eld:

Action S:

1
S=
2

1
x x
1

2
2

B (x) 2
d d (X X ) X (X )
d d
dD xH H
2
6k

First term: String action

Second term: Interaction
Third term: Coupling to current

Interaction
term rewritten as:

x
d d x
(x X(, ))

dD xB (x)J (x) where current J (x) =

1 H
= J
k 2 x
Antisymmetric in and .

J = J

J
0=

x
x
Conservation index so we seem to have a collection of conserved currents.

J : conservation index, : labels for various currents

J 0k : string charge densities (to nd charge, integrate over space). B0k couples
to J0k .
Conservation equation for = 0:
J 0
J 0
J 0k
=
0

=
0

=0
x
xk
x
1

Lecture 25

8.251 Spring 2007

Jo = (J 01 , J 02 , . . . , J 0d ). (J0 is a vector), so:

J 0k
(J0 )k
=0
= 0 J0 = 0
k
x
xk
String charge lives only on the string. Magnetic elds help us, but not a per
fect analogy. Perfect analogy: string charge is like stationary electric currents.
Remember current conservation from E&M :

J +

=0
t

Stationary currents have

t = 0 J = 0 e.g. a current on a closed loop,
or an innite wire. A current that, e.g. ends at a capacitor to charge it is not
stationary. Open strings are problematic: charge owing in string accumulates
at ends.

1
J (t, x) =
2
0k

x0 xk
xk x0

(t x0 (, )) (x x(, ))
d d

Static gauge, x0 =

0k

1
=
2

1
2

J0 =

d(x x(t, ))

xk

d(x x(t, ))

If we have a closed string, well have a string charge density vector everywhere
along the string. Now we know the direction of this vector: along the direction
of increasing . String charge behaves like stationary electric current. J ik for a
static string is 0. It has to do with the velocity of the string.

Consider a static string in 3 + 1 dimensions (could be an innitely long string

interesting and simple case). Must solve:
1 H
= J
2 x

Lecture 25

8.251 Spring 2007

Assume all Hs are time independent with H ijk = 0.

Static string, so really two equations (, are i, j)

1 H ij
= J ij = 0
2 x
X ij0
H ijk
+
=0
0
x
xk
Expanding over index, which can take values 0 and spatial.
1 H 0
= J 0
2 x0
Totally antisymmeteric, so cant have other 0 indices, so all other indices spatial.
1 H 0kl
= J 0k
2 xl
Lets recast this equation as something more familiar. Let:

H 0kl = 2 k0m B m
Recall 123 = 1. Any reversal of index order changes its sign.

Plug in:
1
(2 k0m B m ) = J 0k
2 xl
klm l B m = J 0k
This is the familiar ( B)k = (J0 )k
B = J0

Lecture 25

8.251 Spring 2007

So nding Kalb-Raman eld of a magnetic eld is mathematically equivalent to

nding the electric current.
(the magnetic eld). B whose E&M
We have H whose E&M analogue is B
0k
(vector potential). J whose E&M analogue is J (current).
analogue is A
Action for coupling to Kalb-Raman eld:

x x
d d
B (x)

1
=
d d x x B (x)
2

SB =

where , 1, 2 and 12 = 1, 21 = 1, and 1 = , 2 = . and are

coordinate indices on the worldsheet.

q A dx : coupling of E&M to a point charge. Gauge invariant? Yes! Things

made with A have a hard time being gauge invariant. Reason above is gauge
invariant.

x
d (Let A = )

(x( )) x
=q
d
x

=q
(x( ))d

= q(( = ) ( = ))

A dx = q

A (x( ))

Gauge invariant if vanishes in past or future. Good enough!

B =
B (x) =

x
x

= (x)

Lecture 25

8.251 Spring 2007

SB =

d d

x x
x

d d x

= d d ( x )

= d d ( x )

SB =

d [ x= x=0 ]

Consider now a string ending on a D-brane. What kind of violation of the gauge
invar. will we get?

x = m xm +

a xa

0 since xa at string ends is constant

SB =

m
d [m xm
= m x=0 ]

String cannot end on the D-brane.

Weve accumulated so much evidence that this makes sense, but then we get
stuck. Heres where we need inspiration:

Lecture 25

8.251 Spring 2007

Possible hints: String conservation, charge conservation. Maybe string ends

not so innocent - maybe theyre electrically charged (this would be good - then
string theory would include electric charge, a very necessary element of a phys
ical theory).

Approach: Lets believe string endpoints are charged. Say = has a positive
charge, = 0 has a negative charge.

S = SB +

d Am (x)

xm

d Am (x)

xm
=0

B =
Bmm = m n n m
Am = m
Kalb-Maron parameter is changing the magnetic eld. Outrageous, but neces
sary. Then get gauge invariant.

Such a strong gauge transformation, might wonder if our cure is worse than the
disease. Not so:

S = SB + SEM is gauge invariant

But what have we done to Maxwell? Not so severe.

Fmn used to be gauge invar. Now?

Fmn = (m An n Am ) = m n + n m
Not gauge invariant, but

Fmn = Bmn
So Fmn + Bmn is gauge invariant. So in string theory with Kalb Raman elds,
cant just use F , must use:
6

Lecture 25

8.251 Spring 2007

mn = Fmn + Bmn

(gauge invar.)

This looks good. Bmn (gravitational, eld of closed string) very small usually.
So practically mn Fmn most of the time.

Before:
1
SEM = F F
4
Now must write:
1
1
1
1
SEM = mn mn = Fmn F mn Bmn B mn Fmn B mn
4
4
2
4
Recall string charge B 0k J0k . So F0k couples to B 0k - electric elds now have
string charge!

Charge at string endpoints create electric elds in the brane that continue to
carry string charge.

Maybe string is made of electric eld lines all bunched up together that can y

in/out on the brane.

But strings not just made of eld lines ... doesnt quite work.

This model implies that particle-antiparticle annihilation are a closed string go

ing o the brane.

Quarks and QCD: Consider 3 D-branes (for 3 colors):

Lecture 25

1.
2.
3.
4.

8.251 Spring 2007

Open string ending on the red brane is a red quark.

Blue quark.
Green quark.
Red anti-quark. (going away)

Add in weak brane and leptonic branes.

Call all these branes D4 branes lling world.

Lecture 25

8.251 Spring 2007

But string theory has extra dimensions. But all those branes on a torus.

This model found to support all the particles we know and more we dont. Not
a complete story since we need symmetry-breaking. Maybe theres supersym
metry, so need some. Higgs boson from tachyons from intersecting branes. Not
a 100% model, but a good rst attempt.