On Background Independence in String Theory

Abstract

I discuss various aspects of background independence in the context of string theory, for which so far we have no manifestly background independent formulation. After reviewing the role of background independence in classical Einstein gravity, I discuss recent results implying that there is a conflict in string theory between manifest background independence and manifest duality invariance when higher-derivative corrections are included. The resolution of this conflict requires the introduction of new gauge degrees of freedom together with an enlarged gauge symmetry. This suggests more generally that a manifestly background independent and duality invariant formulation of string theory requires significantly enhanced gauge symmetries.

6 pages, Essay awarded an honorable mention in the Gravity Research Foundation 2018 Awards for Essays on Gravitation

References in corpus (5)

• Double Field Theory
• $L_{\infty }$ Algebras and Field Theory
• Double Field Theory at Order ${\alpha }^{\prime }$
• Background Independent Double Field Theory at Order ${\alpha }^{\prime }$: Metric vs. Frame-like Geometry
• On Background Independence and Duality Invariance in String Theory

Cited by in corpus (5)

• String Cosmology backgrounds from Classical String Geometry
• Supersymmetry, T-duality and Heterotic ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-corrections
• Background independence of effective actions at critical dimension
• ${\alpha }^{\prime }$-corrections to DBI action via T-duality constraint
• A Loop Quantum Gravity Inspired Action for the Bosonic String and Emergent Dimensions at Large Scales