Strings from Almost Nothing

Abstract

We argue that string theory emerges inevitably from a few simple assumptions about physical scattering. Consistency alone requires that all tree-level four-point scattering amplitudes exhibit vanishing residues at prescribed values of the momentum transfer. Assuming ultrasoft high-energy behavior, we then prove that the space of minimally consistent amplitudes, whose residues exhibit these mandated zeros and nothing more, collapses uniquely onto the celebrated Veneziano and Virasoro-Shapiro amplitudes of string theory. Similar logic also applies to five-point scattering.

11 pages, 3 figures

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• Higher-Spin and Higher-Point Constraints on Stringy Amplitudes
• Completeness from Gravitational Scattering