D-brane tension as central charge

Abstract

Using Hamiltonian methods in open bosonic string field theory, we derive the mass of a D0-brane as the central charge of the spontaneously broken Poincaré algebra in 26 dimensions. Though the formulas originate from string field theory, the calculation can be carried out completely on-shell. This illustrates a general procedure for computing spacetime central charges in string theory.

4 pages, double column; v2: minor improvements