The Zero Tension Limit of Strings and Superstrings

Abstract

The string equivalent of a massless particle ($m=0$) is the tensionless string ($T=0$). The study of such strings is of interest when trying to understand the high energy limit of ordinary strings. I discuss the classical $T\to 0$ limit of the bosonic string, the spinning string and the superstring. A common feature is the appearence of a space-time (super-)conformal symmetry replacing the world-sheet Weyl invariance. The question of whether this symmetry may survive quantization is addressed. A lightcone analysis of the quantized bosonic tensionless string leads to severe constraints on the physical states: they are space-time diffeomorphism singlets characterized by their topological properties only.

arXiv commentInvited lecture at the INFN ELOISATRON WORKSHOP "From Superstrings To Supergravity", 7 pages Latex, University of Stockholm preprint USITP-93-3

Cited by in corpus (2)

• Higher Spins and Stringy AdS5xS5
• Anomaly of Tensionless String in Light-cone Gauge