String Theory Seminar

Thursday, September 6, 2001
Simeon Hellerman
Linear Thinking in Perturbative String Theory
A great deal of the physics of perturbative open string theory can be understood by constructing weakly coupled 2D field theories with boundary which flow via the RG to the theory of the open string worldsheet in the background of interest. Among the applications are computing branes monodromies, and understanding the qualitative behavior of brane physics as open and closed string moduli vary and tachyons are condensed. I will discuss a general construction for (generically nonsupersymmetric) open string backgrounds with 'B-type' branes. I will also discuss work in progress on analogous constructions for 'A-type' branes, and relations to closed string tachyon condensation.