Graduate String perturbation equations from Polyakov action

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on deriving string perturbation equations from the Polyakov action, starting with the action defined in a four-dimensional gravitational background. The variations of the action with respect to the string coordinates and the internal metric lead to equations of motion, which are foundational for understanding string dynamics. The author successfully derives the first variations but encounters difficulties obtaining the second variations necessary for perturbation equations. Key assumptions include the form of perturbations and the introduction of normal vectors and fundamental forms related to the string's world-sheet. The author seeks clarification on the derivation of the second variation, indicating repeated unsuccessful attempts to match the expected results.
Tursinbay
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
General physical perturbations of string is derived by A.Larsen and V.Frolov (arXiv:hep-th/9303001v1 1March 1993).

An arbitrary string configuration is in 4-dimensional gravitational background. Starting point is Polyakov action

$$ S = \int d \tau d\sigma \sqrt {-h} h^{AB} G_{AB}$$.

Here is ##h_{AB}## is internal metric with determinant ##h##. ##G_{AB}## is the induced metric on the world-sheet:

$$G_{AB}=g_{ \mu \nu} \frac {\partial x^{\mu}} {\partial \xi^A} \frac {\partial x^{\nu}} {\partial \xi^B} = g_{ \mu \nu} x^{\mu}_{,A} x^{\nu}_{,B}$$

Internal metric is two dimensional metric of world-sheet coordinates ##\xi^A## (A=0,1), ## (\xi^0, \xi^1)=(\tau, \sigma) ##. ##x^{\mu} (\mu=0,1,2,3) ## are the spacetime coordinates.

Variations of the action with respect to ## \delta x^{\mu} ## and ## \delta h_{AB} ## is

$$ \delta S = \int d \tau d \sigma \sqrt {-h} \left( [ \frac 1 2 h^{AB} G^C_{ C} - G^{AB}] \delta h_{AB} - 2g_{\mu \nu} [\Box x^{\nu} + h^{AB} \Gamma^{\nu}_{ \rho \sigma} x^{\rho}_{,A}x^{\sigma}_{,B}] \delta x^{\mu} \right)$$

Here ##G^C_{ C}=h^{BC}G_{BC}## is the trace of induced metric on the world-sheet and ##\Box ## is the d'Alambertian:

$$ \Box = \frac {1} {\sqrt{-h}} \partial_A(\sqrt{-h} h^{AB} \partial_B). $$

From ## \delta S## is derived the equations of motion as usual
$$\frac 1 2 h^{AB} G^C_{ C} - G^{AB}=0$$
$$\Box x^{\nu} + h^{AB} \Gamma^{\nu}_{ \rho \sigma} x^{\rho}_{,A}x^{\sigma}_{,B}=0. $$
I got the first variations exactly as in paper (but with plus sign between the variations ## \delta h_{AB}## and ## \delta x^{\mu}##). But, equations of perturbations are obtained from the second variations of action and the problem starts here.

One more variation from the first variation is taken. And before doing this is done the following assumptions.

1. ## x^{\mu}=x^{\mu}(\xi^A)## is the solution of the equations of motion.
2. Introduced 2 vectors ##n^{\mu}_R (R=2,3)## normal to the surface of the string world-sheet:
$$ g_{\mu \nu} n^{\mu}_R n^{\nu}_S=\delta_{RS}, \\ g_{\mu \nu}x^{\mu}_{,A} n^{\nu}_R =0. $$
3. The general perturbation ## \delta x^{\mu}## can be composed as: $$\delta x^{\mu}=\delta x^R n^{\mu}_R+\delta x^A x^{\mu}_{,A} $$
The variations ##\delta x^A x^{\mu}_{,A} ## leave S (action) unchanced. For this reason only physical perturbations are considered. So it can be written as: $$\delta x^{\mu}=\delta x^R n^{\mu}_R$$
4. Intoduced the second fundamental form ##\Omega_{R,AB} ## and the normal fundamental form ##\mu_{R,SA} ## which defined for a given configuration of the strings world-sheet:
$$ \Omega_{R,AB}=g_{\mu \nu}n^{\mu}_R x^{\rho}_{,A } \nabla_{\rho}x^{\nu}_{,B}$$
$$ \mu_{RS,A}=g_{\mu \nu}n^{\mu}_R x^{\rho}_{,A } \nabla_{\rho}n^{\nu}_S$$
where ##\nabla_{\rho}## is the spacetime covariant derivative.
5. $$ \delta G_{AB}= -2\Omega_{R,AB} \delta x^R $$

And finally the second variation is found in the following form:
$$ \delta^2 S=\int d\tau d\sigma \sqrt {-h} ( \delta h_{AB}[2G^{BC} h^{AD} - \frac {1} {2} h^{AD}h^{BC} G^E_{ E} - \frac {1} {2} h^{AB} G^{CD} ]\delta h_{CD} + 4\delta h_{AB} h^{AC}h^{BD} \Omega_{R,CD} \delta x^R \\ -2\delta x^R[\delta_{RS} \Box - h^{AB} g_{\mu \nu} (x^{\rho}_{,A} \nabla_{\rho} n^{\mu}_R)(x^{\sigma}_{,B}\nabla_{\sigma}n^{\nu}_S)-2h^{AB} \mu_{RS,A} \partial_B - h^{AB}x^{\mu}_{,A}x^{\nu}_{,B} R_{\mu \rho \sigma \nu} n^{\rho}_R n^{\sigma}_S]\delta x^S)$$

where ## R_{\mu \rho \sigma \nu}## is the Riemann curvature tensor in the spacetime in which the string is embedded.

My question is how the second variation is obtained? I have calculated several times. But no there is no the same result.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Moderator's note: Thread moved to Beyond the Standard Model forum.
 
"Supernovae evidence for foundational change to cosmological models" https://arxiv.org/pdf/2412.15143 The paper claims: We compare the standard homogeneous cosmological model, i.e., spatially flat ΛCDM, and the timescape cosmology which invokes backreaction of inhomogeneities. Timescape, while statistically homogeneous and isotropic, departs from average Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker evolution, and replaces dark energy by kinetic gravitational energy and its gradients, in explaining...

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
881
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
614
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
1K