Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: A bstract In this note, we comment on the path integral formulation of string theory on $$ \mathcal{M} $$ M × S 3 × $$ {\mathbbm{T}}^4 $$ T 4 where $$ \mathcal{M} $$ M is any hyperbolic 3-manifold. In the special case of k = 1 units of NS-NS flux, we provide a covariant description of the worldsheet theory and argue that the path integral depends only on the details of the conformal boundary $$ \partial \mathcal{M} $$ ∂ M , making the background independence of this theory manifest. We provide a simple path integral argument that the path integral localizes onto holomorphic covering maps from the worldsheet to the boundary. For closed manifolds $$ \mathcal{M} $$ M , the gravitational path integral is argued to be trivial. Finally, we comment on the effect of continuous deformations of the worldsheet theory which introduce non-minimal string tension.
Source: Journal of High Energy Physics
Author: Bob Knighton
Institution: University of Cambridge
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4407122564