String Theory I Problem Set Solutions

Evan Rule
December 15, 2017

Problem 2.9
Derive the central charges for the linear dilaton, bc and βγ CFTs by working
out the T T OPEs.

Solution: For the linear dilaton CFT, holomorphic and anti-holomorphic

parts of the stress tensor are given by
1
T (z) = − : ∂X µ ∂Xµ : +Vµ ∂ 2 X µ , (1)
α0
and
1 ¯ µ¯
0
: ∂X ∂Xµ : +Vµ ∂¯2 X µ ,
T̃ (z̄) = − (2)
α
respectively. The T T OPE is then given by
1
T (z)T (z 0 ) = : ∂X µ (z)∂Xµ (z) :: ∂ 0 X ν (z 0 )∂ 0 Xν (z 0 ) : +Vµ (z)∂ 2 X µ (z)Vν (z 0 )∂ 02 X ν (z 0 )
(α0 )2
1 
− 0 : ∂X µ (z)∂Xµ (z) : Vν (z 0 )∂ 02 X ν (z 0 ) + Vµ (z)∂ 2 X µ (z) : ∂ 0 X ν (z 0 )∂ 0 Xν (z 0 ) : .

α
(3)

To deal with the first term, we use the identity

α0
 Z 
2 2 2 δ δ
: F :: G := exp − d z1 d z2 ln |z12 | : FG :
2 δXFµ (z1 , z̄1 ) δXGµ (z2 , z̄2 )
(4)

1
which we must expand to second order in α0 :

α0
 Z
µ 0 ν 0 0 0 δ δ
: ∂X (z)∂Xµ (z) :: ∂ X (z )∂ Xν (z ) = 1 − d2 z1 d2 z2 ln |z12 |2 σ
2 δXF (z1 , z̄1 ) δXGσ (z2 , z̄2 )
02 Z

α 2 2 2 2 2 2 δ δ δ δ
+ d z1 d z2 d zd z4 ln |z12 | ln |z34 |
4 δXFσ (z1 , z̄1 ) δXGσ (z2 , z̄2 ) δXFρ (z3 , z̄3 ) δXGρ (z4 , z̄4 )
× : ∂X µ (z)∂Xµ (z)∂ 0 X ν (z 0 )∂ 0 Xν (z 0 ) :
(5)

Now we use the definition of functional derivative

δF [φ] F [φ(x) + δ(x − x0 )] − F [φ(x)]
= lim , (6)
δφ(x0 ) →0 
to compute
δ δ
: ∂X µ (z)∂Xµ (z)∂ 0 X ν (z 0 )∂ 0 Xν (z 0 ) :
δXFσ (z1 , z̄1 ) δXGσ (z2 , z̄2 ) (7)
= 4∂δ(z − z1 , z̄ − z̄1 )∂ 0 δ(z 0 0 σ 0
− z2 , z̄ − z̄2 ) : ∂X (z)∂ Xσ (z ) : 0

and
δ δ δ δ
σ ρ : ∂X µ (z)∂Xµ (z)∂ 0 X ν (z 0 )∂ 0 Xν (z 0 ) :
δXF (z1 , z̄1 ) δXGσ (z2 , z̄2 ) δXF (z3 , z̄3 ) δXGρ (z4 , z̄4 )
= 2ησσ ∂δ(z − z1 , z̄ − z̄1 )∂ 0 δ(z 0 − z2 , z̄ 0 − z̄2 )∂δ(z − z3 , z̄ − z̄3 )∂ 0 δ(z 0 − z4 , z̄ 0 − z̄4 ).
(8)

Now we utilize the δ-function identity

Z Z
δ (x)f (x)dx = − δ(x)f 0 (x)dx,
0
(9)

to write
: ∂ µ (z)∂Xµ (z) :: ∂ 0 X ν (z 0 )∂ 0 Xν (z 0 ) =: ∂ µ (z)∂Xµ (z)∂ 0 X ν (z 0 )∂ 0 Xν (z 0 ) :
2
α0 α0 0

0 0 2 σ 0 0 σ 0 2


−4 ∂∂ ln |z − z | : ∂X (z)∂ Xσ (z ) : +2ησ − ∂∂ ln |z − z |
2 2
02 0 0
Dα 2α 0 σ 0 0 0 2α
∼ − : ∂ X (z )∂ X σ (z ) : − : ∂ 02 X σ (z 0 )∂ 0 Xµ (z 0 ) :
2(z − z 0 )4 (z − z 0 )2 z − z0
(10)

2
For the second term, we have

: Vµ ∂ 2 X µ (z) :: Vν ∂ 02 X ν (z 0 ) :
α0
 Z 
δ δ
= 1− 2 2
d z1 d z2 ln |z12 | 2
σ
: Vµ ∂ 2 X µ (z)Vν ∂ 02 X ν (z 0 ) :
2 δXF (z1 , z̄1 ) δXGσ (z2 , z̄2 )
α0
=: Vµ ∂ 2 X µ (z)Vν ∂ 02 X ν (z 0 ) : − Vσ V σ ∂ 2 ∂ 02 ln |z − z 0 |
2
6α0 Vσ V σ
∼ .
2(z − z 0 )4
(11)

The cross terms look like

: ∂X µ (z)∂Xµ (z) :: Vν ∂ 02 X ν (z 0 ) :
α0
 Z 
δ δ
= 1− 2 2
d z1 d z2 ln |z12 |2
: ∂X µ (z)∂Xµ (z)Vν ∂ 02 X ν (z 0 ) :
2 δXFσ (z1 , z̄1 ) δXGσ (z2 , z̄2 )
=: ∂X µ (z)∂Xµ (z)Vν ∂ 02 X ν (z 0 ) : −α0 ∂∂ 02 ln |z − z 0 |2 : ∂X σ (z)Vσ :
2α0 Vσ
∼− : ∂X σ (z) :
(z − z 0 )3
2α0 Vσ 0 σ 0 2α0 Vσ
∼− : ∂ X (z ) : − : ∂ 02 X σ (z 0 ) :
(z − z 0 )3 (z − z 0 )2
(12)

and
: ∂ 0 X µ (z 0 )∂ 0 Xµ (z 0 ) :: Vν ∂ 2 X ν (z) :
α0
 Z 
δ δ
= 1− 2 2
d z1 d z2 ln |z12 | 2
: ∂ 0 X µ (z 0 )∂ 0 Xµ (z 0 )Vν ∂ 2 X ν (z) :
2 δXFσ (z1 , z̄1 ) δXGσ (z2 , z̄2 )
=: ∂ 0 X µ (z 0 )∂ 0 Xµ (z 0 )Vν ∂ 2 X ν (z) : −α0 ∂ 0 ∂ 2 ln |z − z 0 |2 : ∂ 0 X σ (z 0 )Vσ :
2α0 Vσ
∼ 0 3
: ∂ 0 X σ (z 0 ) :
(z − z )
2α0 Vσ 0 σ 0 2α0 Vσ 02 σ 0 α 0 Vσ
∼− 0 3
: ∂ X (z ) : − 0 2
: ∂ X (z ) : − 0
: ∂ 03 X σ (z 0 ) :
(z − z ) (z − z ) z−z
(13)

3
Hence
D 2 2
T (z)T (z 0 ) ∼ 0
− 0 0
: ∂ 0 X σ (z 0 )∂ 0 Xσ (z 0 ) : − 0 : ∂ 02 X σ (z 0 )∂ 0 Xσ (z 0 ) :
2(z − z ) 4 α (z − z ) 2 α (z − z 0 )
6α0 Vσ V σ 2V σ 02 σ 0 Vσ
+ + : ∂ X (z ) : + : ∂ 03 X σ (z 0 ) :
2(z − z 0 )4 (z − z 0 )2 z − z0
D + 6α0 Vσ V σ
 
2 1 0 σ 0 0 0 02 σ 0
∼ + − 0 : ∂ X (z )∂ Xσ (z ) : +Vσ ∂ X (z )
2(z − z 0 )4 (z − z 0 )2 α
 
1 0 1 0 σ 0 0 0 02 σ 0
+ ∂ − 0 : ∂ X (z )∂ Xσ (z ) : +Vσ ∂ X (z )
z − z0 α
c 2 0 1 0
= + T (z ) + ∂ T (z 0 ),
2(z − z 0 )4 (z − z 0 )2 z
(14)

with c = D + 6α0 Vσ V σ . The anti-holomorphic T̄ T̄ OPE is completely analo-

gous and yields c̃ = c = D + 6α0 Vσ V σ .

For the bc CFT, the stress tensor is

T (z) =: (∂b)c : −λ∂(: bc :)

(15)
= (1 − λ) : (∂b)c : −λ : b(∂c) :,

and
T̃ (z̄) = 0. (16)
Since the stress tensor is completely holomorphic, it follows immediately that
c̃ = 0. The normal ordered bc product is
1
: b(z1 )c(z2 ) := b(z1 )c(z2 ) − , (17)
z12
and since the fields anticommute, we must flip the sign as we interchange the
fields to form contractions. The T T OPE is
T (z)T (z 0 ) = (1 − λ)2 : ∂b(z)c(z) :: ∂ 0 b(z 0 )c(z 0 ) : +λ2 : b(z)∂c(z) :: b(z 0 )∂ 0 c(z 0 ) :
− λ(1 − λ) [: ∂b(z)c(z) :: b(z 0 )∂ 0 c(z 0 ) : + : b(z)∂c(z) :: ∂ 0 b(z 0 )∂c(z) :] .
(18)

4
Keeping only terms of order 1/z 4 , the first term is

(1 − λ)2 : ∂b(z)c(z) :: ∂ 0 b(z 0 )c(z 0 ) : ∼ −(1 − λ)2 ∂ [b(z)c(z 0 )] ∂ 0 [b(z 0 )c(z)]

   
2 1 0 1
∼ −(1 − λ) ∂ − ∂
z − z0 z0 − z
(1 − λ)2
∼− .
z4
(19)

The second term is

λ2 : b(z)∂c(z) :: b(z 0 )∂ 0 c(z 0 ) : ∼ −λ2 ∂ 0 [b(z)c(z 0 )] ∂ [b(z 0 )c(z)]
   
2 0 1 1
∼ −λ ∂ − ∂ (20)
z − z0 z − z0
λ2
∼ − 4.
z
The third term is
−λ(1 − λ) : ∂b(z)c(z) :: b(z 0 )∂ 0 c(z 0 ) : ∼ λ(1 − λ) [b(z)c(z 0 )] ∂∂ 0 [b(z 0 )c(z)]
   
1 0 1
∼ λ(1 − λ) − ∂∂
z − z0 z − z0
2λ(1 − λ)
∼
z4
(21)

By symmetry, the fourth term in the T T OPE is identical to the third.

Therefore the order 1/z 4 terms in the T T OPE are

1   −3(2λ − 1)2 + 1
T (z)T (z 0 ) ∼ −(1 − λ) 2
− λ2
+ 4λ(1 − λ) ∼ , (22)
2z 4 2z 4
from which we can identify c = −3(2λ − 1)2 + 1.

The βγ CFT is very similar to the bc CFT but with commuting fields. The
energy momentum tensor is again completely holomorphic

T =: (∂β)γ : −λ∂(: βγ :) (23)

T̃ = 0, (24)

5
and therefore again c̃ = 0. In the bc case, each term of order 1/z 4 in the
T T OPE had an additional minus sign due to the anticommutativity of the
fields. Now that the fields are commuting, the central charge of the βγ CFT
is the same as the central charge of the bc CFT but with a reversed sign

c = 3(2λ − 1)2 − 1. (25)

Problem 3.6
On dimensional grounds, a current that is conserved on a flat world-sheet
has the possible anomaly
∇a j a = aR. (26)
By comparing the Weyl transformations of the two sides, show that the sum
of the coefficients of z −3 in T j and of T̃ j̃ is +4a (there is a typo in the book
which is noted in the errata, the book says −4a but it is actually +4a).

Solution: Diffeomorphism invariance allows us to work in conformal gauge

ds2 = e2ω(z,z̄) dzdz̄. (27)

Using the result of exercise 3.2, in these coordinates we have

∇a j a = ∇z j z + ∇z̄ j z̄
= ∇z (g zz̄ jz̄ ) + ∇z̄ (g zz̄ jz ) (28)
= 2e−2ω ∂ j̃ + ∂j ¯ .

In conformal gauge, the scalar curvature is

R = −2g ab ∂a ∂b ω
¯ (29)
= −8e−2ω ∂ ∂ω,

and hence
¯ = −4a∂ ∂w.
∂ j̃ + ∂j ¯ (30)
Performing a Weyl transformation of both sides yields
¯
∂(δ j̃) + ∂(δj) ¯
= −4a∂ ∂(δω), (31)

6
 ¯ ∗ . There-
where an infinitesimal Weyl transformation acts as δω = 2 ∂v + ∂v

fore
¯ ¯ 2 v + ∂ ∂¯2 v ∗


∂(δ j̃) + ∂(δj) = −2a ∂∂ (32)
We are interested in the coefficients of the T j and T̃ j̃ OPEs. Let us call
them β and β̃, respectively. From the general form of the OPE
∞
X j n (0)
T (z)j(0) ∼ n+1
, (33)
n=0
z
we find that
β = j (2) (0). (34)
The general transformation law for a holomorphic current is
∞
X 1 n
δj(z) = − ∂ v(z)j (n) (z). (35)
n=0
n!
The n = 0 and n = 1 terms of the transformation correspond to coordinate
transformations, whereas the n = 2 term corresponds to a Weyl transforma-
tion. Therefore, for the case of a pure Weyl transformation, we can identify

δj = − β∂ 2 v. (36)
2
Analogous formulas hold for antiholomorphic currents. Integrating both sides
of equation 32 and applying the divergence theorem yields
Z Z
d z ∂(δ j̃) + ∂(δj) = −2a d2 z ∂(∂¯2 v ∗ ) + ∂(∂
2 ¯ ¯ 2 v)
   
R I IR
∂¯ v dz̄ − ∂ 2 vdz
   2 ∗ 
=⇒ δ j̃dz̄ − δjdz = −2a (37)
I h ∂R I ∂R
 i
β̃ ∂¯2 v ∗ dz̄ − β∂ 2 vdz = −2a ∂¯ v dz̄ − ∂ 2 vdz
 2 ∗ 
=⇒ −
2 ∂R ∂R

Now we note that ∂¯ v = (∂ v) and so the contour integral of this anti-

2 ∗ 2 ∗

holomorphic function can be written as the reverse contour integral of the

corresponding holomorphic function. Therefore
I I
 2
(β + β̃) ∂ vdz = 4a ∂ 2 vdz (38)
2 ∂R ∂R

and as a result β + β̃ = 8a. As you can see, I’m off by a factor of two
somewhere that I can’t seem to locate. It could be coming from an extraneous
factor of the metric g zz̄ = 2.

7
Problem 5.3
(a) Show from the OPE with the BRST current that the vertex operator
c̃cVm is BRST-invariant for Vm a (1,1) matter tensor.

Solution: The BRST current has holomorphic and anti-holomorphic pieces

given by
3
jB (z) = c(z)T m (z)+ : b(z)c(z)∂c(z) : + ∂ 2 c(z), (39)
2
and
¯ 3
j̃B (z̄) = c̃(z̄)T̃ m (z̄)+ : b̃(z̄)c̃(z̄)∂c̃(z̄) : + ∂¯2 c̃(z̄), (40)
2
respectively. When we consider the OPE of either current with c̃cVm , the
third term in each current will be completely finite. The OPE with jB (z) is
then given by

jB (z1 )c̃(z̄2 )c(z2 )V(z2 , z̄2 ) ∼ c(z1 )c̃(z̄2 )c(z2 )T m (z1 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 )
+ : b(z1 )c(z1 )∂c(z1 ) : c̃(z̄2 )c(z2 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 )
 
Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) ∂Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) (41)
∼ c(z1 )c̃(z̄2 )c(z2 ) +
(z1 − z2 )2 z1 − z2
Vm (z2 , z̄2 )
− c(z1 )∂c(z1 )c̃(z2 ) ,
z1 − z2
where we have used the fact that Vm is a (1,1) matter tensor and the OPE
1
b(z1 )c(z2 ) ∼ . (42)
z1 − z2
The anti-holomorphic OPE has a similar form
 ¯ m (z2 , z̄2 ) 
Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) ∂V
j̃B (z̄1 )c̃(z̄2 )c(z2 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) ∼ c̃(z̄1 )c̃(z̄2 )c(z2 ) +
(z̄1 − z̄2 )2 z̄1 − z̄2
¯ 1 )c̃(z̄2 ) Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) .
− c̃(z̄1 )∂c̃(z̄
z̄1 − z̄2
(43)

Looking back at the holomorphic OPE, we see that each term contains the
product c(z1 )c(z2 ). Due to the anticommutativity of the c fields, this prod-
uct must vanish as z1 → z2 . Therefore all of the singular terms in the OPE

8
vanish and the vertex operator is invariant under holomorphic BRST trans-
formations. Similarly in the anti-holomorphic OPE each term contains the
product c̃(z̄1 )c̃(z̄2 ) which also must vanish as z̄1 → z̄2 . Therefore the OPE
implies that c̃cVm is BRST-invariant.

(b) Show that the vertex operator satisfies

δB Vm = i∂a (ca Vm ) . (44)
Solution: The variation of the vertex operator under a BRST transforma-
tion will contain contributions from both the holomorphic and anti-holomorphic
currents
δB Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) =iResz1 →z2 jB (z1 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) + iResz̄1 →z̄2 j̃B (z̄1 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 )
(45)
The relevant OPEs are singular only in the matter sector:
 
Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) ∂Vm (z2 , z̄2 )
jB (z1 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) ∼ c(z1 ) + , (46)
(z1 − z2 )2 z1 − z2
and 
Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) ∂V ¯ m (z2 , z̄2 ) 
j̃B (z̄1 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) ∼ c̃(z̄1 ) + . (47)
(z̄1 − z̄2 )2 z̄1 − z̄2
Let’s focus first on the holomorphic term. The first contribution to the
residue is a 2nd order pole
 
Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) d
Resz1 →z2 c(z1 ) 2
= lim [c(z1 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 )]
(z1 − z2 ) z1 →z2 dz1 (48)
= ∂c(z2 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 ).
The second contribution to the residue is a simple pole, which allows us to
read off the final expression
Resz1 →z2 jB (z1 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) = ∂c(z2 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) + c(z2 )∂Vm (z2 , z̄2 )
(49)
= ∂ [c(z2 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 )] .
Similarly for the anti-holomorphic piece we obtain
Resz̄ →z̄ j̃B (z̄1 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 ) = ∂¯ [c̃(z̄2 )Vm (z2 , z̄2 )] .
1 2 (50)
Therefore
δB Vm = i∂a [ca Vm ] . (51)
This is a total derivative and therefore, upon integration, the operator Vm is
BRST-invariant.

9
Problem 8.7
(a) Calculate the scattering amplitude for ripples on a Dp-brane; that is,
consider the tree-level amplitude with four collective coordinate vertex op-
erators. Note that the polarizations are orthogonal to all momenta, a major
simplification.

Solution: We essentially need to compute a 2 → 2 massless gauge boson

scattering amplitude where the polarizations are orthogonal to the momenta.
Since this is tree level open string theory, we work on the disk. There are
six possible orderings for the insertion of four vertex operators around the
boundary of the disk but for now let’s restrict our attention to a single or-
dering. The vertex operator for a gauge boson with polarization eµ and
momentum k µ is Z
g0 µ
h
µ ik·X
i
−i e ds Ẋ e . (52)
(2α0 )1/2 ∂M r

Note that there are no Chan-Paton factors because we work on a single Dp-
brane. The four gauge boson tree level scattering amplitude is then
 4
−ig0
SD2 (k1 , e1 ; k2 , e2 ; k3 , e3 ; k4 , e4 ) = 0 1/2
e1µ e2ν e3ρ e4σ
(2α )
Z ∞ * 3 +
Y
× dy4 : c1 (yi )Ẋ µi (yi )eiki ·X(yi ) :: Ẋ σ (y4 )eik4 ·X(y4 ) : ,
−∞ i=1
(53)
plus the additional vertex operator orderings. Using the three CKVs of the
disk, we have fixed the location of three vertex operators with an insertion
of the ghost field c1 . We want to use the fact that
p
* n +
Y Y
: eiki ·X(yi ) : ∂y X µj (yj0 ) = iCD
X
2
(2π)d δ d (Σi ki )
i=1 j=1
n
* p +
2α0 ki ·kj
Y Y
v µj (yj0 ) + q µj (yj0 )

× |yij | ,
i<j j=1 D2
(54)
where n
X kiµ
v µ (y) = −2iα0 , (55)
i=1
y − yi

10
and q µ = ∂X µ − v µ . Since v µ ∝ k µ , these terms will vanish when contracted
with the polarization vectors. The remaining correlation function that we
must compute is

h∂X µ (y1 )∂X ν (y2 )∂X ρ (y3 )∂X σ (y4 )iD2 , (56)

which is simply the sum over all contractions with −2α0 (y − y 0 )−2 η µν . The
ghost expectation value is
g

1
c (y1 )c2 (y2 )c3 (y3 ) = CD

y y y
2 12 13 23
(57)

We also have to make a slight modification to Eq. 54 to account for the

fact that the Dirichlet boundary conditions on the Dp-brane do not yield a
momentum-conserving delta function; that is, we only have a delta function
for the p + 1 coordinates of the brane itself. This is still enough to fully
constrain the momenta in our case, which must be along the brane itself.
Putting all of this together yields
g 0 0 0
SD2 = ig04 CD
X
2
CD 2
(2π)p+1 δ p+1 (Σi ki )|y12 |2α k1 ·k2 +1 |y13 |2α k1 ·k3 +1 ||y23 |2α k2 ·k3 +1
Z ∞
e12 e34 e13 e24 e14 e23
 
2α0 k1 ·k4 2α0 k2 ·k4 2α0 k3 ·k4
× dy4 |y14 | |y24 | |y34 | + + ,
−∞ |y12 |2 ||y34 |2 |y13 |2 |y24 |2 |y14 |2 |y23 |2
(58)

where eij = ei ·ej . Now let’s actually fix the positions of the three fixed vertex
operators. In the limit that y3 → ∞ (for fixed y1 , y2 , y4 ) the y3 dependence
of the amplitude is
2α0 k3 ·(k1 +k2 +k4 )+2
y3 −2α0 k32
SD2 ∼ ∼ y3 ∼ 1, (59)
y32
where we have used momentum conservation k1 + k2 + k3 + k4 = 0 and the
mass shell condition ki2 = 0. Therefore we can choose y1 = 0, y2 = 1 and
y3 → ∞. This yields
Z ∞
e13 e24 e14 e23
 
4 X g p+1 p+1 2α0 k1 ·k4 2α0 k2 ·k4 12 34
SD2 = ig0 CD2 CD2 (2π) δ (Σi ki ) dy4 y4 |1−y4 | e e + +
−∞ |1 − y4 |2 y42
(60)
The mass shell condition implies that

s = −(k1 +k2 )2 = −2k1 ·k2 , t = −(k1 +k3 )2 = −2k1 ·k3 , u = −(k1 +k4 )2 = −2k1 ·k4 ,
(61)

11
so that
Z ∞ h
g 0 0 0 0
SD2 = ig04 CD
X
2
CD 2
(2π)p+1 δ p+1 (Σi ki ) dy e12 e34 y −α u |1 − y|−α t + e13 e24 y −α u |1 − y|−α t−2
−∞
i
14 23 −α0 u−2 −α0 t
+e e y |1 − y|
(62)

Now there are actually three different ranges for this integral −∞ < y < 0,
0 < y < 1 and y > 1, which correspond to three possible orderings of the
fourth vertex operator relative to the other three. These orderings are all
related by modular transformations, and so we will restrict ourselves to the
interval 0 ≤ y4 ≤ 1. We must consider the alternate ordering of the three
fixed vertex operators. In the above expression, we have chosen y1 = 0,
y2 = 1, y3 → ∞ but we also have to consider all permutations of these
choices. First consider y1 = 1, y2 = 0 and y3 → ∞. Then
Z 1 h i
0 0 0 0 0 0
SD2 ∼ dy e12 e34 y −α t |1 − y|−α u + e13 e24 y −α t−2 |1 − y|−α u + e14 e23 y −α t |1 − y|−α u−2
0
∼ e e B(−α0 t + 1, −α0 u + 1) + e13 e24 B(−α0 t − 1, −α0 u + 1)
12 34

+ e14 e23 B(−α0 t + 1, −α0 u − 1),

(63)

where Z 1
B(a, b) ≡ dy y a−1 (1 − y)b−1 (64)
0
is the Euler beta function. Now consider y1 = 0, y2 → ∞, and y3 = 1. This
yields

SD2 ∼ e12 e34 B(−α0 u+1, −α0 s−1)+e13 e24 B(−α0 u+1, −α0 s+1)+e14 e23 B(−α0 u−1, −α0 s+1)
(65)
while y1 = 1, y2 → ∞, and y3 = 0 yields

SD2 ∼ e12 e34 B(−α0 s−1, −α0 u+1)+e13 e24 B(−α0 s+1, −α0 u+1)+e14 e23 B(−α0 s+1, −α0 u−1)
(66)
Taking y1 → ∞, y2 = 0 and y3 = 1 yields

SD2 ∼ e12 e34 B(−α0 t+1, −α0 s−1)+e13 e24 B(−α0 t−1, −α0 s+1)+e14 e23 B(−α0 t+1, −α0 s+1)
(67)

12
Finally taking y1 → ∞, y2 = 1, and y3 = 1 yields

SD2 ∼ e12 e34 B(−α0 s−1, −α0 t+1)+e13 e24 B(−α0 s+1, −α0 t−1)+e14 e23 B(−α0 s+1, −α0 t+1)
(68)
Putting all of this together, we see that each polarization term has three
unique Mandelstam functions
g
SD2 = 2ig04 CD
X
2
CD 2
(2π)p+1 δ p+1 (Σi ki )
e e (B(−α0 t + 1, −α0 u + 1) + B(−α0 u + 1, −α0 s − 1) + B(−α0 t + 1, −α0 s − 1))
 12 34

+ e13 e24 (B(−α0 t − 1, −α0 u + 1) + B(−α0 u + 1, −α0 s + 1) + B(−α0 t − 1, −α0 s + 1))

+ e14 e23 (B(−α0 t + 1, −α0 u − 1) + B(−α0 u − 1, −α0 s + 1) + B(−α0 t + 1, −α0 s + 1))


(69)

(b) Examine the Regge and hard scattering limits.

Solution: First let’s use the relation between the Mandelstam variables
s + t + u = 0 to eliminate u from our amplitude. In the Regge limit, s → ∞
with t fixed. In this limit
0 0 0
SD2 ∼ e12 e34 s−α t+1 Γ(−α0 t+1)+e13 e24 sα t+1 Γ(−α0 t−1)+e14 e23 sα t−1 Γ(−α0 t+1)
(70)
13 24
The term proportional to e e dominates and therefore
0
SD2 ∼ sα t+1 Γ(−α0 − 1), (71)

which is the same Regge behavior as the Veneziano amplitude. Now we take
the hard scattering limit s → ∞ with t/s fixed. In this limit we find

SD2 ∼ exp [−α0 (s ln sα0 + t ln tα0 + u ln uα0 )] , (72)

which is the same hard scattering behavior as the Veneziano amplitude.

(c) Take the low momentum limit and compare with what is obtained from
the action
Z
1/2
Sp = −Tp dp+1 ξe−Φ [− det (Gab + Bab + 2πα0 Fab )] , (73)

13
where
∂X µ ∂X ν ∂X µ ∂X ν
Gab (ξ) = Gµν (X(ξ)), B ab (ξ) = Bµν (X(ξ)) (74)
∂ξ a ∂ξ b ∂ξ a ∂ξ b
are the induced metric and antisymmetric tensor on the brane.

Solution: First let’s take the low energy limit of the string scattering am-
plitude. The low energy limit is the limit in which the string scale α0 → 0.
For small α0 , we find
g
SD2 ≈ −iπ 2 α02 g04 CD
X
(2π)p+1 δ p+1 (Σi ki ) e12 e34 ut + e13 e24 su + e14 e23 st
 
2
CD 2
(75)
From the perspective of the Dp-brane action, ripples on the brane are due
to perturbations of the metric on the brane. Therefore we are interested in
2 → 2 graviton scattering. We consider the situation in which the background
spacetime is flat Gµν = ηµν , the background gauge fields vanish F = B = 0
and the dilaton field is constant Φ = Φ0 . Let us choose coordinates on the
brane ξ a = X a , for a = 0, ..., p. Then the induced metric becomes

∂X i ∂Xi
Gab (ξ) = ηab + , (76)
∂ξ a ∂ξ b

where the X i fields for i = p + 1, ..., 25 are the transverse fluctuations that
we are interested in. Expanding for small fluctuations, we have
 1/2
1/2 1 2 1 2
[det (I + h)] ≈ 1 + tr(h) + tr(h) − tr(h )
2 2
1 1 1
≈ 1 + tr(h) + tr(h)2 − tr(h2 )
2 8 8 (77)
1 ab 1
= 1 + η ∂a X i ∂b Xi + η ab η cd ∂a X i ∂b Xi ∂c X j ∂d Xj
2 8
1 ad bc
− η η ∂a X i ∂b Xi ∂c X j ∂d Xj ,
8
so that the effective Dp-brane action is
Z  
p+1 −Φ0 1 ab i 1 ab cd ad bc

i j
Sp = −Tp d ξe 1 + η ∂a X ∂b Xi + η η − η η ∂a X ∂b Xi ∂c X ∂d Xj
2 8
(78)

14
The 2 → 2 tree level amplitude is given by the quartic term. The polariza-
tions are contracted with η ab while the momenta are contracted with δ ij . We
have
SD2 ∼ k12 k34 e12 e34 − e14 e23 − e13 e24 + k13 k24 e13 e24 − e14 e23 − e12 e34

+ k14 k23 e14 e23 − e13 e24 − e12 e34

∼ e12 e34 s2 − t2 − u2 + e13 e24 −s2 + t2 − u2 + e14 e23 −s2 − t2 + u2

∼ e12 e34 ut + e13 e24 su + e14 e23 st

(79)
Therefore the Dp-brane action gives the same form for the scattering of fluc-
tuations as the full string theory.

Problem 10.1
(a) Find the OPE of TF with X µ and ψ µ .

Solution: The holomorphic supercurrent is given by

TF (z) = i(2/α0 )1/2 ψ µ (z)∂Xµ (z). (80)
The relevant OPEs are
α0 µν
X (z, z̄)X (0, 0) ∼ − η ln |z|2 ,
µ ν
(81)
2
and
η µν
ψ µ (z)ψ ν (0) ∼ . (82)
z
Therefore
TF (z)X µ (0) = i(2/α0 )1/2 ψ ν (z)∂Xν (z)X µ (0)
∼ −i(α0 /2)1/2 ηνσ η σµ ψ ν (z)∂ ln |z|2 (83)
ψ µ (z)
∼ −i(α0 /2)1/2 ,
z
and
TF (z)ψ µ (0) = i(2/α0 )1/2 ψ ν (z)∂Xν (z)ψ µ (0)
∂X µ (z) (84)
∼ i(2/α0 )1/2 .
z
15
(b) Show that the residues of the OPEs of the currents
j η (z) = η(z)TF (z), j̃ η (z̄) = η(z)∗ T̃F (z̄) (85)
are proportional to the superconformal variations
−1 (2/α0 )1/2 δX µ (z, z̄) = +η(z)ψ µ (z) + η(z)∗ ψ̃ µ (z̄),
−1 (α0 /2)1/2 δψ µ (z) = −η(z)∂X µ (z), (86)
−1 (α0 /2)1/2 δ ψ̃ µ (z̄) = −η(z)∗ ∂X ¯ µ (z̄).

Solution: In general, the transformation of an operator is given by the

residue of the OPE of the operator with the current generating the transfor-
mation
−1 δA(z2 , z̄2 ) = iResz1 →z2 j(z1 )A(z2 , z̄2 ). (87)
The anti-holomorphic supercurrent is
¯ µ (z̄).
T̃F (z̄) = i(2/α0 )1/2 ψ̃ µ (z̄)∂X (88)
Let us quickly write down the anti-holomorphic OPEs
ψ µ (z)
T̃F (z̄)X µ (0) ∼ −i(α/2)1/2 , (89)
z
and
¯ µ (z̄)
∂X
T̃F (z̄)ψ̃ µ (0) ∼ i(2/α0 )1/2 . (90)
z̄
For an operator which depends on both z and z̄, we have
h i
−1 µ 0 0 µ ∗ µ
 δX (z, z̄) = i Resz →z η(z )TF (z )X (z, z̄) + Resz̄ →z̄ η(z) T̃F (z̄)X (z, z̄)
0 0

" #
µ 0 µ 0
ψ (z ) ψ̃ (z̄ )
= (α0 /2)1/2 Resz0 →z η(z 0 ) + Resz̄0 →z̄ η(z 0 )∗
z − z0 z − z0
h i
= (α0 /2)1/2 η(z)ψ µ (z) + η(z)∗ ψ̃ µ (z̄) ,
(91)
which agrees with the result in the text. For the fermionic fields, we have
−1 δψ µ (z) = iResz0 →z η(z 0 )TF (z 0 )ψ µ (z)
∂X µ (z 0 )
= −(2/α0 )1/2 Resz0 →z η(z 0 ) (92)
z − z0
= −(2/α0 )1/2 η(z)∂X µ (z),

16
and
−1 δ ψ̃ µ (z̄) = iResz̄0 →z̄ η(z 0 )∗ T̃F (z̄ 0 )ψ̃ µ (z̄)
¯ µ (z̄ 0 )
∂X
= −(2/α0 )1/2 Resz̄0 →z̄ η(z̄ 0 ) (93)
z̄ − z̄ 0
= −(2/α0 )1/2 η(z)∗ ∂X ¯ µ (z̄).

10.2 Verify the commutator

[δη1 , δη2 ] = δv , v(z) = −2η1 (z)η2 (z), (94)
up to terms proportional to the equations of motion.

Solution: First let’s transform the bosonic field

h i
(δη1 δη2 − δη2 δη1 ) X µ (z, z̄) = (α0 /2)1/2 δη1 η2 (z)ψ µ (z) + η2 (z)∗ ψ̃(z̄)
h i
0 1/2 µ ∗
− (α /2) δη2 η1 (z)ψ (z) − η1 (z) ψ̃(z̄)
¯ µ (z̄)
= 2 η2 (z)η1 (z)∂X µ (z) + η2 (z)∗ η1 (z)∗ ∂X


¯ µ (z̄)
−η1 (z)η2 (z)∂X µ (z) − η1 (z)∗ η2 (z)∗ ∂X

h i
= δv ψ µ (z) + ψ̃ µ (z̄) .
(95)
For the fermionic fields we will need the conformal transformation
−1 δ∂X µ (z) = iResz0 →z η(z 0 )TF (z 0 )∂X µ (z)
ψ µ (z 0 )
= (2/α0 )1/2 Resz0 →z η(z 0 ) (96)
(z − z 0 )2
= (2/α0 )1/2 η(z)∂ψ µ (z)
¯ µ (z̄)
(δη1 δη2 − δη2 δη1 ) ψ µ (z) = −(2/α0 )1/2 δη1 η2 (z)∂X µ (z) + η2 (z)∗ ∂X
 

+ (2/α0 )1/2 δη2 η1 (z)∂X µ (z) + η1 (z)∗ ∂X¯ µ (z̄)

 
h i
= −22 η1 (z)η2 (z)∂ψ µ (z) + η2 (z)∗ η1 (z)∗ ∂¯ψ̃ µ (z̄)
= δv ∂X µ (z) + ∂X¯ µ (z̄) ,
 

(97)
where we have used the equations of motion ∂ψ(z) ¯ = ∂ ψ̃(z̄) = 0. The anti-
holomorphic transformation [δη1 , δη2 ] ψ̃(z̄) is analogous.

17
(b) Verify that the commutator of a conformal and a superconformal trans-
formation is a superconformal transformation.

Solution:

18