Usually non-critical string theory is considered in frames of the approach proposed by Polyakov.[1] The other approach has been developed in.[2] [3] [4] It represents a universal method to maintain explicit Lorentz invariance in any quantum relativistic theory. On an example of Nambu-Goto string theory in 4-dimensional Minkowski space-time the idea can be demonstrated as follows:
thumb|Spin-mass spectrum. Lorentz-invariant light cone gauge is related with singularities of DDF vector fields.
thumb|Spin-mass spectrum. A restricted class of string motion is considered corresponding to the world sheets with axial symmetry.Lorentz-invariant light cone gauge is related with the symmetry axis.
thumb|Spin-mass spectrum. Lorentz-invariant Rohrlich's gauge is related with the period of the world sheet.
thumb|Experimental spin-mass spectrum of light mesons superimposedwith prediction of string model.
Geometrically the world sheet of string is sliced by a system of parallel planes to fix a specific parametrization, or gauge on it.The planes are defined by a normal vector nμ, the gauge axis.If this vector belongs to light cone, the parametrization correspondsto light cone gauge, if it is directed along world sheet's period Pμ,it is time-like Rohrlich's gauge.The problem of the standard light cone gauge is that the vector nμ is constant, e.g. nμ = (1, 1, 0, 0), and the system of planes is "frozen" in Minkowskispace-time. Lorentz transformations change the position of the world sheet with respect to these fixed planes, and they are followed by reparametrizations of the world sheet. On the quantum level the reparametrization group has anomaly, which appears also in Lorentz group and violates Lorentz invariance of the theory. On the other hand, the Rohrlich's gauge relates nμ with the world sheet itself. As a result, the Lorentz generators transform nμ and the world sheet simultaneously, without reparametrizations. The same property holds if one relates light-like axis nμ with the world sheet, using in addition to Pμ other dynamical vectors available in string theory. In this way one constructs Lorentz-invariant parametrization of the world sheet, where the Lorentz group acts trivially and does nothave quantum anomalies.
Algebraically this corresponds to a canonical transformation ai -> bi in the classical mechanics to a new set of variables, explicitly containing all necessary generators of symmetries. For the standard light cone gauge the Lorentz generators Mμν are cubic in terms of oscillator variables ai, and their quantization acquires well known anomaly. Consider a set bi = (Mμν,ξi) which contains the Lorentz group generators and internal variables ξi, complementing Mμν to the full phase space. In selection of such a set, one needs to take care that ξi will have simple Poisson brackets with Mμν and among themselves. Local existence of such variables is provided by Darboux's theorem. Quantization in the new set of variables eliminates anomaly from the Lorentz group. Canonically equivalent classical theories do not necessarily correspond to unitary equivalent quantum theories, that's why quantum anomalies could be present in one approach and absent in the other one.
Group-theoretically string theory has a gauge symmetry Diff S1, reparametrizations of a circle. The symmetry is generated by Virasoro algebra Ln. Standard light cone gauge fixes the most of gauge degreesof freedom leaving only trivial phase rotations U(1) ~ S1. They correspondto periodical string evolution, generated by Hamiltonian L0.Let's introduce an additional layer on this diagram:a group G = U(1) x SO(3) of gauge transformations of the world sheet, including the trivial evolution factor and rotations of the gauge axisin center-of-mass frame, with respect to the fixed world sheet. Standard light cone gauge corresponds to a selection of one point in SO(3) factor, leading to Lorentz non-invariant parametrization. Therefore, one must selecta different representative on the gauge orbit of G, this time related with the world sheet in Lorentz invariant way. After reduction of the mechanics to this representativeanomalous gauge degrees of freedom are removed from the theory.The trivial gauge symmetry U(1) x U(1) remains, including evolution and those rotations which preserve the direction of gauge axis. Successful implementation of this program has been done in [3] [4] .[5] These are several unitary non-equivalent versions ofthe quantum open Nambu-Goto string theory, where the gauge axis is attached to different geometrical features of the world sheet.Their common properties are
The reader familiar with variety of branches co-existing in modern string theorywill not wonder why many different quantum theories can be constructed for essentially the same physical system.The approach described here does not intend to producea unique ultimate result, it just provides a set of toolssuitable for construction of your own quantum string theory.Since any value of dimension can be used, and especiallyd=4, the applications could be more realistic.For example, the approach can be applied in physics of hadrons, to describe their spectra and electromagnetic interactions.[6] [7]
The following textbooks on string theory mention a possibilityof anomaly-free quantization of the string outside critical dimension:
Further, on pp. 157–159, the quantum solutions of closed string theoryin the class of non-oscillator representations possessing no anomalyin Virasoro algebra at arbitrary even value of dimension areexplicitly presented.
Further, in Sec.11 and Sec.30 quantization of non-criticalstring theory in frames of the approaches by Rohrlich and Polyakovis described.
considering contribution of conformal factor φ in the path integral, it is noticed:
Note: this does not exclude usage of non-critical string theoryin the physics of hadrons, where all coupled states are massive.Here only self-consistence of the theory, particularly itsLorentz invariance, is required.
the paper shows in frames of path integral formulation, that quantum Nambu-Goto string theory at d=26is equivalent to collection of linear oscillators,while at other values of dimension the theory exists as well,and contains a non-linear field theory associated with Liouville modes. Papers cited below use for quantization Dirac's operator formalism.