Heterotic String Sigma Models: Discrete Light Cone Quantization and Its Current-Current Deformation

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Autori principali: Bergshoeff, Eric A., Grosvenor, Kevin T., Romano, Luca, Yan, Ziqi
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Bergshoeff, Eric A.
Grosvenor, Kevin T.
Romano, Luca
Yan, Ziqi
author_facet Bergshoeff, Eric A.
Grosvenor, Kevin T.
Romano, Luca
Yan, Ziqi
contents We propose a two-dimensional superstring sigma model that defines a self-contained corner of heterotic string theory, whose second quantization is heterotic matrix string theory. This worldsheet theory arises from a BPS decoupling limit that zooms in on the heterotic string, under which the target space geometry becomes non-Lorentzian. This construction generalizes the Gomis-Ooguri formulation of non-relativistic string theory to the heterotic case. We show how such a worldsheet theory provides a first-principles definition of the heterotic string in the discrete light cone quantization via T-duality. By turning on a current-current deformation akin to a $T\bar{T}$ deformation, the conventional heterotic string theory with a Lorentzian target space is recovered. We analyze the gauge and gravitational anomalies with respect to the lowest-order quantum corrections in the sigma model and show how the worldsheet theory is consistent with non-Lorentzian supergravity in the target space.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_07458
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Heterotic String Sigma Models: Discrete Light Cone Quantization and Its Current-Current Deformation
Bergshoeff, Eric A.
Grosvenor, Kevin T.
Romano, Luca
Yan, Ziqi
High Energy Physics - Theory
We propose a two-dimensional superstring sigma model that defines a self-contained corner of heterotic string theory, whose second quantization is heterotic matrix string theory. This worldsheet theory arises from a BPS decoupling limit that zooms in on the heterotic string, under which the target space geometry becomes non-Lorentzian. This construction generalizes the Gomis-Ooguri formulation of non-relativistic string theory to the heterotic case. We show how such a worldsheet theory provides a first-principles definition of the heterotic string in the discrete light cone quantization via T-duality. By turning on a current-current deformation akin to a $T\bar{T}$ deformation, the conventional heterotic string theory with a Lorentzian target space is recovered. We analyze the gauge and gravitational anomalies with respect to the lowest-order quantum corrections in the sigma model and show how the worldsheet theory is consistent with non-Lorentzian supergravity in the target space.
title Heterotic String Sigma Models: Discrete Light Cone Quantization and Its Current-Current Deformation
topic High Energy Physics - Theory
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.07458