Comments on Schnabl's analytic solution for tachyon condensation in Witten's open string field theory

Abstract

Schnabl recently constructed an analytic solution for tachyon condensation in Witten's open string field theory. The solution consists of two pieces. Only the first piece is involved in proving that the solution satisfies the equation of motion when contracted with any state in the Fock space. On the other hand, both pieces contribute in evaluating the kinetic term to reproduce the value predicted by Sen's conjecture. We therefore need to understand why the second piece is necessary. We evaluate the cubic term of the string field theory action for Schnabl's solution and use it to show that the second piece is necessary for the equation of motion contracted with the solution itself to be satisfied. We also present the solution in various forms including a pure-gauge configuration and provide simpler proofs that it satisfies the equation of motion.