String Theory In Curved Space-Time

Abstract

Intrinsic and extrinsic geometric properties of string world sheets in curved space-time background are explored. In our formulation, the only dynamical degrees of freedom of the string are its immersion coordinates. Classical equation of motion and the space-time energy-momentum tensor of the string are obtained. The equations of motion for the extrinsic curvature action are second order for the scalar mean curvature of the world sheet. 1-loop divergent terms are calculated using the background field method. Asymptotic freedom of the extrinsic curvature coupling is established.