about string theory ?

[1123581321]

I was wondering, would string theory be a perfect theory if there were no divergences..

 

and are the divergences of string theory sort of anomalies/holes in the dimensions of the theory or in the symmetry..

 

also, are there divergences in all string theories...

 

just one more thing, (my apologies). Are there divergences in M-theory at all ?

 

 

 

 

note - i do apologize if divergences aren't actually associated with the above, as im just trying to refresh my memory

[ajb]

String theory is finite and anomaly free.

[1123581321]

But how can string theory be anomaly free. Wouldn't that mean that research into the theory is unnecessary...?

[ajb]

But how can string theory be anomaly free. Wouldn't that mean that research into the theory is unnecessary...?

 

Maybe we are talking about different things, look up the Green--Schwartz mechanism.

 

This is quite an amazing mechanism. It puts a restriction on the dimensions of the gauge groups in type I string theory.

 

 

There is lot of work out there on anomalies in string theory with and without branes. Anomaly cancellation can put restrictions on fields of the low energy effective description.

 

Anomalies have a very rich geometric and topological nature. Maybe my MSc thesis will be of interest. Though I do not discuss in any great detail anomalies in string theory.