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.

More discussions added in the Introduction and under Eq.64. Additional references included. 27 pages; Revtex