The Light Cone in String Theory

Emil Martinec

Published 1993-04-08, updated 1993-04-12Version 2

The causal boundary of string propagation -- defined as the hypersurface in loop space bordering the timelike(spacelike) domains in which two successive measurements of the string field do(do not) interfere with one another -- is argued to be $0=\int d\sigma\bigl(\delta X(\sigma)\bigr)^2 = \sum_{\ell=-\infty}^\infty \delta x^\mu_{-\ell}\delta x_{\mu \ell}.$ Some possible consequences are discussed.