Induced worldsheet metric (${\gamma }_{\alpha \beta }$)

The induced worldsheet metric is the pullback of the target-space metric:

The Nambu–Goto actionis minus the string tension times the Lorentzian area of the worldsheet.

A circular closed string contracts and re-expands with $X^0=Rt$ and $X^1+i{X}^2=R\cos t{e}^{i\sigma }$. Its proper length is $2\pi R|\cos t|$, while its energy remains $2\pi TR$. At collapse the induced worldsheet metric degenerates, but the Nambu-Goto phase-space action supplies a regular continuation.

For a nondegenerate induced worldsheet metric $g_{ab}={\partial }_{a}X\cdot {\partial }_{b}X$, variation gives ${\partial }_a(\sqrt{-g}{g}^{ab}{\partial }_b{X}^m)=0$. In conformal gauge this is the two-dimensional wave equation, supplemented by the Virasoro constraints.

The first-order string action isThe multipliers impose the two Virasoro constraints. The canonical equations give a spatial momentum flux $J_m=e{T}^2{X}_m^{\prime }+u{P}_m$.

Translations and Lorentz transformations give Noether charges ${\mathcal{P}}_m=\int P_{m}d\sigma$ and ${\mathcal{J}}_{mn}=\int (X_m{P}_n-X_n{P}_m)d\sigma$. Their time derivatives are boundary fluxes, which vanish for a closed string or a free-ended open string.

The two constraints are $P^2+T^2{X}^{\prime 2}=0$ and $P\cdot X^{\prime }=0$. They are first-class constraints associated with worldsheet diffeomorphisms. Their Lagrange multipliers are arbitrary gauge functions rather than propagating fields.

For a closed string, the currents $J_{\pm }=P\pm T{X}^{\prime }$ have vanishing mixed Poisson brackets. The densities ${\mathcal{H}}_{\pm }=J_{\pm }^2/(4T)$ therefore generate commuting constraint algebras. With opposite Fourier orientations their modes satisfy $\{L_m,L_n\}=-i(m-n)L_{m+n}$ and the identical relation for ${\tilde{L}}_n$. This is a direct sum of Lie algebras consisting of two Witt algebras.

A straight rigidly rotating classical string has speed of light at a free endpoint. Its energy and angular momentum satisfy a Regge trajectory. A segment with one anchored and one free end has $J=E^2/(\pi T)$, twice the slope of the string with two free ends.

With string tension $T=1/(2\pi {\alpha }^{\prime })$, the free-ended open string $X^0=a\tau$, $X^1+i{X}^2=a\cos \sigma e^{i\tau }$, $0\le \sigma \le \pi$, is straight at every target time. Its Nambu–Goto equations of motion and Virasoro constraints hold, and its ends move at light speed. Integrating the target-space Noether charges of a string gives $M=\pi Ta$ and $J=\pi T{a}^2/2$. Thus $J={\alpha }^{\prime }{M}^2$. Extending the same map to $0\le \sigma \le 2\pi$ describes a double-covered folded closed string, with twice the mass and twice the angular momentum, hence $J={\alpha }^{\prime }{M}^2/2$. The different slopes record the different boundary topology.

If $A(t)$ and $B(t)$ are perpendicular four-dimensional spatial vectors of equal fixed magnitude, every constant-time slice is a planar circle. Opposite rotations in two orthogonal coordinate planes can produce a Nambu–Goto action solution with constant radius and a rotating plane. The induced worldsheet metric can be constant even though the embedding moves. Rotating Cartesian axes clarify its shape without removing its kinetic target-space energy.

A Nambu–Goto action solution with $X^0=t$ is $\mathbf{X}=L\sin (\sigma /L)(\cos (t/L),\sin (t/L))$, for $0\le \sigma \le \pi L/2$. It solves the wave equation, has a fixed endpoint at the origin, and obeys the free-end string boundary condition at the other end. Its proper length is $L$ and its free endpoint has angular speed $1/L$ and spatial speed one.