= Radius deformation as a Higgs mechanism
{title2=$m_W^2=(R/\alpha'-1/R)^2$}
At the <self-dual circle>, left and right dimension-one currents generate $SU(2)_L\times SU(2)_R$. The compact-coordinate vertex $\partial Y_L\bar\partial Y_R$ is a Cartan–Cartan component of a <scalar field> in the $(3,3)$ representation. Its <expectation value> changes the circle radius and leaves $U(1)_L\times U(1)_R$ unbroken. The four extra charged vectors acquire the displayed mass, and four <scalar field> polarizations become their longitudinal modes. This realizes the <Higgs mechanism> geometrically. In a bosonic string the ever-present <tachyon> and additional <scalar field> instabilities prevent interpreting the whole family as a stable vacuum.
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