Jacobi sigma models

We introduce a two-dimensional sigma model associated with a Jacobi manifold. The model is a generalisation of a Poisson sigma model providing a topological open string theory. In the Hamiltonian approach first class constraints are derived, which generate gauge invariance of the model under diffeomorphisms. The reduced phase space is finite-dimensional. By introducing a metric tensor on the target, a non-topological sigma model is obtained, yielding a Polyakov action with metric and B-field, whose target space is a Jacobi manifold.

Torsional Newton Cartan gravity from non-relativistic strings

We study propagation of closed bosonic strings in torsional Newton-Cartan geometry based on a recently proposed Polyakov type action derived by dimensional reduction of the ordinary bosonic string along a null direction. We generalize the Polyakov action proposal to include matter, i.e. the 2-form and the 1-form that originates from the Kalb- Ramond field and the dilaton. We determine the conditions for Weyl invariance which we express as the beta-function equations on the worldsheet, in analogy with the usual case of strings propagating on a pseudo-Riemannian manifold. The critical dimension of the TNC space-time turns out to be 25. We find that Newton’s law of gravitation follows from the requirement of quantum Weyl invariance in the absence of torsion. Presence of the 1-form requires torsion to be non vanishing. Torsion has interesting consequences, in particular it yields a mass term and an advection term in the generalized Newton’s law. U(1) mass invariance of the theory is an important ingredient in deriving the beta functions.