Twisted current algebras and gauge symmetry breaking in string theory

Abstract

The appearance of vorticity 01 twists in 2-dim. current algebra associated with a compact Lie group G can lead to the absence of some of the global symmetry generators of G and one expects the symmetry to be reduced to a smaller subgroup H of G. Contrary to expectations, all gauge bosons, including those of H become massive. This is because the zero point energy of the string is uniformly shifted upward affecting the masses of all particles by the same amount.