Cancellation of linearized axion-dilaton self-action divergence in strings (Q1972084)

The author investigates an important property of the axi-dilaton sector of Nambu-Goto type strings, where the divergent part of the gravitational self-force is known to cancel out itself. By considering the basic force balance derived from the ``dressed'' energy-momentum tensor, it is shown that the dominant divergent contribution from the dilaton self-interaction is exactly opposite to that of the axion part. Thus these divergencies cancel out even in the low energy limit of superstring theory.