The Classical And Quantum Theory Of Relativistic P-branes Without Constraints

It is shown that a relativistic (i.e. a Poincaré invariant) theory of extended objects (called p-branes) is not necessarily invariant under reparametrizations of corresponding p-dimensional worldsheets (including worldlines for p=0). Consequently, no constraints among the dynamical variables are necessary and quantization is straightforward. Additional degrees of freedom so obtained are given a physical interpretation as being related to membrane's elastic deformations («wiggleness»). In particular, such a more general, unconstrained theory implies as solutions also those p-brane states that are solutions of the conventional theory of the Dirac-Nambu-Gotto type. © 1995 Società Italiana di Fisica.108222123