SCATTERING OF QUANTIZED DIRICHLET PARTICLES

As a step toward satisfactory understanding of the quantum dynamics of Dirichlet (D-) particles, the amplitude for the basic process describ ing the scattering of two quantized D-particles is computed in bosonic string theory. The calculation is performed and cross-checked using t hree different methods, namely, (i) the path integral, (ii) the bounda ry state, and (iii) the open-channel operator formalism. The analysis is exact in alpha' and includes the first-order correction in the expa nsion with respect to the acceleration of the D-particles. The resulta nt Lorentz-invariant amplitude is capable of describing general non-fo rward scattering with recoil effects fully taken into account and it r eproduces the known result for the special case of forward scattering in the limit of an infinitely large D-particle mass. The expected form of the amplitude for the supersymmetric case is also briefly discusse d. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. PACS: 11.25.-w; 11.25.Sq.