An effective string theory of Abrikosov-Nielsen-Olesen vortices

We obtain an effective string theory of the Abrikosov-Nielsen-Olesen vortic es of the Abelian Higgs model. The theory has an anomaly free effective str ing action which, when the extrinsic curvature is set equal to zero, yields the Nambu-Goto action. This generalizes previous work in which a string re presentation was obtained in the London limit, where the magnitude of the H iggs field is fixed. Viewed as a model for long distance QCD, it provides a concrete picture of the QCD string as a fluctuating Abrikosov-Nielsen-Oles en vortex of a dual superconductor on the border between type I and type II . (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.