Non-archimedean string dynamics

Explicit formulas for the N-point tree amplitudes of the non-archimedean open string are derived. These amplitudes can be generated from a simple non-local lagrangian involving a single scalar field (the tachyon) in ambient space-time. This lagrangian is studied and is found to possess a tachyon free vacuum with no “particles” but with soliton solutions. The question of generalizing the adelic product formular to N-point amplitudes is taken up. The infinite product of 5-point amplitudes is shown to converge in a suitably chosen kinematic region whence it can be analytically continued. Though the precise form of the product formula for the 5-point (and N-point)amplitudes is not found, it is shown that the product is not equal to one as it is for the 4-point amplitudes but rather involves the famous zeros of the Riemann zeta function. Chan-Paton rules for non-archimedean open strings are given. A string over the (global) field of rational numbers is constructed. Other problems that are addressed are the introduction of supersymmetry, the nature of a p-adic string lagrangian, and the possibility of strings over other locally compact fields.