Don't Panic. Closed String Tachyons in ALE Spacetimes

摘要

We consider closed string tachyons localized at the fixed points of noncompactnon-supersymmetric orbifolds. We argue that tachyon condensation drives these orbifolds to flat space or supersymmetric ALE spaces. The decay proceeds via an expanding shell of dilaton gradients and curvature that interpolates between two regions of distinct angular geometry. The string coupling remains weak throughout.