String sources in 2 + 1-dimensional gravity

Abstract

We exhibit the space-times generated by 1-dimensional open and closed distributions of energy and tension in (2 + 1)-dimensional gravity. The global structures of these geometries, which are locally flat outside the sources, are described. For tensionless strings, the solutions are just (continous) superpositions of corresponding particle geometries. However, the conditions for the existence of static strings with tension are quite stringent: not only are closed strings required to have "maximal" mass, but they are in fact equivalent to the ostensibly open ones.

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