String theory gives a well defined procedure for computing the S-matrix of BPS or a class of massless states, but similar calculation for general massive states is plagued with difficulties due to mass renormalization effect. In this paper we describe a procedure for computing the renormalized masses and S-matrix elements in bosonic string theory for a special class of massive states which do not mix with unphysical states under renormalization. Even though this requires working with off-shell amplitudes which are ambiguous, we show that the renormalized masses and S-matrix elements are free from these ambiguities. We also argue that the masses and S-matrix elements for general external states can be found by examining the locations of the poles and the residues of the S-matrix of special states. Finally we discuss generalizations to heterotic and superstring theories.

In a previous paper we described a procedure for computing the renormalized masses and S-matrix elements in bosonic string theory for a special class of massive states which do not mix with unphysical states under renormalization. In this paper we extend this result to general states in bosonic string theory, and argue that only the squares of renormalized physical masses appear as the locations of the poles of the S-matrix of other physical states. We also discuss generalizations to Neveu-Schwarz sector states in heterotic and superstring theories. 5 Poles of S-matrix elements of massless / BPS / special states 30 6 All order results 33 7 Generalizations to heterotic and super string theories 35

While the notion of open quantum systems is itself old, most of the existing studies deal with quantum mechanical systems rather than quantum field theories. After a brief review of field theoretical/path integral tools currently available to deal with open quantum field theories, we go on to apply these tools to an open version of φ 3 + φ 4 theory in four spacetime dimensions and demonstrate its one loop renormalizability (including the renormalizability of the Lindblad structure).

This paper investigates relationships between low-energy four-particle scattering amplitudes with external gauge particles and gravitons in the E 8 × E 8 and SO(32) heterotic string theories and the type I and type IA superstring theories by considering a variety of tree level and one-loop Feynman diagrams describing such amplitudes in elevendimensional supergravity in a Hoȓava-Witten background compactified on a circle. This accounts for a number of perturbative and non-perturbative aspects of low order higher derivative terms in the low-energy expansion of string theory amplitudes, which are expected to be protected by half maximal supersymmetry from receiving corrections beyond one or two loops. It also suggests the manner in which type I/heterotic duality may be realised for certain higher derivative interactions that are not so obviously protected. For example, our considerations suggest that R 4 interactions (where R is the Riemann curvature) might receive no perturbative corrections beyond one loop by virtue of a conspiracy involving contributions from (non-BPS) Z 2 D-instantons in the type I and heterotic SO(32) theories.