Open-String Non-Associativity in an R-flux Background

Abstract: We derive the commutation relations for open-string coordinates on D-branes in non-geometric background spaces. Starting from D0-branes on a three-dimensional torus with H-flux, we show that open strings with end points on D3-branes in a three-dimensional R-flux background exhibit a non-associative phase-space algebra, which is similar to the non-associative R-flux algebra of closed strings. Therefore, the effective open-string gauge theory on the D3-branes is expected to be a non-associative gauge theory. We also point out differences between the non-associative phase space structure of open and closed strings in non-geometric backgrounds, which are related to the different structure of the world-sheet commutators of open and closed strings.