On Schnabl solutions of string field equations

We clarify the relationship between Schnabl's solution and pure gauge configurations. Both Schnabl's and pure gauge solutions are obtained by means of an iterative procedure. We show that the pure gauge string field configuration that is used in the construction of a perturbation series for Schnabl's solution diverges on a large subspace of string configurations, but it can be rendered convergent by adding a compensating term. The additional term ensures the fulfillment of the equations of motion in a weak sense. This compensating term coincides with the term necessary for obtaining an action consistent with Sen's first conjecture. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd 2009.