Infinite-genus surfaces and the universal Grassmannian

Correlation functions can be calculated on Riemann surfaces using the operator formalism. The state in the Hilbert space of the free field theory on the punctured disc, corresponding to the Riemann surface, is constructed at infinite genus, verifying the inclusion of these surfaces in the Grassmannian. In particular, a subset of the class of OHD surfaces can be identified with a subset of the Grassmannian. The concept of flux through the ideal boundary is used to study the connection between infinite-genus surfaces and the domain of string perturbation theory. The different roles of effectively closed surfaces and surfaces with Dirichlet boundaries in a more complete formulation of string theory are identified.