String Field Equations From Generalized Sigma Model II

We improve and extend a method introduced in an earlier paper for deriving string field equations. The idea is to impose conformal invariance on a generalized sigma model, using a background field method that ensures covariance under very general non-local coordinate transformations. The method is used to derive the free string equations, as well as the interacting equations for the graviton-dilaton system. The full interacting string equations derived by this method should be manifestly background independent.