Spectral interactions between strings in the Higgs background

We derive the exact form of the spectral interaction of two strings mediated by a constant scalar field using methods derived from noncommutative geometry. This is achieved by considering a non-product modification of the Connes-Lott model with two-dimensional manifolds. The analogy with the latter construction justifies the interpretation of the scalar field as being of Higgs type. Working in dimension two requires the use of the spectral zeta function instead of the Wodzicki residue techniques applicable to four-dimensional models. In the latter case, an analogous non-product geometry construction leads, for specific choices of metrics, to the so-called "doubled geometry models", which can be thought of as a spectral modification of the Hassan-Rosen bimetric theory. We find that in dimension two, the interaction term depends explicitly on zweibeins defining the Dirac operators and only in some special cases can they be expressed solely using the metrics. The computations can be performed analytically for an arbitrary choice of zweibeins defining geometry on the two strings.