Renormalization Group Flow in BRST Invariant Open String $\sigma$-Model

The renormalization group flow in the theory space of a BRST invariant string $\sigma$-model is investigated. For the open bosonic string the non-perturbative off-shell effective action and its gauge symmetry properties are determined from $\beta$-functions defined by the local Weyl anomaly. The interactions are shown to explicitly break the free theory BRST invariance generating new non-linear gauge symmetries of the type present in Witten’s string field theory. In the Feynman-Siegel gauge the $\sigma$-model is shown to generate Witten’s structure of vertex couplings.