We estimate the stopping length of an energetic gluon in a thermal plasma of strongly coupled N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory by representing the gluon as a doubled string rising up out of the horizon.
The QCD-vacuum is characterized by the Higgs phenomenon for colored scalar fields. In this dual picture the gluons appear as the octet of vector mesons. Also quarks and baryons are identified. Gluon-meson and quark-baryon duality can account in a simple way for realistic masses of all low-mass hadrons and for their interactions.
An intriguing new duality between planar MHV gluon amplitudes and light-like Wilson loops in N=4 super Yang-Mills is investigated. We extend previous checks of the duality by performing a two-loop calculation of the rectangular and pentagonal Wilson loop. Furthermore, we derive an all-order broken conformal Ward identity for the Wilson loops and analyse its consequences. Starting from six points, the Ward identity allows for an arbitrary function of conformal invariants to appear in the expression for the Wilson loop. We compute this function at six points and two loops and discuss its implica…
Four-point one-loop nonsupersymmetric pure Yang-Mills amplitudes with the duality between color and kinematics manifest have been constructed in previous work. Here, we extend the discussion to fermions and scalars circulating in the loop with all external gluons. This gives another nontrivial loop-level example showing that the duality between color and kinematics holds in nonsupersymmetric gauge theory. The construction is valid in any spacetime dimension and written in terms of formal polarization vectors. We also convert these expressions into a four-dimensional form with explicit external…
We consider the T-duality transformations of the low-energy quantum string theory effective action in the presence of classical fundamental string source and demonstrate explicitly that T-duality still holds.
We discuss the structure of heterotic/type II duality in four dimensions as a consequence of string-string duality in six dimensions. We emphasize the new features in four dimensions which go beyond the six dimensional vacuum structure and pertain to the way particular K3 fibers can be embedded in Calabi-Yau threefolds. Our focus is on hypersurfaces as well as complete intersections of codimension two which arise via conifold transitions.
In this short note we analyse T-duality properties of non-relativistic String in Torsional Newton-Cartan Background. We also determine condition that ensures that non-relativistic string maps to non-relativistic string under T-duality.
In this note we perform canonical analysis of T-duality for non-relativistic string in stringy Newton-Cartan background. We confirm recent result that T-duality along longitudinal spatial direction of stringy Newton-Cartan geometry maps non-relativistic string to the relativistic string that propagates on the background with light-like isometry.
We are discussing the $S$ \& $T$ duality for special class of heterotic string configurations. This class of solutions includes various types of black hole solutions and Taub-NUT geometries. It allows a self-dual point for both dualities which corresponds to massless configurations. As string state this point corresponds to $N_R=1/2$ and $N_L=0$. The string/string duality is shortly discussed.
We study T-duality for open strings on tori $\T^d$. The general boundary conditions for the open strings are constructed, and it is shown that T-duality group, which preserves the mass spectrum of closed strings, preserves also the mass spectrum of the open strings. The open strings are transformed to those with different boundary conditions by T-duality. We also discuss the T-duality for D-brane mass spectrum, and show that the D-branes and the open strings with both ends on them are transformed together consistently.
We discuss gluon scattering amplitudes/null-polygonal Wilson loops of N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory at strong coupling based on the gauge/string duality and its underlying integrability. We focus on the amplitudes/Wilson loops corresponding to the minimal surfaces in AdS_3, which are described by the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz equations of the homogeneous sine-Gordon model. Using conformal perturbation theory and an interesting relation between the g-function (boundary entropy) and the T-function, we derive analytic expansions around the limit where the Wilson loops become regular-polygonal. W…
We present supersymmetric soliton solutions of the four-dimensional heterotic string corresponding to monopoles, strings and domain walls. These solutions admit the $D=10$ interpretation of a fivebrane wrapped around $5$, $4$ or $3$ of the $6$ toroidally compactified dimensions and are arguably exact to all orders in $α'$. The solitonic string solution exhibits an $SL(2,Z)$ {\it strong/weak coupling} duality which however corresponds to an $SL(2,Z)$ {\it target space} duality of the fundamental string.
We show that the open membrane action on $T^3\times S^1/Z^2$ is equivalent to the closed membrane action on K3. The main difference between the two actions is that one generates the KK modes in the worldvolume action which is the strong coupling limit of \IIA\ while the other action generates the KK modes in a worldsheet action. Thus explaining membrane-string duality in D=7, which naturally leads to string-string duality in D=6.
We review aspects of N=2 duality between the heterotic and the type IIA string. After a description of string duality intended for the non-specialist the computation of the heterotic prepotential and the $F_1$ function for the ST, STU and STUV model (V a Wilson line) and the matching with the Calabi-Yau instanton expansions are given in detail. Relations with BPS spectral sums in various connections are pointed out.
We realize the string/$(D-5)$-brane duality on the action level between the $T^{10-D}$-compactified heterotic string effective action and the $(D-5)$- brane effective action in $D$ dimensions by managing a Lagrange multiplier field. A dual dictionary is composed to be available for the translation between the elementary or solitonic solutions of the dual pair of actions. In the same way the $S$ duality is also reconstructed on the action level as a double dualization for the $T^6$-compactified heterotic string effective action.
Implications of string-string dualities to cosmological string vacua are discussed. Cosmological vacua of classical string theories comprise of disjoint classses mapped one another by scale-factor T-duality. Each classes are, however, afflicted with initial/final cosmological singularities. It is argued that quantum string theories and string-string dualities dramatically resolve these cosmological singularities out so that disjoint classical cosmological vacua are continuously connected in a unified manner. A natural inflationary cosmology follows from this.
We test type IIA-heterotic string duality in six dimensions by showing that the sigma model anomaly of the heterotic string is generated by a combination of a tree level and a string one-loop correction on the type IIA side.
Target space duality (T duality), which interchanges Kaluza--Klein and winding-mode excitations of the compactified heterotic string, is realized as a symmetry of a world-sheet action. Axion-dilaton duality (S duality), a conjectured nonperturbative SL(2,Z) symmetry of the same theory, plays an analogous role for five-branes. We describe a soliton spectrum possessing both duality symmetries and argue that the theory has an infinite number of dual string descriptions.
We classify almost all classical string configurations, considered in the framework of the semi-classical limit of the string/gauge theory duality. Then, we describe a procedure for obtaining the conserved quantities and the exact classical string solutions in general string theory backgrounds, when the string embedding coordinates depend non-linearly on the worldsheet time parameter.
Since T-duality has been proved only perturbatively and most of the heterotic states map into solitonic, non-perturbative, type II states, the 6-dimensional string-string duality between the heterotic string and the type II string is not sufficient to prove the S-duality of the former, in terms of the known T-duality of the latter. We nevertheless show in detail that perturbative T-duality, together with the heterotic-type II duality, does imply the existence of heterotic H-monopoles, with the correct multiplicity and multiplet structure. This construction is valid at a generic point in the mo…
We compute the leading double-soft behavior for gluons and for the scalars obtained by dimensional reduction of a higher dimensional pure gauge theory, from the scattering amplitudes of gluons and scalars living in the world-volume of a Dp-brane of the bosonic string. In the case of gluons, we compute both the double-soft behavior when the two soft gluons are contiguous as well as when they are not contiguous. From our results, that are valid in string theory, one can easily get the double-soft limit in gauge field theory by sending the string tension to infinity.
These lectures are intended as an introduction to some of the basic aspects of string solitons, duality and black holes. We begin with a discussion of the role of classical solutions in duality, then focus on string/string duality and fundamental membranes. Finally, we examine the feature of compositeness of string solitons, and its implications for bound states and black hole thermodynamics. As these lectures are aimed primarily at those less familiar with this field, technical details are minimized.
Some results are presented concerning duality invariant effective string actions and the construction of automorphic functions for general (2,2) string compactifications. These considerations are applied in order to discuss the {\it minimal} unification of gauge coupling constants in orbifold compactifications with special emphasis on string threshold corrections.
After simultaneous compactification of spacetime and worldvolume on $K3$, the $D=10$ heterotic fivebrane with gauge group $SO(32)$ behaves like a $D=6$ heterotic string with gauge group $SO(28) \times SU(2)$, but with Kac--Moody levels different from those of the fundamental string. Thus the string/fivebrane duality conjecture in $D=10$ gets replaced by a string/string duality conjecture in $D=6$. Since $D=6$ strings are better understood than $D=10$ fivebranes, this provides a more reliable laboratory in which to test the conjecture. According to string/string duality, the Green--Schwarz fact…
I discuss the role of spacetime supersymmetry in the interplay between strong/weak coupling duality and target space duality in string theory which arises in string/string duality. This can be seen via the construction of string soliton solutions which in $N=4$ compactifications of heterotic string theory break more than $1/2$ of the spacetime supersymmetries but whose analogs in $N=2$ and $N=1$ compactifications break precisely $1/2$ of the spacetime supersymmetries. As a result, these solutions may be interpreted as stable solitons in the latter two cases, and correspond to Bogomol'nyi-satur…
It is argued that the Unruh effect may be interpreted as a duality of a theory on different backgrounds. This issue is revisited in String Theory in the path integral formalism. By using T-duality and the Unruh effect, the T-dual transformation for acceleration is investigated and a maximum effective physical acceleration for observers in String Theory is found.
Duality symmetries for strings moving in non-trivial spacetime backgrounds are analysed. It is shown that for backgrounds generated from WZW and coset CFT models such duality symmetries are exact to all orders in string perturbation theory. Their implications for string dynamics in non-trivial/singular spacetimes are discussed. (Talk given at the EPS 93 Conference, held at Marseille, July 22-27. To appear in the Proceedings.)
The evidence for string/string-duality can be extended from the matching of the vector couplings to gravitational couplings. In this note this is shown in the rank three example, the closest stringy analog of the Seiberg/Witten-setup, which is related to the Calabi-Yau $WP^4_{1,1,2,2,6}(12)$. I provide an exact analytical verification of a relation checked by coefficient comparison to fourth order by Kaplunovsky, Louis and Theisen.
We study D-brane actions in non-relativistic string theory. We consider single D-brane and analyse its properties under T-duality. We also derive an action for N D8-branes and also for lower dimensional D-branes through T-duality transformations.
We continue our study of the Lorentz breaking string theories. These theories are defined as string theory with modified Hamiltonian constraint which breaks the Lorentz symmetry of target space-time. We analyze properties of this theory in the target space-time that possesses isometry along one direction. We also derive the T-duality rules for Lorentz breaking string theories and show that they are the same as that of Buscher's T-duality for the relativistic strings.
We review some examples of heterotic/type II string duality which shed light on the infrared dynamics of string compactifications with N=2 and N=1 supersymmetry in four dimensions.
There is substancial overlap with hepth-9211081. More results are presented for duality in the non-compact case. It is argued that duality persists as a symmetry also in that case.
We formulate sigma-model duality transformations in terms of spin connection. This allows to investigate the symmetry of the string action including higher order $α'$ corrections. An important feature of the new duality transformations is a simple homogeneous transformation rule of the spin connection (with torsion) and specifically adjusted transformation of the Yang-Mills field. We have found that under certain conditions this duality is a symmetry of the full effective string action in the target space, free of $α'$ corrections. We demonstrate how the exact duality generates new fundamental…
We present duality invariant structure of the thermodynamic quantities of non-extreme black hole solutions of torodially compactified Type II (M-theory) and heterotic string in five and four dimensions. These quantities are parameterized by duality invariant combinations of charges and the non-extremality parameter, which measures a deviation from the BPS-saturated limit. In particular, in D=5 we find explicit S- and T-duality [U-duality] invariant expressions for solutions of toroidally compactified heterotic string [Type II string]. In D=4, we consider general S-duality invariant expressions…
The evolution of a closed bosonic string is envisaged in the time-dependent background of its massless modes. A duality transformation is implemented on the spatial component of string coordinates to obtain a dual string. It is shown that the evolution equations are manifestly $O(d,d)$ invariant. The tree level string effective actions for the original and the dual string theory are shown to be equivalent.
The duality symmetries of WZW and coset models are discussed. The exact underlying symmetry responsible for semiclassical duality is identified with the symmetry under affine Weyl transformations. This identification unifies the treatement of duality symmetries and shows that in the compact and unitary case they are exact symmetries of string theory to all orders in $α'$ and in the string coupling constant. Non-compact WZW models and cosets are also discussed. A toy model is analyzed suggesting that duality will not generically be a symmetry.
The thermofield dynamics of the D=26 closed bosonic thermal string theory is described in proper reference to the thermal duality symmetry as well as the thermal stability of modular invariance in association with the global phase structure of the bosonic thermal string ensemble.
In this article we examine the compatibility of some recent results, results relating M-Theory to String Theory, with the string-string duality conjecture in six-dimensions. In particular, we rederive the relation between M-Theory and Type IIA strings. We then go on to examine in detail M-Theory on $K3 \times S^{1}$ and its relation to the Heterotic theory on $T^{4}$. We conclude with some remarks on M-Theory on $T^{4}\times (S^{1}/{\bf Z}_{2})$ and its relation to the Type II theory on $K3$.
This is a non-technical version of a talk presented at the conference, "S-Duality and Mirror Symmetry in String Theory" Trieste, June, 1996 which will appear in the proceedings.
I describe Field/String duality as applied to the response of gauge fields to separated quark and antiquark sources. This is a talk contributed to the conference Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum VII, Ponta Delgada, Azores, 2-7 September 2006.
The thermofield dynamics of the D = 10 heterotic thermal string theory is described in proper reference to the thermal duality symmetry as well as the thermal stability of modular invariance in association with the global phase structure of the D = 10 heterotic thermal string ensemble.
On compactification to six spacetime dimensions, the fundamental heterotic string admits as a soliton a dual string whose effective worldsheet action couples to the background fields of the dual formulation of six-dimensional supergravity. On further toroidal compactification to four spacetime dimensions, the dual string acquires an $O(2,2;Z)$ target-space duality. This contains as a subgroup the axion-dilaton $SL(2,Z)$ which corresponds to a strong/weak coupling duality for the fundamental string. The dual string also provides a new non-perturbative mechanism for enhancement of the gauge symm…
A simple geometric description of T-duality is given by identifying the cotangent bundles of the original and the dual manifold. Strings propagate naturally in the cotangent bundle and the original and the dual string phase spaces are obtained by different projections. Buscher's transformation follows readily and it is literally projective. As an application of the formalism, we prove that the duality is a symplectomorphism of the string phase spaces.
We discuss partition functions of N=(4,4) type IIA string theory on the pp-wave background. This theory is shown to be modular invariant. The boundary states are constructed and possible D-brane instantons are classified. Then we calculate cylinder amplitudes in both closed and open string descriptions and check the open/closed string duality. Furthermore we consider general properties of modular invariant partition functions in the case of pp-waves.
We collect further evidence for the proposed duality between $N=2$ heterotic and type II string vacua in a specific model suggested by Kachru and Vafa. In the gauge sector the previous analysis is extended; it is further shown that the duality also holds for the one--loop gravitational couplings to the vector multiplets.
These lectures trace the origin of string theory as a theory of hadronic interactions (predating QCD itself) to the present ideas on how the QCD string may arise in Superstring theory in a suitably deformed background metric. The contributions of 'tHooft's large Nc limit, Maldacena's String/Gauge duality conjecture and lattice spectral data are emphasized to motivate and hopefully guide further efforts to define a fundamental QCD string.
This thesis investigates the quantum properties of T-duality invariant formalisms of String Theory. We introduce and review duality invariant formalisms of String Theory including the Doubled Formalism. We calculate the background field equations for the Doubled Formalism of Abelian T-duality and show how they are consistent with those of a conventional String Theory description of a toroidal compactification. We generalise these considerations to the case of Poisson--Lie T-duality and show that the system of renormalisation group equations obtained from the duality invariant parent theory are…
We study T-duality transformations in canonical formalism for Nambu-Gotto action. Then we investigate the relation between world-sheet double Wick rotation and sequence of target space T-dualities and Wick rotation in case of fundamental string and D1-brane.
The heterotic string occurs as a soliton of the type I superstring in ten dimensions, supporting the conjecture that these two theories are equivalent. The conjecture that the type IIB string is self-dual, with the strong coupling dynamics described by a dual type IIB theory, is supported by the occurrence of the dual string as a Ramond-Ramond soliton of the weakly-coupled theory.
We discuss the generalization of recently discovered BPS configurations, corresponding to the planar string networks, to non-planar ones by considering the U-duality symmetry of type II string theory in various dimensions. As an explicit example, we analyze the string solutions in 8-dimensional space-time, carrying SL(3) charges, and show that by aligning the strings along various directions appropriately, one can obtain a string network which preserves 1/8 supersymmetry.
The S-duality invariance of the equations of motion of four dimensional string effective action with cosmological constant, $Λ$, is studied. It is demonstrated that the S-duality symmetry of the field equations are broken for nonzero $Λ$. The ``naturalness'' hypothesis is invoked to argue that $Λ$ should remain small since exact S-duality symmetry will force the cosmological constant to vanish in the string effective action.
We study the noncritical two-dimensional heterotic string. Long fundamental strings play a crucial role in the dynamics. They cancel anomalies and lead to phase transitions when the system is compactified on a Euclidean circle. A careful analysis of the gauge symmetries of the system uncovers new subtleties leading to modifications of the worldsheet results. The compactification on a Euclidean thermal circle is particularly interesting. It leads us to an incompatibility between T-duality (and its corresponding gauge symmetry) and locality.
I outline some of the progress over the past few years in applying ideas from string theory to study the quark-gluon plasma, including the computation of the drag force on heavy quarks and estimates of total multiplicity from black hole formation. I also indicate some of the main perils of the string theory approach.
We review the status of duality symmetries in superstring theories. These discrete symmetries mark the striking differences between theories of pointlike objects and theories of extended objects. They prove to be very helpful in understanding non-perturbative effects in string theories. We will also briefly discuss the strange role played by open strings and their solitons in the emerging scenario.
We apply the duality transformation relating the heterotic to the IIA string in 6D to the class of exact string solutions described by the chiral null model and derive explicit formulas for all fields after reduction to 4D. If the model is restricted to asymptotically flat black hole type solutions with well defined mass and charges the purely electric solutions on the heterotic side are mapped to dyonic ones on the IIA side. The mass remains invariant. Before and after the duality transformation the solutions belong to short $N=4$ SUSY multiplets and saturate the corresponding Bogomol'nyi bou…
We analyze the allowed spectrum of electric and magnetic charges carried by dyons in (toroidally compactified) heterotic string theory in four dimensions at arbitrary values of the string coupling constant and $θ$ angle. The spectrum is shown to be invariant under electric-magnetic duality transformation, thereby providing support to the conjecture that this is an exact symmetry in string theory.
We examine the structure of higher-derivative string corrections under a cosmological reduction and make connection to generalized geometry and T-duality. We observe that, while the curvature $R^μ_{νρσ}(Ω_+)$ of the generalized connection with torsion, $Ω_+=Ω+\frac{1}{2}H$, is an important component in forming T-duality invariants, it is necessarily incomplete by itself. We revisit the tree-level $α'R^2$ corrections to the bosonic and heterotic string in the language of generalized geometry and explicitly demonstrate that additional $H$-field couplings are needed to restore T-duality invarianc…
The equations of motion of the massless sector of the two dimensional string theory, obtained by compactifying the heterotic string theory on an eight dimensional torus, is known to have an affine o(8,24) symmetry algebra generating an O(8,24) loop group. In this paper we study how various known discrete S- and T- duality symmetries of the theory are embedded in this loop group. This allows us to identify the generators of the discrete duality symmetry group of the two dimensional string theory.