In this paper, we study the 6d Little String Theory (LST) (the decoupled theory on the worldvolume of $N$ NS5-branes) on curved manifolds, by using its holographic duality to Type II string theory in asymptotically linear dilaton backgrounds. We focus on backgrounds with a large number of Killing vectors (namely, products of maximally symmetric spaces), without requiring supersymmetry (we do not turn on any background fields except the metric). LST is non-local so it is not obvious which spaces it can be defined on; we show that holography implies that the theory cannot be put on negatively curved spaces, but only on spaces with zero or positive curvature. For example, one cannot put LST on a product of an anti-de Sitter space times another space, without turning on extra background fields. On spaces with positive curvature, such as $S^6$, $\mathbb{R}^2\times S^4$, $S^3\times S^3$, etc., we typically find (for large $N$) dual holographic backgrounds which are weakly coupled and weakly curved everywhere, so that they can be well-described by Type II supergravity. In some cases more than one smooth solution exists for LST on the same space, and they all contribute to the partition function. We also study the thermodynamical properties of LST compactified on spheres, finding the leading correction to the Hagedorn behavior of the spectrum, which is different on curved space than on flat space. We discuss the holographic renormalization procedure, which must be implemented in order to get a finite free energy for the LST; we do not know how to implement it for general spaces, but we can (and we do) implement it for the theory compactified on $S^4$.
We study semiclassical strings in the near horizon geometry of certain curved branes. We investigate the rigidly rotating strings in the near horizon geometry of NS5-branes wrapped on AdS3 x S3 and in the presence of background NS-NS flux. We study several string solutions corresponding to giant magnon, single spike and more general folded strings for the fundamental string in this background. We comment that in the S-dual background the situation changes drastically.
This paper analyzes the effect of curved closed string backgrounds on the stability of D-branes within boundary string field theory. We identify the non-local open string background that implements shifts in the closed string background and analyze the tachyonic sector off-shell. The renormalization group flow reveals some characteristic properties, which are expected for a curved background, like the absence of a stable space-filling brane. In 3-dimensions we describe tachyon condensation processes to lower-dimensional branes, including a curved 2-dimensional brane. We argue that this 2-brane…
We study the non-minimal pure spinor string in a curved background. We find that the minimal BRST invariance implies the existence of a non-trivial stress-energy tensor for the minimal and non-minimal variables in the heterotic curved background. We find constraint equations for the b ghost. We construct the b ghost as a solution of these constraints.
We study the coupling of the non-minimal ghost fields of the pure spinor superstring in general curved backgrounds. The coupling is found solving the consistent relations from the nilpotency of the non-minimal BRST charge.
We consider a theory of an open string moving in a weakly curved background, composed of a constant metric and a linearly coordinate dependent Kalb-Ramond field with an infinitesimal field strength. We find its T-dual using the generalized Buscher procedure developed for the closed string moving in a weakly curved background, and the fact that solving the boundary conditions, the open string theory transforms to the effective closed string theory. So, T-dualizing the effective theory along all effective directions we obtain its T-dual theory and resume the open sting theory which has such an e…
Schild's null (tensionless) strings are discussed in certain flat and curved backgrounds. We find closed, stationary, null strings as natural configurations existing on the horizons of spacetimes which possess such null hypersurfaces. Examples of these are obtained in Schwarzschild and Rindler spacetimes. A dynamic null string is also identified in Rindler spacetime. Furthermore, a general prescription (with explicit examples) is outlined by means of which null string configurations can be obtained in a large class of cosmological backgrounds.
A perturbation theory with respect to tension parameter $γ/α^\prime$ for the non--linear equations of string, moving in curved space--time is considered. Obtained are linearized motion equations for the functions of the $n-$th degree of approximation ($n=0,1,2$)
The elements of $O(d,d,\Z)$ are shown to be discrete symmetries of the space of curved string backgrounds that are independent of $d$ coordinates. The explicit action of the symmetries on the backgrounds is described. Particular attention is paid to the dilaton transformation. Such symmetries identify different cosmological solutions and other (possibly) singular backgrounds; for example, it is shown that a compact black string is dual to a charged black hole. The extension to the heterotic string is discussed.
Based on lectures delivered at (1) the AMS meeting at USC, Nov. 1992 (2) Conference on Quantum Aspects of Black Holes, ITP, UC- Santa %Barbara, %%June 1993. (3) 25th Summer Institute, Ecole Normale Superieure, % Paris, Aug. 1992. To appear in "Interface Between Mathematics and Physics", Ed. S.-T. Yau. 1--Itroduction to String Theory in Curved Spacetime 2--G/H Coset Conformal Field Theory and String Theory 3--Time, Space and Classification of Non-Compact Cosets 4--Heterotic Strings in Curved Spacetime as gauged WZW Models 5--The Spacetime Manifold and the Geometry 6--Examples in 2D, 3D and 4D
Using the loop variable formalism as applied to a sigma model in curved target space, we give a systematic method for writing down gauge and generally covariant equations of motion for the modes of the free open string in curved space. The equations are obtained by covariantizing the flat space equation and then demanding gauge invariance, which introduces additional curvature couplings. As an illustration of the procedure, the spin two case is worked out explicitly.
We show how the classical string dynamics in $D$-dimensional curved background can be reduced to the dynamics of a massless particle constrained on a certain surface whenever there exists at least one Killing vector for the background metric. Then we obtain a number of sufficient conditions, which ensure the existence of exact solutions to the equations of motion and constraints. The results are also relevant to the null string case. Finally, we illustrate our considerations with an explicit example in four dimensions.
We study various rotating and oscillating D-string configurations in some general backgrounds with fluxes. In particular, we look for solutions to the equations of motion of various rigidly rotating D-strings in $AdS_3$ background with mixed flux, and in the intersecting D-brane geometries. We find out relations among various conserved charges corresponding to the breathing and rotating D-string configurations.
We discuss Gubser-Klebanov-Polyakov proposal for the gauge/string theory correspondence for gauge theories in curved space. Specifically, we consider Klebanov-Tseytlin cascading gauge theory compactified on S^3. We explain regime when this gauge theory is a small deformation of the superconformal N=1 gauge theory on the world volume of regular D3-branes at the tip of the conifold. We study closed string states on the leading Regge trajectory in this background, and attempt to identify the dual gauge theory twist two operators.
In these introductory lectures we summarize some basic facts and techniques about perturbative string theory (sections 1 to 6). These are further developed (sections 7 and 8) for describing string propagation in the presence of gravitational or gauge fields. We also remind some solutions of the string equations of motion, which correspond to remarkable (NS or D) brane configurations. A part II by Emilian Dudas will be devoted to orientifold constructions and applications to string model building.
We initiate a program to study the relationship between the target space, the spectrum and the scattering amplitudes in string theory. We consider scattering amplitudes following from string theory and quantum field theory on a curved target space, which is taken to be the $SU(2)$ group manifold, with special attention given to the duality between contributions from different channels. We give a simple example of the equivalence between amplitudes coming from string theory and quantum field theory, and compute the general form of a four-scalar field theoretical amplitude. The corresponding str…
At first we introduce an action for the string, which leads to a worldsheet that always is curved. For this action we study the Poincaré symmetry and the associated conserved currents. Then, a generalization of the above action, which contains an arbitrary function of the two-dimensional scalar curvature, will be introduced. An extra scalar field enables us to modify these actions to Weyl invariant models.
We present vertex operators for ambitwistor strings around generic Yang-Mills, gravity and NS-NS backgrounds. The requirement that vertex operators lie in the BRST cohomology of the worldsheet theory enforces the appropriate linear equations of motion (as well as gauge fixing conditions) for the respective perturbations in these backgrounds. Due to the nature of ambitwistor strings, no approximation is taken and all calculations around the backgrounds are exact.
The general fluctuations, in the form of vertex operators, for the type II superstring in the pure spinor formalism are considered. We review the construction of these vertex operators in flat space-time. We then review the type II superstrings in curved background in the pure spinor formalism to finally construct the vertex operators on a generic type II supergravity background.
Applying the loop variable proposal to a sigma model (with boundary) in a curved target space, we give a systematic method for writing the gauge and generally covariant interacting equations of motion for the modes of the open string in a curved background. As in the free case described in an earlier paper, the equations are obtained by covariantizing the flat space (gauge invariant) interacting equations and then demanding gauge invariance in the curved background. The resulting equation has the form of a sum of terms that would individually be gauge invariant in flat space or at zero interac…
The complete set of solutions of two dimensional classical string theory are constructed for any curved spacetime. They describe folded strings moving in curved spacetime. Surprizing stringy behavior becomes evident at singularities such as black holes.The solutions are given in the form ofa map from the world sheet to target spacetime, where the world sheet has to be divided into lattice -like patches corresponding to different maps. A recursion relation analogous to a transfer matrix connects these maps into a single continuous map. This ``transfer matrix'' encodes the properties of the worl…
The pure spinor heterotic string in a generic super Yang-Mills and supergravity background is considered. We determine the one-loop BRST anomaly at the cohomological level. We prove that it can be absorbed by consistent corrections of the classical constraints due to Berkovits and Howe, in agreement with the Green-Schwarz cancelation mechanism.
The general fluctuations, in the form of vertex operators, for the heterotic superstring in the pure spinor formalism are considered. The case of a flat background is reviewed and the case of a curved case is studied. The left-moving ghosts are pure spinors and the right-moving ghosts come from fixing the reparametrization invariance. The role of the reparametrization ghosts in the construction of the vertex operators is emphasized.
Closed string tachyon condensation has been studied in orbifolds C^2/Z_{N,p} of flat space, using the chiral ring of the underlying N=2 conformal field theory. Here we show that similar phenomena occur in the curved smooth background obtained by adding NS5-branes, such that chiral tachyons are localised on lens submanifolds SU(2)/Z_{N,p}. We find a level-independent subring which coincides with that of C^2/Z_{N,p}, corresponding to condensation processes similar to those of hep-th/0111154. We also study level-dependent chiral tachyons.
We compute the leading behaviour of the quark anti-quark potential from a generalized Nambu-Goto action associated with a curved space-time having an "extra dimension". The extra dimension can be the radial coordinate in the AdS/CFT correspondence, the Liouville field in Polyakov's approach, or an internal dimension in MQCD. In particular, we derive the condition for confinement, and in the case it occurs we find the string tension and the correction to the linear potential.
The classical pure spinor version of the heterotic superstring in a supergravity and super Yang-Mills background is considered. We obtain the BRST transformations of the world-sheet fields. They are consistent with the constraints obtained from the nilpotence of the BSRT charge and the holomorphicity of the BRST current.
The unitarity problem in curved spacetime is solved for the string described by the SL(2,R) WZW model. The spectrum is computed exactly and demonstratedto be ghost-free. The new features include (i) SL(2,R) left/right symmetrycurrents that have logarithmic cuts on the world sheet but that satisfy theusual local operator products or commutation rules, (ii) physical statesconsistent with the monodromy condition of closed strings despite thelogarithmic singularity in the currents, and (iii) a new free boson realization for these currents which render the SL(2,R) WZW model completely solvable.
We investigate the connection between curved spacetime and the emergence of string-instabilities, following the approach developed by Loustó and Sánchez for de Sitter and black hole spacetimes. We analyse the linearised equations determining the comoving physical (transverse) perturbations on circular strings embedded in Schwarzschild, Reissner-Nordström and de Sitter backgrounds. In all 3 cases we find that the "radial" perturbations grow infinitely for $r\rightarrow 0$ (ring-collapse), while the "angular" perturbations are bounded in this limit. For $r\rightarrow\infty$ we find that the pert…
String propagation on D-dimensional curved backgrounds with Lorentzian signature is formulated as a geometrical problem of embedding surfaces. When the spatial part of the background corresponds to a general WZW model for a compact group, the classical dynamics of the physical degrees of freedom is governed by the coset conformal field theory SO(D-1)/SO(D-2), which is universal irrespective of the particular WZW model. The same holds for string propagation on D-dimensional flat space. The integration of the corresponding Gauss-Codazzi equations requires the introduction of (non-Abelian) parafe…
A class of exactly solvable string models can be obtained by starting with flat space and combining T-duality and shifts of angular coordinates of several polar planes. The models are the analog of the Lunin-Maldacena β-deformation of the AdS_5 x S^5 type IIB string background, which is dual to a Leigh-Strassler deformation of \N=4 Super Yang-Mills Theory. We determine the complete physical string spectrum for two string models obtained in this way, by explicitly solving the string equations and quantizing in terms of free creation and annihilation operators. We also show that the 3-parameter …
The pure spinor superstring in a type II curved background is considered. In order to define reparametrization ghosts, non-minimal pure spinor variables have to be present in the formalism. The BRST transformations of the non-minimal variables are obtained. It is found that the BRST transformations of a set of world-sheet variables have the form of the corresponding transformations in flat spacetime, up to a field-dependent Lorentz rotation. This simplify the construction of the reparametrization $b$ ghosts.
Oblique Dp-branes in the maximally supersymmetric type IIB plane-wave background are constructed in terms of boundary states, as well as from the open string point of view. These Dp-branes, whose existence was anticipated by Hikida and Yamaguchi from general supersymmetry arguments, have an isometry that is a subgroup of the diagonal SO(4) symmetry of the background. The oblique D3-brane is found to preserve four dynamical and four kinematical supersymmetries while the oblique D5-brane preserves one half of both the dynamical and kinematical supersymmetries. We also discuss the open-string bou…
We discuss a canonical formalism method for constructing actions describing propagation of W-strings on curved backgrounds. The method is based on the construction of a representation of the W-algebra in terms of currents made from the string coordinates and the canonically conjugate momenta. We construct such a representation for a W_3-string propagating in the background metric with one flat direction by using a simple ansatz for the W-generators where each generator is a polynomial of the canonical currents and the veilbeins. In the case of a general background we show that the simple polyn…
It is well-known that the standard no-ghost theorem is valid as long as the background has the light-cone directions. We prove the no-ghost theorem for the NSR string when only the timelike direction is flat. This is done by the BRST quantization, using the technique of Frenkel, Garland and Zuckerman and our previous results for the bosonic string. The theorem actually applies as long as the timelike direction is written as a u(1) SCFT.
Free scalar field theory in the sector with a large number of particles can be interpreted as bosonic string theory on anti-de Sitter space of vanishing radius. Different ways of writing the field theory Hamiltonian translate to different ways of reparametrizing the world-sheet sigma coordinate. Adding a mass term in the field theory corresponds to cutting off the warped AdS direction, with cut-off inversely proportional to the mass. The string theory has neither tachyon, nor critical dimension.
We study quantum strings in strong gravitational fields. The relevant small parameter is $g=R_c{\sqrt T_0}$, where $R_c$ is the curvature of the spacetime and $T_0$ is the string tension. Within our systematic expansion we obtain to zeroth order the null string (string with zero tension), while the first order correction incorporates the string dynamics. We apply our formalism to quantum null strings in de Sitter spacetime. After a reparametrization of the world-sheet coordinates, the equations of motion are simplified. The quantum algebra generated by the constraints is considered, ordering t…
We provide a systematic construction of string junctions in curved backgrounds which are relevant in computing, within the gauge/gravity correspondence, the interaction energy of heavy dyons, notably of quark-monopole pairs, in strongly coupled SYM theories. To isolate the configurations of physical interest we examine their stability under small fluctuations and prove several general statements. We present all details, in several examples, involving non-extremal and multicenter D3-brane backgrounds as well as the Rindler space. We show that a string junction could be perturbatively stable eve…
The sigma model approach to the closed bosonic string on the affine-metric manifold is considered. The two-loop metric counterterms for the nonlinear two-dimensional sigma model with affine-metric target manifold are calculated. The correlation of the metric and affine connection is considered as the result of the ultraviolet finiteness (or beta-function vanishing) condition for the nonlinear sigma model. The examples of the nonflat nonRiemannian manifolds resulting in the trivial metric beta-function are suggested.
The recently established B-RNS-GSS formalism is extended for the description of the heterotic superstring in curved backgrounds. We propose a generalized action and BRST charge defined in the small Hilbert space with the standard form of an $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ worldsheet superconformal theory with superconformal generator $G$ and stress tensor $T$. We show that $\big\{G,G\big\}=-2T$ implies the D=10 N=1 supergravity and super-Yang-Mills equations of motion, as well as holomorphicity of the BRST charge.
String dynamics in a curved space-time is studied on the basis of an action functional including a small parameter of rescaled tension $ε=γ/α^{\prime}$, where $γ$ is a metric parametrizing constant. A rescaled slow worldsheet time $T=ετ$ is introduced, and general covariant non-linear string equation are derived. It is shown that in the first order of an $ε$-expansion these equations are reduced to the known equation for geodesic derivation but complemented by a string oscillatory term. These equations are solved for the de Sitter and Friedmann -Robertson-Walker spaces. The primary string cons…
We show that string/M theory compactifications to maximally symmetric space-times using manifolds whose scalar curvature is everywhere negative, must have significant warping, large stringy corrections, or both.
In this paper we study the superstring version of the exactly solvable string model constructed by Russo and Tseytlin. This model represents superstring theory in a curved spacetime and can be seen as a generalization of the Melvin background. We investigate D-branes in this model as probes of the background geometry by constructing the boundary states. We find that spacetime singularities in the model become smooth at high energy from the viewpoint of open string. We show that there always exist bulk (movable) D-branes by the effect of electric flux. The model also includes Nappi-Witten model…
This thesis concerns the study of high-temperature string theory on curved backgrounds, generalizing the notions of Hagedorn temperature and thermal scalar to general backgrounds. Chapter 2 contains a review on string thermodynamics in flat space, setting the stage. Chapters 3 and 4 contain the detailed study of the random walk picture in a general curved background. Chapters 5 and 6 then apply this to Rindler space, the near-horizon approximation of a generic (uncharged) black hole. Chapters 7 and 8 contain a study of the AdS3 and BTZ WZW models where we study the thermal spectrum and the res…
We investigate further the recent proposal for the form of the Matrix theory action in weak background fields. We perform DVV reduction to the multiple D0-brane action in order to find the Matrix string theory action for multiple fundamental strings in curved but weak NS-NS and R-R backgrounds. This matrix sigma model gives a definite prescription on how to deal with R-R fields with an explicit spacetime dependence in Type II string theory. We do this both via the 9-11 flip and the chain of T and S dualities, and further check on their equivalence explicitly. In order to do so, we also discuss…
We consider quantum-mechanical path integrals for non-linear sigma models on a circle defined by the string-inspired method of Strassler, where one considers periodic quantum fluctuations about a center-of-mass coordinate. In this approach one finds incorrect answers for the local trace anomalies of the corresponding $n$-dimensional field theories in curved space. The quantum field theory approach to the quantum-mechanical path-integral, where quantum fluctuations are not periodic but vanish at the endpoints, yields the correct answers. We explain these results by a detailed analysis of genera…
Feynman diagrams have been superseded as the tool of choice for calculating scattering amplitudes. Various other methods are not only more efficient but also explicitly exhibit beautiful structures obscured by Feynman diagrams. This thesis aims to lay some groundwork on how two of these methods, ambitwistor strings and the double copy, can be generalised to scattering in curved backgrounds. In the first part of this thesis, a heterotic ambitwistor string model coupled to a non-abelian background gauge field is constructed. It is shown that after decoupling gravity this model is anomaly free if…
We define a non-commutative product for arbitrary gauge and B-field backgrounds in terms of correlation functions of open strings. While off-shell correlations are, of course, not conformally invariant, it turns out that, at least to first derivative order, our product has the trace property and is associative up to surface terms if the background fields are put on-shell. No on-shell conditions for the inserted functions are needed, but it is essential to include the full contribution of the Born-Infeld measure. We work with a derivative expansion and avoid any topological limit, which would e…
The massless superfield content of four-dimensional compactifications of closed superstrings with extended (N=2, 3, or 4) supersymmetry is derived by multiplying two (N=0, 1, or 2) Yang-Mills multiplets. In some cases these superfields are known, and the low-energy actions are determined from the fact that the compensator (dilaton) supermultiplets occur quadratically classically. In the other cases these superfields suggest new formulations of extended superspace theories.
It is well-known that the standard no-ghost theorem can be extended straightforwardly to the general c=26 CFT on R^{d-1,1} \times K, where 2 \leq d \leq 26 and K is a compact unitary CFT of appropriate central charge. We prove the no-ghost theorem for d=1, i.e., when only the timelike direction is flat. This is done using the technique of Frenkel, Garland and Zuckerman.
We study contact interactions for long world-lines on a curved surface, focusing on the average number of times two world-lines intersect as a function of their end-points. The result can be used to extend the concept of path-ordering, as employed in the Wilson loop, from a closed curve into the interior of a surface spanning the curve. Taking this surface as a string world-sheet yields a generalisation of the string contact interaction previously used to represent the Abelian Wilson loop as a tensionless string. We also describe a supersymmetric generalisation.
We describe a simple method for generating new string solutions for which the brane worldvolume is a curved space. As a starting point we use solutions with NS-NS charges combined with 2-d CFT's representing different parts of space-time. We illustrate our method with many examples, some of which are associated with conformally invariant sigma models. Using U-duality, we also obtain supergravity solutions with RR charges which can be interpreted as D-branes with non-trivial worldvolume geometry. In particular, we discuss the case of a D5-brane wrapped on AdS_3 x S^3, a solution interpolating b…
We explore two classes of 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ little string theories obtained from type IIA/IIB NS5-branes probing $D_n$ singularities. Their tensor branches are described by effective gauge theories whose instanton solitons are macroscopic little strings. We specifically study two families of 2d $\mathcal{N}=(0,4)$ gauge theories which describe at low energy the worldsheet dynamics of the type IIA/IIB little strings. These gauge theories are useful to calculate the supersymmetric partition functions of the little string theories on $\mathbf{R}^4 \times T^2$. We establish the T-duality of t…
We argue that the holographic dual to little string theories at finite temperature suffers from a Gregory-Laflamme like instability, providing an alternative explanation to the results of hep-th/0012258.
Pursuing further the recent methods in the algebraic Hamiltonian approach to gauged WZW models, we apply them to the bosonic SL(2,R) X SU(2)/R^2 model recently investigated by Nappi and Witten. We find the global space and compute the conformally exact metric and dilaton fields to all orders in the $1/k$ expansion. The semiclassical limit $k',k\to \infty$ of our exact results agree with the lowest order perturbation computation which was done in the Lagrangian formalism. We also discuss the supersymmetric type-II and heterotic versions of this model and verify the non-renormalization of $e^Φ\s…
We study curved space versions of matrix string theory taking as a definition of the theory a gauged matrix sigma model. By analyzing the divergent terms in the loop expansion for the effective action we reduce the problem to a simple matrix generalization of the standard string theory beta function calculation. It is then demonstrated that the model can only be consistent for Ricci flat manifolds with vanishing six-dimensional Euler density.
We calculate, using holographic duality, the thermal two-point function in finite temperature little string theory. The analysis of those correlators reveals possible instabilities of the thermal ensemble, as in previous discussions of the thermodynamics of little string theory. We comment on the dependence of the instability on the spatial volume of the system.
The SL(2,R) WZW model, one of the simplest models for strings propagating in curved space time, was believed to be non-unitary in the algebraic treatment involving affine current algebra. It is shown that this was an error that resulted from neglecting a zero mode that must be included to describe the correct physics of non-compact WZW models. In the presence of the zero mode the mass-shell condition is altered and unitarity is restored. The correct currents, including the zero mode, have logarithmic cuts on the worldsheet. This has physical consequences for the spectrum because a combination …
String Quantum Gravity is motivated and introduced. Advances in the study of the classical and quantum string dynamics in curved spacetime are reported: 1-New Classes of Exact Multistring solutions in curved spacetimes. 2-Mass spectrum of Strings in Curved Spacetimes. 3-The effect of a Cosmological Constant and of Spacial Curvature on Classical and Quantum Strings. 4-Classical splitting of Fundamental Strings. 5-The General String Evolution in constant Curvature Spacetimes. 6-The Conformal Invariance Effects.
We consider the string, like point particles and branes, to be an irreducible representation of the semi-direct product of the Cartan involution invariant subalgebra of E11 and its vector representation. We show that the subalgebra that preserves the string charges, the string little algebra, is essentially the Borel subalgebra of E9. We also show that the known string physical states carry a representation of parts of this algebra.
