We review old and recent results on a special limit of string theory on AdS$_3\times M_7$ with pure NS-NS fluxes: the limit in which the string length $\ell_s=\sqrt{α'}$ equals the AdS$_3$ radius $R $. At this point of the moduli space, the theory exhibits special properties, which we discuss. Special attention is focused on features of correlation functions that are related to the non-compactness of the boundary CFT target space, and on how these features change when the point $k\equiv R^2/α' =1$ is approached. Also, we briefly review recent proposals for exact realizations of AdS/CFT correspondence at this special point. \[\] This is the transcript of the talk delivered by the author at the 8$^{\text{th}}$ edition of the Quantum Gravity in the Southern Cone conference, held in Patagonia, December 16$^{\text{th}}$ - 20$^{\text{th}}$, 2019.
Rotating IIB strings in AdS_5 x S^5 become ultra-relativistic, and hence effectively tensionless, in the limit of large angular momentum on S^5. We have shown previously that such tensionless strings may preserve supersymmetry. Here we extend this result to include a class of supersymmetric tensionless strings with arbitrary SO(6) angular momentum. We close with some general comments on tensionless strings in AdS_5 x S^5.
The covariant quantization of the tensionless free bosonic (open and closed) strings in AdS spaces is obtained. This is done by representing the AdS space as an hyperboloid in a flat auxiliary space and by studying the resulting string constrained hamiltonian system in the tensionless limit. It turns out that the constraint algebra simplifies in the tensionless case in such a way that the closed BRST quantization can be formulated and the theory admits then an explicit covariant quantization scheme. This holds for any value of the dimension of the AdS space.
In this article we examine the appearance of tensionless strings in M-Theory. We subsequently interpret these tensionless strings in a String Theory context. In particular, we examine tensionless strings appearing in M-Theory on $S^{1}$, M-Theory on $S^{1} / {\bf Z}_{2}$, and M-Theory on $T^{2}$; we then interpret the appearance of such strings in a String Theory context. Then we reverse this process and examine the appearance of some tensionless strings in String Theory. Subsequently we interpret these tensionless strings in a M-Theory context.
We consider closed free tensionless strings in $AdS_d$, calculate exactly the boundary/boundary string evolution kernel and find the string dynamics to be completely frozen. We interpret therefore the boundary configurations as Wilson loop operators in a confining phase. This is taken as an argument in favor to the dual weakly coupled abelian gauge theory being that of $(d-4)$-forms in the $(d-1)$ dimensional boundary Minkowski space.
We compute the deformation of the spinor fields of the super-Polyakov action leading to the so-called tensionless super-string theory. This allows us to obtain a satisfying Majorana condition in the tensionless limit, which is the main result of this paper. Our tensionless limit is shown to possess previously computed features of tensionless super-string theory.
It is shown that a class of rotating strings in AdS_5 x S^5 with SO(6) angular momenta (J,J',J') preserve 1/8-supersymmetry for large J,J', in which limit they are effectively tensionless; when J=0, supersymmetry is enhanced to 1/4. These results imply that recent checks of the AdS/CFT correspondence actually test a nearly-BPS sector.
We revisit the construction of the tensionless limit of closed bosonic string theory in the covariant formulation in the light of Galilean conformal symmetry that rises as the residual gauge symmetry on the tensionless worldsheet. We relate the analysis of the fundamentally tensionless theory to the tensionless limit that is viewed as a contraction of worldsheet coordinates. Analysis of the quantum regime uncovers interesting physics. The degrees of freedom that appear in the tensionless string are fundamentally different from the usual string states. Through a Bogoliubov transformation on the…
We discuss the quantization of a tensionless closed string in light-cone gauge. It is known that by using a Hamiltonian BRST scheme the tensionless p-branes have no Lorentz anomaly in any space-time dimensions and no anomaly of space-time conformal symmetry in two dimensions. In this paper, we show that tensionless 3d strings in light-cone gauge also have no anomaly of space-time conformal symmetry. We also study the spectrum of a tensionless 3d closed string.
The duality map between gauge theories and strings suggests that when the gauge theory is in the weak coupling regime the dual string tension effectively tends to zero, $α' \to \infty$. This observation of Sundborg and Witten initiates a fresh interest to the old problem of tensionless limit of standard string theory and to the description of its genuine symmetries. We approach this problem formulating tensionless string theory by means of geometrical concept of surface perimeter. The perimeter action uniquely leads to a tensionless string theory.
Using an ``action at a distance'' formulation we probe the possible classical interactions for tensionless strings, (the $T\to 0$ limit of the ordinary bosonic string.) We find $G_{μν}$ and $B_{μν}$ type interactions but no dilaton interactions.
We construct invariants for bosonic and spinning tensionless (null) strings in backgrounds that carry Killing tensors or Killing-Yano tensors of mixed type. This is facilitated by the close relation of these strings to point particles. We apply the construction to the Minkowski and to the Kerr-Newman backgrounds.
When $N$ five-branes of M-theory coincide the world-volume theory contains tensionless strings, according to Strominger's construction. This suggests a large $N$ limit of tensionless string theories. For the small $E_8$ instanton theories, the definition would be a large instanton number. An adiabatic argument suggests that in the large $N$ limit an effective extra uncompactified dimension might be observed. We also propose ``surface-equations'', which are an analog of Makeenko-Migdal loop-equations, and might describe correlators in the tensionless string theories. In these equations, the ant…
We examine a tensionless limit of a SL(2,Z) set of background solutions to IIB supergravity theory, obtained by performing an infinite boost. This yields a solution that corresponds to taking the original string tension to zero. The limit reproduces ordinary Minkowski space except for a delta-like singularity along the string. We study the field content and the energy momentum tensor.
We construct a tensionless string model in a four-dimensional space-time ${\bf R}^{2,2}$ with the (2,2) signature and solve the string equations. We find that the signature change radically changes the structure of the holonomy group of the null worldsheet. As a result the introduction of the worldsheet Dirac operator invariant under the holonomy group becomes possible. We show that the such possibility is absent in the tensionless string model in the (3+1)-dimensional Minkowski space.
A classical action is proposed which upon quantisation yields massless particles belonging to the continuous spin representation of the Poincaré group. The string generalisation of the action is identical to the tensionless extrinsic curvature action proposed by Savvidy. We show that the BRST quantisation of the string action gives a critical dimension of 28. The constraints result in a number of degrees of freedom which is the same as the bosonic string.
We report on progress in formulating a field theory of tensionless strings in $AdS_3$, starting from the dual large-$N$ symmetric orbifold CFT. We propose a set of field equations which are gauge invariant under the higher spin algebra of the theory, the `Higher Spin Square'. The massless higher spin sector is captured by a Chern-Simons gauge field, while the matter sector is described by unfolded equations similar to those appearing in Vasiliev theory. Our equations incorporate the full perturbative spectrum of the theory, including states coming from the twisted sectors, and capture some of …
It was recently shown in arXiv:2009.11306 that tree-level correlation functions in tensionless string theory on $\rm{AdS}_3\times\rm{S}^3\times\mathbb{T}^4$ match the expected form of correlation functions in the symmetric orbifold CFT on $\mathbb{T}^4$ in the large $N$ limit. This analysis utilized the free-field realization of the $\mathfrak{psu}(1,1|2)_1$ Wess-Zumino-Witten model, along with a surprising identity directly relating these correlation functions to a branched covering of the boundary of $\rm{AdS}_3$. In particular, this identity implied the unusual feature that the string theor…
{A} Higher Spin Gravity in five dimensions is constructed. It was shown recently that constructing formally consistent classical equations of motion of higher spin gravities is equivalent to finding a certain deformation of a given higher spin algebra. A strong homotopy algebra encoding the interaction vertices then follows. We propose two different and novel realizations of the deformed higher spin algebra in the case of five dimensions: one in terms of the universal enveloping algebra of $su(2,2)$ and the other by means of oscillator variables. Both the new realizations admit supersymmetric …
We study the physical Fock space of the tensionless string theory with perimeter action which has pure massless spectrum. The states are classified by the Wigner's little group for massless particles. The ground state contains infinite many massless fields of fixed helicity, the excitation levels realize CSR representations. We demonstrate that the first and the second excitation levels are physical null states.
We study compactifications of the $N=2$ 6D tensionless string on various complex two-folds down to two-dimensions. In the IR limit they become non-trivial conformal field theories in 2D. Using results of Vafa and Witten on the partition functions of twisted Super-Yang-Mills theories, we can study the resulting CFT. We also discuss the contribution of instantons made by wrapping strings on 2-cycles of the complex two-fold.
Within the premise of canonical quantisation, we re-examine the quantum structure of bosonic tensionless string theory. In the classical theory, the worldsheet metric degenerates and the Bondi-Metnzer-Sachs (BMS) algebra arises as the residual symmetries on fixing the tensionless equivalent of the conformal gauge. In the quantum regime, we find, on careful examination, that there are multiple ways to impose constraints to restrict the physical Hilbert space, which in turn lead to three distinct choices of tensionless vacua. We analyse these vacua in detail, commenting on various aspects like t…
The spectrum of superstrings on ${\rm AdS}_3 \times {\rm S}^3 \times \mathbb{M}_4$ with pure NS-NS flux is analysed for the background where the radius of the AdS space takes the minimal value $(k=1)$. Both for $\mathbb{M}_4={\rm S}^3 \times {\rm S}^1$ and $\mathbb{M}_4 = \mathbb{T}^4$ we show that there is a special set of physical states, coming from the bottom of the spectrally flowed continuous representations, which agree in precise detail with the single particle spectrum of a free symmetric product orbifold. For the case of ${\rm AdS}_3 \times {\rm S}^3 \times \mathbb{T}^4$ this relies …
This thesis considers two different aspects of string theory, the tensionless limit of the string and supersymmetric sigma models. The tensionless limit is used to find a IIB supergravity background generated by a tensionless string. Quantization of the tensionless string in a pp-wave background is performed and the tensionless limit is found to commute with quantization. Further, the sigma model with N=(2,2) extended world-sheet supersymmetry is considered and the requirement on the target space to have a bi-Hermitean geometry is reviewed. It is shown that the equivalence between bi-Hermitean…
In this thesis, two aspects of string theory are discussed, tensionless strings and supersymmetric sigma models. The equivalent to a massless particle in string theory is a tensionless string. Even almost 30 years after it was first mentioned, it is still quite poorly understood. We discuss how tensionless strings give rise to exact solutions to supergravity and solve closed tensionless string theory in the ten dimensional maximally supersymmetric plane wave background, a contraction of AdS(5)xS(5) where tensionless strings are of great interest due to their proposed relation to higher spin ga…
We outline how QED with spinor matter can be described by the tensionless limit of spinning strings with contact interactions. The strings represent electric lines of force with charges at their ends. The contact interaction is constructed from a delta-function on the world-sheet which, although off-shell, decouples from the world-sheet metric. Integrating out the string degrees of freedom with fixed boundary generates the super-Wilson loop that couples spinor matter to electromagnetism in the world-line formalism. World-sheet and world-line, but not spacetime, supersymmetry underpin the model…
We describe progress in using the field theory of tensionless strings to arrive at a Lagrangian for the six-dimensional $\mathcal N=(2,0)$ conformal theory. We construct the free part of the theory and propose an ansatz for the cubic vertex in light-cone superspace. By requiring closure of the $(2,0)$ supersymmetry algebra, we fix the cubic vertex up to two parameters.
A new class of twistor-like string models in four-dimensional space-time extended by the addition of six tensorial central charge (TCC) coordinates $z_{mn}$ is studied. The Hamiltonian of tensionless string in the extended space-time is derived and its symmetries are investigated. We establish that the string constraints reduce the number of independent TCC coordinates $z_{mn}$ to one real effective coordinate which composes an effective 5-dimensional target space together with the $x^{m}$ coordinates. We construct the P.B. algebra of the first class constraints and discover that it coincides …
In the tensionless limit of string theory on flat background all the massive tower of states gets squeezed to a common zero mass level and the free theory is described by an infinite amount of massless free fields with arbitrary integer high spin. We notice that in this situation the very notion of critical dimension gets lost, the apparency of infinite global symmetries takes place, and the closed tensionless string can be realized as a constrained subsystem of the open one in a natural way. Moreover, we study the tensionless limit of the Witten's cubic sting field theory and find that the th…
From closed to open strings: the tensionless route in Kalb-Ramond background and noncommutativity
Yau Mathematical Sciences Center (YMSC), Tsinghua University（丘成桐数学科学中心，清华大学）；Harish-Chandra Research Institute, A CI of Homi Bhabha National Institute（哈里什-昌德拉研究所，霍米·巴巴国家研究所成员机构）
Consequences of a strong version of the AdS/CFT correspondence for extremely stringy physics are examined. In particular, properties of N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory are used to extract results about interacting tensionless strings and massless higher spin fields in an AdS_5 x S^5 background. Furthermore, the thermodynamics of this model signals the presence of a Hawking-Page phase transition between AdS_5 space and a "black hole"-like high temperature configuration even in the extreme string limit.
T-duality is used to extract information on an instanton of zero size in the $E_8\times E_8$ heterotic string. We discuss the possibility of the appearance of a tensionless anti-self-dual non-critical string through an implementation of the mechanism suggested by Strominger of two coincident 5-branes. It is argued that when an instanton shrinks to zero size a tensionless non-critical string appears at the core of the instanton. It is further conjectured that appearance of tensionless strings in the spectrum leads to new phase transitions in six dimensions in much the same way as massless parti…
We find an intriguing link between the symmetries of the tensionless limit of closed string theory and the 2-dimensional Galilean Conformal Algebra (2d GCA). 2d GCA has been discussed in the context of the non-relativistic limit of AdS/CFT and more recently in flat-space holography as the proposed symmetry algebra of the field theory dual to 3d Minkowski spacetimes. It is best understood as a contraction of two copies of the Virasoro algebra. In this note, we link this to the tensionless limit of bosonic closed string theory. We show how it emerges naturally as a contraction of the residual ga…
String theory with perimeter action is tensionless by its geometrical nature and has pure massless spectrum of higher spin gauge particles. I demonstrate that liner transformation of the world-sheet fields defines a map to the SO(D,D) sigma model equipped by additional Abelian constraint, which breaks SO(D,D) to a diagonal SO(1,D-1). The effective tension is equal to the square of the dimensional coupling constant of the perimeter action. This correspondence allows to view the perimeter action as a "square root" of the Nambu-Goto area action. The aforementioned map between tensionless strings …
The tensionless string theory with perimeter action has pure massless spectrum of higher-spin gauge fields. The multiplicity of these massless states grows linearly. It is therefore much less compared with the standard string theory and is larger compared with the field theory models of the Yang-Mills type. It is important to define nontrivial interaction between infinite amount of massless particles of the perimeter string theory. The appropriate vertex operators were defined recently and I study the lowest order vertex operators and the corresponding scattering amplitudes in tree approximati…
The tensionless limit of classical string theory may be formulated as a topological theory on the world-sheet. A vector density carries geometrical information in place of an internal metric. It is found that path-integral quantization allows for the definition of several, possibly inequivalent quantum theories. String amplitudes are constructed from vector densities with zeroes for each in- or out-going string. It is shown that independence of a metric in quantum mechanical amplitudes implies that the dependence on such vector density zeroes is purely topological. For example, there is no nee…
We argue for the existence of phase transitions in $3+1$ dimensions associated with the appearance of tensionless strings. The massless spectrum of this theory does not contain a graviton: it consists of one $N=2$ vector multiplet and one linear multiplet, in agreement with the light-cone analysis of the Green-Schwarz string in $3+1$ dimensions. In M-theory the string decoupled from gravity arises when two 5-branes intersect over a three-dimensional hyperplane. The two 5-branes may be connected by a 2-brane, whose boundary becomes a tensionless string with $N=2$ supersymmetry in $3+1$ dimensio…
We find various supersymmetric configurations of toroidal M2 brane solutions in $\AdS_4 \times S^7$ or, more generally, in $\AdS_4 \times S^7/Z_k$. In this class we identify solutions preserving 1/4 and 1/8 supersymmetries of the background. The supersymmetric M2 branes have angular momenta and winding on $S^7$, and null world-volumes. In certain cases they collapse to string-like configurations. These configurations can be viewed as a higher-dimensional (membrane) analog of BMN states. We compute the energy and angular momenta, showing that all supersymmetric configurations obey the BPS relat…
We reconsider the tensionless limit on bosonic closed string theory, where the 3d Bondi-Metzner-Sachs (BMS) algebra appears as symmetries on the worldsheet, as opposed to two copies of the Virasoro algebra in the case of the usual tensile theory. This is an ultra-relativistic limit on the worldsheet. We consider the induced representations of the BMS algebra in the oscillator basis and show that the limit takes the tensile closed string vacuum to the "induced" vacuum which is identified as a Neumann boundary state. Hence, rather remarkably, an open string emerges from closed strings in the ten…
We give a brief review of the twistor string approach to supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories with an emphasis on the different formulations of (super)string models in supertwistor space and their superspace form. We discuss the classical equivalence among the Siegel closed twistor string and the Lorentz harmonics formulation of the (N=4) tensionless superstring, and notice the possible relation of the twistor string to the D=10 Green-Schwarz superstring action, as well as to models in the enlarged, tensorial superspaces that are relevant in higher spin theories.
The tensionless limit of the free bosonic string is space-time conformally symmetric classically. Requiring invariance of the quantum theory in the light cone gauge tests the reparametrization symmetry needed to fix this gauge. The full conformal symmetry gives stronger constraints than the Poincaré subalgebra. We find that the symmetry may be preserved in any space-time dimension, but only if the spectrum is drastically reduced (part of this reduction is natural in a zero tension limit of the ordinary string spectrum). The quantum states are required to be symmetric ({\it i.e.} singlets) unde…
The defect conformal field theory describing intersecting D3-branes at a C^2/Z_k orbifold is used to (de)construct the theory of intersecting M5-branes, as well as M5-branes wrapping the holomorphic curve xy=c. The possibility of a 't Hooft anomaly due to tensionless strings at the intersection is discussed. This note is based on a talk given by Zachary Guralnik at the 35th International Symposium Ahrenshoop on the Theory of Elementary Particles.
We discuss the notion of tensionless limit in quantum bosonic string theory, especially in flat Minkowski space, noncompact group manifolds (e.g., SL(2,R)) and coset manifolds (e.g., AdS). We show that in curved space typically there exists a critical value of the tension which is related to the critical value of the level of the corresponding affine algebra. We argue that at the critical level the sring theory becomes tensionless and that there exists a huge new symmetry of the theory. We dicuss the appearence of the higher spin massless states at the critical level.
We give a simple proof of the known S-duality of Heterotic String theory compactified on a T^6. Using this S-duality we calculate the tensions for a class of BPS 5-branes in Heterotic String theory on a circle. One of these, the Kaluza-Klein monopole, becomes tensionless when the radius of the circle is equal to the string length. We study the question of stability of the Heterotic NS5-brane with a transverse circle. For large radii the NS5-brane is absolutely stable. However for small radii it is only marginally stable. We also study the moduli space of 2 Kaluza-Klein monopoles and show that …
{}From the ordinary tensile string we derive a geometric action for the tensionless ($T=0$) string and discuss its symmetries and field equations. The Weyl symmetry of the usual string is shown to be replaced by a global space-time conformal symmetry in the $T\to 0$ limit. We present the explicit expressions for the generators of this group in the light-cone gauge. Using these, we quantize the theory in an operator form and require the conformal symmetry to remain a symmetry of the quantum theory. Modulo details concerning zero-modes that are discussed in the paper, this leads to the stringent…
We describe a supersymmetric example of the holographic duality between 3 dimensional vector models and higher spin gauge theories in AdS_4, first proposed in a bosonic context by Klebanov and Polyakov. We argue that a particular Fradkin-Vasiliev type supersymmetric higher spin gauge theory in AdS_4 with 16 supersymmetries is dual to the singlet sector of bilinear operators of a free N = 4, SU(N) vector model defined on the boundary. Starting from the duality between type IIB on AdS_5 \times S^5 with a D5-brane as an AdS_4 \times S^2 subspace and the 4 dimensional SU(N) SYM with a defect, we r…
The classical tensionless string theory has the spacetime conformal symmetry. We expect and require that the quantum tensionless string theory has it too. In the BRST quantization method, the theory has no spacetime conformal anomaly in two dimensions. On the other hand, in the light-cone gauge quantization without the mode expansion, the theory in $D>3$ has the spacetime conformal anomaly in the traceless part of $[\mathcal{J}^{-I}, \mathcal{K}^{J}]$ in some operator order. In this paper, we consider a tensionless closed bosonic string in the light-cone gauge and investigate the spacetime con…
We study the interaction between a tensionless (null) string and an antisymmetric background field B_{ab} using a 2-component spinor formalism. A geometric condition for the absence of such an interaction is formulated. We show that only one gauge-invariant degree of freedom of the field B_{ab} does not satisfy this condition. Identification of this degree of freedom with the notoph field ϕof Ogievetskii-Polubarinov-Kalb-Ramond is suggested. Application of a two-component spinor formalism allows us a reduction of the complete system of non-linear partial differential equations and constraints …
