Related papers: On SUGRA description of boost-invariant conformal …
An implicit fundamental assumption in relativistic perturbation theory is that there exists a parametric family of spacetimes that can be Taylor expanded around a background. The choice of the latter is crucial to obtain a manageable…
The four dimensional gauged supergravities descending from non-geometric string compactifications involve a wide class of flux objects which are needed to make the theory invariant under duality transformations at the effective level.…
We shall review a novel formulation of four dimensional gauged supergravity which is manifestly covariant with respect to the non-perturbative electric-magnetic duality symmetry transformations of the ungauged theory, at the level of the…
We analyze the strong coupling behavior of the large N gauge theories in 4-dimensions with N=4 supersymmetry by making use of S-duality. We show that at large values of the coupling constant $\lambda=g_{YM}^2N$ the j-th non-planar amplitude…
We show how enhanced gauge symmetry in type II string theory compactified on a Calabi--Yau threefold arises from singularities in the geometry of the target space. When the target space of the type IIA string acquires a genus $g$ curve $C$…
We propose a lower bound on bulk viscosity of strongly coupled gauge theory plasmas. Using explicit example of the N=2^* gauge theory plasma we show that the bulk viscosity remains finite at a critical point with a divergent specific heat.…
A method for implementing non-Abelian duality on string backgrounds is given. It is shown that a direct generalisation of the familiar Abelian duality induces an extra local symmetry in the gauge invariant theory. The non-Abelian isometry…
This paper studies nonlinear deformations of the linear gauge theory of any number of spin-2 and spin-3/2 fields with general formal multiplication rules in place of standard Grassmann rules for manipulating the fields, in four spacetime…
We explain a method for computing the bulk viscosity of strongly coupled thermal plasmas dual to supergravity backgrounds supported by one scalar field. Whereas earlier investigations required the computation of the leading dissipative term…
We give an alternative description of the physical content of general relativity that does not require a Lorentz invariant spacetime. Instead, we find that gravity admits a dual description in terms of a theory where local size is…
In this note we consider ${\cal N}=4$ SYM theories in 2+1 dimensions with gauge group $U(N)\times U(M)$ and $k$ hypermultiplets charged under the $U(N)$. When $k > 2(N-M)$, the theory flows to a superconformal fixed point in the IR.…
We construct the strong-coupling series in 4d simplicial quantum gravity up to volume 38. It is used to calculate estimates for the string susceptibility exponent gamma for various modifications of the theory. It provides a very efficient…
The world volume theory on N regular and M fractional D3-branes at the conifold singularity is a non-conformal n=1 supersymmetric SU(N+M) x SU(N) gauge theory. In previous work the Type IIB supergravity dual of this theory was constructed…
We study the soft breaking of N=2 self-dual gauge theories down to N=0 by promoting the coupling constant and hypermultiplet masses to spurions, and we analyze the microscopic duality symmetry in the resulting models. Explicit formulae are…
The gauge dependence of the conformal anomaly for spin 3/2 and spin 2 fields in non-conformal supergravities has been a long standing puzzle. In this Letter we argue that the `correct' gauge choice is the one that follows from requiring all…
We revisit the singular IIB supergravity solution describing M fractional 3-branes on the conifold [hep-th/0002159]. Its 5-form flux decreases, which we explain by showing that the relevant \NN=1 SUSY SU(N+M)xSU(N) gauge theory undergoes…
In this paper we examine a certain threebrane solution of type IIB string theory whose long-wavelength dynamics are those of a supersymmetric gauge theory in 2+1 continuous and 1 discrete dimension, all of infinite extent. Low-energy…
We use analytic continuation to extend the gauge/gravity duality nonperturbative description of the strong force coupling into the transition, near-perturbative, regime where perturbative effects become important. By excluding the…
We present a gauge-invariant treatment of singularity resolution using loop quantum gravity techniques with respect to local SU(2) transformations. Our analysis reveals many novel features of quantum geometry which were till now hidden in…
We will report on recent advances in the understanding of non-perturbative interconnections between different string dualities. Weak-strong coupling duality (S-duality) and T-duality (symmetry under compactification on dual tori) allows one…