Related papers: Gauge-invariant observables and marginal deformati…
In this paper, we give a general axiomatization of anomalies in closed and open conformal field theories. In particular, we generalize Segal's notion of modular functor to a setting where the ``set of labels'' is a 2-vector space. In the…
We discuss the role played by the divergences appearing in the interaction between a fractional D3 brane dressed with an SU(N) gauge field and a stack of N fractional D3 branes on the orbifolds C^2/Z_2 and C^3/(Z_2 x Z_2). In particular we…
It is well known that general relativity (GR) does not possess any non-trivial local (in a precise standard sense) and diffeomorphism invariant observables. We propose a generalized notion of local observables, which retain the most…
Unlike conformal boundary conditions, conformal defects of Virasoro minimal models lack classification. Alternatively to the defect perturbation theory and the truncated conformal space approach, we employ open string field theory (OSFT)…
The main limitations of string field theory arise because its present formulation requires a background representing a classical solution, a background defined by a strictly conformally invariant theory. Here we sketch a construction for a…
As of today there exist consistent, gauge-invariant string field theories describing all string theories: bosonic open and closed strings, open superstrings, heterotic strings and type II strings. The construction of these theories require…
It is shown that the idea of ``minimal'' coupling to gauge fields can be conveniently implemented in the proper time formalism by identifying the equivalent of a ``covariant derivative''. This captures some of the geometric notion of the…
The issue of gauge invariances in the sigma model formalism is discussed at the free and interacting level. The problem of deriving gauge invariant interacting equations can be addressed using the proper time formalism. This formalism is…
We discuss general properties of classical string field theories with symmetric vertices in the context of deformation theory. For a given conformal background there are many string field theories corresponding to different decomposition of…
To analyse pure ${\cal N}=2$ $SU(2)$ gauge theory in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili (NS) limit (or deformed Seiberg-Witten (SW)), we use the Ordinary Differential Equation/Integrable Model (ODE/IM) correspondence, and in particular its (broken)…
We study the possibility of obtaining noncommutative gravity dynamics from string theory in the Seiberg-Witten limit. We find that the resulting low-energy theory contains more interaction terms than those proposed in noncommutative…
The data required for heterotic string theory with gauge group G, which for anomaly cancellation reasons must either be E8 x E8 or Spin(32)/Z2, consist of the following: a ten-dimensional space-time X and a principal G-bundle P. The fields…
This thesis is based on some selected topics in open topological string theory which I have worked on during my Ph.D. It comprises an introductory part where I have focused on the points most needed for the later chapters, trading…
Deformations of topological open string theories are described, with an emphasis on their algebraic structure. They are encoded in the mixed bulk-boundary correlators. They constitute the Hochschild complex of the open string algebra -- the…
By considering the B-field dynamical and studying its interaction with Ramond-Ramond (RR) background we observe the breaking of the B-field gauge symmetry in the effective action. This effect takes place due to non-perturbative coupling of…
We construct deformation invariants of $2|1$-dimensional Euclidean field theories valued in a cohomology theory approximating topological modular forms. This implies several results anticipated by Stolz and Teichner and gives the first…
Electromagnetic plane waves provide examples of time-dependent open string backgrounds free of $\alpha'$ corrections. The solvable case of open strings in a quadrupolar wave front, analogous to pp-waves for closed strings, is discussed. In…
The concept of gauge invariance in classical electrodynamics assumes tacitly that Maxwell's equations have unique solutions. By calculating the electromagnetic field of a moving particle both in Lorenz and in Coulomb gauge and directly from…
Operator product expansions (OPE) for the product of a scalar field with its conjugate are presented as infinite sums of bilocal fields V_k (x_1, x_2) of dimension (k,k). For a {\it globally conformal invariant} (GCI) theory we write down…
We show how Boundary Conformal Field Theory deformation techniques allow for a complete characterisation of the coupling between the discrete geometry inherited uniformizing a random Regge triangulations and open string theory.