Related papers: $\mathcal{N}=2^\star$ from Topological Amplitudes …
Amplitudes in open topological string theory may be described completely by certain A-infinity-categories. We detail a general construction of all cyclic minimal models for a given A-infinity-algebra and apply this result to the case of N=2…
We give a Lagrangian and display all local symmetries for N=4 topological string by Berkovits, Vafa and Siegel, the latter previously known in the superconformal gauge. Leading to a small N=4 superconformal algebra and exhibiting the…
We investigate string configurations in the deconfined phase of SU(3) gauge theory, which arise from the spontaneous breaking of the $Z_3$ center symmetry. These configurations form at the junctions of domain walls of the theory. The…
We construct heterotic string backgrounds corresponding to families of homogeneous spaces as exact conformal field theories. They contain left cosets of compact groups by their maximal tori supported by NS-NS 2-forms and gauge field fluxes.…
The topological string partition function Z=exp(lambda^{2g-2} F_g) is calculated on a compact Calabi-Yau M. The F_g fulfill the holomorphic anomaly equations, which imply that Z transforms as a wave function on the symplectic space…
We discuss the moduli-dependent couplings of the higher derivative F-terms $(\Tr W^2)^{h-1}$, where $W$ is the gauge N=1 chiral superfield. They are determined by the genus zero topological partition function $F^{(0,h)}$, on a world-sheet…
Is string theory uniquely determined by self-consistency? Causality and unitarity seemingly permit a multitude of putative deformations, at least at the level of two-to-two scattering. Motivated by this question, we initiate a systematic…
In this article I first give an abbreviated history of string theory and then describe the recently-conjectured field-string duality. This suggests a class of nonsupersymmetric gauge theories which are conformal (CGT) to leading order of…
We show the existence of a global anomaly in the one-loop graphs of N=2 string theory, defined by sewing tree amplitudes, unless spacetime supersymmetry is imposed. The anomaly is responsible for the non-vanishing maximally helicity…
We analyze in detail the relation between an exactly marginal deformation of N=4 SYM - the Leigh-Strassler or ``beta-deformation'' - and its string theory dual (recently constructed in hep-th/0502086) by comparing energies of semiclassical…
We study the effective string description of space-like Polyakov loop correlators at finite temperature with the goal of describing the behaviour of the space--like string tension in the vicinity of the deconfinement transition. To this end…
We sharpen the duality between open and closed topological string partition functions for topological gravity coupled to matter. The closed string partition function is a generalised Kontsevich matrix model in the large dimension limit. We…
In this note we construct self-dual cosmic strings from a gauge field theory with a generalized linear formation of potential energy density. By integrating the Einstein equation, we obtain a nonlinear elliptic equation which is equal with…
A systematic construction of superstring scattering amplitudes for $N$ massless NS bosons to two loop order is given, based on the projection of supermoduli space onto super period matrices used earlier for the superstring measure in the…
Starting from string field theory for 2d gravity coupled to c=1 matter we analyze N-point off-shell tree amplitudes of discrete states. The amplitudes exhibit the pole structure and we use the oscillator representation to extract the…
Even at tree level, the first quantized string theory suffers from apparent short distance singularities associated with collision of vertex operators that prevent us from straightforward numerical computation of various quantities.…
We continue our study of symmetries of a class of little string theories of A-type, which are engineered by $N$ parallel M5-branes probing a flat transverse space. Extending the analysis of the companion paper, we discuss the part of the…
The spatial string tension of a SU(N) gauge theory without quarks is calculated using gauge/string duality for 1.2T_c<T<3T_c. The result is remarkably consistent with the available lattice data for N=2,3. Some evidence is found that to…
The nonperturbative $1\to N$ tachyon scattering amplitude in 2D type 0A string theory is computed. The probability that $N$ particles are produced is a monotonically decreasing function of $N$ whenever $N$ is large enough that statistical…
We present general formulae for the TsT transformation (T-duality, shift, T-duality) of type II string backgrounds and open string boundary conditions. The TsT transformation provides a systematic procedure to find string theory duals of…