Related papers: Higher Structures, Self-Dual Strings and 6d Superc…
We give a review of truncated L$_\infty$ algebras, as used in the study of higher gauge theory. These structures are believed to hold the correct properties to adequately describe gauge theory of extended objects. We discuss how to…
6-dimensional superconformal field theories are exotic and fascinating. They emerge from compactifications of F-theory on Calabi-Yau elliptic fibrations, which grants them a rich array of dualities with various other formulations of string…
We first review the representations of the six-dimensional (2,0) superalgebra on a free tensor multiplet and on a free string. We then construct a supersymmetric Lagrangian describing a free tensor multiplet. (It also includes a decoupled…
We investigate algebraic structure of light-cone string field theory which respects the spacetime supersymmetry su(2|2). Extracting building blocks from the explicit oscillator expressions of light-cone superstring field theory on the…
A careful treatment of closed string BRST cohomology shows that there are more discrete states and associated symmetries in $D=2$ string theory than has been recognized hitherto. The full structure, at the $SU(2)$ radius, has a natural…
String-string duality dictates that type IIA strings compactified on a K3 surface acquire non-abelian gauge groups for certain values of the K3 moduli. We argue that, contrary to expectation, the theories for which such enhanced gauge…
In this dissertation, we study the generalized symmetries in supergravities and superconformal field theories from the string theory perspective. Part one is devoted to the study of string universality in high spacetime dimensions.…
In six dimensions there exists a unique one-parameter family of non-linear conformal electrodynamics for a chiral 2-form gauge field which includes (in a free-field limit) the linear chiral 2-form theory and is related, by dimensional…
Effective actions are derived for (2,0) and (2,1) superstrings by studying the corresponding sigma-models. The geometry is a generalisation of Kahler geometry involving torsion and the field equations imply that the curvature with torsion…
We describe general methods for determining higher-form symmetry groups of known 5d and 6d superconformal field theories (SCFTs), and 6d little string theories (LSTs). The 6d theories can be described as supersymmetric gauge theories in 6d…
We discuss the precise relation of the open N=2 string to a self-dual Yang-Mills (SDYM) system in 2+2 dimensions. In particular, we review the description of the string target space action in terms of SDYM in a ``picture hyperspace''…
This talk begins with some history and basic facts about string theory and its connections with strong interactions. Comparisons of stacks of Dirichlet branes with curved backgrounds produced by them are used to motivate the AdS/CFT…
We explore the symmetry structure of Type II Little String Theories and their T-dualities. We construct these theories both from the bottom-up perspective starting with seed Superconformal Field Theories, and from the top-down using…
We extend earlier ideas about the appearance of noncommutative geometry in string theory with a nonzero B-field. We identify a limit in which the entire string dynamics is described by a minimally coupled (supersymmetric) gauge theory on a…
The (abelian bosonic) heterotic string effective action, equations of motion and Bianchi identity at order alpha prime in ten dimensions, are shown to be equivalent to a higher dimensional action, its derived equations of motion and Bianchi…
This Ph.D. thesis investigates effective field and string theories in which supersymmetry is realized and broken in various ways. Chapter 1 addresses effective theories with nonlinearly realized supersymmetry, constructed using the…
Double Field Theory is a manifestly T-duality invariant formulation of string theory in which the effective theory at any order of $\alpha'$ is invariant under global $O(D,D)$ transformations and ought to be invariant under gauge…
The string field theory of N=(2,1) heterotic strings describes a set of self-dual Yang-Mills fields coupled to self-dual gravity in 2+2 dimensions. We show that the exact classical action for this field theory is a certain complexification…
This paper is devoted to the study of closed string field theory in two dimensions. We compare two different approaches: BRST closed string field theory and the string effective Lagrangian. We show that the quadratic action and the pole…
String theory, if it describes nature, is probably strongly coupled. As a result, one might despair of making any statements about the theory. In the framework of a set of clearly spelled out assumptions, we show that this is not…