Related papers: Symmetric space $\lambda$-model exchange algebra f…
Chiral form fields in $d$ dimensions can be effectively described as edge modes of topological Chern-Simons theories in $d+1$ dimensions. At the same time, manifestly Lorentz-invariant Lagrangian description of such fields directly in terms…
We investigate 2d $\mathcal{N}=(0,4)$ supersymmetric theories obtained from a topologically-twisted reduction of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ class $\mathcal{S}$ theories on a Riemann surface. This study addresses subtle aspects of central charges,…
Large families of integrable 2d sigma-models have been constructed at the classical level, partly motivated by the utility of integrability on the string worldsheet. It is natural to ask whether these theories are renormalisable at the…
After explicitly constructing the symmetric space sigma model lagrangian in terms of the coset scalars of the solvable Lie algebra gauge in the current formalism we derive the field equations of the theory.
A target space string field theory formulation for open and closed B-model is provided by giving a Batalin-Vilkovisky quantization of the holomorphic Chern-Simons theory with off-shell gravity background. The target space expression for the…
One of us (L.S.) and H. Verlinde independently conjectured a holographic duality between the double-scaled SYK model at infinite temperature and dimensionally reduced $(2+1)$-dimensional de Sitter space [1]-[8]. Beyond the statement that…
Recently, a unique class of local Higher Spin Gravities with propagating massless fields in $4d$ - Chiral Higher Spin Gravity - was given a covariant formulation both in flat and $(A)dS_4$ spacetimes at the level of equations of motion. We…
We explore higher-form symmetries of M- and F-theory compactified on elliptic fibrations, determined by the topology of their asymptotic boundaries. The underlying geometric structures are shown to be equivalent to known characterizations…
In this thesis Chern-Simons theories based on Lie algebras with invariant metric are constructed. It is discussed how contractions lead systematically to (higher spin) kinematical algebras of, e.g., Poincar\'e, Galilei and Carroll type and…
This paper provides a detailed study of $4$-dimensional Chern-Simons theory on $\mathbb{R}^2 \times \mathbb{C}P^1$ for an arbitrary meromorphic $1$-form $\omega$ on $\mathbb{C}P^1$. Using techniques from homotopy theory, the behaviour under…
We present a string theory that reproduces the large-$N$ expansion of two dimensional Yang-Mills gauge theory on arbitrary surfaces. First, a new class of topological sigma models is introduced, with path integrals localized to the moduli…
In this paper we study the consistency of generalized global symmetries in theories of quantum gravity, in particular string theory. Such global symmetries arise in theories with $(p+1)$-form gauge fields, and for spacetime dimension $d\leq…
The superpotential in four-dimensional heterotic effective theories contains terms arising from holomorphic Chern-Simons invariants associated to the gauge and tangent bundles of the compactification geometry. These effects are crucial for…
Two dimensional string theory is known to have an infinite dimensional symmetry, both in the continuum formalism as well as in the matrix model formalism. We develop a systematic procedure for computing the conserved charges associated with…
We extend finite dimensional Chern-Simons theory to certain infinite dimensional principal bundles with connections, in particular to the frame bundle $FLM\to LM$ over the loop space of a Riemannian manifold $M$. Chern-Simons forms are…
We illustrate the various ways in which the algebraic framework of noncommutative geometry naturally captures the short-distance spacetime properties of string theory. We describe the noncommutative spacetime constructed from a vertex…
We construct novel $7d$ supersymmetric gauge theories which include a Chern-Simons-like term on curved spaces. In order to so, we examine the supersymmetry constraints for E7-branes in type IIA$^*$ theory, rather than making use of an…
A U(2,2|4)-invariant A-model constructed from fermionic superfields has recently been proposed as a sigma model for the superstring on AdS_5xS^5. After explaining the relation of this A-model with the pure spinor formalism, the A-model…
Chern-Simons gauge theory is formulated on three dimensional $Z_2$ orbifolds. The locus of singular points on a given orbifold is equivalent to a link of Wilson lines. This allows one to reduce any correlation function on orbifolds to a sum…
We determine the algebra of holonomy symmetries of sigma models propagating on supersymmetric heterotic backgrounds with a non-compact holonomy group. We demonstrate that these close as a W-algebra, which in turn is specified by a Lie…