Related papers: String theory, $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM and Riemann hyp…
In earlier work we proposed a string theory dual to two dimensional Yang-Mills theory at zero coupling (which can also be thought of as a $BF$ theory), given by a Polyakov-like generalization of Ho\v rava's topological rigid string theory,…
We identify a regime of the AdS/CFT correspondence in which we can quantitatively match N=4 super Yang-Mills (SYM) for small 't Hooft coupling with weakly coupled type IIB string theory on AdS_5 x S^5. We approach this regime by taking the…
We construct a locally supersymmetric worldsheet formulation of a non-Abelian Ramond-Neveu-Schwarz (NARNS) string theory where the string coordinates are noncommuting matrices in a group U(N). This is described by the two dimensional…
We analyze the classical and quantum vacua of 2d $\mathcal{N}=(8,8)$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with $SU(N)$ and $U(N)$ gauge group, describing the worldvolume interactions of $N$ parallel D1-branes with flat transverse directions…
We propose correspondences between 4d quantum field theories with N=2,1,0 (super)conformal invariance and Type IIB string theory on various orbifolds. We argue using the spacetime string theory, and check using the beta functions (exactly…
N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with gauge group SU(n) (n>=3) is believed to have two exactly marginal deformations which break the supersymmetry to N=1. We discuss the construction of the string theory dual to these deformations, in…
In this thesis, two aspects of string theory are discussed, tensionless strings and supersymmetric sigma models. The equivalent to a massless particle in string theory is a tensionless string. Even almost 30 years after it was first…
We present a self-contained review of the Plane-wave/super-Yang-Mills duality, which states that strings on a plane-wave background are dual to a particular large R-charge sector of N=4, D=4 superconformal U(N) gauge theory. This duality is…
Recently, Douglas and Taylor proposed to identify the Higgs vev of the Coulomb branch of the 4 dimensional N=4 super Yang-Mills theory with the positions of D3 branes in the AdS_5 x S^5 string theory. We extend this identification to more…
Planar maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory (N=4 SYM) is a special quantum field theory. A few of its remarkable features are conformal symmetry at the quantum level, evidence of integrability and, moreover, it is a prime example of…
${\cal N} = 4$ Supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM) theory can be defined on a half-space with a variety of boundary conditions preserving scale invariance and half of the original supersymmetry; more general theories with the same symmetry can…
Twisted compactification of the 6d N=(2,0) theories on a punctured Riemann surface give a large class of 4d N=1 and N=2 gauge theories, called class S. We argue that nonperturbative dynamics of class S theories are described by 5d maximal…
A well-known connection between n strings winding around a circle and permutations of n objects plays a fundamental role in the string theory of large N two dimensional Yang Mills theory and elsewhere in topological and physical string…
We study the four-point correlator $\langle \mathcal{O}_2 \mathcal{O}_2 \mathcal{D} \mathcal{D} \rangle$ in $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory (SYM) with $SU(N)$ gauge group, where $\mathcal{O}_2$ represents the superconformal primary…
These lectures give an introduction to the novel duality relating type IIB string theory in a maximally supersymmetric plane-wave background to N=4, d=4, U(N) Super Yang-Mills theory in a particular large N and large R-charge limit due to…
We study the N=4 harmonic superparticle model, both with and without central charge and quantize it. Since the central charge breaks the U(4) R-symmetry group of the N=4 superalgebra down to USp(4), we consider the superparticle dynamics in…
Aspects of the D=4, N=4 superconformal symmetry relevant to the AdS/CFT duality and integrability are reviewed. These include the Lie superalgebra psu(2,2|4), its representations, conformal transformations and correlation functions in N=4…
We develop a superfield formulation of $\mathcal{N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with gauged central charge in $USp(4)$ harmonic superspace. Component formulation of this theory was given by Sohnius, Stelle and West \cite{SSW80} but…
There are at present two known string theories in $(2,2)$ dimensions. One of them is the well known $N=2$ string, and the other one is a more recently constructed $N=1$ spacetime supersymmetric string. They are both based on certain…
We consider two four-dimensional gauge theories with gauge group $SU(N)$: the $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory and the $\mathcal{N}=2$ quiver gauge theory obtained as a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ orbifold of $\mathcal{N}=4$ SYM. In this…