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In a recent paper [1], the semiclassical quantization of a string, winding once around the compact Euclidean time circle, on a supergravity background dual to the deep infrared regime of a confining finite temperature gauge theory, was…
We review diverse two-dimensional models emerging on the world sheet of non-Abelian strings in the low-energy limit. Non-Abelian strings are supported in a class of four-dimensional bulk theories with or without supersymmetry. In…
Two independent criteria are presented that together guarantee exponential suppression of the two-loop cosmological constant in non-supersymmetric heterotic strings. They are derived by performing calculations in both the full string theory…
The SO(32) heterotic string can be obtained from the type IIB string by gauging a discrete symmetry that acts as $(-1)^{F_L}$ on the perturbative string states and reverses the parity of the D-string. Consistency requires the presence of 32…
The intersection of string theory with cosmology is unavoidable in the early universe, and its exploration may shine light on both fields. In this thesis, three papers at this intersection are presented and reviewed, with the aim of…
We study a topological obstruction of a very stringy nature concerned with deforming the target space of an $N=2$ non-linear \sm. This target space has a singularity which may be smoothed away according to the conventional rules of geometry…
In this thesis we study string compactifications on manifolds equipped with a $G$-structure, placing a special emphasis on the interplay between geometry and physics. We follow two complementary approaches. In the first part of the thesis…
We study worldsheet conformal invariance for bosonic string propagating in a curved background using the hamiltonian formalism. In order to formulate the problem in a background independent manner we first rewrite the worldsheet theory in a…
The (2,2) world-sheet supersymmetric string theory is discussed from the viewpoint of string/membrane unification. The effective field theory in the closed string target space is known to be the 2+2 dimensional (integrable) theory of…
We present a general algorithm which permits to construct solutions in string cosmology for heterotic and type-IIB superstrings in four dimensions. Using a chain of transformations applied in sequence: conformal, T-duality and SL(2,R)…
We investigate unoriented strings and superstrings in two dimensions and their dual matrix quantum mechanics. Most of the models we study have a tachyon tadpole coming from the RP^2 worldsheet which needs to be cancelled by a…
We consider two dimensional supergravity coupled to $\hat c=1$ matter. This system can also be interpreted as noncritical type 0 string theory in a two dimensional target space. After reviewing and extending the traditional descriptions of…
We formulate target space duality symmetry of NSR superstring from the perspectives of worldsheet. The worldsheet action is presented in the superspace formalism in the presence of massless backgrounds. We start from a ${\hat…
A Hamiltonian formulation of the classical world-sheet theory in a generic, geometric or non-geometric, NSNS background is proposed. The essence of this formulation is a deformed current algebra, which is solely characterised by the…
An exact heterotic string theory on an AdS2xS2 background supported by an electromagnetic flux is found as a marginal deformation of an SL(2,R)xSU(2) WZW model. Based on a talk given at NATO Advanced Study Institute and EC Summer School on…
We determine the maximal gauge groups arising in $E_8$ heterotic string theory on $T^2$. Our analysis proceeds along two approaches. First, we start the moduli space of the supersymmetric heterotic string theory on $T^2$ focusing on points…
The interest in string Hamiltonian system has recently been rekindled due to its application to target-space duality. In this article, we explore another direction it motivates. In Sec.\ 1, conformal symmetry and some algebraic structures…
We explain how perturbative string theory can be viewed as an exactly renormalizable Weyl invariant quantum mechanics in the worldsheet representation clarifying why string scattering amplitudes are both finite and unambiguously normalized…
Turning on background fields in string theory sometimes has an alternative interpretation as a deformation of the target space geometry. A particularly well-known case is the NS-NS two form B, which gives rise to space-time…
We discuss aspects of holography in the AdS_3 \times S^p near string geometry of a collection of straight fundamental heterotic strings. We use anomalies and symmetries to determine general features of the dual CFT. The symmetries suggest…