Related papers: On the finiteness of N=8 quantum supergravity

We investigate backgrounds of Type IIB string theory with null singularities and their duals proposed in hep-th/0602107. The dual theory is a deformed N=4 Yang-Mills theory in 3+1 dimensions with couplings dependent on a light-like…

We construct the supergravity solution for fully localized D2/D6 intersection. The near horizon limit of this solution is the supergravity dual of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in 2+1 dimensions with flavor. We use this solution to…

I describe our understanding of physics near the planck length, in particular the great progress of the last four years in string theory. Superstring theory, and a recent extension called M theory, are leading candidates for a quantum…

We consider $N=2$ supergravity coupled to $N=2$ Yang--Mills matter and discuss the nature of one--loop divergences. Using $N=1$ superfields and superspace methods, we describe the quantization of the system in the abelian case.

The loop representation of quantum gravity has many formal resemblances to a background-free string theory. In fact, its origins lie in attempts to treat the string theory of hadrons as an approximation to QCD, in which the strings…

Pure N=1 super Yang-Mills theory can be realised as a certain low energy limit of M theory near certain singularities in $G_2$-holonomy spaces. For SU(n) and SO(2n) gauge groups these $M$ theory backgrounds can be regarded as strong…

We study the gauge/gravity duality for theories with four dimensional ${\cal N}=2$ supersymmetries. We consider the large class of generalized quiver field theories constructed recently by one of us (D.G.). These field theories can also be…

We consider charge transport properties of 2+1 dimensional conformal field theories at non-zero temperature. For theories with only Abelian U(1) charges, we describe the action of particle-vortex duality on the hydrodynamic-to-collisionless…

We consider superconformal field theories in three and six dimensions with eight supercharges which can be realized on the world-volume of M-theory branes sitting at orbifold singularities. We find that they should admit a N=4 and N=2…

In this lecture we address the following issues in the context of string theories: i) The role played by S and T dualities in obtaining topological inflation in N=1 supergravity models, ii) A mechanism to generate the baryon asymmetry of…

We discuss string theory relations between gravity and gauge theory tree amplitudes. Together with $D$-dimensional unitarity, these relations can be used to perturbatively quantize gravity theories, i.e. they contain the necessary…

There are an infinite number of type IIB superstrings in ten dimensions, called (p,q) strings, that are labeled by two distinct string charges. They can form string junctions and string networks. These are the key to understanding the…

A strong coupling limit of theories whose low-energy effective field theory is 5-dimensional N=8 supergravity is proposed in which the gravitational coupling becomes large. It is argued that, if this limit exists, it should be a…

Superstring theory, and a recent extension called M theory, are leading candidates for a quantum theory that unifies gravity with the other forces. As such, they are certainly not ordinary quantum field theories. However, recent duality…

We find solutions of 11-dimensional supergravity for M5-branes wrapped on Riemann surfaces. These solutions preserve ${\cal N} = 2$ four-dimensional supersymmetry. They are dual to ${\cal N} = 2$ gauge theories, including non-conformal…

The role of duality symmetries in the construction of counterterms for maximal supergravity theories is discussed in a field-theoretic context from different points of view. These are: dimensional reduction, the question of whether…

String theory implies that field theories containing gravity are in a certain sense `products' of gauge theories. We make this product structure explicit up to two loops for the relatively simple case of N=8 supergravity four-point…

We show that the large $N$ limit of certain conformal field theories in various dimensions include in their Hilbert space a sector describing supergravity on the product of Anti-deSitter spacetimes, spheres and other compact manifolds. This…

The construction of effective field theories describing M-theory compactified on $S^1/{\bf Z}_2$ is revisited, and new insights into the parameters of the theory are explained. Particularly, the web of constraints which follow from…

We discuss the gravity dual description for a non-commutative Yang-Mills theory, which reduces to that on AdS_{5} x S_{5} in the commutative limit. It is found that doubletons do not decouple in this dual gravity description unless one…