Related papers: The non-AdS/non-CFT correspondence, or three diffe…
We review different exact approaches to string theory. In the context of the Green-Schwarz superstring, we discuss the action in curved backgrounds and its supercoset formulation, with particular attention to superstring backgrounds of the…
Witten has recently proposed a string theory in twistor space whose D-instanton contributions are conjectured to compute N=4 super-Yang-Mills scattering amplitudes. An alternative string theory in twistor space was then proposed whose open…
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 analyze short and long multiplets which appear in the OPE expansion of ``chiral'' primary operators in N=4 Super Yang--Mills theory. Among them, higher spin long and new short multiplets appear, having the interpretation, in the AdS/CFT…
We investigate drag force in a thermal plasma of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory via both fundamental and Dirichlet strings under the influence of non-zero NSNS $B$-field background. In the description of AdS/CFT correspondence the endpoint of…
We examine recent claims of a large set of flux compactification solutions of string theory. We conclude that the arguments for AdS solutions are plausible. The analysis of meta-stable dS solutions inevitably leads to situations where long…
We use the AdS/CFT correspondence to compute the energy spectrum of heavy-light mesons in a N=2 SU(N) super Yang-Mills theory with two massive hypermultiplets. In the heavy quark limit, similar to QCD, we find that the excitation energies…
Recently, Witten proposed a topological string theory in twistor space that is dual to a weakly coupled gauge theory. In this lectures we will discuss aspects of the twistor string theory. Along the way we will learn new things about…
We investigate new compactifications of OM theory giving rise to a 3+1 dimensional open string theory with noncommutative $x^0$-$x^1$ and $x^2$-$x^3$ coordinates. The theory can be directly obtained by starting with a D3 brane with parallel…
Berenstein, Maldacena, and Nastase have proposed, as a limit of the strong form of the AdS/CFT correspondence, that string theory in a particular plane wave background is dual to a certain subset of operators in the N=4 super-Yang-Mills…
The Seiberg-Witten limit of fermionic N=2 string theory with nonvanishing B-field is governed by noncommutative self-dual Yang-Mills theory (ncSDYM) in 2+2 dimensions. Conversely, the self-duality equations are contained in the equation of…
This PhD thesis explores the similarities between integrable spin chains and quantum field theories, such as Super Yang Mills. We first study integrable spin chains and build explicitly a polynomial "Backlund flow" and polynomial…
We consider N=2 superconformal theories defined on a 3+1 dimensional hyperplane intersection of two sets of M5 branes. These theories have (tensionless) BPS string solitons. We use a dual supergravity formulation to deduce some of their…
Recent progress towards understanding a strong coupling expansion for various superconformal field theories in four dimensions is described. First, the case of the maximally supersymmetric Yang Mills theory is analyzed, as well as many…
In this paper we review aspects of anti de Sitter/conformal field theory (AdS/CFT) duality and the notion of holographic renormalization group (RG) flow. We start by discussing supersymmetry and construct the N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory…
I describe renewed efforts to establish a string description of large N_c QCD by summing large ``fishnet'' diagrams. Earlier work on fishnets indicated that the usual relativistic (zero thickness) string theory can arise at strong 't Hooft…
We derive the codimension-two defects of 4d $\mathcal{N} = 4$ Super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory from the (2, 0) little string. The origin of the little string is type IIB theory compactified on an ADE singularity. The defects are D-branes…
We show how an effective field theory of long distance QCD, describing a dual superconductor, can be expressed as an effective string theory of superconducting vortices. We use the semiclassical expansion of this effective string theory…
Some kinematical speculations on the infinite curvature limit of the conjectured duality of Maldacena between ten-dimensional strings living in $AdS_5\times S_5$ and a ordinary four-dimensional quantum field theory, namely ${\cal{N}}=4$…
It is well-known that the non-supersymmetric D3 brane (a cousin of BPS D3 brane) including its black version of type IIB string theory has a decoupling limit, where the decoupled geometry is the gravity dual of a non-supersymmetric,…