Related papers: The conformal anomaly of k-strings
The focus of this thesis is on (1) the role of Ka\v c-Moody (KM) algebras in string theory and the development of techniques for systematically building string theory models based on higher level ($K\geq 2$) KM algebras and (2) fractional…
We find an intriguing link between the symmetries of the tensionless limit of closed string theory and the 2-dimensional Galilean Conformal Algebra (2d GCA). 2d GCA has been discussed in the context of the non-relativistic limit of AdS/CFT…
We study the 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ superconformal field theory with smallest non-Higgsable gauge symmetry $SU(3)$. In particular, we propose new 2d gauge theory descriptions of its self-dual strings in the tensor branch. We use our gauge…
We address the question of whether the large-N expansion in pure SU(N) gauge theories requires that k-string tensions must have a power series expansion in 1/N^2, as in the sine law, or whether 1/N contributions are also allowable, as in…
In this review we describe our current understanding of the properties of open string tachyons on an unstable D-brane or brane-antibrane system in string theory. The various string theoretic methods used for this study include techniques of…
We propose a string theory realization of three-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=4$ quiver gauge theories with special unitary gauge groups. This is most easily understood in type IIA string theory with D4-branes wrapped on holomorphic curves in…
A review is given of recent research on two-dimensional gauge theories, with particular emphasis on the equivalence between these theories and certain string theories with a two-dimensional target space. Some related open problems are…
Conformal symmetry is broken in physical QCD; nevertheless, one can use conformal symmetry as a template, systematically correcting for its nonzero $\beta$ function as well as higher-twist effects. For example, commensurate scale relations…
A static string in an AdS Schwarzschild space is dual to a heavy quark anti-quark pair in a gauge theory at high temperature. This space is non confining in the sense that the energy is finite for infinite quark anti-quark separation. We…
Effective string theory has shown its universal power in the prediction of the spectrum of low-lying excited states of confining strings. Here we study confining flux tubes in $\mathbb{Z}_N$ gauge theories. For the $N=2$ theory, which…
We extend earlier ideas about the appearance of noncommutative geometry in string theory with a nonzero B-field. We identify a limit in which the entire string dynamics is described by a minimally coupled (supersymmetric) gauge theory on a…
We investigate the stability of the electroweak Z-string at high temperatures. Our results show that while finite temperature corrections can improve the stability of the Z-string, their effect is not strong enough to stabilize the Z-string…
The interplay between T-duality and supersymmetry in string theory is explored. It is shown that T-duality is always compatible with supersymmetry and simply changes a local realization to a non-local one and vice versa. Non-local…
We calculate the energy spectrum of closed strings in SU(N) gauge theories with N=2,3,4,6,8 in 2+1 dimensions to a high accuracy. We attempt to control all systematic errors, and this allows us to perform a precise comparison with different…
The conformal anomaly indicates the breaking of conformal symmetry (angle-preserving transformations) in the quantum theory by quantum fluctuations and is a close cousin of the gravitational anomaly. We show, for the first time, that the…
The strong coupling dynamics of string theories in dimension $d\geq 4$ are studied. It is argued, among other things, that eleven-dimensional supergravity arises as a low energy limit of the ten-dimensional Type IIA superstring, and that a…
We consider the correlation functions of two-dimensional turbulence in the presence and absence of a three-dimensional perturbation, by means of conformal field theory. In the persence of three dimensional perturbation, we show that in the…
We show that the $c=1$ bosonic string theory at finite temperature has two matrix-model realizations related by a kind of duality transformation. The first realization is the standard one given by the compactified matrix quantum mechanics…
It is shown that the effective theory of D-particles has conformal symmetry with field-dependent parameters. This is a consequence of the supersymmetry. The string coupling constant is not transformed in contrast with the recent proposal of…
We study two-dimensional SQED viewed as the world-volume theory of a D-string in the presence of D5-branes with non-zero background fields that induce attractive forces between the branes. In various approximations, the low-energy dynamics…