Related papers: Remarks on tree-level topological string theories
The notion of a "point" is essential to describe the topology of spacetime. Despite this, a point probably does not play a particularly distinguished role in any intrinsic formulation of string theory. We discuss one way to try to determine…
We formulate the string field theory in zero-dimensional target space corresponding to the two-dimensional quantum gravity theory defined through Causal Dynamical Triangulations. This third quantization of the quantum gravity theory allows…
It is generally accepted that the double-scaled 1D matrix model is equivalent to the $c=1$ string theory with tachyon condensation. There remain however puzzles that are to be clarified in order to utilize this connection for our quest…
We describe two major string topology operations, the Chas-Sullivan product and the Goresky-Hingston coproduct, from geometric and algebraic perspectives. The geometric construction uses Thom-Pontrjagin intersection theory while the…
Singularity-free cosmological solutions may be obtained from the string action at tree level if the dimension of the space-time is greater than 10 and if brane configurations are taken into account. The behaviour of the dilaton field in…
Quantization of two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory on a torus in the gauge where the field strength is diagonal leads to twisted sectors that are completely analogous to the ones that originate long string states in Matrix String Theory. If…
A model is proposed for a classical bosonic string in $d=3$ Minkowski space with an action functional that includes Gauss and mean world-sheet curvature. The Lagrangian is invariant under $3d$ Poincar\'e transformations modulo total…
The solution term by term to the scattering of all consistent string theories is given. The moduli space of M-theory is derived and connects the various string theories. The solutions contain both the perturbative and non-perturbative…
We study properties of a class of solutions of open string field theory which depend on a single holomorphic function F(z). We show that the energy of these solutions is well defined and is given by integer multiples of a single D-brane…
The Ernst equation is formulated on an arbitrary Riemann surface. Analytically, the problem reduces to finding solutions of the ordinary Ernst equation which are periodic along the symmetry axis. The family of (punctured) Riemann surfaces…
New relations of correlation functions are found in topological string theory; one for each second cohomology class of the target space. They are close cousins of the Deligne-Dijkgraaf-Witten's puncture and dilaton equations. When combined…
By explicitly allowing for topology to change as a function of time, two-dimensional quantum gravity defined through causal dynamical triangulations gives rise to a new continuum string field theory. Within a matrix-model formulation we…
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…
Taking a Feynman categorical perspective, several key aspects of the geometry of surfaces are deduced from combinatorial constructions with graphs. This provides a direct route from combinatorics of graphs to string topology operations via…
We consider the dynamics of confined strings embedded in a gapless four-dimensional theory. To this end, we examine finite-tension string-like solutions to the equations of motion of the $\mathbb{C}\mathbb{P}^1$ non-linear sigma model. We…
We revisit the perturbative S-matrix of c=1 string theory from the worldsheet perspective. We clarify the origin of the leg pole factors, the non-analyticity of the string amplitudes, and the validity as well as limitations of earlier…
We derive a Kontsevich-type matrix model for the c=1 string directly from the W-infinity solution of the theory. The model that we obtain is different from previous proposals, which are proven to be incorrect. Our matrix model contains the…
We present concrete solutions with accelerated expansion in string theory, requiring a small, tractable list of stress energy sources. We explain how this construction (and others in progress) evades previous no go theorems for simple…
We supplement the string field theory action with boundary terms to make its variational principle well-posed. Central to our considerations is the violation of the stress-energy tensor conservation in non-compact CFTs due to the boundary…
This is the text of my habilitation thesis defended at the \'Ecole Normale Sup\'erieure. The topological string presents an arena in which many features of string theory proper, such as the interplay between worldsheet and target space…