Asymptotic structure near event horizon and Cardy-Verlinde formula for general asymptotically flat stationary black hole

The asymptotically anti-de Sitter structure near event horizon of general asymptotically flat stationary black hole is found, and the Cardy-Verlinde formula is generalized to the asymptotically flat black holes in the Einstein-Maxwell theory and low-energy effective field theory describing string. The result that the entropy of conformal field theory (CFT) agrees precisely with black-hole entropy provides a CFT interpretation of the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of the asymptotically flat stationary black holes.     

The Topological Open String Wavefunction

We show that, in local Calabi–Yau manifolds, the topological open string partition function transforms as a wavefunction under modular transformations. Our derivation is based on the topological recursion for matrix models, and it generalizes in a natural way the known result for the closed topological string sector. As an application, we derive results for vacuum expectation values of 1/2 BPS Wilson loops in ABJM theory at all genera in a strong coupling expansion, for various representations.     

Semiclassical correlation functions of Wilson loops and local vertex operators

We analyze correlation functions of Wilson loop observables and local vertex operators within the strong-coupling regime of the AdS/CFT correspondence. When the local operator corresponds to a light string state with finite conserved charges the correlation function can be evaluated in the semiclassical approximation of large string tension, where the contribution from the light vertex can be neglected. We consider the cases where the Wilson loops are described by two concentric surfaces and the local vertices are the superconformal chiral primary scalar or a singlet massive scalar operator.     

Open Wilson lines as closed strings in non-commutative field theories

Open Wilson line operators and the generalized star product have been studied extensively in non-commutative gauge theories. We show that they also show up in non-commutative scalar field theories as universal structures. We first point out that the dipole picture of non-commutative geometry provides an intuitive argument for robustness of the open Wilson lines and generalized star products therein. We calculate the one-loop effective action of the non-commutative scalar field theory with cubic self-interaction and show explicitly that the generalized star products arise in the non-planar part. It is shown that, in the low-energy, large non-commutativity limit, the non-planar part is expressible solely in terms of the scalar open Wilson line operator and descendants, the latter being interpreted as composite operators representing a closed string. Received: 11 September 2001 / Revised version: 24 October 2001 / Published online: 14 December 2001     

Quantum geometry of loops and the exact solubility of non-abelian gauge Chern-Simons theory-II

We quantize non-abelian Chern-Simons gauge theory in three dimensions in the presence of Wilson lines. We determine the theory dynamically in terms of the geometry of loops and show that it is exactly soluble. Remarkably the quantum loop equations are linear for S³ and they possess a class of solutions, among which is a non-critical Fermi string theory. Using these solutions we determine various important identities relevant to knot theory discovered recently by E. Witten, in particular, we show that the loop equation yields precisely the full exact skein relation of knot theory. As a byproduct we show that the partition function of an unknotted Wilson loop onS ³ is nothing but the character ofSU(2) in which the rotations areSU(N)-valued fractional angles. Furthermore, we generalize our solutions to the case where the manifoldM ₃ is oriented, closed, and non-simply connected withH ₁(M ₃)=0 (a homology 3-sphere).Address after 1^st October 1989: Physics Department, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL 32611, USA     

Strings in plane wave backgrounds

I review aspects of string theory on plane wave backgrounds emphasising the connection to gauge theory given by the BMN correspondence. Topics covered include the Penrose limit and its role in deriving the BMN duality from AdS/CFT, light‐cone string field theory in the maximally supersymmetric plane wave and extensions of the correspondence to less supersymmetric backgrounds.     

The string partition function in Hull's doubled formalism

T-duality is one of the essential elements of string theory. Recently, Hull has developed a formalism where the dimension of the target space is doubled so as to make T-duality manifest. This is then supplemented with a constraint equation that allows the connection to the usual string sigma model. This Letter analyses the partition function of the doubled formalism by interpreting the constraint equation as that of a chiral scalar and then using holomorphic factorisation techniques to determine the partition function. We find there is quantum equivalence to the ordinary string once the topological interaction term is included.     

Operators with Large R-Charge in N=4 Yang-Mills Theory

It has been recently proposed that string theory in the background of a plane wave corresponds to a certain subsector of the N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. This correspondence follows as a limit of the AdS/CFT duality. As a particular case of the AdS/CFT correspondence, it is a priori a strong-weak coupling duality. However, the predictions for the anomalous dimensions which follow from this particular limit are analytic functions of the 't Hooft coupling constant λ and have a well-defined expansion in the weak coupling regime. This allows one to conjecture that the correspondence between the strings on the plane wave background and the Yang-Mills theory works at the level of perturbative expansions. In our paper we perform perturbative computations in the Yang-Mills theory that confirm this conjecture. We calculate the anomalous dimension of the operator corresponding to the elementary string excitation. We verify at the two-loop level that the anomalous dimension has a finite limit when the R-charge J→∞ keeps λ/J² finite. We conjecture that this is true at higher orders of perturbation theory. We show, by summing an infinite subset of Feynman diagrams, under the above assumption, that the anomalous dimensions arising from the Yang-Mills perturbation theory are in agreement with the anomalous dimensions following from the string worldsheet sigma-model.     

Exact results for Wilson loops in orbifold ABJM theory

We investigate the exact results for circular 1/4 and 1/2 BPS Wilson loops in the d = 3 N= 4 super Chern-Simons-matter theory that could be obtained by orbifolding Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena(ABJM)theory.The partition function of the N=4 orbifold ABJM theory has been computed previously in the literature.In this paper,we re-derive it using a slightly different method.We calculate the vacuum expectation values of the circular 1/4 BPS Wilson loops in fundamental representation and of circular 1/2 BPS Wilson loops in arbitrary representations.We use both the saddle point approach and Fermi gas approach.The results for Wilson loops are in accord with the available gravity results.     

Wigner representation of Bloch electrons in uniform fields

In this paper we calculate the Wigner distribution function and the partition function of Bloch electrons in uniform electric and magnetic fields with the help of the effective hamiltonian. We also calculate the magnetic and the electric susceptibilities. Using standard techniques of operator ordering, the above quantities are calculated in a manner which shows the exact contribution of the electric field.     

Wilson loops T-dual to short strings

We show that closed string solutions in the bulk of AdS space are related by T-duality to solutions representing an open string ending at the boundary of AdS. By combining the limit in which a closed string becomes small with a large boost, we find that the near-flat space short string in the bulk maps to a periodic open string world surface ending on a wavy line at the boundary. This open string solution was previously found by Mikhailov and corresponds to a time-like near-BPS Wilson loop differing by small fluctuations from a straight line. A simple relation is found between the shape of the Wilson loop and the shape of the closed string at the moment when it crosses the horizon of the Poincaré patch. As a result, the energy and spin of the closed string are encoded in properties of the Wilson loop. This suggests that closed string amplitudes with one of the closed strings falling into the Poincaré horizon should be dual to gauge theory correlators involving local operators and a Wilson loop of the T-dual (“momentum”) theory.     

Logarithmic corrections to entropy and AdS/CFT

We calculate the correction to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy formula for five-dimensional AdS-Schwarzschild black holes due to thermodynamic fluctuations. The result is then compared with the boundary gauge theory entropy corrections via AdS/CFT correspondence.     

Two-Dimensional Topological Strings Revisited

The topological string of the type A with a two-dimensional target space is studied, an explicit formula for the string partition function is found and the target space field theory reproducing this partition function is proposed. This field theory has an infinite set of additional deformations overlooked by the standard definition of the topological string. It can be in turn coupled to gravity, thereby realizing the “worldsheets for worldsheets” idea. We also exhibit the wave function nature of the string partition function and suggest a new relation to quantum integrable systems.     

Recent developments in topological string theory

This review summarizes the recent developments in topological string theory from the author's perspective, mostly focusing on aspects of research in which the author is involved. After a brief overview of the theory, we discuss two aspects of these developments. First, we discuss the computational progress in the topological string partition functions on a class of elliptic Calabi-Yau manifolds. We propose to use Jacobi forms as an ansatz for the partition function. For non-compact models, the techniques often provide complete solutions, while for compact models, though it is still not completely solvable, we compute to higher genus than previous works. Second, we explore a remarkable connection of refined topological strings on a class of non-compact toric Calabi-Yau threefolds with non-perturbative effects in quantum-mechanical systems. The connections provide rarely available exact quantization conditions for quantum systems and new insights on non-perturbative formulations of topological string theory.     

Wilson line inflation

We present a general setup for inflation in string theory where the inflaton field corresponds to Wilson lines in compact space in the presence of magnetic fluxes. T-dualities and limits on the value of the magnetic fluxes relate this system to the standard D-brane inflation scenarios, such as brane-antibrane inflation, D3/D7 brane inflation and different configurations of branes at angles. This can then be seen as a generalised approach to inflation from open string modes. Inflation ends when the Wilson lines achieve a critical value and an open string mode becomes tachyonic. Then hybrid-like inflation, including its cosmic string remnants, is realized in string theory beyond the brane annihilation picture. Our formalism can be incorporated within flux-induced moduli stabilisation mechanisms in type IIB strings. Also, contrary to the standard D-brane separation, Wilson lines can be considered in heterotic string models. We provide explicit examples to illustrate similarities and differences of our mechanism to D-brane inflation. In particular we present an example in which the η problem present in brane inflation models is absent in our case. We have examples with both blue and red tilted spectral index and remnant cosmic string tension .     

String structure of the master field of U(∞) Yang-Mills

We argue that the internal symmetry space of the U(∞) pure Yang-Mills theory must be a functional space, actually the space of configurations of a string, in contrast with the case of the O(∞) 2-dimensional non-linear sigma-model, where it is only momentum space. We then show that the old dual-resonance model provides explicit ansätze for the classical Yang-Mills master field which is to be used to evaluate all gauge-invariant quantities; these ansätze automatically give rise to a Lorentz-invariant area-law behavior for the Wilson loop.     

Nonassociativity,Malcev algebras and string theory

Nonassociative structures have appeared in the study of D‐branes in curved backgrounds. In recent work, string theory backgrounds involving three‐form fluxes, where such structures show up, have been studied in more detail. We point out that under certain assumptions these nonassociative structures coincide with nonassociative Malcev algebras which had appeared in the quantum mechanics of systems with non‐vanishing three‐cocycles, such as a point particle moving in the field of a magnetic charge. We generalize the corresponding Malcev algebras to include electric as well as magnetic charges. These structures find their classical counterpart in the theory of Poisson‐Malcev algebras and their generalizations. We also study their connection to Stueckelberg's generalized Poisson brackets that do not obey the Jacobi identity and point out that nonassociative string theory with a fundamental length corresponds to a realization of his goal to find a non‐linear extension of quantum mechanics with a fundamental length. Similar nonassociative structures are also known to appear in the cubic formulation of closed string field theory in terms of open string fields, leading us to conjecture a natural string‐field theoretic generalization of the AdS/CFT‐like (holographic) duality.     

QCD Phenomenology of Static Sources

We discuss the spectrum of open string and point particle excitations in QCD with various source representations. Some general relations are introduced and lattice results presented. In particular, we discuss the short-distance behaviour, relate this to perturbation theory expectations and comment on the matching between low-energy matrix elements and high-energy Wilson coefficients, within the framework of effective field theories.     

One-loop correction of the tachyon action in boundary superstring field theory

We compute one-loop correction to the string field theory action of the tachyon for unstable D-branes in the framework of the boundary superstring field theory. We would expect that the one-loop correction comes from the partition function of the two-dimensional worldsheet theory on the annulus. The annulus correction suggests that the genus expansion is, somehow, governed by the effective string coupling defined in terms of the tachyon λ=g_sexp(−T²/4).