String Spectrum Research Articles

Lifting asymptotic degeneracies with the mirror TBA

We describe a qualitative feature of the AdS5 × S5 string spectrum which is not captured by the asymptotic Bethe ansatz. This is reflected by an enhanced discrete symmetry in the asymptotic limit, whereby extra energy degeneracy enters the spectrum. We discuss how finite size corrections should lift this degeneracy, through both perturbative (Lüscher) and non-perturbative approaches (the Mirror TBA), and illustrate this explicitly on two such asymptotically degenerate states.

One-dimensional vertical dust strings in a glass box

The oscillation spectrum of a one-dimensional vertical dust string formed inside a glass box on top of the lower electrode in a gaseous electronics conference (GEC) reference cell was studied. A mechanism for creating a single vertical dust string is described. It is shown that the oscillation amplitudes, resonance frequencies, damping coefficients, and oscillation phases of the dust particles separate into two distinct groups. One group exhibits low damping coefficients, increasing amplitudes, and decreasing resonance frequencies for dust particles closer to the lower electrode. The other group shows high damping coefficients but anomalous resonance frequencies and amplitudes. At low oscillation frequencies, the two groups are also separated by a π phase difference. One possible cause for the difference in behavior between the two groups is discussed.

Top quark mass in exophobic Pati–Salam heterotic string model

We analyse the phenomenology of an exemplary exophobic Pati–Salam heterotic string vacuum, in which no exotic fractionally charged states exist in the massless string spectrum. Our model also contains the Higgs representations that are needed to break the gauge symmetry to that of the Standard Model and to generate fermion masses at the electroweak scale. We show that the requirement of a leading mass term for the heavy generation, which is not degenerate with the mass terms of the lighter generations, places an additional strong constraint on the viability of the models. In many models a top quark Yukawa may not exist at all, whereas in others two or more generations may obtain a mass term at leading order. In our exemplary model a mass term at leading order exist only for one family. Additionally, we demonstrate the existence of supersymmetric F- and D-flat directions that give heavy mass to all the colour triplets beyond those of the Standard Model and leave one pair of electroweak Higgs doublets light. Hence, below the Pati–Salam breaking scale, the matter states in our model that are charged under the observable gauge symmetries, consist solely of those of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model.

On modular properties of theAdS3CFT

We study modular properties of the AdS3 WZNW model. Although the Euclidean partition function is modular invariant, the characters on the Euclidean torus are ill-defined and their modular transformations are unknown. We reconsider the characters defined on the Lorentzian torus, focusing on their structure as distributions. We find a generalized S matrix, depending on the sign of the real modular parameters, which has two diagonal blocks and one off-diagonal block, mixing discrete and continuous representations, that we fully determine. We then explore the relations among the modular transformations, the fusion algebra and the boundary states. We explicitly construct Ishibashi states for the maximally symmetric D-branes and show that the generalized S matrix defines the one-point functions associated to point-like and H2 branes as well as the fusion rules of the degenerate representations of SL(2,R) appearing in the open string spectrum of the point-like D-branes, through a generalized Verlinde theorem.

The covariant perturbative string spectrum

We provide generating functions for the perturbative massive string spectrum which are covariant with respect to the SO ( 9 ) little group, and which contain all the representation theoretic content of the spectrum. Generating functions for perturbative bosonic, Type II, Heterotic and Type I string theories are presented, and generalizations are discussed.

Rigid D6-branes on $ {{{{T^6}}} \left/ {{\left( {{Z_2} \times {Z_{2M}} \times \Omega \mathcal{R}} \right)}} \right.} $ with discrete torsion

We give a complete classification of T6/[Z(2)xZ(2M)xOmegaR] orientifolds on factorisable tori and rigid D6-branes on them. The analysis includes the supersymmetry, RR tadpole cancellation and K-theory conditions and complete massless open and closed string spectrum (i.e. non-chiral as well as chiral) for fractional or rigid D6-branes for all inequivalent compactification lattices, without and with discrete torsion. We give examples for each orbifold background, which show that on Z(2)xZ(6) and Z(2)xZ(6') there exist completely rigid D6-branes despite the self-intersections of orbifold image cycles. This opens up a new avenue for improved Standard Model building. On the other hand, we show that Standard and GUT model building on the Z(2)xZ(4) background is ruled out by simple arguments.

Tight constraints onF- andD-term hybrid inflation scenarios

We use present cosmological data from the cosmic microwave background, large-scale structure and deuterium at high redshifts to constrain supersymmetric F- and D-term hybrid inflation scenarios including possible contributions to the CMB anisotropies from cosmic strings. Using two different realizations of the cosmic string spectrum, we find that the minimal version of the D-term model is ruled out at high significance. F-term models are also in tension with the data. We also discuss possible non-minimal variants of the models.

Y-system, TBA and Quasi-Classical Strings in AdS 4 × CP3

We study the exact spectrum of the AdS4/CFT3 duality put forward by Aharony, Bergman, Jafferis and Maldacena (ABJM). We derive thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) equations for the planar ABJM theory, starting from "mirror" asymptotic Bethe equations which we conjecture. We also propose generalization of the TBA equations for excited states. The recently proposed Y-system is completely consistent with the TBA equations for a large subsector of the theory, but should be modified in general. We find the general asymptotic infinite length solution of the Y-system, and also several solutions to all wrapping orders in the strong coupling scaling limit. To make a comparison with results obtained from string theory, we assume that the all-loop Bethe ansatz of N.G. and P. Vieira is the valid worldsheet theory description in the asymptotic regime. In this case we find complete agreement, to all orders in wrappings, between the solution of our Y-system and generic quasi-classical string spectrum in AdS3 x S.

Strings on bubbling geometries

We study gauge theory operators which take the form of a product of a trace with a Schur polynomial, and their string theory duals. These states represent strings excited on bubbling AdS geometries which are dual to the Schur polynomials. These geometries generically take the form of multiple annuli in the phase space plane. We study the coherent state wavefunction of the lattice, which labels the trace part of the operator, for a general Young tableau and their dual description on the droplet plane with a general concentric ring pattern. In addition we identify a density matrix over the coherent states on all the geometries within a fixed constraint. This density matrix may be used to calculate the entropy of a given ensemble of operators. We finally recover the BMN string spectrum along the geodesic near any circle from the ansatz of the coherent state wavefunction.

Mesons as Open Strings in a Holographic Dual of QCD

We study meson spectrum obtained from massive open string modes in a holographic dual of QCD constructed on the basis of a D4/D8-brane configuration in type IIA string theory. The spectrum includes mesons with spin higher than one. Taking into account the effect of curved background perturbatively, we obtain a mass formula for these mesons, which exhibits the linear Regge behavior at the leading order with subleading non-linear corrections. We argue that the string spectrum captures some features of the observed meson spectrum. For example, a_2(1320), b_1(1235), \pi(1300), a_0(1450), etc., are identified as the first excited massive open string states and \rho_3(1690), \pi_2(1670), etc., are identified as the second excited states.

Null cosmological singularities and free strings

We continue exploring free strings in the background of null Kasner-like cosmological singularities, following K. Narayan, arXiv:0904.4532. We study the free string Schrodinger wave functional along the lines of K. Narayan, arXiv:0807.1517. We find the wave functional to be nonsingular in the vicinity of singularities whose Kasner exponents satisfy certain relations. We compare this with the description in other variables. We then study certain regulated versions of these singularities where the singular region is replaced by a substringy but nonsingular region and study the string spectra in these backgrounds. The string modes can again be solved for exactly, giving some insight into how string oscillator states get excited near the singularity.

Little heterotic strings

We discuss toroidal orbifolds of the E 8×E 8 heterotic string, in which the free-fermionic Higgs–matter splitting is implemented by a shift in the internal lattice coupled with the fermion numbers of the gauge degrees of freedom. We consider models in which some choices of the orbifold result in the projection of the graviton. In the models that we consider the projection also results in flipping the spin–statistics assignments in the massive string spectrum, whereas the massless spectrum retains the conventional spin–statistics assignments. We argue that the partition functions are mathematically consistent for one- and multi-loop amplitudes, owning to the existence of supersymmetry in the spectrum. A duality between different models at non-zero temperature is briefly discussed.

Y-system and quasi-classical strings

Recently Kazakov, Vieira and the author conjectured the Y-system set of equations describing the planar spectrum of AdS/CFT. In this paper we solve the Y-system equations in the strong coupling scaling limit. We show that the quasi-classical spectrum of string moving inside AdS3 x S1 matches precisely with the prediction of the Y-system. Thus the Y-system, unlike the asymptotic Bethe ansatz, describes correctly the spectrum of one-loop string energies including all exponential finite size corrections. This gives a very non-trivial further support in favor of the conjecture.

Heterotic resolved conifolds with torsion, from supergravity to CFT

We obtain a family of heterotic supergravity backgrounds describing non-Kahler warped conifolds with three-form flux and an Abelian gauge bundle, preserving N=1 supersymmetry in four dimensions. At large distance from the singularity the usual Ricci-flat conifold is recovered. By performing a Z_2 orbifold of the T^{1,1} base, the conifold singularity can be blown-up to a four-cycle, leading to a completely smooth geometry. Remarkably, the throat regions of the solutions, which can be isolated from the asymptotic Ricci-flat geometry using a double-scaling limit, possess a worldsheet CFT description in terms of heterotic cosets whose target space is the warped resolved orbifoldized conifold. Thus this construction provides exact solutions of the modified Bianchi identity. By solving algebraically these CFTs we compute the exact tree-level heterotic string spectrum and describe worldsheet non-perturbative effects. The holographic dual of these solutions, in particular their confining behavior, and the embedding of these fluxed singularities into heterotic compactifications with torsion are also discussed.

Quantum strings inAdS5×S5: strong-coupling corrections to dimension of Konishi operator

We consider leading strong coupling corrections to the energy of the lightest massive string modes in AdS_5 x S^5, which should be dual to members of the Konishi operator multiplet in N=4 SYM theory. This determines the general structure of the strong-coupling expansion of the anomalous dimension of the Konishi operator. We use 1-loop results for several semiclassical string states to extract information about the leading coefficients in this expansion. Our prediction is Delta= 2 lambda^{1/4} + b_0 + b_1 lambda^{-1/4} + b_3 lambda^{-3/4} +..., where b_0 and b_1 are rational while b_3 is transcendental containing zeta(3). Explicitly, we argue that b_0= Delta_0 - 4 (where Delta_0 is the canonical dimension of the corresponding gauge-theory operator in the Konishi multiplet) and b_1=1. Our conclusions are sensitive to few assumptions, implied by a correspondence with flat-space expressions, on how to translate semiclassical quantization results into predictions for the exact quantum string spectrum.

Degeneracy between the Regge slope of mesons and baryons from supersymmetry

We consider the degeneracy between the Regge slope of mesons and baryons in QCD. We argue that within the "orientifold large-N approximation" asymptotically massive mesons and baryons become supersymmetric partners and hence degenerate. To this end, we generalize QCD by a SU(N) theory with a quark in the two-index antisymmetric representation. We show that in this framework the meson is represented by an oriented bosonic QCD-string and the baryon is represented by an un-oriented fermionic QCD-string. At large-N, due to an equivalence with super Yang-Mills, the tensions of the bosonic and the fermionic strings coincide. Our description of mesons and baryons as oriented and un-oriented bosonic and fermionic QCD-strings is in full agreement with the spectra of open strings in the dual type 0' string theory.

String spectra near some null cosmological singularities

We construct cosmological spacetimes with null Kasner-like singularities as purely gravitational solutions with no other background fields turned on. These can be recast as anisotropic plane-wave spacetimes by coordinate transformations. We analyze string quantization to find the spectrum of string modes in these backgrounds. The classical string modes can be solved for exactly in these time-dependent backgrounds, which enables a detailed study of the near-singularity string spectrum, (time-dependent) oscillator masses, and wave functions. We find that for low-lying string modes (finite oscillation number), the classical near-singularity string mode functions are nondivergent for various families of singularities. Furthermore, for any infinitesimal regularization of the vicinity of the singularity, we find a tower of string modes of ultrahigh oscillation number which propagate essentially freely in the background. The resulting picture suggests that string interactions are non-negligible near the singularity.

Giant Magnons on ℂℙ3by dressing method

We consider classical string spectrum of t× 3, and construct a family of solutions with residual SU(2) symmetry by the dressing method on SU(4)/U(3) sigma model. All of them obey the square-root type dispersion relation often found in the theory with su(2|2) symmetry. A single dyonic giant magnon is not found in this approach.

The Bethe ansatz equations for reflecting magnons

We derive the Bethe ansatz equations on the half line for particles interacting through factorized S-matrices invariant relative to the centrally extended su ( 2 | 2 ) Lie superalgebra and su ( 1 | 2 ) open boundaries. These equations may be of relevance for the study of the spectrum of open strings on AdS 5 × S 5 background attached to Y = 0 giant graviton branes. A one-dimensional spin chain Hamiltonian associated to this system is also derived.

Mean field method applied to the new world sheet field theory: string formation

The present article is based on a previous one, where a second quantized field theory on the world sheet for summing the planar graphs of 3 theory was developed. In this earlier work, the ground state of the model was determined using a variational approximation. Here, starting with the same world sheet field theory, we instead use the mean field method to compute the ground state, and find results that are in agreement with the variational calculation. Apart from serving as a check on the variational calculation, the mean field method enables us to go beyond the ground state to compute the excited states of the model. The spectrum of these states is that of a string with linear trajectories, plus a continuum that starts at higher energy. We show that, by appropriately tuning the parameters of the model, the string spectrum can be cleanly seperated from the continuum.