Brane Worldvolume Research Articles

Supergravity duals to the noncommutativeN=4super Yang-Mills theory in the infinite momentum frame

In this work the construction of supergravity duals to the noncommutative ${\cal N}=4$ SYM theory in the infinite momentum frame but with constant momentum density is attempted. In the absence of the content of noncommutativity, it has been known for some time that the previous $AdS_{5}/CFT_{4}$ correspondence should be replaced by the $K_{5}/CFT_{4}$ (with $K_{(p+2)}$ denoting the generalized Kaigorodov spacetime) correspondence with the pp-wave propagating on the BPS brane worldvolume. Interestingly enough, putting together the two contents, i.e., the introduction of noncommutativity and at the same time that of the pp-wave along the brane worldvolume, leads to quite nontrivial consequences such as the emergence of ``time-space'' noncommutativity in addition to the ``space-space'' noncommutativity in the manifold on which the dual gauge theory is defined. Taking the gravity decoupling limit, it has been realized that for small $u$, the solutions all reduce to $K_{5}\times S^5$ geometry confirming our expectation that the IR dynamics of the dual gauge theory should be unaffected by the noncommutativity while as $u\to \infty$, the solutions start to deviate significantly from $K_{5}\times S^5$ limit indicating that the UV dynamics of the dual gauge theory would be heavily distorted by the effect of noncommutativity.

Toward Solving the Cosmological Constant Problem?

We discuss the cosmological constant problem in the context of higher codimension brane world scenarios with infinite-volume extra dimensions. In particular, by adding higher curvature terms in the bulk action we are able to find smooth solutions with the property that the four-dimensional part of the brane world-volume is flat for a range of positive values of the brane tension.

Gauge/gravity correspondence from open/closed string duality

We compute the annulus diagram corresponding to the interaction of a fractional D3 brane with a gauge field on its world-volume and a stack of N fractional D3 branes on the orbifolds C^2 /Z_2 and C^3/Z_2 x Z_2. We show that its logarithmic divergence can be equivalently understood as due either to massless open string states circulating in the loop or to massless closed string states exchanged between two boundary states. This follows from the fact that, under open/closed string duality, massless states in the open and closed string channels are matched into each other without mixing with massive states. This explains why the perturbative properties of many gauge theories living on the worldvolume of less supersymmetric and nonconformal branes have been recently obtained from their corresponding supergravity solution.

Erratum: AdS/CFT equivalence transformation [Phys. Rev. D66, 086001 (2002)

We show that any conformal field theory in d-dimensional Minkowski space, in a phase with spontaneously broken conformal symmetry and with the dilaton among its fields, can be rewritten in terms of the static gauge (d-1)-brane on AdS_(d+1) by means of an invertible change of variables. This nonlinear holographic transformation maps the Minkowski space coordinates onto the brane worldvolume ones and the dilaton onto the transverse AdS brane coordinate. One of the consequences of the existence of this map is that any (d-1)-brane worldvolume action on AdS_(d+1)\times X^m (with X^m standing for the sphere S^m or more complicated curved manifold) admits an equivalent description in Minkowski space as a nonlinear and higher-derivative extension of some conventional conformal field theory action, with the conformal group being realized in a standard way. The holographic transformation explicitly relates the standard realization of the conformal group to its field-dependent nonlinear realization as the isometry group of the brane AdS_(d+1) background. Some possible implications of this transformation, in particular, for the study of the quantum effective action of N=4 super Yang-Mills theory in the context of AdS/CFT correspondence, are briefly discussed.

AdS/CFT equivalence transformation

We show that any conformal field theory in d-dimensional Minkowski space, in a phase with spontaneously broken conformal symmetry and with the dilaton among its fields, can be rewritten in terms of the static gauge $(d\ensuremath{-}1)$-brane on ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{(d+1)}$ by means of an invertible change of variables. This nonlinear holographic transformation maps the Minkowski space coordinates onto the brane worldvolume ones and the dilaton onto the transverse AdS brane coordinate. One of the consequences of the existence of this map is that any $(d\ensuremath{-}1+m)$-brane worldvolume action on ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{(d+1)}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{X}^{m}$ (with ${X}^{m}$ standing for the sphere ${S}^{m}$ or more complicated curved manifold) admits an equivalent description in Minkowski space as a nonlinear and higher-derivative extension of some conventional conformal field theory action, with the conformal group being realized in a standard way. The holographic transformation explicitly relates the standard realization of the conformal group to its field-dependent nonlinear realization as the isometry group of the brane ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{(d+1)}$ background. Some possible implications of this transformation, in particular for the study of the quantum effective action of $\mathcal{N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory in the context of AdS/CFT correspondence, are briefly discussed.

Hamiltonian formulation of Noncommutative D3–Brane

Lagrangians of the Abelian Gauge Theory and its dual are related in terms of a shifted action. We show that in d=4 constrained Hamiltonian formulation of the shifted action yields Hamiltonian description of the dual theory, without referring to its Lagrangian. We apply this method, at the first order in the noncommutativity parameter theta, to the noncommutative U(1) gauge theory possessing spatial noncommutativity. Its dual theory is effectively a space--time noncommutative U(1) gauge theory. However, we obtain a Hamiltonian formulation where time is commuting. Space-time noncommutative D3--brane worldvolume Hamiltonian is derived as the dual of space noncommutative U(1) gauge theory. We show that a BPS like bound can be obtained and it is saturated for configurations which are the same with the ordinary D3-brane BIon and dyon solutions.

Nonvanishing cosmological constant of flat universe in brane-world scenario

The finite temperature effect is examined in Randall–Sundrum brane-world scenario with inclusion of the matter fields on the brane. At zero temperature it is found that the theory on the brane is conformally invariant, which guarantees AdS/CFT. At 4d effective action we derived a temperature-dependent nonvanishing cosmological constant at the flat spacetime limit of brane worldvolume. At the cosmological temperature 3 K the cosmological constant is roughly (0.0004 eV) 4 which is within the upper bound of the recent experimental value (0.01 eV) 4.

Supergravity Description of the LargeNNoncommutative Dipole Field Theories

We consider system of Dp-branes in the presence of a nonzero B field with one leg along brane worldvolume and the other transverse to it. We study the corresponding supergravity solutions and show that the worldvolume theories decouple from gravity for $p\leq 5$. Therefore these solutions provide dual description of large N noncommutative dipole field theories. We shall only consider those systems which preserve 8 supercharges in the branes worldvolume. We analyze the system of M5-branes and NS5-branes in the presence of nonzero C field and RR field with one leg along the transverse direction and the others along the worldvolume of the brane, respectively. This could provide a new deformation of (2,0) and little string field theories. Finally, we study the Wilson loops using the dual gravity descriptions.

Superconnections, anomalies and non-BPS brane charges

The properties of brane–antibrane systems and systems of unstable D-branes in Type II superstring theory are investigated using the formalism of superconnections. The low-energy open string dynamics is shown to be probed by generalized Dirac operators. The corresponding index theorems are used to compute the chiral gauge anomalies in these systems, and hence their gravitational and Ramond–Ramond couplings. A spectral action for the generalized Dirac operators is also computed and shown to exhibit precisely the expected processes of tachyon condensation on the brane worldvolumes. The Chern–Simons couplings are thereby shown to be naturally related to Fredholm modules and bivariant K-theory, confirming the expectations that D-brane charge is properly classified by K-homology.

Stacking non-BPS D-branes

We present a candidate supergravity solution for a stacked configuration of stable non-BPS D-branes in Type II string theory compactified on T^4/Z_2. This gives a supergravity description of nonabelian tachyon condensation on the brane worldvolume.

Extra Dimensions and the strong CP problem.

In higher dimensional theories, such as brane world models with quasilocalized non-Abelian gauge fields, the vacuum structure turns out to be trivial. Since the gauge theory behaves at large distances as a 4 + delta dimensional, thus the topology of the infinity is that of S(3+delta) rather than S(3). This topology does not support finite action instantonic configurations and thus the CP violating theta term vanishes on the brane world volume. As well there are no contributions to the straight theta term from the higher dimensional solitonic configurations. In this way, the strong CP problem is absent in the models with quasilocalized gluons.

(1+p)-dimensional open D(p−2) brane theories

The dynamics of a Dp brane can be described either by an open string ending on this brane or by an open D(p - 2) brane ending on the same Dp brane. The ends of the open string couple to a Dp brane worldvolume gauge field while the boundary of the open D(p - 2) brane couples to a (p - 2)-form worldvolume potential whose field strength is Poincare dual to that of the gauge field on the Dp-brane worldvolume. With this in mind, we find that the Poincare dual of the fixed rank-2 magnetic field used in defining a (1 + p)-dimensional noncommutative Yang-Mills (NCYM) gives precisely a near-critical electric field for the open D(p - 2) brane. We therefore find (1 + p)-dimensional open D(p - 2) brane theories along the same line as for obtaining noncommutative open string theories (NCOS), OM theory and open Dp brane theories (ODp) from NS5 brane. Similarly, the Poincare dual of the near-critical electric field used in defining a (1 + p)-dimensional NCOS gives a fixed magnetic-like field. This field along with the same bulk field scalings defines a (1 + p)-dimensional noncommutative field theory. In the same spirit, we can have various (1 + 5)-dimensional noncommutative field theories resulting from the existence of ODp if the description of open D(4 - p) brane ending on the NS5 brane is insisted.

P−p′ system with B field and projection operator noncommutative solitons

We study the system of the Dp'-brane with Dp-brane (p<p') inside, in the case where B_{ij} field is a nonvanishing constant. In order to understand how the Dp-brane is viewed from the Dp'-brane worldvolume theory, we investigate the process in which the Dp-brane is probed with p'-p' open string. We calculate the scattering amplitudes among p-p' open strings and p'-p' open strings and show that not only the Weyl transform of the projection operator onto the ground state but also those onto higher excited states emerge as multiplicative factors of the amplitudes.

Generic junction conditions in brane-world scenarios

We present the generic junction conditions obeyed by a co-dimension one brane in an arbitrary background spacetime. As well as the usual Darmois-Israel junction conditions which relate the discontinuity in the extrinsic curvature to the to the energy-momentum tensor of matter which is localized to the brane, we point out that another condition must also be obeyed. This condition, which is the analogous to Newton's second law for a point particle, is trivially satisfied when $Z_2$ symmetry is enforced by hand, but in more general circumstances governs the evolution of the brane world-volume. As an illustration of its effect we compute the force on the brane due to a form field.

D6 branes and M theory geometrical transitions from gauged supergravity

We study the supergravity duals of supersymmetric theories arising in the world-volume of D6 branes wrapping holomorphic two-cycles and special Lagrangian three-cycles within the framework of eight dimensional gauged supergravity. When uplifted to 11d, our solutions represent M-theory on the background of, respectively, the small resolution of the conifold and a manifold with G_2 holonomy. We further discuss on the flop and other possible geometrical transitions and its implications.

Comments on unstable branes

We argue that type II string theories contain unstable NS4 branes, which descend from a conjectured unstable M4 brane of M-theory. Assuming that an M2 brane can arise in M5 brane/anti-brane annihilation, the unstable M4 brane, and also an unstable M3 brane, must exist as sphalerons. We compare the tensions of the unstable NS4 branes, M4 brane, and related type II unstable D-branes, and present 11d supergravity solutions for unstable Mp branes for all p. We study the Z_2 gauge symmetry on the worldvolume of unstable branes, and argue that it can never be unbroken in the presence of lower brane charge.

Calibrations and Fayyazuddin-Smith spacetimes

We show that a class of spacetimes introduced by Fayyazuddin and Smith to describe intersecting M5-branes admit a generalized Kahler calibration. Equipped with this understanding, we are able to construct spacetimes corresponding to further classes of calibrated $p$-brane world-volume solitons. We note that these classes of spacetimes also describe the fields of $p$-branes wrapping certain supersymmetric cycles of Calabi-Yau manifolds.

Nonassociative Star Product Deformations for D -Brane World-Volumes in Curved Backgrounds

We investigate the deformation of D-brane world-volumes in curved backgrounds. We calculate the leading corrections to the boundary conformal field theory involving the background fields, and in particular we study the correlation functions of the resulting system. This allows us to obtain the world-volume deformation, identifying the open string metric and the noncommutative deformation parameter. The picture that unfolds is the following: when the gauge invariant combination \omega = B + F is constant one obtains the standard Moyal deformation of the brane world-volume. Similarly, when d\omega = 0 one obtains the noncommutative Kontsevich deformation, physically corresponding to a curved brane in a flat background. When the background is curved, H = d\omega \not= 0, we find that the relevant algebraic structure is still based on the Kontsevich expansion, which now defines a nonassociative star product with an A_\infty homotopy associative algebraic structure. We then recover, within this formalism, some known results of Matrix theory in curved backgrounds. In particular, we show how the effective action obtained in this framework describes, as expected, the dielectric effect of D-branes. The polarized branes are interpreted as a soliton, associated to the condensation of the brane gauge field.

Gravity in Randall–Sundrum brane world revisited

We point out some subtleties with gauge fixings (which sometimes include the so-called “brane bending” effects) typically used to compute the graviton propagator on the Randall–Sundrum brane. In particular, the brane, which has nonvanishing tension, explicitly breaks some part of the diffeomorphisms, so that there are subtleties arising in going to, say, the axial gauge or the harmonic gauge in the presence of (nonconformal) matter localized on the brane. We therefore compute the graviton propagator in the gauge where only the graviphoton fluctuations are set to zero (the diffeomorphisms necessary for this gauge fixing are intact), but the graviscalar component is untouched. We point out that in the Gaussian normal coordinates (where the graviscalar component vanishes on the brane) the graviton propagator blows up in the ultraviolet near the brane. In fact, the allowed gauge transformations, which do not lead to such ultraviolet behavior of the graviton propagator, are such that the coupling of the graviscalar to the brane matter cannot be gauged away in the ultraviolet. Because of this, at the quantum level, where we expect various additional terms to be generated in the brane world-volume action including those involving the graviscalar, fine-tuning (which is independent of that for the brane cosmological constant) is generically required to preserve consistent coupling between bulk gravity and brane matter. We also reiterate that in such warped backgrounds higher curvature terms in the bulk are generically expected to delocalize gravity.

D=4 chiral string compactifications from intersecting branes

Intersecting Dp-branes often give rise to chiral fermions living on their intersections. We study the construction of four-dimensional chiral gauge theories by considering configurations of type II D(3+n)-branes wrapped on nontrivial n-cycles on T2n×(R2(3−n)/ZN), for n=1, 2, 3. The gauge theories on the four noncompact dimensions of the brane world-volume are generically chiral and nonsupersymmetric. We analyze consistency conditions (RR tadpole cancellation) for these models, and their relation to four-dimensional anomaly cancellation. Cancellation of U(1) gauge anomalies involves a Green–Schwarz mechanism mediated by RR partners of untwisted and/or twisted moduli. This class of models is of potential phenomenological interest, and we construct explicit examples of SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) three-generation models. The models are nonsupersymmetric, but the string scale may be lowered close to the weak scale so that the standard hierarchy problem is avoided. We also comment on the presence of scalar tachyons and possible ways to avoid the associated instabilities. We discuss the existence of (meta)stable configurations of D-branes on 3-cycles in (T2)3, free of tachyons for certain ranges of the six-torus moduli.