Conformal field theory of AdS background with Ramond-Ramond flux

We review a formalism of superstring quantization with manifest six-dimensional spacetime supersymmetry, and apply it to AdS(3) x S-3 backgrounds with Ramond-Ramond flux. The resulting description is a conformal field theory based on a sigma model whose target space is a certain supergroup SU' (2\2).

N=2 superconformal description of superstring in Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds

Using the U(4) formalism developed ten years ago, the worldsheet action for the superstring in Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds is expressed in a manifestly N = (2, 2) superconformally invariant manner. This simplifies the construction of consistent Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds and eliminates the problems associated with light-cone interaction point operators.

Self-dual super-Yang-Mills as a string theory in (x, 0) space

Different string theories in twistor space have recently been proposed for describing N = 4 super-Yang-Mills. In this paper, a string theory in (x, theta) space is constructed for self-dual N = 4 super-Yang-Mills. It is hoped that these results will be useful for understanding the twistor-string proposals and their possible relation with the pure spinor formalism of the d = 10 superstring.

Pure spinor superspace identities for massless four-point kinematic factors

Using the pure spinor formalism we prove identities which relate the tree-level, one-loop and two-loop kinematic factors for massless four-point amplitudes. From these identities it follows that the complete supersymmetric one- and two-loop amplitudes are immediately known once the tree-level kinematic factor is evaluated. In particular, the two-loop equivalence with the RNS formalism (up to an overall coefficient) is obtained as a corollary.

Pure spinors, twistors, and emergent supersymmetry

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

One-loop superstring amplitude from integrals on pure spinors space

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Taming the b antighost with Ramond-Ramond flux

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Type I supergravity effective action from pure spinor formalism

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Pure spinor vertex operators in Siegel gauge and loop amplitude regularization

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Regularizing cubic open Neveu-Schwarz string field theory

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Towards a worldsheet derivation of the Maldacena conjecture

A U(2,2 vertical bar 4)-invariant A-model constructed from fermionic superfields has recently been proposed as a sigma model for the superstring on AdS(5) X S(5). After explaining the relation of this A-model with the pure spinor formalism, the A-model action is expressed as a gauged linear sigma model. In the zero radius limit, the Coulomb branch of this sigma model is interpreted as D-brane holes which are related to gauge-invariant N = 4 d=4 super-Yang-Mills operators. As in the worldsheet derivation of open-closed duality for Chem-Simons theory, this construction may lead to a worldsheet derivation of the Maldacena conjecture. Intriguing connections to the twistorial formulation of N = 4 Yang-Mills are also noted. (Republished with permission of JHEP from JHEP 0803:031, 2008.)

The cohomology of superspace, pure spinors and invariant integrals

The superform construction of supersymmetric invariants, which consists of integrating the top component of a closed superform over spacetime, is reviewed. The cohomological methods necessary for the analysis of closed superforms are discussed and some further theoretical developments presented. The method is applied to higher-order corrections in heterotic string theory up to alpha'(3). Some partial results on N = 2, d = 10 and N = 1, d = 11 are also given.

Dimensional reduction of the ABJM model

We dimensionally reduce the ABJM model, obtaining a two-dimensional theory that can be thought of as a 'master action'. This encodes information about both T- and S-duality, i.e. describes fundamental (F1) and D-strings (D1) in 9 and 10 dimensions. The Higgsed theory at large VEV, (v) over tilde, and large k yields D1-brane actions in 9d and 10d, depending on which auxiliary fields are integrated out. For N = 1 there is a map to a Green-Schwarz string wrapping a nontrivial circle in C(4)/Z(k).

Finite dimensional vertex

The spectrum of linearized excitations of the Type IIB SUGRA on AdS(5) x S-5 contains both unitary and non-unitary representations. Among the non-unitary, some are finite-dimensional. We explicitly construct the pure spinor vertex operators for a family of such finite-dimensional representations. The construction can also be applied to in finite-dimensional representations, including unitary, although it becomes in this case somewhat less explicit.

Cornering the unphysical vertex

In the classical pure spinor worldsheet theory of AdS(5) x S-5 there are some vertex operators which do not correspond to any physical excitations. We study their flat space limit. We find that the BRST operator of the worldsheet theory in flat space-time can be nontrivially deformed without deforming the worldsheet action. Some of these deformations describe the linear dilaton background. But the deformation corresponding to the nonphysical vertex differs from the linear dilaton in not being worldsheet parity even. The nonphysically deformed worldsheet theory has nonzero beta-function at one loop. This means that the classical Type IIB SUGRA backgrounds are not completely characterized by requiring the BRST symmetry of the classical worldsheet theory; it is also necessary to require the vanishing of the one-loop beta-function.