Alternative string theory in twistor space for N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory

In this Letter, an alternative string theory in twistor space is proposed for describing perturbative N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory. Like the recent proposal of Witten, this string theory uses twistor worldsheet variables and has manifest spacetime superconformal invariance. However, in this proposal, tree-level super-Yang-Mills amplitudes come from open string tree amplitudes as opposed to coming from D-instanton contributions.

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.

Towards a UV completion of chameleons in string theory

Chameleons are scalar fields that couple directly to ordinary matter with gravitational strength, but which nevertheless evade the stringent constraints on tests of gravity because of properties they acquire in the presence of high ambient matter density. Chameleon theories were originally constructed in a bottom-up, phenomenological fashion, with potentials and matter couplings designed to hide the scalar from experiments. In this paper, we attempt to embed the chameleon scenario within string compactifications, thus UV completing the scenario. We look for stabilized potentials that can realize a screening mechanism, and we find that the volume modulus rather generically works as a chameleon, and in fact the supersymmetric potential used by Kachru, Kallosh, Linde and Trivedi (KKLT) is an example of this type. We consider all constraints from tests of gravity, allowing us to put experimental constraints on the KKLT parameters.

Towards a Realization of the Condensed-Matter-Gravity Correspondence in String Theory via Consistent Abelian Truncation of the Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena Model

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The tension as perturbative parameter in string theory

The author proposes an approach to string theory where the zero-order theory is the null string. An explicit form of the propagator for the null string in the momentum space is found. Considering the tension as a perturbative parameter, the perturbative series is completely summable and the propagator of the bosonic open string with tension T is found.

New phenomenon of nonlinear Regge trajectory and quantum dual string theory

The relation between the spin and the mass of an infinite number of particles in a q-deformed dual string theory is studied. For the deformation parameter q a root of unity, in addition to the relation of such values of q with the rational conformal field theory, the Fock space of each oscillator mode in the Fubini-Veneziano operator formulation becomes truncated. Thus, based on general physical grounds, the resulting spin-(mass)2 relation is expected to be below the usual linear trajectory. For such specific values of q, we find that the linear Regge trajectory turns into a square-root trajectory as the mass increases.

Self-dual super-Yang-Mills as a string theory in (x, θ) 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, θ) 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. © SISSA/ISAS 2004.

Conformal supergravity in twistor-string theory

Conformal supergravity arises in presently known formulations of twistor-string theory either via closed strings or via gauge-singlet open strings. We explore this sector of twistor-string theory, relating the relevant string modes to the particles and fields of conformal supergravity. We use the twistor-string theory to compute some tree level scattering amplitudes with supergravitons. Since the supergravitons interact with the same coupling constant as the Yang-Mills fields, conformal supergravity states will contribute to loop amplitudes of Yang-Mills gluons in these theories. Those loop amplitudes will therefore not coincide with the loop amplitudes of pure super Yang-Mills theory. © SISSA/ISAS 2004.

Cubic twistorial string field theory

Witten has recently proposed a string theory in twistor space whose D-instanton contributions are conjectured to compute M = 4 super-Yang-Mills scattering amplitudes. An alternative string theory in twistor space was then proposed whose open string tree amplitudes reproduce the D-instanton computations of maximal degree in Witten's model. In this paper, a cubic open string field theory action is constructed for this alternative string in twistor space, and is shown to be invariant under parity transformations which exchange MHV and googly amplitudes. Since the string field theory action is gauge-invariant and reproduces the correct cubic super-Yang-Mills interactions, it provides strong support for the conjecture that the string theory correctly computes N-point super-Yang-Mills tree amplitudes. © SISSA/ISAS 2004.

Application of open string ?eld theory to the in?ationary scenario

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Quantum state density and critical temperature in M-theory

We discuss the asymptotic properties of quantum states density for fundamental p-branes which can yield a microscopic interpretation of the thermodynamic quantities in M-theory. The matching of the BPS part of spectrum for superstring and supermembrane gives the possibility of getting membrane's results via string calculations. In the weak coupling limit of M-theory, the critical behavior coincides with the first-order phase transition in the standard string theory at temperature less than the Hagedorn's temperature T-H. The critical temperature at large coupling constant is computed by considering M-theory on manifold with topology R-9 circle times T-2. Alternatively we argue that any finite temperature can be introduced in the framework of membrane thermodynamics.

Pure spinor formalism as an N=2 topological string

Following suggestions of Nekrasov and Siegel, a non-minimal set of fields are added to the pure spinor formalism for the superstring. Twisted (c) over cap = 3 N = 2 generators are then constructed where the pure spinor BRST operator is the fermionic spin-one generator, and the formalism is interpreted as a critical topological string. Three applications of this topological string theory include the super-Poincare covariant computation of multiloop superstring amplitudes without picture-changing operators, the construction of a cubic open superstring field theory without contact-term problems, and a new four-dimensional version of the pure spinor formalism which computes F-terms in the spacetime action.

Quantum states, thermodynamic limits, and entropy in M theory

We discuss the matching of the BPS part of the spectrum for a (super) membrane, which gives the possibility of getting the membrane's results via string calculations. In the small coupling limit of M theory the entropy of the system coincides with the standard entropy of type IIB string theory (including the logarithmic correction term). The thermodynamic behavior at a large coupling constant is computed by considering M theory on a manifold with a topology T-2 x R-9. We argue that the finite temperature partition functions (brane Laurent series for p not equal 1) associated with the BPS p-brane spectrum can be analytically continued to well-defined functionals. It means that a finite temperature can be introduced in brane theory, which behaves like finite temperature field theory. In the limit p --> 0 (point particle limit) it gives rise to the standard behavior of thermodynamic quantities.

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).

Abelian-Higgs and vortices from ABJM: towards a string realization of AdS/CMT

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)