Semiclassical String Solutions on 1/2 BPS Geometries

We study semiclassical string solutions on the 1/2 BPS geometry of type IIB string theory characterized by concentric rings on the boundary plane. We consider both folded rotating strings carrying nonzero R-charge and circular pulsating strings. We find that unlike rotating strings, as far as circular pulsating strings are concerned, the dynamics remains qualitatively unchanged when the concentric rings replace AdS_5\times S^5. Using the gravity dual we have also studied the Wilson loop of the corresponding gauge theory. The result is qualitatively the same as that in AdS_5\times S^5 in the global coordinates where the corresponding gauge theory is defined on S^3\times R. We show that there is a correction to 1/L leading order behavior of the potential between external objects.Comment: 17 pages, latex file, v2: refs. adde

Quasi-Normal Modes of Extremal BTZ Black Holes in TMG

We study the spectrum of tensor perturbations on extremal BTZ black holes in topologically massive gravity for arbitrary values of the coefficient of the Chern-Simons term, $\mu$. Imposing proper boundary conditions at the boundary of the space and at the horizon, we find that the spectrum contains quasi-normal modes.Comment: 18 pages, Latex, Ref's added, Typos correcte

On Isolated Conformal Fixed Points and Noncritical String Theory

We search for the gravity description of unidentified field theories at their conformal fixed points by studying the low energy effective action of six dimensional noncritical string theory. We find constant dilaton solutions by solving both the equations of motion and BPS equations. Our solutions include a free parameter provided by a stack of uncharged space filling branes. We find several AdS_p\times S^q solutions with constant radii for AdS_p and S^q. The curvature of the solutions are of the order of the string scale.Comment: 17 pages, Latex fil

Circular Semiclassical String solutions on Confining AdS/CFT Backgrounds

We study multiwrapped circular string pulsating in the radial direction of AdS black hole. We compute the energy of this string as a function of a large quantum number n. One then could associate it with energy and a quantum number of states in the dual finite temperature {\cal N}=4 SYM theory as well as three dimensional pure gauge theory. We observe that the n dependence of the energy has a universal form. We have also considered pulsating string in the background of the near-extremal D4-brane solution. Circular pulsating membrane in M-theory on AdS_7\times S^4 has also been studied.Comment: 14 pages, latex, v2: typos corrected, refs. adde

2D Gravity on AdS2AdS_2 with Chern-Simons Corrections

We study 2D Maxwell-dilaton gravity with higher order corrections given by the Chern-Simons term. The model admits three distinctive $AdS_2$ vacuum solutions. By making use of the entropy function formalism we find the entropy of the solutions which is corrected due to the presence of the Chern-Simons term. We observe that the form of the correction depends not only on the coefficient of the Chern-Simons term, but also on the sign of the electric charge; pointing toward the chiral nature of the dual CFT. Using the asymptotic symmetry of the theory as well as requiring a consistent picture we can find the central charge and the level of U(1) current. Upon uplifting the solutions to three dimensions we get purely geometric solutions which will be either $AdS_3$ or warped $AdS_3$ with an identification.Comment: 15 pages; V2: refs adde

Dual Spikes; New Spiky String Solutions

We find a new class of spiky solutions for closed strings in flat, $AdS_3\subset AdS_5$ and $R\times S^2(\subset S^5)$ backgrounds. In the flat case the new solutions turn out to be T-dual configurations of spiky strings found by Kruczenski hep-th/0410226. In the case of solutions living in $AdS$, we make a semi classical analysis by taking the large angular momentum limit. The anomalous dimension for these dual spikes is similar to that for rotating and pulsating circular strings in AdS with angular momentum playing the role of the level number. This replaces the well known logarithmic dependence for spinning strings. For the dual spikes living on sphere we find that no large angular momentum limit exists.Comment: Added reference

On Effective Superpotentials and Compactification to Three Dimensions

We study four dimensional N=2 SO/SP supersymmetric gauge theory on R^3\times S^1 deformed by a tree level superpotential. We will show that the exact superpotential can be obtained by making use of the Lax matrix of the corresponding integrable model which is the periodic Toda lattice. The connection between vacua of SO(2N) and SO(2kN-2k+2) can also be seen in this framework. Similar analysis can also be applied for SO(2N+1) and SP(2N).Comment: 18 pages, latex file, v2: typos corrected, refs adde

Semiclassical String Solutions on deformed NS5-brane Backgrounds and New Plane wave

We study different Penrose limits of supergravity solution of NS5-brane in the presence of RR field. Although in the case of NS5-brane we get a 4-dimensional plane wave, in the case with RR field we will get two different plane waves; a 4-dimensional and a 3-dimensional one. These plane wave solutions are the backgrounds that a particular string solution feels at one loop approximation. Using the one loop correction one can identify a particular subsector of LST/deformed LST which is dual to type II string theories on these plane waves.Comment: 18 pages, latex, v2: Minor changes, typos correcte

Multi-spin string solutions in AdS Black Hole and confining backgrounds

We study semi-classical multi-spin strings in the non-supersymmetric backgrounds of $AdS$ Black Hole and Witten's confining model. We consider constant radius strings with rotations along the isometries of the backgrounds. In the $AdS$ Black Hole, solutions exist only if there is a non-zero spin in the Black Hole part. In contrast with the $AdS$ background, we find solutions which although have no rotation in the $S^5$ part, have a regular $\lambda$ expansion in the expression for large energy. In the near-extremal $D_3$ and $D_4$ backgrounds, we find that strings have to be located on the confining wall. We also discuss the stability of solutions by considering the fluctuation Lagrangians.Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX, references adde