Behavior of tachyon in string cosmology based on gauged WZW model

We investigate a string theoretic cosmological model in the context of the gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten model. Our model is based on a product of non-compact coset space and a spectator flat space; $[SL(2,R)/U(1)]_k \times {\bf R}^2$. We extend the formerly studied semiclassical consideration with infinite Kac-Moody level $k$ to a finite one. In this case, the tachyon field appears in the effective action, and we solve the Einstein equation to determine the behavior of tachyon as a function of time. We find that tachyon field dominates over dilaton field in early times. In particular, we consider the energy conditions of the matter fields consisting of the dilaton and the tachyon which affect the initial singularity. We find that not only the strong energy but also the null energy condition is violated.Comment: 10 figure

Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov-type equations for gauged WZNW models

We study correlation functions of coset constructions by utilizing the method of gauge dressing. As an example we apply this method to the minimal models and to the Witten 2D black hole. We exhibit a striking similarity between the latter and the gravitational dressing. In particular, we look for logarithmic operators in the 2D black hole.Comment: 24 pages, latex, no figures. More discussion of logarithmic operators was adde

Marginal Deformations of WZNW and Coset Models from O(d,d) Transformation

We show that O(2,2) transformation of SU(2) WZNW model gives rise to marginal deformation of this model by the operator $\int d^2 z J(z)\bar J(\bar z)$ where $J$, $\bar J$ are U(1) currents in the Cartan subalgebra. Generalization of this result to other WZNW theories is discussed. We also consider O(3,3) transformation of the product of an SU(2) WZNW model and a gauged SU(2) WZNW model. The three parameter set of models obtained after the transformation is shown to be the result of first deforming the product of two SU(2) WZNW theories by marginal operators of the form $\sum_{i,j=1}^2 C_{ij} J_i \bar J_j$, and then gauging an appropriate U(1) subgroup of the theory. Our analysis leads to a general conjecture that O(d,d) transformation of any WZNW model corresponds to marginal deformation of the WZNW theory by combination of appropriate left and right moving currents belonging to the Cartan subalgebra; and O(d,d) transformation of a gauged WZNW model can be identified to the gauged version of such marginally deformed WZNW models.Comment: 26 pages, phyzzx.tex, TIFR-TH-92-6

Subtleties in QCD theory in Two Dimensions

It is shown that in a formulation of Yang-Mills theory in two dimensions in terms of A=if^{-1}\pa f, \bar A=i\bar f\bpa\bar f^{-1} with $f(z,\bar z)$, $\bar f(z,\bar z)\in[SU(N_C)]^c$ the complexification of $SU(N_C)$ , reveals certain subtleties. ``Physical" massive color singlet states seem to exist. When coupled to $N_F$ quarks the coupling constant is renormalized in such a way that it vanishes for the pure Yang- Mills case. This renders the above states massless and unphysical. In the abelian case, on the other hand, the known results of the Schwinger model are reproduced with no need of such a renormalization. The massless $QCD_2$ theory is analyzed in similar terms and peculiar massive states appear, with a mass of $e_c\sqrt {N_F \over 2\pi}$.Comment: 21 page

Two Dimensional QCD coupled to Adjoint Matter and String Theory

We study $2d$ QCD coupled to fermions in the adjoint representation of the gauge group $SU(N)$ at large $N$, and its relation to string theory. It is shown that the model undergoes a deconfinement transition at a finite temperature (analogous to the Hagedorn transition in string theory), with certain winding modes in the Euclidean time direction turning tachyonic at high temperature. The theory is supersymmetric for a certain ratio of quark mass and gauge coupling. For other values of that ratio, supersymmetry is softly broken. The spectrum of bound states contains an infinite number of approximately linear Regge trajectories, approaching at large mass $M$, $\alpha^\prime M^2=\sum_i i l_i$ $(l_i\in{\bf Z_+})$. Thus, the theory exhibits an exponentially growing density of bosonic and fermionic states at high energy. We discuss these results in light of string expectations.Comment: harvmac, 19 pages, EFI-93-3

c=1 String Theory as a Topological G/G Model

The physical states on the free field Fock space of the {SL(2,R)\over SL(2,R) model at any level are computed. Using a similarity transformation on $Q_{BRST}$, the cohomology of the latter is mapped into a direct sum of simpler cohomologies. We show a one to one correspondence between the states of the $k=-1$ model and those of the $c=1$ string model. A full equivalence between the {SL(2,R)\over SL(2,R) and {SL(2,R)\over U(1) models at the level of their Fock space cohomologies is found.Comment: 19

On the twisted G/H topological models

The twisted G/H models are constructed as twisted supersymmetric gauged WZW models. We analyze the case of $G=SU(N)$, $H=SU(N_1)\times ...\times SU(N_n)\times U(1)^r$ with $rank\ G =\ rank\ H$, and discuss possible generalizations. We introduce a non-abelian bosonization of the $(1,0)$ ghost system in the adjoint of $H$ and in G/H. By computing chiral anomalies in the latter picture we write the quantum action as a decoupled sum of ``matter", gauge and ghost sectors. The action is also derived in the unbosonized version. We invoke a free field parametrization and extract the space of physical states by computing the cohomology of $Q$ , the sum of the BRST gauge-fixing charge and the twisted supersymmetry charge. For a given $G$ we briefly discuss the relation between the various G/H models corresponding to different choices of $H$. The choice $H=G$ corresponds to the topological G/G theory.Comment: 27 page

Knot invariants from rational conformal field theories

A framework for studying knot and link invariants from any rational conformal field theory is developed. In particular, minimal models, superconformal models and $W_N$ models are studied. The invariants are related to the invariants obtained from the Wess-Zumino models associated with the coset representations of these models. Possible Chern-Simons representation of these models is also indicated. This generalises the earlier work on knot and link invariants from Chern-Simons theories.Comment: 18pages+6 figures (available on request through email

The Spectrum of Sl(2, R)/U(1) Black Hole Conformal Field Theory

We study string theory in the background of a two-dimensional black hole which is described by an $SL(2, R)/U(1)$ coset conformal field theory. We determine the spectrum of this conformal field theory using supersymmetric quantum mechanics and give an explicit form of the vertex operators in terms of the Jacobi functions. We also discuss the applicability of SUSY quantum mechanics techniques to non-linear $\sigma$-models.Comment: 21 page

Cosmological String Backgrounds from Gauged WZW Models

We discuss the four-dimensional target-space interpretation of bosonic strings based on gauged WZW models, in particular of those based on the non-compact coset space $SL(2,{\bf R})\times SO(1,1)^2 /SO(1,1)$. We show that these theories lead, apart from the recently broadly discussed black-hole type of backgrounds, to cosmological string backgrounds, such as an expanding Universe. Which of the two cases is realized depends on the sign of the level of the corresponding Kac-Moody algebra. We discuss various aspects of these new cosmological string backgrounds.Comment: 11 page