The Spectrum of Strings on Warped AdS_3 x S^3

String theory on NS-NS AdS_3 x S^3 admits an exactly marginal deformation which breaks the SL(2,R)_R x SL(2,R)_L isometry of AdS_3 down to SL(2,R)_R x U(1)_L. The holographic dual is an exotic and only partially understood type of two-dimensional CFT with a reduced unbroken global conformal symmetry group. In this paper we study the deformed theory on the string worldsheet. It is found to be related by a spectral flow which is nonlocal in spacetime to the undeformed worldsheet theory. An exact formula for the spectrum of massive strings is presented.Comment: 26 pages, no figure

Giant Magnons

Studies of ${\cal N}=4$ super Yang Mills operators with large R-charge have shown that, in the planar limit, the problem of computing their dimensions can be viewed as a certain spin chain. These spin chains have fundamental ``magnon'' excitations which obey a dispersion relation that is periodic in the momentum of the magnons. This result for the dispersion relation was also shown to hold at arbitrary 't Hooft coupling. Here we identify these magnons on the string theory side and we show how to reconcile a periodic dispersion relation with the continuum worldsheet description. The crucial idea is that the momentum is interpreted in the string theory side as a certain geometrical angle. We use these results to compute the energy of a spinning string. We also show that the symmetries that determine the dispersion relation and that constrain the S-matrix are the same in the gauge theory and the string theory. We compute the overall S-matrix at large 't Hooft coupling using the string description and we find that it agrees with an earlier conjecture. We also find an infinite number of two magnon bound states at strong coupling, while at weak coupling this number is finite.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figures, latex v2: references adde

Canonical Quantization of Open String and Noncommutative Geometry

We perform canonical quantization of open strings in the $D$-brane background with a $B$-field. Treating the mixed boundary condition as a primary constraint, we get a set of secondary constraints. Then these constraints are shown to be equivalent to orbifold conditions to be imposed on normal string modes. These orbifold conditions are a generalization of the familiar orbifold conditions which arise when we describe open strings in terms of closed strings. Solving the constraints explicitly, we obtain a simple Hamiltonian for the open string, which reveals the nature of noncommutativity transparently.Comment: 14 pages, RevTex, added reference

Parton picture for the strongly coupled SYM plasma

Deep inelastic scattering off the strongly coupled N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills plasma at finite temperature can be computed within the AdS/CFT correspondence, with results which are suggestive of a parton picture for the plasma. Via successive branchings, essentially all partons cascade down to very small values of the longitudinal momentum fraction x and to transverse momenta smaller than the saturation momentum Q_s\sim T/x. This scale Q_s controls the plasma interactions with a hard probe, in particular, the jet energy loss and its transverse momentum broadening.Comment: 4 pages, Talk given at Quark Matter 2008: 20th International Conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus Nucleus Collisions (QM 2008), Jaipur, India, 4-10 Feb 200

Spectral Flow in AdS(3)/CFT(2)

We study the spectral flowed sectors of the H3 WZW model in the context of the holographic duality between type IIB string theory in AdS(3)x S^3 x T^4 with NSNS flux and the symmetric product orbifold of T^4. We construct explicitly the physical vertex operators in the flowed sectors that belong to short representations of the superalgebra, thus completing the bulk-to-boundary dictionary for 1/2 BPS states. We perform a partial calculation of the string three-point functions of these operators. A complete calculation would require the three-point couplings of non-extremal flowed operators in the H3 WZW model, which are at present unavailable. In the unflowed sector, perfect agreement has recently been found between the bulk and boundary three-point functions of 1/2 BPS operators. Assuming that this agreement persists in the flowed sectors, we determine certain unknown three-point couplings in the H3 WZW model in terms of three-point couplings of affine descendants in the SU(2) WZW model.Comment: 50 pages, 2 figure

One-loop corrections to AdS_5 x S^5 superstring partition function via Pohlmeyer reduction

We discuss semiclassical expansions around a class of classical string configurations lying in AdS_3 x S^1 using the Pohlmeyer-reduced from of the AdS_5 x S^5 superstring theory. The Pohlmeyer reduction of the AdS_5 x S^5 superstring theory is a gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten model with an integrable potential and two-dimensional fermionic fields. It was recently conjectured that the quantum string partition function is equal to the quantum reduced theory partition function. Continuing the previous paper (arXiv:0906.3800) where arbitrary solutions in AdS_2 x S^2 and homogeneous solutions were considered, we provide explicit demonstration of this conjecture at the one-loop level for several string solutions in AdS_3 x S^1 embedded into AdS_5 x S^5. Quadratic fluctuations derived in the reduced theory for inhomogeneous strings are equivalent to respective fluctuations found from the Nambu action in the original string theory. We also show the equivalence of fluctuation frequencies for homogeneous strings with both the orbital momentum and the winding on a big circle of S^5.Comment: 45 pages, references added, minor correction

On Central Charges and Hamiltonians for 0-brane dynamics

We consider general properties of central charges of zero branes and associated duality invariants, in view of their double role, on the bulk and on the world volume (quantum-mechanical) theory. A detailed study of the BPS condition for the mass spectrum arising from toroidal compactifications is given for 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 BPS states in any dimensions. As a byproduct, we retreive the U-duality invariant conditions on the charge (zero mode) spectrum and the orbit classification of BPS states preserving different fractions of supersymmetry. The BPS condition for 0-branes in theories with 16 supersymmetries in any dimension is also discussed.Comment: 23 pages, latex fil

Integrable achiral D5-brane reflections and asymptotic Bethe equations

We study the reflection of magnons from a D5-brane in the framework of the AdS/CFT correspondence. We consider two possible orientations of the D5-brane with respect to the reference vacuum state, namely vacuum states aligned along "vertical" and "horizontal" directions. We show that the reflections are of the achiral type. We also show that the reflection matrices satisfy the boundary Yang-Baxter equations for both orientations. In the horizontal case the reflection matrix can be interpreted in terms of a bulk S-matrix, S(p, -p), and factorizability of boundary scattering therefore follows from that of bulk scattering. Finally, we solve the nested coordinate Bethe ansatz for the system in the vertical case to find the Bethe equations. In the horizontal case, the Bethe equations are of the same form as those for the closed string.Comment: 27 pages, 4 figures, v2: published versio

Comments on the Boundary Scattering Phase

We present a simple solution to the crossing equation for an open string worldsheet reflection matrix, with boundaries preserving a SU(1|2)^2 residual symmetry, which constrains the boundary dressing factor. In addition, we also propose an analogous crossing equation for the dressing factor where extra boundary degrees of freedom preserve a SU(2|2)^2 residual symmetry.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures; v2: affiliation correcte

BPS Condensates, Matrix Models and Emergent String Theory

A prescription is given for computing anomalous dimensions of single trace operators in SYM at strong coupling and large $N$ using a reduced model of matrix quantum mechanics. The method involves treating some parts of the operators as "BPS condensates" which, in certain limit, have a dual description as null geodesics on the $S^5$. In the gauge theory, the condensate is similar to a representative of the chiral ring and it is described by a background of commuting matrices. Excitations around these condensates correspond to excitations around this background and take the form of "string bits" which are dual to the "giant magnons" of Hofman and Maldacena. In fact, the matrix model approach gives a {\it quantum} description of these string configurations and explains why the infinite momentum limit suppresses the quantum effects. This method allows, not only to derive part of the classical sigma model Hamiltonian of the dual string (in the infinite momentum limit), but also its quantum canonical structure. Therefore, it provides an alternative method of testing the AdS/CFT correspondence without the need of integrability.Comment: 36 pages, 1 figure, 2 appendices, v2: references adde