Two AdS2 branes in the Euclidean AdS3

We compute the density of open strings stretching between AdS2 branes in the Euclidean AdS3. This is done by solving the factorization constraint of a degenerate boundary field, and the result is checked by a Cardy-type computation. We mention applications to branes in the Minkowskian AdS3 and its cigar coset.Comment: 5 pages, some arguments clarified, version published in JHE

Boundary three-point function on AdS2 D-branes

Using the H3+-Liouville relation, I explicitly compute the boundary three-point function on AdS2 D-branes in H3+, and check that it exhibits the expected symmetry properties and has the correct geometrical limit. I then find a simple relation between this boundary three-point function and certain fusing matrix elements, which suggests a formal correspondence between the AdS2 D-branes and discrete representations of the symmetry group. Concluding speculations deal with the fuzzy geometry of AdS2 D-branes, strings in the Minkowskian AdS3, and the hypothetical existence of new D-branes in H3+.Comment: 27 pages, v2: significant clarifications added in sections 4.3 and

A family of solvable non-rational conformal field theories

We find non-rational conformal field theories in two dimensions, which are solvable due to their correlators being related to correlators of Liouville theory. Their symmetry algebra consists of the dimension-two stress-energy tensor, and two dimension-one fields. The theories come in a family with two parameters: the central charge c and a complex number m. The special case m=0 corresponds to Liouville theory (plus two free bosons), and m=1 corresponds to the H3+ model. In the case m=2 we show that the correlators obey third-order differential equations, which are associated to a subsingular vector of the symmetry algebra.Comment: 14 pages, v2: role of subsingular vectors clarifie

Minisuperspace limit of the AdS3 WZNW model

We derive the three-point function of the AdS3 WZNW model in the minisuperspace limit by Wick rotation from the H3+ model. The result is expressed in terms of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients of the Lie algebra sl(2,R). We also introduce a covariant basis of functions on AdS3, which can be interpreted as bulk-boundary propagators.Comment: 19 pages, v2: added section 2.4 about the completeness of bases of function

Some comments on Anti-de Sitter D-branes

We present some preliminary investigations about the AdS2*S2 D3-branes in AdS3*S3. We analyse the quadratic fluctuations of Dirac-Born-Infeld action around a given semi-classical D-brane configuration and compare them with results obtained by using conformal field theory techniques. We finally study classical motions of open strings attached to those D-branes and analyse the role of the spectral flow in this context.Comment: 12 pages, no figure

On AGT description of N=2 SCFT with N_f=4

We consider Alday-Gaiotto-Tachikawa (AGT) realization of the Nekrasov partition function of N=2 SCFT. We focus our attention on the SU(2) theory with N_f=4 flavor symmetry, whose partition function, according to AGT, is given by the Liouville four-point function on the sphere. The gauge theory with N_f=4 is known to exhibit SO(8) symmetry. We explain how the Weyl symmetry transformations of SO(8) flavor symmetry are realized in the Liouville theory picture. This is associated to functional properties of the Liouville four-point function that are a priori unexpected. In turn, this can be thought of as a non-trivial consistency check of AGT conjecture. We also make some comments on elementary surface operators and WZW theory.Comment: 18 pages. v2, a misinterpretation in the gauge theory side has been corrected; title and introduction were changed accordingl

Winding Strings in AdS_3

Correlation functions of one unit spectral flowed states in string theory on AdS_3 are considered. We present the modified Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov and null vector equations to be satisfied by amplitudes containing states in winding sector one and study their solution corresponding to the four point function including one w=1 field. We compute the three point function involving two one unit spectral flowed operators and find expressions for amplitudes of three w=1 states satisfying certain particular relations among the spins of the fields. Several consistency checks are performed.Comment: 35 pages. v2. Important additions: one more author, complete results for the 3-point function with two w=1 states and new section with computation of 4-point function with one w=1 state. Acknowledgments and references modifie

Continuously Crossing u=z in the H3+ Boundary CFT

For AdS boundary conditions, we give a solution of the H3+ two point function involving degenerate field with SL(2)-label b^{-2}/2, which is defined on the full (u,z) unit square. It consists of two patches, one for z<u and one for u<z. Along the u=z "singularity", the solutions from both patches are shown to have finite limits and are merged continuously as suggested by the work of Hosomichi and Ribault. From this two point function, we can derive b^{-2}/2-shift equations for AdS_2 D-branes. We show that discrete as well as continuous AdS_2 branes are consistent with our novel shift equations without any new restrictions.Comment: version to appear in JHEP - 12 pages now; sign error with impact on some parts of the interpretation fixed; material added to become more self-contained; role of bulk-boundary OPE in section 4 more carefully discussed; 3 references adde