An A_r threesome: Matrix models, 2d CFTs and 4d N=2 gauge theories

We explore the connections between three classes of theories: A_r quiver matrix models, d=2 conformal A_r Toda field theories and d=4 N=2 supersymmetric conformal A_r quiver gauge theories. In particular, we analyse the quiver matrix models recently introduced by Dijkgraaf and Vafa and make detailed comparisons with the corresponding quantities in the Toda field theories and the N=2 quiver gauge theories. We also make a speculative proposal for how the matrix models should be modified in order for them to reproduce the instanton partition functions in quiver gauge theories in five dimensions.Comment: 43 pages; v2: minor typos corrected, reference added. v3: Added clarifying discussions in sections 4.1 and 5.1; typos correcte

The Dynamics of Knotted Strings Attached to D-Branes

We extend the general solution to the Cauchy problem for the relativistic closed string (Phys. Lett. B404 (1997) 57-65, hep-th/9704084) to the case of open strings attached to Dp-branes, including the cases where the initial data has a knotlike topology. We use this extended solution to derive intrinsic dynamical properties of open and closed relativistic strings attached to Dp-branes. We also study the singularity structure and the oscillating periods of this extended solution.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, Plain Te

Borel and Stokes Nonperturbative Phenomena in Topological String Theory and c=1 Matrix Models

We address the nonperturbative structure of topological strings and c=1 matrix models, focusing on understanding the nature of instanton effects alongside with exploring their relation to the large-order behavior of the 1/N expansion. We consider the Gaussian, Penner and Chern-Simons matrix models, together with their holographic duals, the c=1 minimal string at self-dual radius and topological string theory on the resolved conifold. We employ Borel analysis to obtain the exact all-loop multi-instanton corrections to the free energies of the aforementioned models, and show that the leading poles in the Borel plane control the large-order behavior of perturbation theory. We understand the nonperturbative effects in terms of the Schwinger effect and provide a semiclassical picture in terms of eigenvalue tunneling between critical points of the multi-sheeted matrix model effective potentials. In particular, we relate instantons to Stokes phenomena via a hyperasymptotic analysis, providing a smoothing of the nonperturbative ambiguity. Our predictions for the multi-instanton expansions are confirmed within the trans-series set-up, which in the double-scaling limit describes nonperturbative corrections to the Toda equation. Finally, we provide a spacetime realization of our nonperturbative corrections in terms of toric D-brane instantons which, in the double-scaling limit, precisely match D-instanton contributions to c=1 minimal strings.Comment: 71 pages, 14 figures, JHEP3.cls; v2: added refs, minor change

Nonperturbative Ambiguities and the Reality of Resurgent Transseries

In a wide range of quantum theoretical settings -- from quantum mechanics to quantum field theory, from gauge theory to string theory -- singularities in the complex Borel plane, usually associated to instantons or renormalons, render perturbation theory ill-defined as they give rise to nonperturbative ambiguities. These ambiguities are associated to choices of an integration contour in the resummation of perturbation theory, along (singular) Stokes directions in the complex Borel plane (rendering perturbative expansions non-Borel summable along any Stokes line). More recently, it has been shown that the proper framework to address these issues is that of resurgent analysis and transseries. In this context, the cancelation of all nonperturbative ambiguities is shown to be a consequence of choosing the transseries median resummation as the appropriate family of unambiguous real solutions along the coupling-constant real axis. While the median resummation is easily implemented for one-parameter transseries, once one considers more general multi-parameter transseries the procedure becomes highly dependent upon properly understanding Stokes transitions in the complex Borel plane. In particular, all Stokes coefficients must now be known in order to explicitly implement multi-parameter median resummations. In the cases where quantum-theoretical physical observables are described by resurgent functions and transseries, the methods described herein show how one may cancel nonperturbative ambiguities, and define these observables nonperturbatively starting out from perturbation theory. Along the way, structural results concerning resurgent transseries are also obtained.Comment: 62 pages, 4 figures; v2: corrected typos, added small discussion on topological sectors, two new figure

The Resurgence of Instantons in String Theory

Nonperturbative effects in string theory are usually associated to D-branes. In many cases it can be explicitly shown that D-brane instantons control the large-order behavior of string perturbation theory, leading to the well-known (2g)! growth of the genus expansion. This paper presents a detailed treatment of nonperturbative solutions in string theory, and their relation to the large-order behavior of perturbation theory, making use of transseries and resurgent analysis. These are powerful techniques addressing general nonperturbative contributions within non-linear systems, which are developed at length herein as they apply to string theory. The cases of topological strings, the Painleve I equation describing 2d quantum gravity, and the quartic matrix model, are explicitly addressed. These results generalize to minimal strings and general matrix models. It is shown that, in order to completely understand string theory at a fully nonperturbative level, new sectors are required beyond the standard D-brane sector.Comment: 108 pages; v2,v3: references added; v4: improved pedagogical content, final version for CNTP; v5: typos correcte

Asymptotic Quasinormal Frequencies for Black Holes in Non-Asymptotically Flat Spacetimes

The exact computation of asymptotic quasinormal frequencies is a technical problem which involves the analytic continuation of a Schrodinger-like equation to the complex plane and then performing a method of monodromy matching at the several poles in the plane. While this method was successfully used in asymptotically flat spacetime, as applied to both the Schwarzschild and Reissner-Nordstrom solutions, its extension to non-asymptotically flat spacetimes has not been achieved yet. In this work it is shown how to extend the method to this case, with the explicit analysis of Schwarzschild de Sitter and large Schwarzschild Anti-de Sitter black holes, both in four dimensions. We obtain, for the first time, analytic expressions for the asymptotic quasinormal frequencies of these black hole spacetimes, and our results match previous numerical calculations with great accuracy. We also list some results concerning the general classification of asymptotic quasinormal frequencies in d-dimensional spacetimes.Comment: JHEP3.cls, 20 pages, 5 figures; v2: added references, typos corrected, minor changes, final version for JMP; v3: more typos fixe