T-Duality and Two-Loop Renormalization Flows

Manifest T-duality covariance of the one-loop renormalization group flows is shown for a generic bosonic sigma model with an abelian isometry, by referring a set of previously derived consistency conditions to the tangent space of the target. For a restricted background, T-duality transformations are then studied at the next order, and the ensuing consistency conditions are found to be satisfied by the two-loop Weyl anomaly coefficients of the model. This represents an extremely non-trivial test of the covariance of renormalization group flows under T-duality, and a stronger condition than T-duality invariance of the string background effective action.Comment: 18 pp., plain TeX + harvmac. Typos in Eqs. (4.3), (4.5) and (4.7) corrected, and references adde

Correlation function of circular Wilson loop with two local operators and conformal invariance

We consider the correlation function of a circular Wilson loop with two local scalar operators at generic 4-positions in planar N=4 supersymmetric gauge theory. We show that such correlator is fixed by conformal invariance up to a function of 't Hooft coupling and two scalar combinations of the positions invariant under the conformal transformations preserving the circle. We compute this function at leading orders at weak and strong coupling for some simple choices of local BPS operators. We also check that correlators of an infinite line Wilson loop with local operators are the same as those for the circular loop.Comment: 26 pages. v2: reference added, misprints correcte

Duality Transformations Away From Conformal Points

Target space duality transformations are considered for bosonic sigma models and strings away from RG fixed points. A set of consistency conditions are derived, and are seen to be nontrivially satisfied at one-loop order for arbitrary running metric, antisymmetric tensor and dilaton backgrounds. Such conditions are sufficiently stringent to enable an independent determination of the sigma model beta functions at this order.Comment: 11 pages, plain TeX. Uses harvmac.te

Non-Abelian Born-Infeld theory without the square root

A non-Abelian Born-Infeld theory is presented. The square root structure that characterizes the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) action does not appear. The procedure is based on an Abelian theory proposed by Erwin Schr\"{o}dinger that, as he showed, is equivalent to Born-Infeld theory. We briefly mention other possible similar proposals. Our results could be of interest in connection with string theory and possible extensions of well known physical results in the usual Born-Infeld Abelian case.Comment: 9 pages, no figures, revtex

Generating Functional for Gauge Invariant Actions: Examples of Nonrelativistic Gauge Theories

We propose a generating functional for nonrelativistic gauge invariant actions. In particular, we consider actions without the usual magnetic term. Like in the Born-Infeld theory, there is an upper bound to the electric field strength in these gauge theories.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures; v2: misprints correcte

Remarks on Non-Abelian Duality

A class of two-dimensional globally scale-invariant, but not conformally invariant, theories is obtained. These systems are identified in the process of discussing global and local scaling properties of models related by duality transformations, based on non-semisimple isometry groups. The construction of the dual partner of a given model is followed through; non-local as well as local versions of the former are discussed.Comment: 33 pages, CERN-TH.7414/94, RI-9-94, WIS-7-9

On 3d N=8 Lorentzian BLG theory as a scaling limit of 3d superconformal N=6 ABJM theory

We elaborate on the suggestion made in arXiv:0806.3498 that the 3d \N=8 superconformal SU(N) Chern-Simons-matter theory of Lorentzian Bagger-Lambert-Gustavson type (L-BLG) can be obtained by a scaling limit (involving sending the level k to infinity and redefining the fields) from the \N=6 superconformal U(N)xU(N) Chern-Simons-matter theory of Aharony, Bergman, Jafferis and Maldacena (ABJM). We show that to implement such a limit in a consistent way one is to extend the ABJM theory by an abelian "ghost" multiplet. The corresponding limit at the 3-algebra level also requires extending the non-antisymmetric Bagger-Lambert 3-algebra underlying the ABJM theory by a negative-norm generator. We draw analogy with similar scaling limits discussed previously for bosonic Chern-Simons theory and comment on some implications of this relation between the ABJM and L-BLG theories.Comment: 16 pages; published version - reference added, minor correction