A class of six-dimensional conformal field theories

We describe a class of six-dimensional conformal field theories that have some properties in common with and possibly are related to a subsector of the tensionless string theories. The latter theories can for example give rise to four-dimensional $N = 4$ superconformal Yang-Mills theories upon compactification on a two-torus. Just like the tensionless string theories, our theories have an $ADE$-classification, but no other discrete or continuous parameters. The Hilbert space carries an irreducible representation of the same Heisenberg group that appears in the tensionless string theories, and the `Wilson surface' observables obey the same superselection rules. When compactified on a two-torus, they have the same behaviour under $S$-duality as super Yang-Mills theory. Our theories are natural generalizations of the two-form with self-dual field strength that is part of the world-volume theory of a single five-brane in $M$-theory, and the $A_{N - 1}$ theory can in fact be seen as arising from $N$ non-interacting chiral two-forms by factoring out the collective `center of mass' degrees of freedom.Comment: 8 pages. More pedagogical presentation, added section on relationship to d = 4 Yang-Mills theor

Modulus Stabilization with Bulk Fields

We propose a mechanism for stabilizing the size of the extra dimension in the Randall-Sundrum scenario. The potential for the modulus field that sets the size of the fifth dimension is generated by a bulk scalar with quartic interactions localized on the two 3-branes. The minimum of this potential yields a compactification scale that solves the hierarchy problem without fine tuning of parameters.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX; minor typo correcte

Superstrings and Topological Strings at Large N

We embed the large N Chern-Simons/topological string duality in ordinary superstrings. This corresponds to a large $N$ duality between generalized gauge systems with N=1 supersymmetry in 4 dimensions and superstrings propagating on non-compact Calabi-Yau manifolds with certain fluxes turned on. We also show that in a particular limit of the N=1 gauge theory system, certain superpotential terms in the N=1 system (including deformations if spacetime is non-commutative) are captured to all orders in 1/N by the amplitudes of non-critical bosonic strings propagating on a circle with self-dual radius. We also consider D-brane/anti-D-brane system wrapped over vanishing cycles of compact Calabi-Yau manifolds and argue that at large $N$ they induce a shift in the background to a topologically distinct Calabi-Yau, which we identify as the ground state system of the Brane/anti-Brane system.Comment: 30 pages, some minor clarifications adde

Universal aspects of string propagation on curved backgrounds

String propagation on D-dimensional curved backgrounds with Lorentzian signature is formulated as a geometrical problem of embedding surfaces. When the spatial part of the background corresponds to a general WZW model for a compact group, the classical dynamics of the physical degrees of freedom is governed by the coset conformal field theory SO(D-1)/SO(D-2), which is universal irrespective of the particular WZW model. The same holds for string propagation on D-dimensional flat space. The integration of the corresponding Gauss-Codazzi equations requires the introduction of (non-Abelian) parafermions in differential geometry.Comment: 15 pages, latex. Typo in Eq. (2.12) is corrected. Version to be published in Phys. Rev.

2D Induced Gravity as an Effective WZNW System

We introduced a dynamical system given by a difference of two simple SL(2,R) WZNW actions in 2D, and defined the related gauge theory in a consistent way. It is shown that gauge symmetry can be fixed in such a way that, after integrating out some dynamical variables in the functional integral, one obtains the induced gravity action.Comment: LaTeX, 16 page

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

The bubbles of matter from multiskyrmions

The multiskyrmions with large baryon number B given by rational map (RM) ansaetze can be described reasonably well within the domain wall approximation, or as spherical bubbles with energy and baryon number density concentrated at their boundary. A special class of profile functions is considered approximating the true profile and domain wall behaviour at the same time. An upper bound is obtained for the masses of RM multiskyrmions which is close to the calculated masses, especially at large B. The gap between rigorous upper and lower bounds for large B multiskyrmions is less than 4%. The basic properties of such bubbles of matter are investigated, some of them being of universal character, i.e. they do not depend on baryon number of configuration and on the number of flavors. As a result, the lagrangian of the Skyrme type models provides field theoretical realization of the bag model of special kind.Comment: 7 pages, no figure

BPS Saturated Vacua Interpolation along One Compact Dimension

A class of generalized Wess-Zumino models with distinct vacua is investigated. These models allow for BPS saturated vacua interpolation along one compact spatial dimension. The properties of these interpolations are studied.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

On some algebraic examples of Frobenius manifolds

We construct some explicit quasihomogeneous algebraic solutions to the associativity (WDVV) equations by using analytical methods of the finite gap integration theory. These solutions are expanded in the uniform way to non-semisimple Frobenius manifolds.Comment: 14 page

On Classification of QCD defects via holography

We discuss classification of defects of various codimensions within a holographic model of pure Yang-Mills theories or gauge theories with fundamental matter. We focus on their role below and above the phase transition point as well as their weights in the partition function. The general result is that objects which are stable and heavy in one phase are becoming very light (tensionless) in the other phase. We argue that the $\theta$ dependence of the partition function drastically changes at the phase transition point, and therefore it correlates with stability properties of configurations. Some possible applications for study the QCD vacuum properties above and below phase transition are also discussed.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figure