Search

The asymptotics of characters $\chi_{k\lambda}(\exp(h/k))$ of irreducible representations of a compact Lie group $G$ for large values of the scaling factor $k$ are given by Duistermaat-Heckman (DH) integrals over coadjoint orbits of $G$. This phenomenon generalises to coadjoint orbits of central extensions of loop groups $\widehat{LG}$ and of diffeomorphisms of the circle $\widehat{\rm Diff}(S^1)$. We show that the asymptotics of characters of integrable modules of affine Kac-Moody algebras and of the Virasoro algebra factorize into a divergent contribution of the standard form and a convergent contribution which can be interpreted as a formal DH orbital integral. For some Virasoro modules, our results match the formal DH integrals recently computed by Stanford and Witten. In this case, the $k$-scaling has the same origin as the one which gives rise to classical conformal blocks. Furthermore, we consider reduced spaces of Virasoro coadjoint orbits and we suggest a new invariant which replaces symplectic volume in the infinite dimensional situation. We also consider other modules of the Virasoro algebra (in particular, the modules corresponding to minimal models) and we obtain DH-type expressions which do not correspond to any Virasoro coadjoint orbits. We study volume functions $V(x)$ corresponding to formal DH integrals over coadjoint orbits of the Virasoro algebra. We show that they are related by the Hankel transform to spectral densities $\rho(E)$ recently studied by Saad, Shenker and Stanford., Comment: 27 pages, new material is added, references added

International audience; This survey was written by students of L. D. Faddeev under the editorship of L. A. Takhtajan. Sections 1.1, 1.2, 2–4, and 6 were written by Takhtajan, §§1.3 and 1.4 by F. A. Smirnov, §§5.1 and 5.2 by E. K. Sklyanin, §§5.3–5.6 by Sklyanin, Smirnov, and Takhtajan, §7.1 by M. A. Semenov- Tian-Shansky, §§7.2–7.6 by Takhtajan and S. L. Shatashvili, §7.7 by A. Yu. Alekseev and Shatashvili, and §8 by I. Ya. Aref'eva.

About 30 years ago, in a joint work with L. Faddeev we introduced a geometric action on coadjoint orbits. This action, in particular, gives rise to a path integral formula for characters of the corresponding group $G$. In this paper, we revisit this topic and observe that the geometric action is a 1-cocycle for the loop group $LG$. In the case of $G$ being a central extension, we construct Wess-Zumino (WZ) type terms and show that the cocycle property of the geometric action gives rise to a Polyakov-Wiegmann (PW) formula. In particular, we obtain a PW type formula for the Polyakov's gravitational WZ action. After quantization, this formula leads to an interesting bulk-boundary decoupling phenomenon previously observed in the WZW model. We explain that this decoupling is a general feature of the Wess-Zumino terms obtained from geometric actions, and that in this case the path integral is expressed in terms of the 2-cocycle which defines the central extension. In memory of our teacher Ludwig Faddeev., Comment: 15 pages, v2: references added

We study macroscopically two dimensional $\mathcal{N}=(2,2)$ supersymmetric gauge theories constructed by compactifying the quiver gauge theories with eight supercharges on a product $\mathbb{T}^{d} \times \mathbb{R}^{2}_{\epsilon}$ of a $d$-dimensional torus and a two dimensional cigar with $\Omega$-deformation. We compute the universal part of the effective twisted superpotential. In doing so we establish the correspondence between the gauge theories, quantization of the moduli spaces of instantons on $\mathbb{R}^{2-d} \times \mathbb{T}^{2+d}$ and singular monopoles on $\mathbb{R}^{2-d} \times \mathbb{T}^{1+d}$, for $d=0,1,2$, and the Yangian $\mathbf{Y}_{\epsilon}(\mathfrak{g}_{\Gamma})$, quantum affine algebra $\mathbf{U}^{\mathrm{aff}}_q(\mathfrak{g}_{\Gamma})$, or the quantum elliptic algebra $\mathbf{U}^{\mathrm{ell}}_{q,p}(\mathfrak{g}_{\Gamma})$ associated to Kac-Moody algebra $\mathfrak{g}_{\Gamma}$ for quiver $\Gamma$., Comment: 83 pages

The moduli space of SL(2) flat connections on a punctured Riemann surface with the fixed conjugacy classes of the monodromies around the punctures is endowed with a system of holomorphic Darboux coordinates, in which the generating function of the variety of SL(2)-opers is identified with the universal part of the effective twisted superpotential of the corresponding four dimensional N=2 supersymmetric theory subject to the two-dimensional Omega-deformation. This allows to give a definition of the Yang-Yang functionals for the quantum Hitchin system in terms of the classical geometry of the moduli space of local systems for the dual gauge group, and connect it to the instanton counting of the four dimensional gauge theories, in the rank one case., 25 pages, 11 figures, v1. in the proceedings of Cargese conference "String Theory: Formal Developments and Applications" (Jun 21-Jul 3, 2010); reported also at six other conferences in 2010, v2. references corrected

This is an announcement of some of the results of a longer paper where the supersymmetric vacua of two dimensional N=2 susy gauge theories with matter are shown to be in one-to-one correspondence with the eigenstates of integrable spin chain Hamiltonians. The correspondence between the Heisenberg spin chain and the two dimensional U(N) theory with fundamental hypermultiplets is reviewed in detail. We demonstrate the isomorphism of the equivariant quantum cohomology of the cotangent bundle to the Grassmanian manifold Gr(N,L) and the ring of quantum integrals of motion of the length L SU(2) XXX spin chain, in the N-particle sector. This paper accompanies arXiv:0901.4744, Comment: 21 pp., short version II, conference in honour of T.Eguchi's 60th anniversary; v2. typos and refs corrected

The appearance of the Bethe Ansatz equation for the Nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation in the equivariant integration over the moduli space of Higgs bundles is revisited. We argue that the wave functions of the corresponding two-dimensional topological U(N) gauge theory reproduce quantum wave functions of the Nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation in the $N$-particle sector. This implies the full equivalence between the above gauge theory and the $N$-particle sub-sector of the quantum theory of Nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equation. This also implies the explicit correspondence between the gauge theory and the representation theory of degenerate double affine Hecke algebra. We propose similar construction based on the $G/G$ gauged WZW model leading to the representation theory of the double affine Hecke algebra. The relation with the Nahm transform and the geometric Langlands correspondence is briefly discussed., Comment: 48 pages, typos corrected, one reference added

Bethe/gauge correspondence identifies supersymmetric vacua of massive gauge theories invariant under the two dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 Poincare supersymmetry with the stationary states of some quantum integrable system. The supersymmetric theory can be twisted in a number of ways, producing a topological field theory. For these theories we compute the handle gluing operator ℋ. We also discuss the Gaudin conjecture on the norm of Bethe states and its connection to ℋ.

When eight-dimensional instantons, satisfying F \wedge F = \pm \star_8 (F\wedge F), shrink to zero size, we find stringy objects in higher order ten-dimensional Yang-Mills (viewed as a low-energy limit of open string theory). The associated F^4 action is a combination of two independent parts having a single-trace and a double-trace structure. As a result we get a D-string from the single-trace term and a fundamental string from the double-trace. The latter has (8,0) supersymmetry on the worldsheet and couplings to the background gauge fields of a heterotic string. A correlation between the conformal factor of the instanton and the tachyon field is conjectured., Comment: harvmac, v2: minor textual changes. To appear in Nucl. Phys. B

We study a ${{\IZ}}_2$ orbifold of Type 0B string theory by reflection of six of the coordinates (this theory may also be thought of as a ${{\IZ}}_4$ orbifold of Type IIB string theory by a rotation by $\pi$ in three independent planes). We show that the only massless mode localized on the fixed fourplane $\IR^{3,1}$ is a U(1) gauge field. After introducing D3-branes parallel to the fixed fourplane we find non-supersymmetric non-abelian gauge theories on their worldvolume. One of our results is that the theory on equal numbers of electric and magnetic D3-branes placed at the fourplane is the ${{\IZ}}_4$ orbifold of ${\cal N}=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory by the center of its R-symmetry group., Comment: 15 pages, harvmac; v2: very minor corrections; v3: a comment about pure glue theory added

We compute the principal contribution to the index in the supersymmetric quantum mechanical systems which are obtained by reduction to 0+1 dimensions of $\mathcal{N}=1$, $D=4,6,10$ super-Yang-Mills theories with gauge group SU(N). The results are: ${1\over{N^{2}}}$ for $D=4,6$, $\sum_{d | N} {1\over{d^{2}}}$ for D=10. We also discuss the D=3 case., harvmac, 24 pages; v2. references added, typos corrected; v3. one more reference added

We present an explicit construction for the central extension of the group $\Map(X, G)$ where $X$ is a compact manifold and $G$ is a Lie group. If $X$ is a complex curve we obtain a simple construction of the extension by the Picard variety $\Pic(X)$. The construction is easily adapted to the extension of $\Aut(E)$, the gauge group of automorphisms of a nontrivial vector bundle $E$., 7 pages, harvmac. References added

The condition of having an $N=1$ spacetime supersymmetry for heterotic string leads to 4 distinct possibilities for compactifications namely compactifications down to 6,4,3 and 2 dimensions. Compactifications to 6 and 4 dimensions have been studied extensively before (corresponding to $K3$ and a Calabi-Yau threefold respectively). Here we complete the study of the other two cases corresponding to compactification down to 3 on a 7 dimensional manifold of $G_2$ holonomy and compactification down to 2 on an 8 dimensional manifold of $Spin(7)$ holonomy. We study the extended chiral algebra and find the space of exactly marginal deformations. It turns out that the role the $U(1)$ current plays in the $N=2$ superconformal theories, is played by tri-critical Ising model in the case of $G_2$ and Ising model in the case of $Spin(7)$ manifolds. Certain generalizations of mirror symmetry are found for these two cases. We also discuss a topological twisting in each case.

We study four dimensional N=2 supersymmetric gauge theory in the Omega-background with the two dimensional N=2 super-Poincare invariance. We explain how this gauge theory provides the quantization of the classical integrable system underlying the moduli space of vacua of the ordinary four dimensional N=2 theory. The epsilon-parameter of the Omega-background is identified with the Planck constant, the twisted chiral ring maps to quantum Hamiltonians, the supersymmetric vacua are identified with Bethe states of quantum integrable systems. This four dimensional gauge theory in its low energy description has two dimensional twisted superpotential which becomes the Yang-Yang function of the integrable system. We present the thermodynamic-Bethe-ansatz like formulae for these functions and for the spectra of commuting Hamiltonians following the direct computation in gauge theory. The general construction is illustrated at the examples of the many-body systems, such as the periodic Toda chain, the elliptic Calogero-Moser system, and their relativistic versions, for which we present a complete characterization of the L^2-spectrum. We very briefly discuss the quantization of Hitchin system., 32 pp. 1 figure

Hamiltonian path integral quantization of the SO(2, 1)/SO(2) and SO(2, 1)/SO(1, 1) gauged WZW models is considered. The SO(2, 1)/SO(2) model yields the Liouville theory coupled to a free scalar field theory after eliminating the group coordinates in favor of their conjugate momenta. The SO(2, 1)/SO(1, 1) model, recently argued to be a two-dimensional black-hole solution to string theory, can also be studied in momentum space. The resulting negative-metric Liouville-like theory has indefinite cosmological constant, is coupled to a positive-metric free scalar field, and lives on a Minkowski world sheet. The scaling variable |μ| of Liouville theory is related to the mass of the black hole. The connection to Liouville theory should provide the exact solution for correlation functions in the euclidean black-hole geometry using matrix models and Liouville theory; for the Lorentz-signature Schwarzschild geometry it gives us a tool to investigate the properties of singularities in string theory.

An announcement of some results of a longer paper where the supersymmetric vacua of two dimensional N=2 susy gauge theories with matter are shown to be in one-to-one correspondence with the eigenstates of integrable spin chain Hamiltonians. The Heisenberg spin chain is mapped to the two dimensional U(N) theory with fundamental hypermultiplets, the XXZ spin chain is mapped to the analogous three dimensional super-Yang-Mills theory compactified on a circle, the XYZ spin chain and eight-vertex model are related to the four dimensional theory compactified on a torus. The correspondence extends to any spin group, representations, boundary conditions, and inhomogeneity, it includes Sinh-Gordon and non-linear Schroedinger models as well as the dynamical spin chains such as the Hubbard model. Compactifications of four dimensional N=2 theories on a two-sphere lead to the instanton-corrected Bethe equations. We propose a completely novel way for the Yangian, quantum affine, and elliptic algebras to act as a symmetry of a union of quantum field theories. This paper accompanies arXiv:0901.4748, Comment: 35 pages, short version I, Cargese and Landau-100 conferences proceedings; v2. typos and refs corrected

An explanation of the appearance of quantum groups in chiral WZNW models is given. Invariance of the theory under quantum group action is discussed.

Investigation of 2d conformal field theory in terms of geometric quantization is given. We quantize the so-called model space of the compact Lie group, Virasoro group and Kac-Moody group. In particular, we give a geometrical interpretation of the Virasoro discrete series and explain that this type of geometric quantization reproduces the chiral part of CFT (minimal models, 2d-gravity, WZNW theory). In the appendix we discuss the relation between classical (constant)r-matrices and this geometrical approach.

I review the physical properties of different vacua in the background independent open string field theory.

We present evidence for the factorization of the world-sheet path integrals for 2d conformal field theories on the disk into bulk and boundary contributions. This factorization is then used to reinterpret a shift in closed string backgrounds in terms of boundary deformations in background independent open string field theory. We give a proof of the factorization conjecture in the cases where the background is represented by WZW and related models., 21 pages

Multi-brane backgrounds are studied in the framework of the background independent open string field theory. A simple description of the non-abelian degrees of freedom is given. Algebra of the differential operators acting on the space of functions on the space-time provides a natural tool for the discussion of this phenomena., 16 pages, harvmac b mode, references added

We consider the couplings of RR fields with open string sector for $Dp$-${\overline{Dp}}$ backgrounds of various $p$. Proposed approach, based on the approximation of the open string algebra by the algebra of differential operators, provides the unified description of these couplings and their interrelations., References added, Latex, 18 pages

We propose a refinement of the physical picture describing different vacua in bosonic string theory. The vacua with closed strings and open strings are connected by the string field theory version of the Higgs mechanism, generalizing the Higgs mechanism of an abelian gauge field interacting with a complex scalar. In accordance with Sen's conjecture, the condensation of the tachyon is an essential part of the story. We consider this phenomenon from the point of view of both a world-sheet sigma-model and the target-space theory. In the Appendix the relevant remarks regarding the choice of the coordinates in the background independent open string field theory are given., 21pages, harvmac b mode, references added

We study instanton-corrected renormalization group flow in the two dimensional sigma models and four dimensional gauge theory. In two dimensions we do that by replacing the non-linear supersymmetric CP N −1 model by the gauged linear sigma model which is in the same universality class. We compare the moduli spaces of the instantons in the non-linear model and that of BPS field configurations in the linear model. We reduce the problem of matching of the parameters of the two systems to the intersection theory on the compact moduli space of the latter model. In four dimensions we find that the analogue of the linear sigma model is the gauge theory on the non-commutative space-time. Its BPS moduli space is the space of torsion free sheaves. Both cases (2d and 4d) are unified by the notion of the freckled instantons. We also put an end to the discussion of the nature of the superpotentials W ∼ σlogσ in 2d and 4d and discover the surprising disconnectnessness of the effective target space.

In these notes we revisit the tachyon lagrangian in the open string field theory using background independent approach of Witten from 1992. We claim that the tree level lagrangian (up to second order in derivatives and modulo some class of field redefinitions) is given by $L = e^{-T} (\partial T)^2 + (1+T)e^{-T}$. Upon obvious change of variables this leads to the potential energy $-\phi^2 \log {\phi^2 \over e}$ with canonical kinetic term. This lagrangian may be also obtained from the effective tachyon lagrangian of the p-adic strings in the limit $p\to 1$. Applications to the problem of tachyon condensation are discussed., Comment: 12pages, harvmac b mode, corrected some typos

Field theory with instantons can be partially regularized by adding degrees of freedom at some scale. These extra degrees of freedom lead to the appearence of the new topological defects. These defects which we call freckles have some characteristic size depending on the scale at which the extra degrees of freedom revive. The examples of two dimensional sigma model, four dimensional gauge theory are studied. The compactification of the four dimensional supersymmetric gauge theory down to two dimensions is also considered and the new phenomena are found., Latex, 10 pp., Talk by N.N. at Strings'99

We show that the $\mathcal{N}=0$ theories on the self-dual D3-branes of Type 0 string theory are in the class of the previously considered tadpole-free orbifolds of $\mathcal{N} = 4$ theory (although they have SO(6) global symmetry) and hence have vanishing beta function in the planar limit to all orders in 't Hooft coupling. Also, all planar amplitudes in this theory are equal to those of $\mathcal{N} = 4$ theory, up to a rescaling of the coupling., Comment: harvmac, 4 pp; v2. Z_4 field content corrected, references reworked

Various exact two-dimensional conformal field theories with AdS_{2d+1} target space are constructed. These models can be solved using bosonization techniques. Some examples are presented that can be used in building perturbative superstring theories with AdS backgrounds, including AdS_5., Comment: 36 pages, harvmac

We describe topological gauge theories for which duality properties are encoded by construction. We study them for compact manifolds of dimensions four, eight and two. The fields and their duals are treated symmetrically, within the context of field--antifield unification. Dual formulations correspond to different gauge-fixings of the topological symmetry. We also describe novel features in eight-dimensional theories, and speculate about their possible "Abelian" descriptions., Comment: 30 pages, harvmac file, references added

We consider M theory 5-branes with compact transverse dimensions. In certain limits the theory on the 5-brane decouples and defines ``little string theories'' in 5+1 dimensions. We show that the familiar structure of IIA/IIB,M,F- theory in 10,11,12 dimensions respectively has a perfect parallel in a theory of strings and membranes in 6,7,8 dimensions. We call these theories $a/b,m,f$ theories. They have a coupling constant but no gravity. This construction clarifies some mysteries in F-theory and leads to several speculations about the phase structure of M theory., Comment: harvmac, 24 pages

We develop some useful techinques for integrating over Higgs branches in supersymmetric theories with 4 and 8 supercharges. In particular, we define a regularized volume for hyperkahler quotients. We evaluate this volume for certain ALE and ALF spaces in terms of the hyperkahler periods. We also reduce these volumes for a large class of hyperkahler quotients to simpler integrals. These quotients include complex coadjoint orbits, instanton moduli spaces on R^4 and ALE manifolds, Hitchin spaces, and moduli spaces of parabolic Higgs bundles on Riemann surfaces. In the case of Hitchin spaces the evaluation of the volume reduces to a summation over solutions of Bethe Ansatz equations for the non-linear Schroedinger system. We discuss some applications of our results., Comment: 32pp. harvmac big mode; v.2 34pp. typos fixed, sections 4.1, 5.2 substantially improved

We investigate higher-dimensional analogues of the $bc$ systems of 2D RCFT. When coupled to gauge fields and Beltrami differentials defining integrable holomorphic structures the $bc$ partition functions can be explicitly evaluated using anomalies and holomorphy. The resulting induced actions generalize the chiral algebras of 2D RCFT to $2n$ dimensions. Moreover, $bc$ systems in four and six dimensions are closely related to supersymmetric matter. In particular, we show that $d=4, \mathcal{N}=2$ hypermultiplets induce a theory of self-dual Yang-Mills fields coupled to self-dual gravity. In this way the $bc$ systems fermionize both the algebraic sector of the $WZW_4$ theory, as defined by Losev et. al., and the classical open $\mathcal{N}_{ws}=2$ string., Comment: 31 pp., Harvmac (b) mode

We investigate a 4D analog of 2D WZW theory. The theory turns out to have surprising finiteness properties and an infinite-dimensional current algebra symmetry. Some correlation functions are determined by this symmetry. One way to define the theory systematically proceeds by the quantization of moduli spaces of holomorphic vector bundles over algebraic surfaces. We outline how one can define vertex operators in the theory. Finally, we define four-dimensional ``conformal blocks'' and present an analog of the Verlinde formula., Comment: 28pp. harvmac l-mode, Talk presented at Strings 95 and at the Trieste Conference on S-Duality and Mirror Symmetry. References added, misprints corrected, improved discussion of the gauged action

The n-point function for the integral over unitary matrices with Itzykson-Zuber measure is reduced to the integral over Gelfand-Tzetlin table; integrand (for generic n) is given by linear exponential times rational function. For $n=2$ and in some cases for $n>2$ later in fact is the polinomial and this allows to give an explicit and simple expression for all 2-point and a set of n-point functions. For the most general n-point function a simple linear differential equation is constructed., 13p., corrected TEX version, Preprint IASSNS-HEP-92/61

A direct derivation of the string field theory action in the Witten's background independent open string theory for the case when ghosts and matter are decoupled is given and consequences are discussed., Comment: 8p., harvmac

Free field representation for the classical limit of quantum affine algebra is constructed by simple deformation of the known expressions from WZW theory., 7p, IASSNS-HEP-92/62, RU-92/37

We consider D3-branes placed at singularities of Calabi-Yau threefolds which generalize the conifold singularity and have an ADE classification. The $\CN=1$ superconformal theories dictating their low-energy dynamics are infrared fixed points arising from deforming the corresponding ADE $\CN=2$ superconformal field theories by mass terms for adjoint chiral fields. We probe the geometry by a single $D3$-brane and discuss the near-horizon supergravity solution for a large number $N$ of coincident $D3$-branes. This paper lays groundwork for the detailed study of the non-trivial renormalization group flow connecting supersymmetric fixed points in four dimensions using string theory on AdS spaces. Specifically, we consider D3-branes placed at singularities of Calabi-Yau threefolds which generalize the conifold singularity and have an ADE classification. The $\mathcal{N}=1$ superconformal theories dictating their low-energy dynamics are infrared fixed points arising from deforming the corresponding ADE $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories by mass terms for adjoint chiral fields. We probe the geometry with a single $D3$-brane and discuss the near-horizon supergravity solution for a large number $N$ of coincident $D3$-branes.

Geometrical interpretation of the appearance of SL(2, R ) symmetry in the 2-d quantum gravity is given in terms of the theory of the coadjoint orbits of the Virasoro group. Equivalence of the 2-d gravity and the special type of gauged SL(2, R ) WZNW theory is shown.

The functional integral for the quantization of the coadjoint orbits of the unitary and orthogonal groups is given by means of an explicit construction of the corresponding ≪Darboux≫ variables.

The explicit regularization of the Weyl fermion current leading to the anomalous commutation relation of the Gauss law constraint is established. This requires the modification of the canonical quantization of the corresponding gauge model. The modified form of functional integral quantization for this model is proposed.

A spin factor is defined by means of the canonical 2-form on the coadjoint orbit of the SO (d+1) group. Including this spin factor in the definition of the path integral leads to the correct propagator for a system of arbitrary spin in a space of dimension d.