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We describe the coupling of holomorphic Chern-Simons theory at large N with Kodaira-Spencer gravity. We explain a new anomaly cancellation mechanism at all loops in perturbation theory for open-closed topological B-model. At one loop this anomaly cancellation is analogous to the Green-Schwarz mechanism. As an application, we introduce a type I version of Kodaira-Spencer theory in complex dimensions 3 and 5. In complex dimension 5, we show that it can only be coupled consistently at the quantum level to holomorphic Chern-Simons theory with gauge group SO(32). This is analogous to the Green-Schwarz mechanism for the physical type I string. This coupled system is conjectured to be a supersymmetric localization of type I string theory. In complex dimension 3, the required gauge group is SO(8)., 43 pages, 2 figures. Comments are welcome

Intersecting D-brane models and their T-dual magnetic compactifications yield attractive models of particle physics where magnetic flux plays a twofold role, being the source of fermion chirality as well as supersymmetry breaking. A potential problem of these models is the appearance of tachyons which can only be avoided in certain regions of moduli space and in the presence of Wilson lines. We study the effective four-dimensional field theory for an orientifold compactification of type IIA string theory and the corresponding toroidal compactification of type I string theory. After determining the Kaluza-Klein and Landau-level towers of massive states in different sectors of the model, we evaluate their contributions to the one-loop effective potential, summing over all massive states, and we relate the result to the corresponding string partition functions. We find that the Wilson-line effective potential has only saddle points, and the theory is therefore driven to the tachyonic regime. There tachyon condensation takes place and chiral fermions acquire a mass of the order of the compactification scale. We also find evidence for a tachyonic behaviour of the volume moduli. More work on tachyon condensation is needed to clarify the connection between supersymmetry breaking, a chiral fermion spectrum and vacuum stability., Comment: 49 pages, 5 figures; published version

We study limits of infinite distance in the moduli space of 4d $\mathcal{N} = 2$ string compactifications, in which instanton effects dominate. We first consider trajectories in the hypermultiplet moduli space of type IIB Calabi-Yau compactifications. We observe a correspondence between towers of D-brane instantons and D-brane 4d strings, such that the lighter the string the more relevant the instanton effects are. The dominant instantons modify the classical trajectory such that the lightest D-brane string becomes tensionless even faster, while the other strings are prevented to go below the fundamental string tension. This lightest string is dual to a fundamental type IIB string and realises the Emergent String Conjecture. We also consider the vector multiplet moduli space of type I string theory on $K3 \times T^2$ , where quantum corrections can also become significant. Naively, we only find trajectories that correspond to decompactification limits, in apparent contradiction with the picture obtained in some dual setup., Comment: 59 pages, 2 figures; minor corrections, published version

This paper describes an efficient method for solving the classical string equations of motion in (2+1)-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime. Exact string solutions are identified that are the analogs of piecewise linear strings in flat space. They can be used to approximate any smooth string motion to arbitrary accuracy. Cusps on the string move with the speed of light and their collisions are described by a Picard-Lefschetz-type formula. Explicit examples are shown with the string ending on two boundary quarks. The technique is ideally suited for numerical simulations. A Mathematica notebook that has been used to generate the relevant figures is also included., 7 pages, 15 figures

Duality, the equivalence between seemingly distinct quantum systems, is a curious property that has been known for at least three quarters of a century. In the past two decades it has played a central role in mapping out the structure of theoretical physics. I discuss the unexpected connections that have been revealed among quantum field theories and string theories. Written for a special issue of Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics.

Proceedings of Corfu Summer Institute 2019 'School and Workshops on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity' — PoS(CORFU2019) - Sissa Medialab Trieste, Italy, 2020. - ISBN - doi:10.22323/1.376.0117 19th Hellenic School and Workshops on Elementary Particle Physics and Gravity, CORFU2019, Corfu, Greece, 31 Aug 2019 - 25 Sep 2019; Sissa Medialab Trieste, Italy, 1789068 21 pp. (2020). doi:10.22323/1.376.0117, We study the weak gravity conjecture in non-supersymmetric string theory setups. Precisely, those are type I string theory with supersymmetry broken à la Scherk-Schwarz and open strings on D branes wrapped around magnetized tori in type II string theory. We compute long-range interactions between identical branes at one-loop and compare them to the weak gravity conjecture for higher-degree forms. In our examples, SUSY breaking generates interactions between branes, which are not anymore BPS, in such a way that the weak gravity conjecture is verified. In type I with the Scherk-Schwarz mechanism, the tension of the branes is reduced by one-loop quantum effects, so that there are long-range repulsive forces. The correlation of the non-vanishing brane potential with the presence of a running modulus and of possible D branes bound states nicely connects to other swampland conjectures. For magnetized branes in type II strings, we check that non-BPS branes experience a long-range repulsion whenever the open string spectrum is tachyon-free. Ultimately, the role of stringy objects in the discussion makes it compelling to further understand swampland conjectures in strings with broken SUSY, let alone their phenomenological relevance., Published by Sissa Medialab Trieste, Italy

We summarize the main results of our recent investigation of bundles of real Clifford modules and briefly touch on some applications to string theory and supergravity.

We consider the 1-loop effective potential in type I string theory compactified on a torus, with supersymmetry broken by the Scherk-Schwarz mechanism. At fixed supersymmetry breaking scale M, and up to exponentially suppressed terms, we show that the potential admits local minima of arbitrary sign, in dimension d, 1+9 pages

We consider bound states of strings which arise in 6d (1,0) SCFTs that are realized in F-theory in terms of linear chains of spheres with negative self-intersections 1,2, and 4. These include the strings associated to N small E8 instantons, as well as the ones associated to M5 branes probing A and D type singularities in M-theory or D5 branes probing ADE singularities in Type IIB string theory. We find that these bound states of strings admit (0,4) supersymmetric quiver descriptions and show how one can compute their elliptic genera., Comment: 35+1 pages, 15 figures; typos fixed and clarifications added to Section 5

Covariant string field theory at finite temperature using quantum double (thermofield dynamics) formalism is considered. Thermal p-adic string theory amplitudes and a natural generalization of p-adic string effective action to the case on non-zero temperature are proposed.

We review recent work on S-matrix of type IIB string in AdS 3 × S 3 × T 4 background with mixed RR and NSNS 3-form fluxes. This world-sheet theory is expected to be integrable, opening the possibility of computing its exact spectrum for any values of the coefficient q of the NSNS flux and the string tension.

This contribution collects background material and references for the overview talk that was delivered in the 21st European string workshop and 3rd COST MP1210 meeting, ‘The String Theory Universe’.

Using target space null reduction of the Polyakov action we find a novel covariant action for strings moving in a torsional Newton-Cartan geometry. Sending the string tension to zero while rescaling the Newton-Cartan clock 1-form, so as to keep the string action finite, we obtain a non-relativistic string moving in a new type of non-Lorentzian geometry that we call $U(1)$-Galilean geometry. We apply this to strings on $AdS_5 \times S^5$ for which we show that the zero tension limit is realized by the Spin Matrix theory limits of the AdS/CFT correspondence. This is closely related to limits of spin chains studied in connection to integrability in AdS/CFT. The simplest example gives a covariant version of the Landau-Lifshitz sigma-model., Comment: 5 pages

Scattering amplitudes in a range of quantum field theories can be computed using the Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formalism. In theories with colour ordering, the key ingredient is the so-called Parke-Taylor factor. In this note we give a fully $\text{SL}(2,\mathbb{C})$-covariant definition and study the properties of a new integrand called the string Parke-Taylor factor. It has an $\alpha'$ expansion whose leading coefficient is the field-theoretic Parke-Taylor factor. Its main application is that it leads to a CHY formulation of open string tree-level amplitudes. In fact, the definition of the string Parke-Taylor factor was motivated by trying to extend the compact formula for the first $\alpha'$ correction found by He and Zhang, while the main ingredient in its definition is a determinant of a matrix introduced in the context of string theory by Stieberger and Taylor.

We analyze tree-level string amplitudes in a linear dilaton background, motivated by its use as a gauge-invariant tracer of string interactions in scattering experiments and its genericity among simple perturbative string theory limits. A simple case is given by a lightlike dependence for the dilaton. The zero mode of the embedding coordinate in the direction of dilaton variation requires special care. Employing Gaussian wave packets and a well-defined modification of the dilaton profile far from the dominant interaction region, we obtain finite results which explicitly reproduce the interaction timescales expected from joining and splitting interactions involving oscillating strings in simple string scattering processes. There is an interesting interplay between the effects of the linear dilaton and the $i\epsilon$ prescription. In more general circumstances this provides a method for tracing the degree of non-locality in string interactions, and it gives a basis for further studies of perturbative supercritical string theory at higher loop order., Comment: 18 pages. v2: small typo corrections

Non-Abelian flux tubes (strings) are well studied in N=2 supersymmetric QCD in (3+1) dimensions. In addition to translational zero modes they have also orientational moduli associated with rotations of their fluxes inside a non-Abelian group. The dynamics of the orientational moduli is described by the two dimensional CP(N-1) model living on the world sheet of the non-Abelian string. In this paper we consider a deformation of N=2 supersymmetric QCD with the U(N) gauge group and N_f=N quark flavors with a mass term $\mu$ of the adjoint matter. In the limit of large $\mu$ the theory flows to an N=1 supersymmetric QCD. We study the solution for the non-Abelian string in this limit and derive an effective theory on the string world sheet. The bosonic sector of this theory is still given by the CP(N-1) model but its scale is exponentially small as compared to the scale of the four dimensional bulk theory in contrast to the N=2 case where these scales are equal. We study also the fermionic sector of the world sheet theory. Upon the deformation the non-Abelian string is no longer BPS and we show that the fermionic superorientational zero modes are all lifted. This leaves us with the pure bosonic CP(N-1) model on the string world sheet in the limit of N=1 QCD. We also discuss what happens to confined monopoles at large $\mu$., Comment: 38 pages, 1 figure

Two independent criteria are presented that together guarantee exponential suppression of the two-loop cosmological constant in nonsupersymmetric heterotic strings. They are derived by performing calculations in both the full string theory and in its effective field theory, and come respectively from contributions that involve only physical untwisted states, and contributions that include orbifold twisted states. The criteria depend purely on the spectrum and charges, so a model that satisfies them will do so with no fine-tuning. An additional consistency condition (emerging from the so-called separating degeneration limit of the two-loop diagram) is that the one-loop cosmological constant must also be suppressed, by Bose-Fermi degeneracy in the massless spectrum. We comment on the effects of the residual exponentially suppressed one-loop dilaton tadpole, with the conclusion that the remaining instability would be under perturbative control in a generic phenomenological construction. We remark that theories of this kind, that have continued exponential suppression to higher orders, can form the basis for a string implementation of the “naturalness without supersymmetry” idea. Two independent criteria are presented that together guarantee exponential suppression of the two-loop cosmological constant in non-supersymmetric heterotic strings. They are derived by performing calculations in both the full string theory and in its underlying effective field theory, and come respectively from contributions that involve only physical untwisted states, and contributions that include orbifold twisted states. The criteria depend purely on the spectrum and charges, so a model that satisfies them will do so with no fine-tuning. An additional consistency condition (emerging from the so-called separating degeneration limit of the two-loop diagram) is that the one-loop cosmological constant must also be suppressed, by Bose-Fermi degeneracy in the massless spectrum. We remark that theories of this kind, that have continued exponential suppression to higher orders, can form the basis for a string implementation of the "naturalness without supersymmetry" idea.

We start this book with arguably the simplest theory of a deformable elastic body - that of a string or, as it is also known, a one-dimensional continuum. Our motivation is the development of a theory that can accommodate a range of effects such as gravity, spatial discontinuities in velocity, applied forces which are concentrated at a point, large displacements and stretches, and nonlinear material behavior. This theory is used to develop models for a variety of problems ranging from chains to conveyor belts and bungee cords to hanging cables. Initially a wide range of kinematical results are established. Then, the balance laws are presented and a methodology for using these laws to establish the equations governing the motions of both inextensible and elastic strings is presented.

This is a review of recent work on constructions of effective theories derived from heterotic string compactifications with the exact charged matter spectrum of the Standard Model. Talk given at the 2016 CETUP* Neutrino Physics/Unification Workshop in Lead, South Dakota.

Equations of motion of low-energy string effective actions can be conveniently described in terms of generalized geometry and Levi-Civita connections on Courant algebroids. This approach is used to propose and prove a suitable version of the Kaluza-Klein-like reduction. Necessary geometrical tools are recalled., Comment: Some comments added based on the journal review. A few of minor typos corrected

We prove the decomposition theorem for the loop homotopy Lie algebra of quantum closed string field theory and use it to show that closed string field theory is unique up to gauge transformations on a given string background and given S-matrix. For the theory of open and closed strings we use results in open-closed homotopy algebra to show that the space of inequivalent open string field theories is isomorphic to the space of classical closed string backgrounds. As a further application of the open-closed homotopy algebra, we show that string field theory is background independent and locally unique in a very precise sense. Finally, we discuss topological string theory in the framework of homotopy algebras and find a generalized correspondence between closed strings and open string field theories.

We show that the single trace heterotic N-point tree-level gauge amplitude A_HET can be obtained from the corresponding type I amplitude A_I by the single-valued (sv) projection: A_HET=sv(A_I). This projection maps multiple zeta values to single-valued multiple zeta values. The latter represent a subclass of multiple zeta values originating from single-valued multiple polylogarithms at unity. Similar relations between open and closed string amplitudes or amplitudes of different string vacua can be established. As a consequence the alpha'-expansion of a closed string amplitude is dictated by that of the corresponding open string amplitude. The combination of single-valued projections, Kawai-Lewellen-Tye relations and Mellin correspondence reveal a unity of all tree-level open and closed superstring amplitudes together with the maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills and supergravity theories., Comment: 25 pages, harvmac

We use the string sigma model action in AdS5 × S 5 to reconstruct the open string solution ending on the Wilson loop in S 3 × R parametrized by a geometric angle in S 3 and an angle in flavor space. Under the interchange of the world sheet space and time coordinates and the T-duality transformation with the radial inversion, the static open string configuration associated with the BPS Wilson loop with two equal angle parameters becomes a long open spinning string configuration which is produced by taking the equal limit of two frequencies for the folded spinning closed string with two spins in AdS5 × S 5 .

We show that, when compactified on a circle, $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = (2, 0), d = 6 supergravity coupled to 1 tensor multiplet and n V vector multiplets is dual to $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = (2, 0), d = 6 supergravity coupled to just n T = n V + 1 tensor multiplets and no vector multiplets. Both theories reduce to the same models of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2, d = 5 supergravity coupled to n V 5 = n V + 2 vector fields. We derive Buscher rules that relate solutions of these theories (and of the theory that one obtains by dualizing the 3-form field strength) admitting an isometry. Since the relations between the fields of $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2, d = 5 supergravity and those of the 6-dimensional theories are the same with or without gaugings, we construct supersymmetric non-Abelian solutions of the 6-dimensional gauged theories by uplifting the recently found 5-dimensional supersymmetric non-Abelian black-hole solutions. The solutions describe the usual superpositions of strings and waves supplemented by a BPST instanton in the transverse directions, similar to the gauge dyonic string of Duff, Lu and Pope. One of the solutions obtained interpolates smoothly between two AdS3× S3 geometries with different radii.

The string one-loop computation of the Fayet–Iliopoulos D -term in type I string theory in the case of T 6 / Z 3 orbifold compactification associated with annulus (planar) and the Mobius strip string worldsheet diagrams is reexamined. The mass extracted from the sum of these amplitudes through a limiting procedure is found to be non-vanishing, which is contrary to the earlier computation. The sum can be made finite by a rescaling of the modular parameter in the closed string channel.

A simple recursive expansion algorithm for the integrals of tree level superstring five point amplitudes in a flat background is given which reduces the expansion to simple symbol(ic) manipulations. This approach can be used for instance to prove the expansion is maximally transcendental to all orders and to verify several conjectures made in recent literature to high order. Closed string amplitudes follow from these open string results by the KLT relations. To obtain insight into these results in particular the maximal R-symmetry violating amplitudes (MRV) in type IIB superstring theory are studied. The obtained expansion of the open string amplitudes reduces the analysis for MRV amplitudes to the classification of completely symmetric polynomials of the external legs, up to momentum conservation. Using Molien's theorem as a counting tool this problem is solved by constructing an explicit nine element basis for this class. This theorem may be of wider interest: as is illustrated at higher points it can be used to calculate dimensions of polynomials of external momenta invariant under any finite group for in principle any number of legs, up to momentum conservation., 21 pages, explicit results included in submission. v3: rewritten for clarity, example Mathematica implementation added, typos corrected

We quantize the bosonic part of the D 1 string with closed boundary conditions on the light cone and we consider the U ( 1 ) worldsheet gauge field a dynamical variable. We compute also 3-Reggeon vertex by the overlapping technique. We find that the Fock space is the sum of sectors characterized by the momentum of the U ( 1 ) Wilson line and that these sectors do not interact among them. Each sector has exactly the same spectrum of the usual bosonic string when expressed in properly sector dependent rescaled variables. Rescaling is forced by factorization of the string amplitudes. We are also able to determine the relative string coupling constant of the different sectors. It follows a somewhat unexpected picture in which the effective action is always the same independently on the sector but string amplitudes are only the same when expressed in sector dependent rescaled variables.

We present a finite-dimensional and smooth formulation of string structures on spin bundles. It uses trivializations of the Chern-Simons 2-gerbe associated to this bundle. Our formulation is particularly suitable to deal with string connections: it enables us to prove that every string structure admits a string connection and that the possible choices form an affine space. Further we discover a new relation between string connections, 3-forms on the base manifold, and degree three differential cohomology. We also discuss in detail the relation between our formulation of string connections and the original version of Stolz and Teichner.

1. String contributions to the general relativity theory. The bosonic string propagation in the 26-dimensional Riemann space (the dimension corresponds to the number of degrees of freedom of the string particle) with metric gαβ and internal metric hab = e ϕ ηab of the world 2-surface string X ρ (σ, τ ) in time τ is described by the action [2] S = − 1

The correspondence principle offered a unique opportunity to test cylindrically symmetric model for Universe at correspondence point “the centre of mass energies around (Ms/(gs)2)”. First by using this symmetry, the Universe state for highly excited string “string ball” is studied and the entropy of these states is calculated. Then, to consider the string ball states, a copy of the original Hilbert space is constructed with a set of creation/annihilation operators that have the same commutation properties as the original ones. The total Hilbert space is the tensor product of the two spaces Hphysical⊗Hunphysical, where in this case Hphysical denotes the physical quantum state space of the string ball. It is shown that string ball states can be represented by a maximally entangled two-mode squeezed state of the physical and unphysical spaces of string. Also, the entropy for these string states is calculated. It is found that Universe entropy matches the string entropy at transition point. This means that our result is consistent with correspondence principle and thus cylindrically symmetric model works. Finally the signature of bosonic string ball is studied. When string balls are produced, they evaporate to Massive particles like Higgs boson. Then Higgs bosons decay to quarks and gluons. Thus an enhancement of these partons can be a signature of bosonic string ball inside the cylindrically symmetric Universe.

The history of string theory started around 1970 when Nambu, Nielsen, and Susskind realized that Veneziano’s 1968 dual model, devised to explain the particle spectrum of the strong interactions, actually describes the properties of quantum mechanical strings. A few years later, QCD appeared as a superior model for the strong interactions; furthermore, in 1974 it was realized that strings contain gravitons in their spectrum. For these reasons, many lost interest in the theory, while for some it made an interesting candidate as a unifying theory of gravity and quantum field theory.

I give a short introduction to string phenomenology. In particular, I discuss the physics of extra dimensions and low scale gravity that are motivated from the problem of mass hierarchy, providing an alternative to low energy supersymmetry. I describe their realization in type I string theory with D-branes and I present the main experimental predictions in particle accelerators and their implications in cosmology.

Most of the massive states in superstring theory are expected to undergo mass renormalization at one loop order. Typically these corrections should contain imaginary parts, indicating that the states are unstable against decay into lighter particles. However in such cases, direct computation of the renormalized mass using superstring perturbation theory yields divergent result. Previous approaches to this problem involve various analytic continuation techniques, or deforming the integral over the moduli space of the torus with two punctures into the complexified moduli space near the boundary. In this paper we use insights from string field theory to describe a different approach that gives manifestly finite result for the mass shift satisfying unitarity relations. The procedure is applicable to all states of (compactified) type II and heterotic string theories. We illustrate this by computing the one loop correction to the mass of the first massive state on the leading Regge trajectory in SO(32) heterotic string theory., LaTeX; 38 pages

We study gauge threshold corrections for local GUT models in IIB/F-theory. Consistency with holomorphy requirements of supergravity and the Kaplunovsky-Louis formula implies that the unification scale is enhanced by the bulk radius R from the string scale to M_X =RM_S. We argue that the stringy interpretation of this is via a locally uncancelled tadpole sourced by the hypercharge flux. This sources closed string modes propagating into the bulk; equivalently open string gauge coupling running up to the winding scale M_X. The enhancement to R M_s is tied to GUT breaking by a globally trivial hypercharge flux and will occur in all models realising this mechanism.

The Frenet equation governs the extrinsic geometry of a string in three-dimensional ambient space in terms of the curvature and torsion, which are both scalar functions under string reparameterisations. The description engages a local SO(2) gauge symmetry, which emerges from the invariance of the extrinsic string geometry under local frame rotations around the tangent vector. Here we inquire how to construct the most general SO(2) gauge invariant Hamiltonian of strings, in terms of the curvature and torsion. The construction instructs us to introduce a long-range (self-) interaction between strings, which is mediated by a three dimensional bulk gauge field with a Chern-Simons self-interaction. The results support the proposal that fractional statistics should be prevalent in the case of three dimensional string-like configurations., Comment: 5 pages

I discuss possible connections between several scales in particle physics and cosmology, such the the electroweak, inflation, dark energy and Planck scales. In particular, I discuss the physics of extra dimensions and low scale gravity that are motivated from the problem of mass hierarchy, providing an alternative to low energy supersymmetry. I describe their realization in type I string theory with D-branes and I present the main experimental predictions in particle accelerators and their implications in cosmology. I also show that low-mass-scale string compactifications, with a generic D-brane configuration that realizes the Standard Model by open strings, can explain the relatively broad peak in the diphoton invariant mass spectrum at 750 GeV recently reported by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations.

We study the properties of classical vortex solutions in a non-Abelian gauge theory. A system of two adjoint Higgs fields breaks the SU(2) gauge symmetry to $Z_2$, producing 't Hooft-Polyakov monopoles trapped on cosmic strings, termed beads; there are two charges of monopole and two degenerate string solutions. The strings break an accidental discrete $Z_2$ symmetry of the theory, explaining the degeneracy of the ground state. Further symmetries of the model, not previously appreciated, emerge when the masses of the two adjoint Higgs fields are degenerate. The breaking of the enlarged discrete symmetry gives rise to additional string solutions and splits the monopoles into four types of `semipole': kink solutions that interpolate between the string solutions, classified by a complex gauge invariant magnetic flux and a $Z_4$ charge. At special values of the Higgs self-couplings, the accidental symmetry broken by the string is continuous, giving rise to supercurrents on the strings. The SU(2) theory can be embedded in a wide class of Grand Unified Theories, including SO(10). We argue that semipoles and supercurrents are generic on GUT strings., 6 pages, 2 figures. We dedicate this paper to Tom Kibble; v2: some references added, typos fixed, phrasing changed in places; accepted by PRL

International audience; We study the bosonic structure of F-term Nambu-Goto cosmic strings forming in a realistic SO(10) implementation, assuming standard hybrid inflation. We describe the supersymmetric grand unified theory, and its spontaneous symmetry breaking scheme in parallel with the inflationary process. We also write the explicit tensor formulation of its scalar sector, focusing on the subrepresentations singlet under the standard model, which is sufficient to describe the string structure. We then introduce an ansatz for Abelian cosmic strings, discussing in details the hypothesis, and write down the field equations and boundary conditions. Finally, after doing a perturbative study of the model, we present and discuss the results obtained with numerical solutions of the string structure.

In this talk, I discuss our recent work concerning the construction of non-supersymmetric heterotic string models which have exponentially suppressed dilaton tadpoles and thus greatly enhanced stability properties. The existence of such models opens the door to realistic non-supersymmetric string model-building, and I discuss how semi-realistic st ring models resembling the Standard Model or any of its unified variants may be constructed. These models maintain modular in- variance and exhibit a misaligned supersymmetry which ensures UV finiteness, even without spacetime supersymmetry. I also discuss the potential implications for phenomenology.

Geometrically non-Higgsable seven-branes carry gauge sectors that cannot be broken by complex structure deformation, and there is growing evidence that such configurations are typical in F-theory. We study strongly coupled physics associated with these branes. Axiodilaton profiles are computed using Ramanujan's theories of elliptic functions to alternative bases, showing explicitly that the string coupling is order one in the vicinity of the brane; that it sources nilpotent $SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ monodromy and therefore the associated brane charges are modular; and that essentially all F-theory compactifications have regions with order one string coupling. It is shown that non-perturbative $SU(3)$ and $SU(2)$ seven-branes are related to weakly coupled counterparts with D7-branes via deformation-induced Hanany-Witten moves on $(p,q)$ string junctions that turn them into fundamental open strings; only the former may exist for generic complex structure. D3-brane near these and the Kodaira type II seven-branes probe Argyres-Douglas theories. The BPS states of slightly deformed theories are shown to be dyonic string junctions., 33 pages. v2: version in Nuclear Physics B

We study the application of the rules of thermofield dynamics (TFD) to the covariant formulation of open-string field theory. We extend the states space and fields according to the duplication rules of TFD and construct the corresponding classical action. The result is interpreted as a theory whose fields would encode the statistical information of open strings. The physical spectrum of the free theory is studied through the cohomology of the extended Becchi, Rouet, Stora and Tyutin (BRST) charge, and, as a result, we get new fields in the spectrum emerging by virtue of the quantum entanglement, and, noticeably, it presents degrees of freedom that could be identified as those of closed strings. We also show, however, that their appearing in the action is directly related to the choice of the inner product in the extended algebra, so that different sectors of fields could be eliminated from the theory by choosing that product conveniently. Finally, we study the extension of the three-vertex interaction and provide a simple prescription for it of which the results at tree level agree with those of the conventional theory., Instituto de Física La Plata

A string, whether open or closed, as it moves in spacetime, it sweeps out a two-dimensional surface called a worldsheet. String Theory is a quantum field theory ​ which operates on this two-dimensional worldsheet with remarkable consequences in spacetime itself, albeit in higher dimensions. The strings are supposedly very small in extension and may “appear” almost point-like if they are indeed very small, say, of the order of Planck length. Since no experiments can probe distances of the order of the Planck length, such a string in present day experiments is considered to be point-like. What is remarkable about string theory is that particles that are needed to describe the dynamics of elementary particles arise naturally in the mass spectra of oscillating strings, and are not, a priori, assumed to exist or put in by hand in the underlying theories.