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Generalized two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory is a matrix string theory

M. Billo'·M. Caselle·A. D'adda·P. Provero
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Abstract

We consider two-dimensional Yang-Mills theories on arbitrary Riemann surfaces. We introduce a generalized Yang-Mills action, which coincides with the ordinary one on flat surfaces but differs from it in its coupling to two-dimensional gravity. The quantization of this theory in the unitary gauge can be consistently performed taking into account all the topological sectors arising from the gauge-fixing procedure. The resulting theory is naturally interpreted as a Matrix String Theory, that is as a theory of covering maps from a two-dimensional world-sheet to the target Riemann surface.

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M. Billo', M. Caselle, A. D'adda, P. Provero. 2000-01-12. Generalized two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory is a matrix string theory. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0920-5632(00)00762-3

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