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Shyamoli Chaudhuri

Publications and source records attributed to Shyamoli Chaudhuri.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Spacetime Reduction of Large N Flavor Models: A Fundamental Theory of Emergent Local Geometry?

We introduce a novel spacetime reduction procedure for the fields of a supergravity-Yang-Mills theory in generic curved spacetime background, and with large N flavor group, to linearized forms on an infinitesimal patch of local tangent space at a point in the spacetime manifold. Our new prescription for spacetime reduction preserves all of the local symmetries of the continuum field theory Lagrangian in the resulting zero-dimensional matrix Lagrangian, thereby obviating difficulties encountered in previous matrix proposals for emergent spacetime in recovering the full nonlinear symmetries of Einstein gravity. We conjecture that the zero-dimensional matrix model obtained by this prescription for spacetime reduction of the circle-compactified type I-I'-mIIA-IIB-heterotic supergravity-Yang-Mills theory with sixteen supercharges and large N flavor group, and inclusive of the full spectrum of Dpbrane charges, offers a potentially complete framework for nonperturbative string/M theory. We explain the relationship of our conjecture for a fundamental theory of emergent local spacetime geometry to recent investigations of the hidden symmetry algebra of M theory, stressing insights that are to be gained from the algebraic perspective. We conclude with a list of open questions and directions for future work.

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The Normalization of Perturbative String Amplitudes: Weyl Covariance and Zeta Function Regularization

This is a self-contained pedagogical review of Polchinski's 1986 analysis from first principles of the Polyakov path integral based on Hawking's zeta function regularization technique for scale-invariant computations in two-dimensional quantum gravity, an approach that can be adapted to any of the perturbative string theories. In particular, we point out the physical significance of preserving both Weyl and global diffeomorphism invariance while taking the low energy field theory limit of scattering amplitudes in an open and closed string theory, giving a brief discussion of some physics applications. We review the path integral computation of the pointlike off-shell closed bosonic string propagator due to Cohen, Moore, Nelson, and Polchinski. The extension of their methodology to the case of the macroscopic loop propagator in an embedding flat spacetime geometry has been given by Chaudhuri, Chen, and Novak. We examine the macroscopic loop amplitude from the perspective of both the target spacetime massive type II supergravity theory, and the boundary state formalism of the worldsheet conformal field theory, clarifying the precise evidence it provides for a Dirichlet (-2)brane, an identification made by Chaudhuri. The appendices contain extensive detail.

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A Proposal for Altering the Unification Scale in String Theory

An ensemble of short open strings in equilibrium with the heat bath provided by the Euclidean worldvolume of a stack of Dbranes undergoes a thermal phase transition to a long string phase. The transition temperature is just below the string scale. We point out that this phenomenon provides a simple mechanism within open and closed string theories for altering the strong-electro-weak coupling unification scale relative to the fundamental closed string mass scale in spacetimes with external electromagnetic background.

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Ultraviolet Limit of Open String Theory

We confirm the intuition that a string theory which is perturbatively infrared finite is automatically perturbatively ultraviolet finite. Our derivation based on the asymptotics of the Selberg trace formula for the Greens function on a Riemann surface holds for both open and closed string amplitudes and is independent of modular invariance and supersymmetry. The mass scale for the open strings stretched between Dbranes suggests a natural world-sheet ultraviolet regulator in the string path integral, preserving both T-duality and open-closed string world-sheet duality. Note added (Jan 2005): Comments and related references added.

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Hidden Symmetry Unmasked: Matrix Theory and E(11)

Dimensional reduction of eleven-dimensional supergravity to zero spacetime dimensions is expected to give a theory characterized by the hidden symmetry algebra E(11), the end-point of the Cremmer-Julia prediction for the sequence of dimensional reductions of 11d supergravity to spacetime dimensions. In recent work, we have given a prescription for the spacetime reduction of a supergravity-Yang-Mills Lagrangian with large N flavor symmetry such that the local symmetries of the continuum Lagrangian are preserved in the resulting reduced matrix Lagrangian. This new class of reduced matrix models are the basis for a nonperturbative proposal for M theory we have described in hep-th/0408057. The matrix models are also characterized by hidden symmetry algebras in precise analogy with the Cremmer-Julia framework. The rank eleven algebra E(11) is also known as the very-extension of the finite-dimensional Lie algebra E(8). In an independent stream of work (hep-th/0402140), Peter West has provided evidence which supports the conjecture that M theory has the symmetry algebra E(11), showing that it successfully incorporates both the 11d supergravity limit, as well as the 10d type IIA and type IIB supergravities, and inclusive of the full spectrum of Neveu-Schwarz and Dirichlet pbranes. In this topical review, we give a pedagogical account of these recent developments also providing an assessment of the insights that might be gained from linking the algebraic and reduced matrix model perspectives in the search for M theory. Necessary mathematical details are covered starting from the basics in the appendices.

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The Power of Worldsheets: Applications and Prospects

We explain how perturbative string theory can be viewed as an exactly renormalizable Weyl invariant quantum mechanics in the worldsheet representation clarifying why string scattering amplitudes are both finite and unambiguously normalized and explaining the origin of UV-IR relations in spacetime. As applications we examine the worldsheet representation of nonperturbative type IB states and of string solitons. We conclude with an analysis of the thermodynamics of a free closed string gas establishing the absence of the Hagedorn phase transition. We show that the 10D heterotic strings share a stable finite temperature ground state with gauge group SO(16)xSO(16). The free energy at the self-dual Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition is minimized with finite entropy and positive specific heat. The open and closed string gas transitions to a confining long string phase at a temperature at or below the string scale in the presence of an external electric field.

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Effective String Tension and Renormalizability: String Theory in a Noncommutative Space

We show that the one loop amplitudes of open and closed string theory in a constant background two-form tensor field are characterized by an effective string tension larger than the fundamental string tension, and by the appearance of antisymmetric and symmetric noncommutativity parameters. We derive the form of the phase functions normalizing planar and nonplanar tachyon scattering amplitudes in this background, verifying the decoupling of the closed string sector in the regime of infinite momentum transfer. We show that the functional dependence of the phase functions on the antisymmetric star product of external momenta permits interpretation as a finite wavefunction renormalization of vertex operators in the open string sector. Using world-sheet duality we clarify the regimes of finite and zero momentum transfer between boundaries, demonstrating the existence of poles in the nonplanar amplitude when the momentum transfer equals the mass of an on-shell closed string state. Neither noncommutativity parameter has any impact on the renormalizability of open and closed string theory in the Wilsonian sense. We comment on the relationship to noncommutative scalar field theory and the UV-IR correspondence.

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Confinement and the Short Type I' Flux Tube

We show that the recent world-sheet analysis of the quantum fluctuations of a short flux tube in type II string theory leads to a simple and precise description of a pair of stuck D0branes in an orientifold compactification of the type I' string theory. The existence of a stable type I' flux tube of sub-string-scale length is a consequence of the confinement of quantized flux associated with the scalar dualized ten-form background field strength *F_{10}, evidence for a -2brane in the BPS spectrum of M theory. Using heterotic-type I duality, we infer the existence of an M2brane of finite width O(\sqrt{α'}) in M-theory, the strong coupling resolution of a spacetime singularity in the D=9 twisted and toroidally compactified E_8 x E_8 heterotic string. This phenomenon has a bosonic string analog in the existence of a stable short electric flux tube arising from the confinement of photons due to tachyon field dynamics. The appendix clarifies the appearance of nonperturbative states and enhanced gauge symmetry in toroidal compactifications of the type I' string. We account for all of the known disconnected components of the moduli space of theories with sixteen supercharges, in striking confirmation of heterotic-type I duality.

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Supersymmetric Pair Correlation Function of Wilson Loops

We give a path integral derivation of the annulus diagram in a supersymmetric theory of open and closed strings with Dbranes. We compute the pair correlation function of Wilson loops in the generic weakly coupled supersymmetric flat spacetime background with Dbranes. We obtain a -u^4/r^9 potential between heavy nonrelativistic sources in a supersymmetric gauge theory at short distances.

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Notes on D-Branes

This is a series of remedial lectures on open and unoriented strings for the heterotic string generation. The particular focus is on the interesting features that arise under T-duality---D-branes and orientifolds. The final lecture discusses the application to string duality. There will be no puns. Lectures presented by J. P. at the ITP from Nov. 16 to Dec. 5, 1995. References updated through Jan. 25, 1996.

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Three Generations in the Fermionic Construction

We obtain three generation SU(3)_c X SU(2)_L X U(1)_Y string models in all of the exactly solvable (0,2) constructions sampled by fermionization. None of these examples, including those that are symmetric abelian orbifolds, rely on the Z_2 X Z_2 orbifold underlying the NAHE basis. We present the first known three generation models for which the hypercharge normalization, k_1, takes values smaller than that obtained from an SU(5) embedding, thus lowering the effective gauge coupling unification scale. All of the models contain fractional electrically charged and vectorlike exotic matter that could survive in the light spectrum.

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Maximally Supersymmetric String Theories in D<10

The existence of maximally supersymmetric solutions to heterotic string theory that are not toroidal compactifications of the ten-dimensional superstring is established. We construct an exact fermionic realization of an N=1 supersymmetric string theory in D=8 with non-simply-laced gauge group Sp(20). Toroidal compactification to six and four dimensions gives maximally extended supersymmetric theories with reduced rank (4,12) and (6,14) respectively.

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Fermion Masses from Superstring Models with Adjoint Scalars

We explore the possibility of embedding supersymmetric GUT texture ideas into superstring models. We discuss the construction of GUT models using free fermionic strings. We find SO(10) models with adjoint scalars, three generations of chiral fermions, and a fundamental Higgs with a Yukawa coupling to only the third generation.

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String Theory, Black Holes, and SL(2,R) Current Algebra

We analyse in detail the $SL(2,R)$ black hole by extending standard techniques of Kac-Moody current algebra to the non-compact case. We construct the elements of the ground ring and exhibit W-infinity type structure in the fusion algebra of the discrete states. As a consequence, we can identify some of the exactly marginal deformations of the black hole. We show that these deformations alter not only the spacetime metric but also turn on non-trivial backgrounds for the tachyon and all of the massive modes of the string.

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