The $\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{R})$ Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten spin-chain $\sigma$-model

Abstract

The $\text{SL}(2,\mathbb{R})$ Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten model realises bosonic-string theory in ${\text{AdS}}_3$ with pure Neveu-Schwarz-Neveu-Schwarz flux. We construct an effective action in the semi-classical limit of the model, which corresponds to a $\text{SL}(2,\mathbb{R})$ spin-chain $\sigma$-model. We adopt two complementary points of view. Firstly, we consider the classical action. We identify fast and slow target-space coordinates. We impose a gauge-fixing condition to the former. By expanding the gauge-fixed action in an effective coupling, we obtain the effective action for the slow coordinates. Secondly, we consider the spin chain of the model. We postulate a set of coherent states to express a transition amplitude in the spin chain as a path integral. We observe that the temporal interval is discretised in terms of the step length of the spatial interval. This relationship implies that the Landau-Lifshitz limit of the spin chain involves both intervals. The limit yields a semi-classical path integral over coherent states, wherein we identify the effective action again.

18 pages. v2: Minor corrections and improvements. v3: Minor corrections and improvements. Manuscript corresponds to the published version