Short Strings in Three-Dimensional Anti-de Sitter Space: from Weak to Strong Coupling

Abstract

We numerically solve the conjectured Quantum Spectral Curve for strings on AdS${}_3\times$S${}^3\times$T${}^4$ with R--R charge from weak to strong coupling. At strong coupling, the spectrum organises into flat-space string mass levels with universal square-root scaling in the string tension at leading order, and additional Kaluza-Klein fine-splitting at subleading order. At weak coupling, the energies are determined by a nearest-neighbour Bethe Ansatz, with universal subleading corrections that are suppressed at large volume.

5 pages, 1 figure. Version 2: added 2 footnotes, improved wording of appendix III