Aspects of Supersymmetric Gauge Theory and String Theory

Abstract

This thesis consists of two parts. In the first part we study some topics in $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmeric gauge theory and the relation to matrix models. We review the relevant non-perturbative techniques for computing effective superpotential, such as Seiberg-Witten curve. Then we review the proposal of Dijkgraaf and Vafa that relates the glueball superpotentials to the computation in matrix models. We then consider a case of multi-trace superpotential. We perform the perturbative computation of glueball superpotential in this case and explain the subtlety in identifying the glueball superfield. We also use these techniques to study phases of $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theory with flavors. In the second part we study topics in AdS/CFT correspondence and its plane wave limit. We review the plane wave geometry and BMN operators that corresponding to string modes. Then we study string interactions in the case of a highly curved plane wave background, and demonstrate the agreements between calculations of string interaction amplitudes in the two dual theories. Finally we study D3-brane giant gravitons and open string attached to them. Giant gravitons are non-perturbative objects that have very large R-charge.

Ph.D. Thesis. 115 pages. v2: references added

References in corpus (18)

• A Perturbative Window into Non-Perturbative Physics
• Spinning strings and AdS/CFT duality
• Holography Beyond the Penrose Limit
• On lightcone string field theory from Super Yang-Mills and holography
• N=1 and N=2 Geometry from Fluxes
• An Introduction to Supersymmetric Gauge Theories and Matrix Models
• TASI 2003 Lectures on AdS/CFT
• Giant Hedge-Hogs: Spikes on Giant Gravitons
• On Low Rank Classical Groups in String Theory, Gauge Theory and Matrix Models
• On the plane-wave cubic vertex
• Seiberg Duality in Matrix Model
• On the exact open-closed vertex in plane-wave light-cone string field theory
• Light-Cone String Field Theory in a Plane Wave Background
• Notes on supersymmetric Sp(N) theories with an antisymmetric tensor
• Large N Strong Coupling Dynamics in Non-Supersymmetric Orbifold Field Theories
• On Sp(0) factors and orientifolds
• Semiclassical Quantization of Giant Gravitons
• Exact U(N_c)-> U(N_1)xU(N_2) factorization of Seiberg-Witten curves and N=1 vacua

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Comments on Supersymmetry Algebra and Contact Term in Matrix String Theory