Annulus Amplitudes and ZZ Branes in Minimal String Theory

Abstract

We study the annulus amplitudes of (p,q) minimal string theory. Focusing on the ZZ-FZZT annulus amplitude as a target-space probe of the ZZ brane, we use it to confirm that the ZZ branes are localized in the strong-coupling region. Along the way we learn that the ZZ-FZZT open strings are fermions, even though our theory is bosonic! We also provide a geometrical interpretation of the annulus amplitudes in terms of the Riemann surface M_{p,q} that emerges from the FZZT branes. The ZZ-FZZT annulus amplitude measures the deformation of M_{p,q} due to the presence of background ZZ branes; each kind of ZZ-brane deforms only one A-period of the surface. Finally, we use the annulus amplitudes to argue that the ZZ branes can be regarded as "wrong-branch" tachyons which violate the bound α<Q/2.

33 pages, new results in appendix, minor changes

Cited by in corpus (43)

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• c=1 Matrix Models: Equivalences and Open-Closed String Duality
• Annulus Amplitudes in the Minimal Superstring
• Instantons in c=0 CSFT
• The emergence of noncommutative target space in noncritical string theory
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• ZZ brane amplitudes from matrix models
• The complex Liouville string: worldsheet boundaries and non-perturbative effects
• The Spectrum of FZZT Branes Beyond the Planar Limit
• c=1 from c<1: Bulk and boundary correlators
• Notes on D-branes and dualities in (p,q) minimal superstring theory
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• Semi-Classical Mechanics in Phase Space: The Quantum Target of Minimal Strings
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• Quantum curves as quantum distributions
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