Plane Gravitational Waves in String Theory

Abstract

We analyze the coset model $(E_2^c \ti E_2^c)/E_2^c$ and construct a class of exact string vacua which describe plane gravitational waves and their duals, generalizing the plane wave background found by Nappi and Witten. In particular, the vector gauging describes a two-parameter family of singular geometries with two isometries, which is dual to plane gravitational waves. In addition, there is a mixed vector-axial gauging which describes a one-parameter family of plane waves with five isometries. These two backgrounds are related by a duality transformation which generalizes the known axial-vector duality for abelian subgroups.

27 pages, Latex, CPTH-A299.0494

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• Irrational Conformal Field Theory
• String interactions in gravitational wave backgrounds
• Strings in homogeneous gravitational waves and null holography
• Superstrings on PP-Wave Backgrounds and Symmetric Orbifolds
• On gauge theories for non-semisimple groups
• Nonreductive WZW models and their CFTs
• PP-waves and logarithmic conformal field theories
• Variational principle and a perturbative solution of non-linear string equations in curved space
• Dynamical Topology Change, Compactification and Waves in String Cosmology
• Solving field equations in non-isometric coset CFT backgrounds
• The abelian cosets of the Heisenberg group
• Superstring Vacua of 4-dimensional PP-Waves with Enhanced Supersymmetry
• Tensionless String in the Notoph Background
• The diagonal cosets of the Heisenberg group
• String backgrounds and LCFT
• Non-Abelian Duality Based on Non-Semi-Simple Isometry Groups
• WZNW Models and Gauged WZNW Models Based on a Family of Solvable Lie Algebras
• Massless fields in plane wave geometry
• Plane-parallel waves as duals of the flat background III: T-duality with torsionless $B$-field
• The exact description of NS5-branes in the Penrose limit
• Integrable models based on non-semi-simple groups and plane wave target spacetimes