Dissecting the string theory dual of QCD

TL;DR

This paper explores the string theory dual of QCD, proposing a five-dimensional type-0 superstring model that captures key features of strong coupling dynamics and explains previous successful models.

Contribution

It identifies a specific five-dimensional string theory dual to QCD, detailing its geometric structure and connection to Yang-Mills perturbation theory and strong coupling effects.

Findings

The dual string theory is a five-dimensional type-0 superstring.

Near the boundary, the geometry is asymptotically AdS$_5$ and stringy.

In the IR, a two-derivative truncation effectively models strong coupling dynamics.

Abstract

Input from QCD and string theory is used in order to elucidate basic features of the string theory dual of QCD, It is argued that the relevant string theory is a five-dimensional version of the type-0 superstring. The vacuum solution is asymptotically AdS$_5$, and the geometry near the boundary is stringy. The structure of YM perturbation theory however emerges near the boundary. In the IR, the theory is argued to be well-approximated by a two-derivative truncation that takes into account strong coupling effects. This explains the success of previously proposed five-dimensional Eistein-dilaton gravity with an appropriate potential to describe salient features of the strong YM dynamics.