Superstrings in AdS

TL;DR

This paper reviews the pure spinor formalism for quantizing type IIB superstrings in AdS_5 x S^5, emphasizing AdS/CFT applications, supercoset models, and integrability, providing a comprehensive and pedagogical overview.

Contribution

It offers a detailed, self-contained review of worldsheet techniques for superstring quantization in AdS backgrounds using the pure spinor formalism, with focus on AdS/CFT relevance.

Findings

Analysis of supercoset sigma models

Discussion of quantum conformal invariance

Insights into string spectrum and integrability

Abstract

This is a comprehensive review of the worldsheet techniques for the quantization of type IIB superstring theory on the AdS_5 x S^5 background, using the pure spinor formalism. Particular emphasis is devoted to AdS/CFT applications, with several examples worked out in details. The review is self-contained and pedagogical. Table of contents: 1) Introduction; 2) Generalities; 3) Supercoset sigma models; 4) Quantum effective action and conformal invariance; 5) String spectrum; 6) Integrability.