A Vestige of FZZ Duality in Higher Dimensions

TL;DR

This paper extends the concept of FZZ duality from 1+1 dimensions to higher dimensions, showing a similar first order reformulation of the equations of motion and matching black hole entropy predictions.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a FZZ duality-like re-writing exists in higher dimensions, linking the HP system to 1+1 equations and reproducing black hole entropy.

Findings

Higher dimensional dilaton-winding subsystem reduces to first order.

Critical winding amplitude matches 1+1 coset SCFT prediction.

Higher dimensional black hole entropy is reproduced by winding condensate.

Abstract

In 1+1 dimensions, the equations of motion of the Horowitz-Polchinski (HP) effective string have a re-writing in terms of a first order system. This is attributed to FZZ duality. In this note, we observe that a similar re-writing exists in higher dimensions, so that the degree of the dilaton-winding subsystem reduces to first order. The 1+1 first order equations emerge as a natural limit of the higher dimensional HP system in the cap region of the cigar. As a result, there is a critical value of the winding amplitude that matches with the 1+1 coset SCFT prediction. At this critical point, the cigar has a puncture at the Euclidean horizon and the $higher$ $dimensional$ black hole entropy is correctly reproduced by the winding condensate.