Aspects of the free field description of string theory on AdS_3

TL;DR

This paper analyzes string theory on AdS_3 near the boundary using free field techniques, constructing correlation functions and exploring spectral flow sectors, with implications for scattering processes and consistency checks.

Contribution

It introduces a free field representation for AdS_3 string theory, generalizes conformal blocks to non-compact cases, and examines spectral flow and winding number violation.

Findings

Correlation functions constructed using Wakimoto representation.

Spectral flow sectors naturally incorporated.

Winding number violating scattering processes analyzed.

Abstract

The near boundary limit of string theory in AdS_3 is analysed using the Wakimoto free field representation of SL(2,R). The theory is considered as a direct product of the SL(2,R)/U(1) coset and a free boson. Correlation functions are constructed generalizing to the non-compact case the integral representation of conformal blocks introduced by Dotsenko in the compact SU(2) CFT. Sectors of the theory obtained by spectral flow manifestly appear. The formalism naturally leads to consider scattering processes violating winding number conservation. The consistency of the procedure is verified in the factorization limit.