1+1 Dimensional NCOS and its U(N) Gauge Theory Dual

TL;DR

This paper investigates 1+1 dimensional non-commutative open string (NCOS) theories with electric fields and their dual U(N) gauge theories, revealing decoupling phenomena and finite energy winding modes that support the duality.

Contribution

It demonstrates the decoupling of massless open strings and U(1) degrees of freedom in 1+1D NCOS and explores the duality with U(N) SYM with electric flux, including the role of winding modes.

Findings

Massless open string modes decouple in 1+1D NCOS.

U(1) degrees of freedom decouple in the dual gauge theory.

Finite energy winding closed strings exist when the electric field direction is compact.

Abstract

We study some aspects of open string theories on D-branes with critical electric fields. We show that the massless open string modes that move in the direction of the electric field decouple. In the 1+1 dimensional case the dual theory is U(N) SYM with electric flux, and the decoupling of massless open strings is dual to the decoupling of the U(1) degrees of freedom. We also show that, if the direction along the electric field is compact, then there are finite energy winding closed string modes. They are dual to Higgs branch excitations of the SYM theory, and their energetics works accordingly. These properties provide new non-trivial evidence for the duality.