Strings in AdS_3 and the SL(2,R) WZW Model. Part 3: Correlation Functions

TL;DR

This paper studies correlation functions in string theory on AdS_3, analyzing their singularities, physical interpretations, and operator product expansions, including spectral flowed operators and winding violation constraints.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of correlation functions in AdS_3 string theory, including spectral flow effects and physical interpretation of singularities.

Findings

Correlation functions have specific singularity structures with physical meaning.

Operator product expansion factorizes under certain conditions.

Constraints on winding violation in spectral flowed operator correlators.

Abstract

We consider correlation functions for string theory on AdS_3. We analyze their singularities and we provide a physical interpretation for them. We explain which worldsheet correlation functions have a sensible physical interpretation in terms of the boundary theory. We consider the operator product expansion of the four point function and we find that it factorizes only if a certain condition is obeyed. We explain that this is the correct physical result. We compute correlation functions involving spectral flowed operators and we derive a constraint on the amount of winding violation.