Flux-vacua in Two Dimensional String Theory

TL;DR

This paper studies two-dimensional type 0 string theories with RR-fluxes at finite temperature, revealing a simple dependence of the partition function on fluxes and tachyon condensate, and demonstrating T-duality relations.

Contribution

It provides an exact matrix model analysis of 0A and 0B theories with fluxes, showing a unified simple form of the partition function and clarifying their T-duality connection.

Findings

Partition function is the absolute square of a holomorphic function of fluxes and tachyon condensate.

0A and 0B theories are related by T-duality.

Results are derived from exact matrix models and interpreted in low energy spacetime.

Abstract

We analyze the two dimensional type 0 theory with background RR-fluxes. Both the 0A and the 0B theory have two distinct fluxes $q$ and $\tilde q$. We study these two theories at finite temperature (compactified on a Euclidean circle of radius $R$) as a function of the fluxes, the tachyon condensate $\mu$ and the radius $R$. Surprisingly, the dependence on $q$, $\tilde q$ and $\mu$ is rather simple. The partition function is the absolute value square of a holomorphic function of $y=|q|+|\tilde q| + i \sqrt{2\alpha'} \mu$ (up to a simple but interesting correction). As expected, the 0A and the 0B answers are related by T-duality. Our answers are derived using the exact matrix models description of these systems and are interpreted in the low energy spacetime Lagrangian.