String Theory in Beta Deformed Spacetimes

TL;DR

This paper explores exactly solvable string theories in beta deformed spacetimes, analyzing their partition functions, D-brane spectra, and connections to orbifolds and tachyon condensation.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of fluxbrane-like backgrounds, computes their one-loop partition functions, and uncovers new time-dependent solutions related to tachyon condensation.

Findings

Partition functions computed for various deformed backgrounds

Identification of models equivalent to orbifolds with discrete torsion

Discovery of new time-dependent backgrounds resembling tachyon condensation

Abstract

Fluxbrane-like backgrounds obtained from flat space by a sequence of T-dualities and shifts of polar coordinates (beta deformations) provide an interesting class of exactly solvable string theories. We compute the one-loop partition function for various such deformed spaces and study their spectrum of D-branes. For rational values of the B-field these models are equivalent to Z_N \times Z_N orbifolds with discrete torsion. We also obtain an interesting new class of time-dependent backgrounds which resemble localized closed string tachyon condensation.