Renormalization-group flows and charge transmutation in string theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates how heterotic string backgrounds evolve under renormalization-group flow, revealing the conformal point as an attractor and examining instabilities related to closed time-like curves.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of RG flows in heterotic string backgrounds with gauge fluxes and explores the stability and charge transmutation phenomena.

Findings

Conformal point acts as an attractor in RG flows.

Gauge flux perturbations influence background evolution.

Closed time-like curves can induce instabilities.

Abstract

We analyze the behaviour of heterotic squashed-Wess-Zumino-Witten backgrounds under renormalization-group flow. The flows we consider are driven by perturbation creating extra gauge fluxes. We show how the conformal point acts as an attractor from both the target-space and world-sheet points of view. We also address the question of instabilities created by the presence of closed time-like curves in string backgrounds