Large N 2D Yang-Mills Theory and Topological String Theory

TL;DR

This paper develops a topological string theory that captures key features of large N 2D Yang-Mills theory in the zero coupling limit, providing a new geometric interpretation and incorporating Wilson loops.

Contribution

It introduces a modified topological string framework that reproduces the 1/N expansion of 2D Yang-Mills theory and offers a novel interpretation of mega^{-1} points.

Findings

Reproduces 1/N expansion of 2D Yang-Mills in string theory

Provides a new geometric interpretation of mega^{-1} points

Incorporates Wilson loop expectation values into the topological string model

Abstract

We describe a topological string theory which reproduces many aspects of the 1/N expansion of SU(N) Yang-Mills theory in two spacetime dimensions in the zero coupling (A=0) limit. The string theory is a modified version of topological gravity coupled to a topological sigma model with spacetime as target. The derivation of the string theory relies on a new interpretation of Gross and Taylor's ``\Omega^{-1} points.'' We describe how inclusion of the area, coupling of chiral sectors, and Wilson loop expectation values can be incorporated in the topological string approach.