From Threebranes to Large N Gauge Theories

TL;DR

This paper reviews the AdS/CFT correspondence, highlighting dualities between large N gauge theories and string backgrounds, and discusses efforts to extend these ideas to asymptotically free theories.

Contribution

It provides an introductory overview of the AdS/CFT correspondence and explores potential generalizations to other gauge theories.

Findings

Duality between 4D conformal large N gauge theories and AdS string backgrounds

Discussion of attempts to extend the correspondence to asymptotically free theories

Clarification of foundational ideas behind the AdS/CFT framework

Abstract

This is a brief introductory review of the AdS/CFT correspondence and of the ideas that led to its formulation. Emphasis is placed on dualities between conformal large $N$ gauge theories in 4 dimensions and string backgrounds of the form $AdS_5\times X_5$. Attempts to generalize this correspondence to asymptotically free theories are also included.