Theory HEP Seminar

Deriving the Simplest Gauge/String Duality

Edward Mazenc

ETH Zürich

I will give an overview of my work with Rajesh Gopakumar on deriving the closed string dual to the simplest possible gauge theory, a Hermitian matrix integral. These matrix theories are studied in the conventional ‘t Hooft limit, i.e. they do not require any further double-scaling. I’ll present and verify an explicit operator dictionary between matrix traces and vertex operators in the closed topological string worldsheet descriptions. I will discuss the more general idea of open-closed-open triality which allows us to establish this dictionary, as well as to understand the two ways strings can arise from gauge theory Feynman diagrams. We will then sketch how the tools of Strebel differentials and topological recursion reveal the underlying mechanics of this open/closed string correspondence. I’ll close by embedding our results in the broader context of AdS/CFT.