Wilson loops, D-branes, and reparametrization path integrals

Apr, 2002
36 pages
Published in:
  • JHEP 12 (2002) 068
e-Print:
Report number:
  • PUPT-2036

Citations per year

200320092015202120253012
Abstract:
We study path-integrals over reparametrizations of the world-sheet boundary. Such integrals arise when string propagates between fixed space-time contours. In gauge/string duality they are needed to describe gauge theory Wilson loops. We show that (1) in AdS/CFT, the integral is well defined and gives a finite 1-loop correction to the Wilson loop: (2) in critical string theory, the integral is UV divergent, and fixed contour amplitudes are off shell. In the second case, we show that the divergences can be removed by renormalizing the contour. We calculate the 2-loop contour beta-function and explain how it is related to the D0-brane effective action. We also apply this method to compute the first alpha' correction to the effective action of higher dimensional branes.
  • space-time
  • path integral
  • invariance: reparametrization
  • gauge field theory: Yang-Mills
  • Wilson loop
  • membrane model: D-brane
  • membrane model: p-brane
  • effective action
  • renormalization group: beta function
  • perturbation theory: higher-order