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[HEG] c=1 strings as a matrix integral

Date and Time
Location
Broida 3302

Who: Victor Rodriguez (UCSB)
Title: c=1 strings as a matrix integral

Abstract: We study the perturbative S-matrix of the c=1 string and show that it admits a description in terms of a double-scaled matrix integral. Together with the well-known duality to matrix quantum mechanics, this leads to a triality between worldsheet string theory, matrix quantum mechanics, and a matrix integral.

Starting from the complex Liouville string and its dual matrix integral, we derive closed-form Feynman rules for c=1 amplitudes. These naturally describe a discretized target space, with the physical S-matrix recovered by analytic continuation. We show that the amplitudes satisfy perturbative unitarity and a Mirzakhani-type recursion, and we find detailed agreement with matrix quantum mechanics.

Based on work with S. Collier and L. Eberhardt.