Short Strings in Three-Dimensional Anti-de Sitter Space: From Weak to Strong Coupling.

Area of Science:

• Theoretical Physics
• String Theory
• Quantum Field Theory

Background:

• The quantum spectral curve is a key conjecture in understanding quantum aspects of string theory.
• AdS3×S3×T4 spacetime with Ramond-Ramond charge is a specific, important background for string theory investigations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To numerically solve the conjectured quantum spectral curve for strings on AdS3×S3×T4.
• To analyze the string spectrum across a range of couplings, from weak to strong.
• To identify universal behaviors and corrections in different coupling regimes.

Main Methods:

• Numerical solution of the quantum spectral curve.
• Analysis of the string spectrum at weak and strong coupling limits.
• Application of Bethe Ansatz techniques for weak coupling analysis.

Main Results:

• At strong coupling, the string spectrum exhibits universal square-root scaling with string tension and Kaluza-Klein fine-splitting.
• At weak coupling, energies are determined by a nearest-neighbor Bethe Ansatz.
• Universal subleading corrections are observed at weak coupling, suppressed at large volume.

Conclusions:

• The numerical solutions validate aspects of the quantum spectral curve conjecture.
• The study provides a detailed understanding of string spectrum behavior in AdS3×S3×T4 across coupling regimes.
• Identified universal scaling and corrections offer testable predictions for string theory in this background.