Open Strings on AdS₂ Branes

Abstract

We study the spectrum of open strings on AdS₂ branes in AdS₃ in an NS-NS background, using the SL(2,R) WZW model. When the brane carries no fundamental string charge, the open string spectrum is the holomorphic square root of the spectrum of closed strings in AdS₃. It contains short and long strings, and is invariant under spectral flow. When the brane carries fundamental string charge, the open string spectrum again contains short and long strings in all winding sectors. However, branes with fundamental string charge break half the spectral flow symmetry. This has different implications for short and long strings. As the fundamental string charge increases, the brane approaches the boundary of AdS₃. In this limit, the induced electric field on the worldvolume reaches its critical value, producing noncommutative open string theory on AdS₂.