Abstract

We will discuss the role of various winding condensates in string theory on AdS₃ at non-zero temperature. First we will prove that a marginal deformation of free theory on the cylinder consisting of a winding condensate on the space circle of winding ±1 is equivalent to usual sigma model description of the worldsheet CFT of empty AdS₃ in terms of SL(2,R) WZW model. This equivalence is a strong weak duality in the sense of α’. Given that AdS/CFT is also strong weak duality in α’, we will discuss the possibility of obtaining the spacetime CFT dual from the theory on long strings in winding description. In the later part of the talk, we will focus on deformation consisting of two winding condensates in space and time circle. Near Hagedron temperature such a deformation would be interpreted as the analog of Horowitz-Polchinski like description. We will present detailed results on a likely new CFT near Hawking-Page transition.