String Theory, Chern-Simons Theory and the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

In this thesis we explore two interesting relationships between string theory and quantum field theory.;Firstly, we develop an equivalence between two Hilbert spaces: (i) the space of states of U(1)n Chern-Simons theory with a certain class of tridiagonal matrices of coupling constants (with corners) on T2; and (ii) the space of ground states of strings on an associated mapping torus with T2 fiber. The equivalence is deduced by studying the space of ground states of SL(2,Z)-twisted circle compactifications of U(1) gauge theory, connected with a Janus configuration, and further compactified on T2. The equality of dimensions of the two Hilbert spaces (i) and (ii) is equivalent to a known identity on determinants of tridiagonal matrices with corners. The equivalence of operator algebras acting on the two Hilbert spaces follows from a relation between the Smith normal form of the Chern-Simons coupling constant matrix and the isometry group of the mapping torus, as well as the torsion part of its first homology group.;Secondly, the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect appears as part of the low-energy description of the Coulomb branch of the A1 (2,0)-theory formulated on (S1 x R 2)/Zk, where the generator of Zk acts as a combination of translation on S1 and rotation by 2pi/k on R2. At low-energy the configuration is described in terms of a 4+1D Super-Yang-Mills theory on a cone (R 2/Zk) with additional 2+1D degrees of freedom at the tip of the cone. Fractionally charged quasi-particles have a natural description in terms of BPS strings of the (2,0)-theory. We analyze the large k limit, where a smooth cigar-geometry provides an alternative description. In this framework a W-boson can be modeled as a bound state of k quasi-particles. The W-boson becomes a Q-ball, and it can be described by a soliton solution of BPS monopole equations on a certain auxiliary curved space. We show that axisymmetric solutions of these equations correspond to singular maps from AdS 3 to AdS2, and we present some numerical results.