ZZ Instantons and the Non-Perturbative Dual of c = 1 String Theory

Explore the intricacies of non-perturbative effects in string theory through the lens of two-dimensional or c=1 string theory in this 53-minute lecture. Examine the role of ZZ instantons in inducing non-perturbative corrections to closed string scattering amplitudes. Learn about a worldsheet diagrammatic approach for systematic calculations of these effects, gaining new insights into string interactions beyond perturbative limits. Discover how the analysis of ZZ instanton contributions leads to the identification of a non-perturbative state in matrix quantum mechanics, serving as the exact dual to closed string theory vacuum and providing a precise description of this holographic duality. Understand the limitations of traditional worldsheet string theory and the subsequent shift towards string field theory, representing a step towards more robust frameworks for addressing the complexities of string theory and potentially advancing our understanding of the universe's fundamental constituents.