Semiclassical string spectrum in a string model dual to large N QCD

Abstract We explore the string spectrum in the Witten QCD 4 model by considering classical string configurations, thereby obtaining energy formulas for quantum states with large excitation quantum numbers representing glueballs and Kaluza–Klein states. In units of the string tension, the energies of all states increase as the 't Hooft coupling λ is decreased, except the energies of glueballs corresponding to strings lying on the horizon, which remain constant. We argue that some string solutions can be extrapolated to the small λ regime. We also find the classical mechanics description of supergravity glueballs in terms of point-like string configurations oscillating in the radial direction, and reproduce the glueball energy formula previously obtained by solving the equation for the dilaton fluctuation.