Tree-level S matrix for $λ$-deformed AdS3 strings

Abstract

We consider the supersymmetric $λ$-deformation of $\text{AdS}_3 \times \text{S}^3 \times \text{T}^4$ superstrings and compute its perturbative bosonic tree-level worldsheet S matrix in the light-cone gauge. For generic values of $0 \leq λ< 1$, we show that the worldsheet scattering remains compatible with integrability due to a non-trivial cancellation of non-elastic scattering processes. By contrast, the S matrix becomes ill-defined for $λ\to 1$, despite the fact that this limit reproduces the non-Abelian T-dual geometry up to an analytic continuation. This suggests that the $λ\to 1$ limit does not capture the full worldsheet dynamics of the T-dual theory.