Open strings in type IIB AdS$_3$ flux vacua

Abstract

The role of open strings is investigated in the context of AdS$_{3}$ flux vacua arising from type IIB orientifold reductions. On the one hand, contrary to expectations, the perturbative stability of certain recently found non-supersymmetric AdS$_{3}$ flux vacua is shown to be robust under fluctuations of the open-string moduli. On the other hand, a wealth of new perturbatively stable AdS$_{3}$ flux vacua appears as a consequence of the non-trivial dynamics of open-string moduli. We also comment on the issue of scale separation in these AdS$_{3}$ flux vacua.