RTN lectures on the non AdS/non CFT correspondence

Abstract

We review some aspects of the AdS/CFT correspondence for non conformal, QCD-like theories. We discuss the general features of holographic duals of confining theories and we then focus on two specific subjects: 1) the inclusion of flavors in the probe approximation, and 2) the controllable case of N = 1 supersymmetric theories, which is discussed in details. A brief discussion of the relation between the supergravity solutions and string compactifications is also included.