The role of heuristic appraisal in conflicting assessments of string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camilleri, Kristian; Ritson, Sophie

2015-08-01

Over the last three decades, string theory has emerged as one of the leading hopes for a consistent theory of quantum gravity that unifies particle physics with general relativity. Despite the fact that string theory has been a thriving research program for the better part of three decades, it has been subjected to extensive criticism from a number of prominent physicists. The aim of this paper is to obtain a clearer picture of where the conflict lies in competing assessments of string theory, through a close reading of the argumentative strategies employed by protagonists on both sides. Although it has become commonplace to construe this debate as stemming from different attitudes to the absence of testable predictions, we argue that this presents an overly simplified view of the controversy, which ignores the critical role of heuristic appraisal. While string theorists and their defenders see the theoretical achievements of the string theory program as providing strong indication that it is 'on the right track', critics have challenged such claims, by calling into question the status of certain 'solved problems' and its purported 'explanatory coherence'. The debates over string theory are therefore particularly instructive from a philosophical point of view, not only because they offer important insights into the nature of heuristic appraisal and theoretical progress, but also because they raise deep questions about what constitutes a solved problem and an explanation in fundamental physics.

Eventful horizons: String theory in de Sitter and anti-de Sitter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kleban, Matthew Benjamin

String theory purports to be a theory of quantum gravity. As such, it should have much to say about the deep mysteries surrounding the very early stages of our universe. For this reason, although the theory is notoriously difficult to directly test, data from experimental cosmology may provide a way to probe the high energy physics of string theory. In the first part of this thesis, I will address the important issue of the testability of string theory using observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation. In the second part, I will study some formal difficulties that arise in attempting to understand string theory in de Sitter spacetime. In the third part, I will study the singularity of an eternal anti de Sitter Schwarzschild black hole, using the AdS/CFT correspondence.

Probing the string winding sector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aldazabal, Gerardo; Mayo, Martín; Nuñez, Carmen

2017-03-01

We probe a slice of the massive winding sector of bosonic string theory from toroidal compactifications of Double Field Theory (DFT). This string subsector corresponds to states containing one left and one right moving oscillators. We perform a generalized Kaluza Klein compactification of DFT on generic 2 n-dimensional toroidal constant backgrounds and show that, up to third order in fluctuations, the theory coincides with the corresponding effective theory of the bosonic string compactified on n-dimensional toroidal constant backgrounds, obtained from three-point amplitudes. The comparison between both theories is facilitated by noticing that generalized diffeomorphisms in DFT allow to fix generalized harmonic gauge conditions that help in identifying the physical degrees of freedom. These conditions manifest as conformal anomaly cancellation requirements on the string theory side. The explicit expression for the gauge invariant effective action containing the physical massless sector (gravity+antisymmetric+gauge+ scalar fields) coupled to towers of generalized Kaluza Klein massive states (corresponding to compact momentum and winding modes) is found. The action acquires a very compact form when written in terms of fields carrying O( n, n) indices, and is explicitly T-duality invariant. The global algebra associated to the generalized Kaluza Klein compactification is discussed.

K-theoretic aspects of string theory dualities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendez-Diez, Stefan Milo

String theory is a a physical field theory in which point particles are replaced by 1-manifolds propagating in time, called strings. The 2-manifold representing the time evolution of a string is called the string worldsheet. Strings can be either closed (meaning their worldsheets are closed surfaces) or open (meaning their worldsheets have boundary). A D-brane is a submanifold of the spacetime manifold on which string endpoints are constrained to lie. There are five different string theories that have supersymmetry, and they are all related by various dualities. This dissertation will review how D-branes are classified by K-theory. We will then explore the K-theoretic aspects of a hypothesized duality between the type I theory compactified on a 4-torus and the type IIA theory compactified on a K3 surface, by looking at a certain blow down of the singular limit of K3. This dissertation concludes by classifying D-branes on the type II orientifold Tn/Z2 when the Z2 action is multiplication by -1 and the H-flux is trivial. We find that classifying D-branes on the singular limit of K3, T4/Z2 by equivariant K-theory agrees with the classification of D-branes on a smooth K3 surface by ordinary K-theory.

Cosmic superstrings: Observable remnants of brane inflation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wyman, Mark Charles

Brane inflation provides a natural dynamical model for the physics which underlie the inflationary paradigm. Besides their inflationary predictions, brane models imply another observable consequence: cosmic strings. In this dissertation I outline the background of how cosmic strings arise in brane inflationary models and how the properties of the strings and the models are mutually tied (Chapter 2). I then use cosmological observations to put limits on the properties of any actually-existing cosmic string network (Chapter 3). Next, I study the question of how cosmic superstrings, as the cosmic strings arising from string theory are known, could be distinct from classical gauge- theory cosmic strings. In particular, I propose an analytical model for the cosmological evolution of a network of binding cosmic strings (Chapter 4); I also describe the distinctive gravitational lensing phenomena that are caused by binding strings (Chapter 5). Finally, I lay out the background for the numerical study of a gauge theory model for the dynamics of cosmic superstring binding (Chapter 6).

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harmark, Troels; Orselli, Marta

We match the Hagedorn/deconfinement temperature of planar N=4 super Yang-Mills (SYM) on RxS{sup 3} to the Hagedorn temperature of string theory on AdS{sub 5}xS{sup 5}. The match is done in a near-critical region where both gauge theory and string theory are weakly coupled. The near-critical region is near a point with zero temperature and critical chemical potential. On the gauge-theory side we are taking a decoupling limit found in Ref. 7 in which the physics of planar N=4 SYM is given exactly by the ferromagnetic XXX{sub 1/2} Heisenberg spin chain. We find moreover a general relation between the Hagedorn/deconfinement temperaturemore » and the thermodynamics of the Heisenberg spin chain and we use this to compute it in two distinct regimes. On the string-theory side, we identify the dual limit for which the string tension and string coupling go to zero. This limit is taken of string theory on a maximally supersymmetric pp-wave background with a flat direction, obtained from a Penrose limit of AdS{sub 5}xS{sup 5}. We compute the Hagedorn temperature of the string theory and find agreement with the Hagedorn/deconfinement temperature computed on the gauge-theory side.« less

Dualities of fields and strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polchinski, Joseph

2017-08-01

Duality, the equivalence between seemingly distinct quantum systems, is a curious property that has been known for at least three quarters of a century. In the past two decades it has played a central role in mapping out the structure of theoretical physics. I discuss the unexpected connections that have been revealed among quantum field theories and string theories. Written for a special issue of Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics.

Cosmic strings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, David P.

1988-01-01

Cosmic strings are linear topological defects which are predicted by some grand unified theories to form during a spontaneous symmetry breaking phase transition in the early universe. They are the basis for the only theories of galaxy formation aside from quantum fluctuations from inflation based on fundamental physics. In contrast to inflation, they can also be observed directly through gravitational lensing and their characterisitc microwave background anisotropy. It was recently discovered that details of cosmic string evolution are very differnt from the so-called standard model that was assumed in most of the string-induced galaxy formation calculations. Therefore, the details of galaxy formation in the cosmic string models are currently very uncertain.

NOVA Fall 2003 Teacher's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, MA.

Many aspects of string theory are abstract and difficult for even theoretical physicist to fully comprehend. The activities in this guide are designed to help teachers and students better understand some of the basic concepts underlying particle physics and string theory. A list of additional resources and a glossary are also included. Each…

EDITORIAL: Lectures from the European RTN Winter School on Strings, Supergravity and Gauge Theories, CERN, 21 25 January 2008

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Derendinger, J.-P.; Orlando, D.; Uranga, A.

2008-11-01

This special issue is devoted to the proceedings of the conference 'RTN Winter School on Strings, Supergravity and Gauge Theories', which took place at CERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 21 25 January 2008. This event was organized in the framework of the European Mobility Research and Training Network entitled 'Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe'. It is part of a yearly series of scientific schools, which represents what is by now a well established tradition. The previous ones have been held at SISSA, in Trieste, Italy, in February 2005 and at CERN in January 2006. The next one will again take place at CERN, in February 2009. The school was primarily meant for young doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers working in the area of string theory. It consisted of several general lectures of four hours each, whose notes are published in the present proceedings, and five working group discussion sessions, focused on specific topics of the network research program. It was attended by approximatively 250 participants. The topics of the lectures were chosen to provide an introduction to some of the areas of recent progress, and to the open problems, in string theory. One of the most active areas in string theory in recent years is the AdS/CFT or gauge/gravity correspondence, which proposes the complete equivalence of string theory on (asymptotically) anti-de Sitter spacetimes with gauge theories. The duality relates the weak coupling regime of one system to the strongly coupled regime of the other, and is therefore very non-trivial to test beyond the supersymmetry-protected BPS sector. One of the key ideas to quantitatively match several quantities on both sides is the use of integrability, both in the gauge theory and the string side. The lecture notes by Nick Dorey provide a pedagogical introduction to the fascinating topic of integrability in AdS/CFT. On the string theory side, progress has been limited by the difficulties of quantizing the worldsheet theory in the presence of RR backgrounds. There is increasing hope that these difficulties can be overcome, using the pure spinor formulation of string theory. The lectures by Yaron Oz overview the present status of this proposal. The gauge/gravity correspondence is already leading to important insights into questions of quantum gravity, like the entropy of black holes and its interpretation in terms of microstates. These questions can be addressed in string theory, for certain classes of supersymmetric black holes. The lectures by Vijay Balasubramanian, Jan de Boer, Sheer El-Showk and Ilies Messamah review recent progress in this direction. Throughout the years, formal developments in string theory have systematically led to improved understanding on how it may relate to nature. In this respect, the lectures by Henning Samtleben describe how the formal developments on gauged supergravities can be used to describe compactification vacua in string theory, and their implications for moduli stabilization and supersymmetry breaking. Indeed, softly broken supersymmetry is one of the leading proposals to describe particle physics at the TeV energy range, as described in the lectures by Gian Giudice (not covered in this issue). This connection with TeV scale physics is most appropriate and timely, given that this energy range will shortly become experimentally accessible in the LHC at CERN. The conference was financially supported by the European Commission under contract MRTN-CT-2004-005104 and by CERN. It was jointly organized by the Physics Institute of the University of Neuchâtel and the Theory Unit of the Physics Division of CERN. It is a great pleasure for us to warmly thank the Theory Unit of CERN for its very kind hospitality and for the high quality of the assistance and the infrastructure that it has provided. We also acknowledge helpful administrative assistance from the Physics Institute of the University of Neuchâtel. Special thanks also go to Denis Frank, for his very valuable help in preparing the conference web pages. Group photo

Phases of QCD3 from non-SUSY Seiberg duality and brane dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armoni, Adi; Niarchos, Vasilis

2018-05-01

We consider a nonsupersymmetric USp Yang-Mills Chern-Simons gauge theory coupled to fundamental flavors. The theory is realised in type-IIB string theory via an embedding in a Hanany-Witten brane configuration which includes an orientifold and antibranes. We argue that the theory admits a magnetic Seiberg dual. Using the magnetic dual we identify dynamics in field theory and brane physics that correspond to various phases, obtaining a better understanding of three-dimensional bosonization and dynamical breaking of flavor symmetry in USp QCD3 theory. In field theory both phases correspond to magnetic "squark" condensation. In string theory, they correspond to open string tachyon condensation and brane reconnection. We also discuss other phases where the magnetic `squark' is massive. Finally, we briefly comment on the case of unitary gauge groups.

Modern Quantum Field Theory II - Proceeeings of the International Colloquium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, S. R.; Mandal, G.; Mukhi, S.; Wadia, S. R.

1995-08-01

The Table of Contents for the book is as follows: * Foreword * 1. Black Holes and Quantum Gravity * Quantum Black Holes and the Problem of Time * Black Hole Entropy and the Semiclassical Approximation * Entropy and Information Loss in Two Dimensions * Strings on a Cone and Black Hole Entropy (Abstract) * Boundary Dynamics, Black Holes and Spacetime Fluctuations in Dilation Gravity (Abstract) * Pair Creation of Black Holes (Abstract) * A Brief View of 2-Dim. String Theory and Black Holes (Abstract) * 2. String Theory * Non-Abelian Duality in WZW Models * Operators and Correlation Functions in c ≤ 1 String Theory * New Symmetries in String Theory * A Look at the Discretized Superstring Using Random Matrices * The Nested BRST Structure of Wn-Symmetries * Landau-Ginzburg Model for a Critical Topological String (Abstract) * On the Geometry of Wn Gravity (Abstract) * O(d, d) Tranformations, Marginal Deformations and the Coset Construction in WZNW Models (Abstract) * Nonperturbative Effects and Multicritical Behaviour of c = 1 Matrix Model (Abstract) * Singular Limits and String Solutions (Abstract) * BV Algebra on the Moduli Spaces of Riemann Surfaces and String Field Theory (Abstract) * 3. Condensed Matter and Statistical Mechanics * Stochastic Dynamics in a Deposition-Evaporation Model on a Line * Models with Inverse-Square Interactions: Conjectured Dynamical Correlation Functions of the Calogero-Sutherland Model at Rational Couplings * Turbulence and Generic Scale Invariance * Singular Perturbation Approach to Phase Ordering Dynamics * Kinetics of Diffusion-Controlled and Ballistically-Controlled Reactions * Field Theory of a Frustrated Heisenberg Spin Chain * FQHE Physics in Relativistic Field Theories * Importance of Initial Conditions in Determining the Dynamical Class of Cellular Automata (Abstract) * Do Hard-Core Bosons Exhibit Quantum Hall Effect? (Abstract) * Hysteresis in Ferromagnets * 4. Fundamental Aspects of Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory * Finite Quantum Physics and Noncommutative Geometry * Higgs as Gauge Field and the Standard Model * Canonical Quantisation of an Off-Conformal Theory * Deterministic Quantum Mechanics in One Dimension * Spin-Statistics Relations for Topological Geons in 2+1 Quantum Gravity * Generalized Fock Spaces * Geometrical Expression for Short Distance Singularities in Field Theory * 5. Mathematics and Quantum Field Theory * Knot Invariants from Quantum Field Theories * Infinite Grassmannians and Moduli Spaces of G-Bundles * A Review of an Algebraic Geometry Approach to a Model Quantum Field Theory on a Curve (Abstract) * 6. Integrable Models * Spectral Representation of Correlation Functions in Two-Dimensional Quantum Field Theories * On Various Avatars of the Pasquier Algebra * Supersymmetric Integrable Field Theories and Eight Vertex Free Fermion Models (Abstract) * 7. Lattice Field Theory * From Kondo Model and Strong Coupling Lattice QCD to the Isgur-Wise Function * Effective Confinement from a Logarithmically Running Coupling (Abstract)

Strong coupling in F-theory and geometrically non-Higgsable seven-branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halverson, James

2017-06-01

Geometrically non-Higgsable seven-branes carry gauge sectors that cannot be broken by complex structure deformation, and there is growing evidence that such configurations are typical in F-theory. We study strongly coupled physics associated with these branes. Axiodilaton profiles are computed using Ramanujan's theories of elliptic functions to alternative bases, showing explicitly that the string coupling is O (1) in the vicinity of the brane; that it sources nilpotent SL (2 , Z) monodromy and therefore the associated brane charges are modular; and that essentially all F-theory compactifications have regions with order one string coupling. It is shown that non-perturbative SU (3) and SU (2) seven-branes are related to weakly coupled counterparts with D7-branes via deformation-induced Hanany-Witten moves on (p , q) string junctions that turn them into fundamental open strings; only the former may exist for generic complex structure. D3-brane near these and the Kodaira type II seven-branes probe Argyres-Douglas theories. The BPS states of slightly deformed theories are shown to be dyonic string junctions.

PREFACE: Gauge-string duality and integrability: progress and outlook Gauge-string duality and integrability: progress and outlook

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kristjansen, C.; Staudacher, M.; Tseytlin, A.

2009-06-01

The AdS/CFT correspondence, proposed a little more than a decade ago, has become a major subject of contemporary theoretical physics. One reason is that it suggests the exact identity of a certain ten-dimensional superstring theory, and a specific supersymmetric four-dimensional gauge field theory. This indicates that string theory, often thought of as a generalization of quantum field theory, can also lead to an alternative and computationally advantageous reformulation of gauge theory. This establishes the direct, down-to-earth relevance of string theory beyond loftier ideas of finding a theory of everything. Put differently, strings definitely lead to a theory of something highly relevant: a non-abelian gauge theory in a physical number of dimensions! A second reason for recent excitement around AdS/CFT is that it uncovers surprising novel connections between otherwise increasingly separate subdisciplines of theoretical physics, such as high energy physics and condensed matter theory. This collection of review articles concerns precisely such a link. About six years ago evidence was discovered showing that the AdS/CFT string/gauge system might actually be an exactly integrable model, at least in the so-called planar limit. Its spectrum appears to be described by (a generalization of) a Bethe ansatz, first proposed as an exact solution for certain one-dimensional magnetic spin chains in the early days of quantum mechanics. The field has been developing very rapidly, and a collection of fine review articles is needed. This special issue is striving to provide precisely that. The first article of the present collection, by Nick Dorey, is a pedagogical introduction to the subject. The second article, by Adam Rej, based on the translation of the author's PhD thesis, describes important techniques for analysing and interpreting the integrable structure of AdS/CFT, mostly from the point of view of the gauge theory. The third contribution, by Gleb Arutyunov and Sergey Frolov, explains in great detail the state-of-the-art of quantizing the AdS5 × S5 string theory's sigma model, gathering evidence for the conjectured integrability from the string side of the correspondence. The ensuing article by Nikolay Gromov starts with the full set of conjectured asymptotic Bethe equations of the model, and indicates how they relate to the firmly established classical integrabiliity of the string sigma model. The article by Benjamin Basso and Gregory Korchemsky discusses the issue of non-perturbative corrections in strong-coupling expansion and connections to the O(6) sigma model. The final article, by Fernando Alday, provides a link between the main topic of this special issue—the integrability of the spectrum of AdS/CFT—and other important observables of the model, such as the set of gluon scattering amplitudes, which may also lead to an exactly solvable problem. We feel that the whole subject of AdS/CFT integrability is still in its infancy, and that much remains to be understood, proved, and extended. It is furthermore quite possible that the underlying structures will prove important for progress on cutting-edge problems in condensed matter theory. This collection of articles by experts in the field should serve as an important assessment of the incomplete status quo of the subject. As such, we hope it will inspire further research activity by ambitious theorists!

String Theory on five dimensional Anti de Sitter space-times: Fundamental aspects and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofman, Diego M.

2009-12-01

In this thesis we study basic properties and applications of String Theory on AdS5 backgrounds. We do this in the framework of the AdS/CFT Correspondence and use our results to learn about four dimensional Conformal Field Theories. The first part of this work deals fundamentally with the problem of solving the exact spectrum of anomalous dimensions of planar N = 4 Super Yang Mills theory for all values of the 't Hooft coupling lambda. We study the problem for operators of large SO(6) charge J and identify the string configurations dual to magnons in the spin chain picture of the gauge theory. We name these states Giant Magnons. Furthermore we study their interactions and discuss the implications of the spectrum of states on the analytic structure of the exact scattering matrix of the theory. It is found that BPS states account for all the poles present in the full S-matrix. We also study the spectrum of Giant Magnons attached to D3-branes (Giant Gravitons). The dual operators in N = 4 SYM are long strings of SO(6) scalars connected to baryonic operators constructed of order N fields. The problem turns out to be mapped to solving the mulitparticle spectrum of a spin chain with non trivial boundary conditions. We study the properties of the boundary reflection matrix in detail and write equations that determine the associated phase factor. The second part of this work deals with applications of this type of string theories to the collider physics of conformal theories. We study infrared safe observables in the CFT given by energy correlation functions. We discuss the short distance behavior of these objects and explain that this physics is controlled by non local light ray operators. We find the dual String Theory description of these observables and use these results to study the strong coupling physics of conformal theories. We also describe the precise string states dual to the light ray operators. We argue that the energy operators that account for the energy measured at a calorimeter in a collider experiment should always be positive in any UV complete Quantum Field Theory. This fact has consequences in the higher derivative terms in the gravity action of the dual description. Finally, we discuss a proposed bound for the central charges of CFTs that is a consequence of the energy positivity condition.

Gauge symmetries of the free bosonic string field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neveu, A.; Schwarz, J.; West, P. C.

1985-12-01

The gauge covariant local formulations of free bosonic string theories that contained a finite number of supplementary fields are extended to include an infinite number of supplementary fields. These new formulations allow the generators of the Virasoro algebra to appear on a more equal footing. Permanent address: King's College, Physics Department, London WC2R 2LS, UK.

A cosmic book. [of physics of early universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peebles, P. J. E.; Silk, Joseph

1988-01-01

A system of assigning odds to the basic elements of cosmological theories is proposed in order to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the theories. A figure of merit for the theories is obtained by counting and weighing the plausibility of each of the basic elements that is not substantially supported by observation or mature fundamental theory. The magnetized strong model is found to be the most probable. In order of decreasing probability, the ranking for the rest of the models is: (1) the magnetized string model with no exotic matter and the baryon adiabatic model; (2) the hot dark matter model and the model of cosmic string loops; (3) the canonical cold dark matter model, the cosmic string loops model with hot dark matter, and the baryonic isocurvature model; and (4) the cosmic string loops model with no exotic matter.

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

None

2018-05-15

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe. The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva.

FINAL REPORT: GEOMETRY AND ELEMENTARY PARTICLE PHYSICS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singer, Isadore M.

2008-03-04

The effect on mathematics of collaborations between high-energy theoretical physics and modern mathematics has been remarkable. Mirror symmetry has revolutionized enumerative geometry, and Seiberg-Witten invariants have greatly simplified the study of four manifolds. And because of their application to string theory, physicists now need to know cohomology theory, characteristic classes, index theory, K-theory, algebraic geometry, differential geometry, and non-commutative geometry. Much more is coming. We are experiencing a deeper contact between the two sciences, which will stimulate new mathematics essential to the physicists’ quest for the unification of quantum mechanics and relativity. Our grant, supported by the Department of Energymore » for twelve years, has been instrumental in promoting an effective interaction between geometry and string theory, by supporting the Mathematical Physics seminar, postdoc research, collaborations, graduate students and several research papers.« less

Hidden Symmetries in String Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chervonyi, Iurii

In this thesis we study hidden symmetries within the framework of string theory. Symmetries play a very important role in physics: they lead to drastic simplifications, which allow one to compute various physical quantities without relying on perturbative techniques. There are two kinds of hidden symmetries investigated in this work: the first type is associated with dynamics of quantum fields and the second type is related to integrability of strings on various backgrounds. Integrability is a remarkable property of some theories that allows one to determine all dynamical properties of the system using purely analytical methods. The goals of this thesis are twofold: extension of hidden symmetries known in General Relativity to stringy backgrounds in higher dimensions and construction of new integrable string theories. In the context of the first goal we study hidden symmetries of stringy backgrounds, with and without supersymmetry. For supersymmetric geometries produced by D-branes we identify the backgrounds with solvable equations for geodesics, which can potentially give rise to integrable string theories. Relaxing the requirement of supersymmetry, we also study charged black holes in higher dimensions and identify their hidden symmetries encoded in so-called Killing(-Yano) tensors. We construct the explicit form of the Killing(-Yano) tensors for the charged rotating black hole in arbitrary number of dimensions, study behavior of such tensors under string dualities, and use the analysis of hidden symmetries to explain why exact solutions for black rings (black holes with non-spherical event horizons) in more than five dimensions remain elusive. As a byproduct we identify the standard parameterization of AdSp x Sq backgrounds with elliptic coordinates on a flat base. The second goal of this work is construction of new integrable string theories by applying continuous deformations of known examples. We use the recent developments called (generalized) lambda-deformation to construct new integrable backgrounds depending on several continuous parameters and study analytical properties of the such deformations.

Bianchi type-II String Cosmological Model with Magnetic Field in Scale-Covariant Theory of Gravitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, N. K.; Singh, J. K.

2014-12-01

The spatially homogeneous and totally anisotropic Bianchi type-II cosmological solutions of massive strings have been investigated in the presence of the magnetic field in the framework of scale-covariant theory of gravitation formulated by Canuto et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 39, 429, 1977). With the help of special law of variation for Hubble's parameter proposed by Berman (Nuovo Cimento 74, 182, 1983) string cosmological model is obtained in this theory. We use the power law relation between scalar field ϕ and scale factor R to find the solutions. Some physical and kinematical properties of the model are also discussed.

Aspects of string phenomenology in particle physics and cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antoniadis, I.

2017-12-01

I discuss possible connections between several scales in particle physics and cosmology, such the the electroweak, inflation, dark energy and Planck scales. In particular, I discuss the physics of extra dimensions and low scale gravity that are motivated from the problem of mass hierarchy, providing an alternative to low energy supersymmetry. I describe their realization in type I string theory with D-branes and I present the main experimental predictions in particle accelerators and their implications in cosmology. I also show that low-mass-scale string compactifications, with a generic D-brane configuration that realizes the Standard Model by open strings, can explain the relatively broad peak in the diphoton invariant mass spectrum at 750 GeV recently reported by the ATLAS and CMS collaborations.

String theory--the physics of string-bending and other electric guitar techniques.

PubMed

Grimes, David Robert

2014-01-01

Electric guitar playing is ubiquitous in practically all modern music genres. In the hands of an experienced player, electric guitars can sound as expressive and distinct as a human voice. Unlike other more quantised instruments where pitch is a discrete function, guitarists can incorporate micro-tonality and, as a result, vibrato and sting-bending are idiosyncratic hallmarks of a player. Similarly, a wide variety of techniques unique to the electric guitar have emerged. While the mechano-acoustics of stringed instruments and vibrating strings are well studied, there has been comparatively little work dedicated to the underlying physics of unique electric guitar techniques and strings, nor the mechanical factors influencing vibrato, string-bending, fretting force and whammy-bar dynamics. In this work, models for these processes are derived and the implications for guitar and string design discussed. The string-bending model is experimentally validated using a variety of strings and vibrato dynamics are simulated. The implications of these findings on the configuration and design of guitars is also discussed.

String Theory - The Physics of String-Bending and Other Electric Guitar Techniques

PubMed Central

Grimes, David Robert

2014-01-01

Electric guitar playing is ubiquitous in practically all modern music genres. In the hands of an experienced player, electric guitars can sound as expressive and distinct as a human voice. Unlike other more quantised instruments where pitch is a discrete function, guitarists can incorporate micro-tonality and, as a result, vibrato and sting-bending are idiosyncratic hallmarks of a player. Similarly, a wide variety of techniques unique to the electric guitar have emerged. While the mechano-acoustics of stringed instruments and vibrating strings are well studied, there has been comparatively little work dedicated to the underlying physics of unique electric guitar techniques and strings, nor the mechanical factors influencing vibrato, string-bending, fretting force and whammy-bar dynamics. In this work, models for these processes are derived and the implications for guitar and string design discussed. The string-bending model is experimentally validated using a variety of strings and vibrato dynamics are simulated. The implications of these findings on the configuration and design of guitars is also discussed. PMID:25054880

How could (should) we make contact between string/M-theory and our four-dimensional world, and associated LHC predictions?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kane, Gordon

2015-12-01

String/M-theory is an exciting framework within which we try to understand our universe and its properties. Compactified string/M-theories address and offer solutions to almost every important question and issue in particle physics and particle cosmology. But earlier goals of finding a top-down “vacuum selection” principle and deriving the 4D theory have not yet been realized. Does that mean we should stop trying, as nearly all string theorists have? Or can we proceed in the historical way to make a few generic, robust assumptions not closely related to observables, and follow where they lead to testable predictions and explanations? Making only very generic assumptions is a significant issue. I discuss how to try to proceed with this approach, particularly in M-theory compactified on a 7D manifold of G2 holonomy. One goal is to understand our universe as a string/M-theory vacuum for its own sake, in the long tradition of trying to understand our world, and what that implies. In addition, understanding our vacuum may be a prelude to understanding its connection to the multiverse.

Physics on the Smallest Scales: An Introduction to Minimal Length Phenomenology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sprenger, Martin; Nicolini, Piero; Bleicher, Marcus

2012-01-01

Many modern theories which try to unify gravity with the Standard Model of particle physics, such as e.g. string theory, propose two key modifications to the commonly known physical theories: the existence of additional space dimensions; the existence of a minimal length distance or maximal resolution. While extra dimensions have received a wide…

PREFACE: Lectures from the CERN Winter School on Strings, Supergravity and Gauge Theories, CERN, 9-13 February 2009 Lectures from the CERN Winter School on Strings, Supergravity and Gauge Theories, CERN, 9-13 February 2009

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uranga, A. M.

2009-11-01

This special section is devoted to the proceedings of the conference `Winter School on Strings, Supergravity and Gauge Theories', which took place at CERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland 9-13 February 2009. This event is part of a yearly series of scientific schools, which represents a well established tradition. Previous events have been held at SISSA, in Trieste, Italy, in February 2005 and at CERN in January 2006, January 2007 and January 2008, and were funded by the European Mobility Research and Training Network `Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe'. The next event will take place again at CERN, in January 2010. The school was primarily meant for young doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers working in the area of string theory. It consisted of several general lectures of four hours each, whose notes are published in this special section, and six working group discussion sessions, focused on specific topics of the network research program. It was well attended by over 200 participants. The topics of the lectures were chosen to provide an introduction to some of the areas of recent progress, and to the open problems, in string theory. One of the most active areas in string theory in recent years has been the AdS/CFT or gauge/gravity correspondence, which proposes the complete equivalence of string theory on (asymptotically) anti de Sitter spacetimes with certain quantum (gauge) field theories. The duality has recently been applied to understanding the hydrodynamical properties of a hot plasma in gauge theories (like the quark-gluon plasma created in heavy ion collisions at the RHIC experiment at Brookhaven, and soon at the LHC at CERN) in terms of a dual gravitational AdS theory in the presence of a black hole. These developments were reviewed in the lecture notes by M Rangamani. In addition, the AdS/CFT duality has been proposed as a tool to study interesting physical properties in other physical systems described by quantum field theory, for instance in the context of a condensed matter system. The lectures by S Hartnoll provided an introduction to this recent development with an emphasis on the dual holographic description of superconductivity. Finally, ideas inspired by the AdS/CFT correspondence are yielding deep insights into fundamental questions of quantum gravity, like the entropy of black holes and its interpretation in terms of microstates. The lectures by S Mathur reviewed the black hole entropy and information paradox, and the proposal for its resolution in terms of `fuzzball' microstates. Further sets of lectures, not included in this special section, by F Zwirner and V Mukhanov, covered phenomenological aspects of high energy physics beyond the Standard Model and of cosmology. The coming experimental data in these two fields are expected to foster new developments in connecting string theory to the real world. The conference was financially supported by CERN and partially by the Arnold Sommerfeld Center for Theoretical Physics of the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich. It is a great pleasure for us to warmly thank the Theory Unit of CERN for its very kind hospitality and for the high quality of the assistance and the infrastructures that it has provided. A M Uranga CERN, Switzerland Guest Editor

Cosmic Strings Stabilized by Quantum Fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weigel, H.

2017-03-01

Fermion quantum corrections to the energy of cosmic strings are computed. A number of rather technical tools are needed to formulate this correction, and isospin and gauge invariance are employed to verify consistency of these tools. These corrections must also be included when computing the energy of strings that are charged by populating fermion bound states in its background. It is found that charged strings are dynamically stabilized in theories similar to the standard model of particle physics.

Lectures from the European RTN Winter School on Strings, Supergravity and Gauge Theories, CERN, 16 20 January, 2006

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Derendinger, J.-P.; Scrucca, C. A.; Uranga, A. M.

2006-11-01

This special issue is devoted to the proceedings of the conference 'Winter School on Strings, Supergravity and Gauge Theories', which took place at CERN, the European Centre for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland, from the 16 to the 20 of January 2006. This event was organized in the framework of the European Mobility Research and Training Network entitled 'Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe'. It is part of a yearly series of scientific schools which have become a traditional rendezvous for young researchers of the community. The previous one was held at SISSA, in Trieste, Italy, in February 2005, and the next one will take place again at CERN, in January 2007. The school was primarily meant for young doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers working in the area of string theory. It consisted of five general lectures of four hours each, whose notes are published in the present proceedings, and five working group discussion sessions, focused on specific topics of the network research program. It was attended by approximately 250 participants. The topics of the lectures were chosen to provide an introduction to some of the areas of recent progress and to the open problems in string theory. String theory is expected to provide insights into the description of systems where the role of gravity is crucial. One prominent example of such systems are time-dependent backgrounds with big bang singularities, whose status in string theory is reviewed in the lecture notes by Ben Craps. In another main problem in quantum gravity, string theory gives a fascinating microscopic description of black holes and their properties. The lectures by Shiraz Minwalla review the thermal properties of black holes from their microscopic description in terms of a holographically dual large N field theory. Progress in the description of black hole microstates, and its interplay with the macroscopic description in terms of supergravity solutions via the attractor mechanism, are covered by the lectures by Atish Dabholkar and Boris Pioline. A final important mainstream topic in string theory, being a higher-dimensional theory, is its compactification to four dimensions, and the computation of four-dimensional physical properties in terms of the properties of the internal space. The lectures by Mariana Graña review recent progress in the classification of the most general supersymmetric backgrounds describing the compactified dimensions, and their role in determining the number of massless scalar moduli fields in four dimensions. The conference was financially supported by the European Commission under contract MRTN-CT-2004-005104 and by CERN. It was jointly organized by the Physics Institute of the University of Neuchâtel and the Theory Unit of the Physics Division of CERN. It is a great pleasure for us to warmly thank the Theory Unit of CERN for its very kind hospitality and for the high quality of the services and infrastructure that it has provided. We also acknowledge helpful administrative assistance from the Physics Institute of the University of Neuchâtel. Special thanks go finally to Denis Frank for his very valuable help in preparing the conference web pages, and to J Rostant, A-M Perrin and M-S Vascotto for their continuous and very reliable assistance.

Detection of low tension cosmic superstrings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernoff, David F.; Tye, S.-H. Henry

2018-05-01

Cosmic superstrings of string theory differ from conventional cosmic strings of field theory. We review how the physical and cosmological properties of the macroscopic string loops influence experimental searches for these relics from the epoch of inflation. The universe's average density of cosmic superstrings can easily exceed that of conventional cosmic strings having the same tension by two or more orders of magnitude. The cosmological behavior of the remnant superstring loops is qualitatively distinct because the string tension is exponentially smaller than the string scale in flux compactifications in string theory. Low tension superstring loops live longer, experience less recoil (rocket effect from the emission of gravitational radiation) and tend to cluster like dark matter in galaxies. Clustering enhances the string loop density with respect to the cosmological average in collapsed structures in the universe. The enhancement at the Sun's position is ~ 105. We develop a model encapsulating the leading order string theory effects, the current understanding of the string network loop production and the influence of cosmological structure formation suitable for forecasting the detection of superstring loops via optical microlensing, gravitational wave bursts and fast radio bursts. We evaluate the detection rate of bursts from cusps and kinks by LIGO- and LISA-like experiments. Clustering dominates rates for G μ < 10‑11.9 (LIGO cusp), G μ<10‑11.2 (LISA cusp), G μ < 10‑10.6 (LISA kink); we forecast experimentally accessible gravitational wave bursts for G μ>10‑14.2 (LIGO cusp), G μ>10‑15 (LISA cusp) and G μ>10‑ 14.1 (LISA kink).

Quantum supergravity, supergravity anomalies and string phenomenology

DOE PAGES

Gaillard, Mary K.

2016-03-15

I discuss the role of quantum effects in the phenomenology of effective supergravity theories from compactification of the weakly coupled heterotic string. An accurate incorporation of these effects requires a regularization procedure that respects local supersymmetry and BRST invariance and that retains information associated with the cut-off scale, which has physical meaning in an effective theory. I briefly outline the Pauli–Villars regularization procedure, describe some applications, and comment on what remains to be done to fully define the effective quantum field theory.

New symmetries and ghost structure of covariant string theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neveu, A.; Nicolai, H.; West, P.

1986-02-01

It is shown that there exists an infinite set of new symmetries of the previously given covariant string formulations. These symmetries have themselves an infinite set of hidden local symmetries and so on. A new physically equivalent further extended string action is given in which the infinite set of symmetries is most easily displayed. A quantization involving gauge fixing and ghosts of the various covariant string actions is given. permanent address: Kings College, Mathematics Department, London WC2R 2LS, UK.

Quarks, Symmetries and Strings - a Symposium in Honor of Bunji Sakita's 60th Birthday

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaku, M.; Jevicki, A.; Kikkawa, K.

1991-04-01

The Table of Contents for the full book PDF is as follows: * Preface * Evening Banquet Speech * I. Quarks and Phenomenology * From the SU(6) Model to Uniqueness in the Standard Model * A Model for Higgs Mechanism in the Standard Model * Quark Mass Generation in QCD * Neutrino Masses in the Standard Model * Solar Neutrino Puzzle, Horizontal Symmetry of Electroweak Interactions and Fermion Mass Hierarchies * State of Chiral Symmetry Breaking at High Temperatures * Approximate |ΔI| = 1/2 Rule from a Perspective of Light-Cone Frame Physics * Positronium (and Some Other Systems) in a Strong Magnetic Field * Bosonic Technicolor and the Flavor Problem * II. Strings * Supersymmetry in String Theory * Collective Field Theory and Schwinger-Dyson Equations in Matrix Models * Non-Perturbative String Theory * The Structure of Non-Perturbative Quantum Gravity in One and Two Dimensions * Noncritical Virasoro Algebra of d < 1 Matrix Model and Quantized String Field * Chaos in Matrix Models ? * On the Non-Commutative Symmetry of Quantum Gravity in Two Dimensions * Matrix Model Formulation of String Field Theory in One Dimension * Geometry of the N = 2 String Theory * Modular Invariance form Gauge Invariance in the Non-Polynomial String Field Theory * Stringy Symmetry and Off-Shell Ward Identities * q-Virasoro Algebra and q-Strings * Self-Tuning Fields and Resonant Correlations in 2d-Gravity * III. Field Theory Methods * Linear Momentum and Angular Momentum in Quaternionic Quantum Mechanics * Some Comments on Real Clifford Algebras * On the Quantum Group p-adics Connection * Gravitational Instantons Revisited * A Generalized BBGKY Hierarchy from the Classical Path-Integral * A Quantum Generated Symmetry: Group-Level Duality in Conformal and Topological Field Theory * Gauge Symmetries in Extended Objects * Hidden BRST Symmetry and Collective Coordinates * Towards Stochastically Quantizing Topological Actions * IV. Statistical Methods * A Brief Summary of the s-Channel Theory of Superconductivity * Neural Networks and Models for the Brain * Relativistic One-Body Equations for Planar Particles with Arbitrary Spin * Chiral Property of Quarks and Hadron Spectrum in Lattice QCD * Scalar Lattice QCD * Semi-Superconductivity of a Charged Anyon Gas * Two-Fermion Theory of Strongly Correlated Electrons and Charge-Spin Separation * Statistical Mechanics and Error-Correcting Codes * Quantum Statistics

Physics from geometry: Non-Kahler compactifications, black rings anddS/CFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cyrier, Michelle

The spectrum that arises in four dimensions from compactification of ten dimensional string theory onto six dimensional manifolds is determined entirely by the geometry of the compactification manifold. The massless spectrum for compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds, which are Kahler and have complex structure, is well understood. In chapter 2 of this thesis, We study the compactification of heterotic string theory on manifolds that are non-Kahler. Such manifolds arise as a solution for compactifications of heterotic string theory with nonzero H-flux. We begin the study of the massless spectrum arising from compactification using this construction by counting zero modes of the linearized equations of motion for the gaugino in the supergravity approximation. We rephrase the question in terms of a cohomology problem and show that for a trivial gauge bundle, this cohomology reduces to the Dolbeault cohomology of the 3-fold, which we then compute. Another check of string theory is to study the entropy of black holes made in string theory. In Chapter 3, We review the microstate counting of four dimensional black holes made from M theory. We then describe a new solution in five dimensions, the supersymmetric black ring, and describe its microscopic entropy using a similar counting. These agree with the semi-classical Bekenstein-Hawking entropy for these black holes. Finally, one powerful tool for quantum gravity is the holographic duality of string theory in an Anti de Sitter background and a theory living on its conformal boundary. Strominger conjectured a similar duality between quantum gravity in a de Sitter background and the corresponding theory on its boundary. In chapter 4 we examine issues with different representations of the conformal field theory on the boundary for a massive quantum field theory living in the bulk and try to write down a sensible CFT.

Axions, Inflation and String Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mack, Katherine J.; Steinhardt, P. J.

2009-01-01

The QCD axion is the leading contender to rid the standard model of the strong-CP problem. If the Peccei-Quinn symmetry breaking occurs before inflation, which is likely in string theory models, axions manifest themselves cosmologically as a form of cold dark matter with a density determined by the axion's initial conditions and by the energy scale of inflation. Constraints on the dark matter density and on the amplitude of CMB isocurvature perturbations currently demand an exponential degree of fine-tuning of both axion and inflationary parameters beyond what is required for particle physics. String theory models generally produce large numbers of axion-like fields; the prospect that any of these fields exist at scales close to that of the QCD axion makes the problem drastically worse. I will discuss the challenge of accommodating string-theoretic axions in standard inflationary cosmology and show that the fine-tuning problems cannot be fully addressed by anthropic principle arguments.

Topics in Cosmic String Physics and Vacuum Stability of Field Theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dasgupta, Indranil

1998-01-01

In this thesis I examine aspects of the vacuum state of quantum field theories. Namely, I study topological defects in the vacuum which appear as localized regions of non-zero energy density if the model system is unable to relax to a homogeneous and isotropic ground state because of topological constraints. I also examine the stability of the so called false vacua in theories that have multiple vacuum states with different energy densities. I first consider topological defects in the form of strings and independently the decay of false vacua in models of particle physics where the presence of either defects or of false vacua leads to interesting phenomenology. Then I describe a situation in which the defects arising from topological properties of the vacuum in turn affect the stability of the vacuum itself. In the first part of this work (chapters 2 and 3), I explore the phenomenology of cosmic strings. I introduce new string-like topological defects that resemble pairs of strings bound together. I give an existence proof of these 'binary strings' and then develop their cosmological properties in detail. I then propose a simple extension of the Standard Model in which cosmic strings may form and then decay through baryon number violating interactions leading to baryogenesis. I show that the model has distinct and testable signatures. In the second part of this work (chapters 4 and 5), I examine the vacua of several proposed models of gauge mediated dynamical supersymmetry breaking and show that the viable vacua are often unstable. I develop a rigorous theory for approximating vacuum tunneling rates in multi-scalar field theories and by computing bounds on the decay rate of the vacua in these models obtain useful constraints on the parameter space. In the final part of this work (chapter 6), I develop a theory of vacuum tunneling induced by topological defects. I show that defects can speed up vacuum tunneling rates by seeding new kinds of bubbles during a first order phase transition. I then indicate possible phenomenological applications of this effect and develop simple approximation techniques for computing the rate of seeded tunneling.

Does a String-Particle Dualism Indicate the Uncertainty Principle's Philosophical Dichotomy?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mc Leod, David; Mc Leod, Roger

2007-04-01

String theory may allow resonances of neutrino-wave-strings to account for all experimentally detected phenomena. Particle theory logically, and physically, provides an alternate, contradictory dualism. Is it contradictory to symbolically and simultaneously state that λp = h, but, the product of position and momentum must be greater than, or equal to, the same (scaled) Plank's constant? Our previous electron and positron models require `membrane' vibrations of string-linked neutrinos, in closed loops, to behave like traveling waves, Tws, intermittently metamorphosing into alternately ascending and descending standing waves, Sws, between the nodes, which advance sequentially through 360 degrees. Accumulated time passages as Tws detail required ``loop currents'' supplying magnetic moments. Remaining time partitions into the Sws' alternately ascending and descending phases: the physical basis of the experimentally established 3D modes of these ``particles.'' Waves seem to indicate that point mass cannot be required to exist instantaneously at one point; Mott's and Sneddon's Wave Mechanics says that a constant, [mass], is present. String-like resonances may also account for homeopathy's efficacy, dark matter, and constellations' ``stick-figure projections,'' as indicated by some traditional cultures, all possibly involving neutrino strings. To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.NES07.C2.5

Width and string tension of the flux tube in SU(2) lattice gauge theory at high temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chagdaa, S.; Galsandorj, E.; Laermann, E.; Purev, B.

2018-02-01

We study the profiles of the flux tube between a static quark and an antiquark in quenched SU(2) lattice gauge theory at temperatures around the deconfinement phase transition. The physical width of the flux tube and the string tension have been determined from the transverse profiles and the q\\bar{q} potential, respectively. Exploiting the computational power of a GPU accelerator in our flux tube investigation, we achieve much higher statistics through which we can increase the signal to noise ratio of our observables in the simulation. This has allowed the investigation of larger lattices as well as larger separations between the quarks than in our previous work. The improved accuracy gives us better results for the width and the string tension. The physical width of the flux tube increases with the temperature up to around T c while keeping its increasing dependence on the q\\bar{q} separation. The string tension results are compared for two different sizes of the lattice. As the lattice becomes larger and finer together with the improved precision, the temperature dependent string tension tends to have a smaller value than the previous one.

Gravitational Scattering Amplitudes and Closed String Field Theory in the Proper-Time Gauge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Taejin

2018-01-01

We construct a covariant closed string field theory by extending recent works on the covariant open string field theory in the proper-time gauge. Rewriting the string scattering amplitudes generated by the closed string field theory in terms of the Polyakov string path integrals, we identify the Fock space representations of the closed string vertices. We show that the Fock space representations of the closed string field theory may be completely factorized into those of the open string field theory. It implies that the well known Kawai-Lewellen-Tye (KLT) relations of the first quantized string theory may be promoted to the second quantized closed string theory. We explicitly calculate the scattering amplitudes of three gravitons by using the closed string field theory in the proper-time gauge.

Cosmology of the closed string tachyon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Swanson, Ian

2008-09-15

The spacetime physics of bulk closed string tachyon condensation is studied at the level of a two-derivative effective action. We derive the unique perturbative tachyon potential consistent with a full class of linearized tachyonic deformations of supercritical string theory. The solutions of interest deform a general linear dilaton background by the insertion of purely exponential tachyon vertex operators. In spacetime, the evolution of the tachyon drives an accelerated contraction of the universe and, absent higher-order corrections, the theory collapses to a cosmological singularity in finite time, at arbitrarily weak string coupling. When the tachyon exhibits a null symmetry, the worldsheetmore » dynamics is known to be exact and well defined at tree level. We prove that if the two-derivative effective action is free of nongravitational singularities, higher-order corrections always resolve the spacetime curvature singularity of the null tachyon. The resulting theory provides an explicit mechanism by which tachyon condensation can generate or terminate the flow of cosmological time in string theory. Additional particular solutions can resolve an initial singularity with a tachyonic phase at weak coupling, or yield solitonic configurations that localize the universe along spatial directions.« less

String theory, quantum phase transitions, and the emergent Fermi liquid.

PubMed

Cubrović, Mihailo; Zaanen, Jan; Schalm, Koenraad

2009-07-24

A central problem in quantum condensed matter physics is the critical theory governing the zero-temperature quantum phase transition between strongly renormalized Fermi liquids as found in heavy fermion intermetallics and possibly in high-critical temperature superconductors. We found that the mathematics of string theory is capable of describing such fermionic quantum critical states. Using the anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence to relate fermionic quantum critical fields to a gravitational problem, we computed the spectral functions of fermions in the field theory. By increasing the fermion density away from the relativistic quantum critical point, a state emerges with all the features of the Fermi liquid.

String-theoretic breakdown of effective field theory near black hole horizons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dodelson, Matthew; Silverstein, Eva

2017-09-01

We investigate the validity of the equivalence principle near horizons in string theory, analyzing the breakdown of effective field theory caused by longitudinal string spreading effects. An experiment is set up where a detector is thrown into a black hole a long time after an early infalling string. Light cone gauge calculations, taken at face value, indicate a detectable level of root-mean-square longitudinal spreading of the initial string as measured by the late infaller. This results from the large relative boost between the string and detector in the near-horizon region, which develops automatically despite their modest initial energies outside the black hole and the weak curvature in the geometry. We subject this scenario to basic consistency checks, using these to obtain a relatively conservative criterion for its detectability. In a companion paper, we exhibit longitudinal nonlocality in well-defined gauge-invariant S-matrix calculations, obtaining results consistent with the predicted spreading albeit not in a direct analog of the black hole process. We discuss applications of this effect to the firewall paradox, and estimate the time and distance scales it predicts for new physics near black hole and cosmological horizons.

Strings on complex multiplication tori and rational conformal field theory with matrix level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nassar, Ali

Conformal invariance in two dimensions is a powerful symmetry. Two-dimensional quantum field theories which enjoy conformal invariance, i.e., conformal field theories (CFTs) are of great interest in both physics and mathematics. CFTs describe the dynamics of the world sheet in string theory where conformal symmetry arises as a remnant of reparametrization invariance of the world-sheet coordinates. In statistical mechanics, CFTs describe the critical points of second order phase transitions. On the mathematics side, conformal symmetry gives rise to infinite dimensional chiral algebras like the Virasoro algebra or extensions thereof. This gave rise to the study of vertex operator algebras (VOAs) which is an interesting branch of mathematics. Rational conformal theories are a simple class of CFTs characterized by a finite number of representations of an underlying chiral algebra. The chiral algebra leads to a set of Ward identities which gives a complete non-perturbative solution of the RCFT. Identifying the chiral algebra of an RCFT is a very important step in solving it. Particularly interesting RCFTs are the ones which arise from the compactification of string theory as sigma-models on a target manifold M. At generic values of the geometric moduli of M, the corresponding CFT is not rational. Rationality can arise at particular values of the moduli of M. At these special values of the moduli, the chiral algebra is extended. This interplay between the geometric picture and the algebraic description encoded in the chiral algebra makes CFTs/RCFTs a perfect link between physics and mathematics. It is always useful to find a geometric interpretation of a chiral algebra in terms of a sigma-model on some target manifold M. Then the next step is to figure out the conditions on the geometric moduli of M which gives a RCFT. In this thesis, we limit ourselves to the simplest class of string compactifications, i.e., strings on tori. As Gukov and Vafa proved, rationality selects the complex-multiplication tori. On the other hand, the study of the matrix-level affine algebra Um,K is motivated by conformal field theory and the fractional quantum Hall effect. Gannon completed the classification of U m,K modular-invariant partition functions. Here we connect the algebra U2,K to strings on 2-tori describable by rational conformal field theories. We point out that the rational conformal field theories describing strings on complex-multiplication tori have characters and partition functions identical to those of the matrix-level algebra Um,K. This connection makes obvious that the rational theories are dense in the moduli space of strings on Tm, and may prove useful in other ways.

From fractals to wormholes via string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Felce, Andrew George

The thesis is in two parts. The first part is devoted to a study of the definition of mass for soliton solutions in string theory. In the context of the low-energy effective field theory, there are three distinct quantities from which one can extract the mass of a soliton: the ADM mass, the static action and the kinetic energy. The three corresponding masses are carefully defined and shown to be equal for a representative class of string solitons, the so-called 'black fivebranes'. Along the way a potential confusion in the definition of the action is cleared up, and it is shown that the kinetic energy of a moving soliton is given in terms of a surface integral at spacelike infinity. This result for the kinetic energy is used to motivate a conjecture about the exact value of soliton masses in string theory: That in conformal field theory the kinetic mass is realized as the norm of the (1,1) deformation induced by the collective coordinate. Such deformations are usually treated as unphysical because they appear to be pure gauge and have zero norm. In a soliton conformal field theory, a finite number of these gauge transformations become physical because of a subtlety involving the boundary at spatial infinity. Some proposals for concrete exploration of this phenomenon are discussed. The second part of the thesis concerns the connection between string theory and an important problem in condensed matter physics. It has recently been shown that the dissipative Hofstadter model (dissipative quantum mechanics of an electron subject to uniform magnetic field and periodic potential in two dimensions) exhibits critical behavior on a network of lines in the dissipation/magnetic field plane. Apart from their obvious condensed matter interest, the corresponding critical theories represent non-trivial solutions of open string field theory containing a tachyon and gauge field background. A detailed account of their properties would be interesting from several points of view. The thesis reports the results of an initial investigation of the free energy, N-point functions and boundary state for this type of critical theory. Although the primary goal is to study the magnetic field dependence of these quantities, some new results are presented which bear on the zero magnetic field case as well.

Numerical algebraic geometry: a new perspective on gauge and string theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehta, Dhagash; He, Yang-Hui; Hauensteine, Jonathan D.

2012-07-01

There is a rich interplay between algebraic geometry and string and gauge theories which has been recently aided immensely by advances in computational algebra. However, symbolic (Gröbner) methods are severely limited by algorithmic issues such as exponential space complexity and being highly sequential. In this paper, we introduce a novel paradigm of numerical algebraic geometry which in a plethora of situations overcomes these shortcomings. The so-called `embarrassing parallelizability' allows us to solve many problems and extract physical information which elude symbolic methods. We describe the method and then use it to solve various problems arising from physics which could not be otherwise solved.

Quantum gravity and taoist cosmology: Exploring the ancient origins of phenomenological string theory.

PubMed

Rosen, Steven M

2017-12-01

This paper carries forward the author's contribution to PBMP's previous special issue on Integral Biomathics (Rosen 2015). In the earlier paper, the crisis in contemporary theoretical physics was described and it was demonstrated that the problem can be addressed effectively only by shifting the foundations of physics from objectivist Cartesian philosophy to phenomenological philosophy. To that end, a phenomenological string theory was proposed based on qualitative topology and hypercomplex numbers. The current presentation takes this further by delving into the ancient Chinese origin of phenomenological string theory. First, we discover a deep connection between the Klein bottle, which is crucial to the theory, and the Ho-t'u, an old Chinese number archetype central to Taoist cosmology. The two structures are seen to mirror each other in expressing the curious psychophysical (phenomenological) action pattern at the heart of microphysics. But tackling the question of quantum gravity requires that a whole family of topological dimensions be brought into play. What we find in engaging with these structures is a closely related family of Taoist forebears that, in concert with their successors, provide a blueprint for cosmic evolution. Whereas conventional string theory accounts for the generation of nature's fundamental forces via a notion of symmetry breaking that is essentially static and thus unable to explain cosmogony successfully, phenomenological/Taoist string theory is guided by the dialectical interplay between symmetry and asymmetry inherent in the principle of synsymmetry. This dynamic concept of cosmic change is elaborated on in the three concluding sections of the paper. Here, a detailed analysis of cosmogony is offered, first in terms of the theory of dimensional development and its Taoist (yin-yang) counterpart, then in terms of the evolution of the elemental force particles through cycles of expansion and contraction in a spiraling universe. The paper closes by considering the role of the analyst per se in the further evolution of the cosmos. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Covariant open bosonic string field theory on multiple D-branes in the proper-time gauge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Taejin

2017-12-01

We construct a covariant open bosonic string field theory on multiple D-branes, which reduces to a non-Abelian group Yang-Mills gauge theory in the zero-slope limit. Making use of the first quantized open bosonic string in the proper time gauge, we convert the string amplitudes given by the Polyakov path integrals on string world sheets into those of the second quantized theory. The world sheet diagrams generated by the constructed open string field theory are planar in contrast to those of the Witten's cubic string field theory. However, the constructed string field theory is yet equivalent to the Witten's cubic string field theory. Having obtained planar diagrams, we may adopt the light-cone string field theory technique to calculate the multi-string scattering amplitudes with an arbitrary number of external strings. We examine in detail the three-string vertex diagram and the effective four-string vertex diagrams generated perturbatively by the three-string vertex at tree level. In the zero-slope limit, the string scattering amplitudes are identified precisely as those of non-Abelian Yang-Mills gauge theory if the external states are chosen to be massless vector particles.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe. The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva.« less

Wilsonian dark matter in string derived Z' model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delle Rose, L.; Faraggi, A. E.; Marzo, C.; Rizos, J.

2017-09-01

The dark matter issue is among the most perplexing in contemporary physics. The problem is more enigmatic due to the wide range of possible solutions, ranging from the ultralight to the supermassive. String theory gives rise to plausible dark matter candidates due to the breaking of the non-Abelian grand unified theory (GUT) symmetries by Wilson lines. The physical spectrum then contains states that do not satisfy the quantization conditions of the unbroken GUT symmetry. Given that the Standard Model states are identified with broken GUT representations, and provided that any ensuing symmetry breakings are induced by components of GUT states, a remnant discrete symmetry remains that forbids the decay of the Wilsonian states. A class of such states are obtained in a heterotic-string-derived Z' model. The model exploits the spinor-vector duality symmetry, observed in the fermionic Z2×Z2 heterotic-string orbifolds, to generate a Z'∈E6 symmetry that may remain unbroken down to low energies. The E6 symmetry is broken at the string level with discrete Wilson lines. The Wilsonian dark matter candidates in the string-derived model are S O (10 ), and hence Standard Model, singlets and possess non-E6 U(1)Z' charges. Depending on the U(1)Z' breaking scale and the reheating temperature they give rise to different scenarios for the relic abundance, and are in accordance with the cosmological constraints.

T-Duality for Orientifolds and Twisted KR-Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doran, Charles; Méndez-Diez, Stefan; Rosenberg, Jonathan

2014-08-01

D-brane charges in orientifold string theories are classified by the KR-theory of Atiyah. However, this is assuming that all O-planes have the same sign. When there are O-planes of different signs, physics demands a "KR-theory with a sign choice" which up until now has not been studied by mathematicians (with the unique exception of Moutuou, who did not have a specific application in mind). We give a definition of this theory and compute it for orientifold theories compactified on S 1 and T 2. We also explain how and why additional "twisting" is implemented. We show that our results satisfy all possible T-duality relationships for orientifold string theories on elliptic curves, which will be studied further in subsequent work.

BOOK REVIEW: String Theory in a Nutshell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skenderis, Kostas

2007-11-01

The book 'String Theory in a Nutshell' by Elias Kiritsis provides a comprehensive introduction to modern string theory. String theory is the leading candidate for a theory that successfully unifies all fundamental forces of nature, including gravity. The subject has been continuously developing since the early 1970s, with classic textbooks on the subject being those of Green, Schwarz and Witten (1987) and Polchinski (1998). Since the latter was published there have been substantial developments, in particular in understanding black holes and gravity/gauge theory dualities. A textbook treatment of this important material is clearly needed, both by students and researchers in string theory and by mathematicians and physicists working in related fields. This book has a good selection of material, starting from basics and moving into classic and modern topics. In particular, Kiritsis' presentation of the basic material is complementary to that of the earlier textbooks and he includes a number of topics which are not easily found or covered adequately elsewhere, for example, loop corrections to string effective couplings. Overall the book nicely covers the major advances of the last ten years, including (non-perturbative) string dualities, black hole physics, AdS/CFT and matrix models. It provides a concise but fairly complete introduction to these subjects which can be used both by students and by researchers. Moreover the emphasis is on results that are reasonably established, as is appropriate for a textbook; concise summaries are given for subjects which are still in flux, with references to relevant reviews and papers. A positive feature of the book is that the bibliography sections at the end of each chapter provide a comprehensive guide to the literature. The bibliographies point to reviews and pedagogical papers on subjects covered in this book as well as those that were omitted. It is rare for a textbook to contain such a self-contained and detailed guide to the literature. In all, the book contains nearly five hundred exercises for the graduate-level student, which are useful both in teaching courses on string theory and for those who are studying by themselves. A nice feature of this book is that references are made to specific pages earlier in the book, rather than to chapters, which is helpful for students working through the book on their own. In summary,'String Theory in a Nutshell'is a valuable addition to the existing string theory textbooks; it is complementary to the previous books and gives a good treatment of subsequent developments. It is likely to become a staple reference on the subject, used both by students and researchers.

A string theory which isn't about strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kanghoon; Rey, Soo-Jong; Rosabal, J. A.

2017-11-01

Quantization of closed string proceeds with a suitable choice of worldsheet vacuum. A priori, the vacuum may be chosen independently for left-moving and right-moving sectors. We construct ab initio quantized bosonic string theory with left-right asymmetric worldsheet vacuum and explore its consequences and implications. We critically examine the validity of new vacuum and carry out first-quantization using standard operator formalism. Remarkably, the string spectrum consists only of a finite number of degrees of freedom: string gravity (massless spin-two, Kalb-Ramond and dilaton fields) and two massive spin-two Fierz-Pauli fields. The massive spin-two fields have negative norm, opposite mass-squared, and provides a Lee-Wick type extension of string gravity. We compute two physical observables: tree-level scattering amplitudes and one-loop cosmological constant. Scattering amplitude of four dilatons is shown to be a rational function of kinematic invariants, and in D = 26 factorizes into contributions of massless spin-two and a pair of massive spin-two fields. The string one loop partition function is shown to perfectly agree with one loop Feynman diagram of string gravity and two massive spin-two fields. In particular, it does not exhibit modular invariance. We critically compare our construction with recent studies and contrast differences.

The Beginning of String Theory: A Historical Sketch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vecchia, P. Di; Schwimmer, A.

In this note we follow the historical development of the ideas that led to the formulation of String Theory. We start from the inspired guess of Veneziano and its extension to the scattering of N scalar particles, then we describe how the study of its factorization properties allowed to identify the physical spectrum, and finally we discuss how the critical values of the intercept of the Regge trajectory and of the critical dimension were fixed to be α_0 =1 and d=26.

6D fractional quantum Hall effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heckman, Jonathan J.; Tizzano, Luigi

2018-05-01

We present a 6D generalization of the fractional quantum Hall effect involving membranes coupled to a three-form potential in the presence of a large background four-form flux. The low energy physics is governed by a bulk 7D topological field theory of abelian three-form potentials with a single derivative Chern-Simons-like action coupled to a 6D anti-chiral theory of Euclidean effective strings. We derive the fractional conductivity, and explain how continued fractions which figure prominently in the classification of 6D superconformal field theories correspond to a hierarchy of excited states. Using methods from conformal field theory we also compute the analog of the Laughlin wavefunction. Compactification of the 7D theory provides a uniform perspective on various lower-dimensional gapped systems coupled to boundary degrees of freedom. We also show that a supersymmetric version of the 7D theory embeds in M-theory, and can be decoupled from gravity. Encouraged by this, we present a conjecture in which IIB string theory is an edge mode of a 10 + 2-dimensional bulk topological theory, thus placing all twelve dimensions of F-theory on a physical footing.

Light and compressed gluinos at the LHC via string theory.

PubMed

AbdusSalam, S S

2017-01-01

In this article, we show that making global fits of string theory model parameters to data is an interesting mechanism for probing, mapping and forecasting connections of the theory to real world physics. We considered a large volume scenario (LVS) with D3-brane matter fields and supersymmetry breaking. A global fit of the parameters to low-energy data shows that the set of LVS models are associated with light gluinos which are quasi-degenerate with the neutralinos and charginos they can promptly decay into, and thus they are possibly hidden to current LHC gluino search strategies.

Topological string, supersymmetric gauge theory and bps counting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Guang

In this thesis we study the Donaldson-Thomas theory on the local curve geometry, which arises in the context of geometric engineering of supersymmetric gauge theory from type IIA string compactification. The topological A-model amplitude gives the F-term interaction of the compactified theory. In particular, it is related to the instanton partition function via Nekrasov conjecture. We will introduce ADHM sheaves on curve, as an alternative description of local Donaldson-Thomas theory. We derive the wallcrossing of ADHM invariants and their refinements. We show that it is equivalent to the semi-primitive wallcrossing from supergravity, and the Kontsevich-Soibelman wallcrossing formula. As an application, we discuss the connection between ADHM moduli space with Hitchin system. In particular we give a recursive formula for the Poincare polynomial of Hitchin system in terms of instanton partition function, from refined wallcrossing. We also introduce higher rank generalization of Donaldson-Thomas invariant in the context of ADHM sheaves. We study their wallcrossing and discuss their physical interpretation via string duality.

Charting the landscape of supercritical string theory.

PubMed

Hellerman, Simeon; Swanson, Ian

2007-10-26

Special solutions of string theory in supercritical dimensions can interpolate in time between theories with different numbers of spacetime dimensions and different amounts of world sheet supersymmetry. These solutions connect supercritical string theories to the more familiar string duality web in ten dimensions and provide a precise link between supersymmetric and purely bosonic string theories. Dimension quenching and c duality appear to be natural concepts in string theory, giving rise to large networks of interconnected theories.

String scattering amplitudes and deformed cubic string field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Sheng-Hong; Lee, Jen-Chi; Lee, Taejin; Yang, Yi

2018-01-01

We study string scattering amplitudes by using the deformed cubic string field theory which is equivalent to the string field theory in the proper-time gauge. The four-string scattering amplitudes with three tachyons and an arbitrary string state are calculated. The string field theory yields the string scattering amplitudes evaluated on the world sheet of string scattering whereas the conventional method, based on the first quantized theory brings us the string scattering amplitudes defined on the upper half plane. For the highest spin states, generated by the primary operators, both calculations are in perfect agreement. In this case, the string scattering amplitudes are invariant under the conformal transformation, which maps the string world sheet onto the upper half plane. If the external string states are general massive states, generated by non-primary field operators, we need to take into account carefully the conformal transformation between the world sheet and the upper half plane. We show by an explicit calculation that the string scattering amplitudes calculated by using the deformed cubic string field theory transform into those of the first quantized theory on the upper half plane by the conformal transformation, generated by the Schwarz-Christoffel mapping.

E(lementary)-strings in six-dimensional heterotic F-theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Kang-Sin; Rey, Soo-Jong

2017-09-01

Using E-strings, we can analyze not only six-dimensional superconformal field theories but also probe vacua of non-perturabative heterotic string. We study strings made of D3-branes wrapped on various two-cycles in the global F-theory setup. We claim that E-strings are elementary in the sense that various combinations of E-strings can form M-strings as well as heterotic strings and new kind of strings, called G-strings. Using them, we show that emissions and combinations of heterotic small instantons generate most of known six-dimensional superconformal theories, their affinizations and little string theories. Taking account of global structure of compact internal geometry, we also show that special combinations of E-strings play an important role in constructing six-dimensional theories of D- and E-types. We check global consistency conditions from anomaly cancellation conditions, both from five-branes and strings, and show that they are given in terms of elementary E-string combinations.

Formal and physical equivalence in two cases in contemporary quantum physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fraser, Doreen

2017-08-01

The application of analytic continuation in quantum field theory (QFT) is juxtaposed to T-duality and mirror symmetry in string theory. Analytic continuation-a mathematical transformation that takes the time variable t to negative imaginary time-it-was initially used as a mathematical technique for solving perturbative Feynman diagrams, and was subsequently the basis for the Euclidean approaches within mainstream QFT (e.g., Wilsonian renormalization group methods, lattice gauge theories) and the Euclidean field theory program for rigorously constructing non-perturbative models of interacting QFTs. A crucial difference between theories related by duality transformations and those related by analytic continuation is that the former are judged to be physically equivalent while the latter are regarded as physically inequivalent. There are other similarities between the two cases that make comparing and contrasting them a useful exercise for clarifying the type of argument that is needed to support the conclusion that dual theories are physically equivalent. In particular, T-duality and analytic continuation in QFT share the criterion for predictive equivalence that two theories agree on the complete set of expectation values and the mass spectra and the criterion for formal equivalence that there is a "translation manual" between the physically significant algebras of observables and sets of states in the two theories. The analytic continuation case study illustrates how predictive and formal equivalence are compatible with physical inequivalence, but not in the manner of standard underdetermination cases. Arguments for the physical equivalence of dual theories must cite considerations beyond predictive and formal equivalence. The analytic continuation case study is an instance of the strategy of developing a physical theory by extending the formal or mathematical equivalence with another physical theory as far as possible. That this strategy has resulted in developments in pure mathematics as well as theoretical physics is another feature that this case study has in common with dualities in string theory.

Topological resolution of gauge theory singularities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saracco, Fabio; Tomasiello, Alessandro; Torroba, Gonzalo

2013-08-01

Some gauge theories with Coulomb branches exhibit singularities in perturbation theory, which are usually resolved by nonperturbative physics. In string theory this corresponds to the resolution of timelike singularities near the core of orientifold planes by effects from F or M theory. We propose a new mechanism for resolving Coulomb branch singularities in three-dimensional gauge theories, based on Chern-Simons interactions. This is illustrated in a supersymmetric SU(2) Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory. We calculate the one-loop corrections to the Coulomb branch of this theory and find a result that interpolates smoothly between the high-energy metric (that would exhibit the singularity) and a regular singularity-free low-energy result. We suggest possible applications to singularity resolution in string theory and speculate a relationship to a similar phenomenon for the orientifold six-plane in massive IIA supergravity.

Second quantization in bit-string physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noyes, H. Pierre

1993-01-01

Using a new fundamental theory based on bit-strings, a finite and discrete version of the solutions of the free one particle Dirac equation as segmented trajectories with steps of length h/mc along the forward and backward light cones executed at velocity +/- c are derived. Interpreting the statistical fluctuations which cause the bends in these segmented trajectories as emission and absorption of radiation, these solutions are analogous to a fermion propagator in a second quantized theory. This allows us to interpret the mass parameter in the step length as the physical mass of the free particle. The radiation in interaction with it has the usual harmonic oscillator structure of a second quantized theory. How these free particle masses can be generated gravitationally using the combinatorial hierarchy sequence (3,10,137,2(sup 127) + 136), and some of the predictive consequences are sketched.

Local random configuration-tree theory for string repetition and facilitated dynamics of glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lam, Chi-Hang

2018-02-01

We derive a microscopic theory of glassy dynamics based on the transport of voids by micro-string motions, each of which involves particles arranged in a line hopping simultaneously displacing one another. Disorder is modeled by a random energy landscape quenched in the configuration space of distinguishable particles, but transient in the physical space as expected for glassy fluids. We study the evolution of local regions with m coupled voids. At a low temperature, energetically accessible local particle configurations can be organized into a random tree with nodes and edges denoting configurations and micro-string propagations respectively. Such trees defined in the configuration space naturally describe systems defined in two- or three-dimensional physical space. A micro-string propagation initiated by a void can facilitate similar motions by other voids via perturbing the random energy landscape, realizing path interactions between voids or equivalently string interactions. We obtain explicit expressions of the particle diffusion coefficient and a particle return probability. Under our approximation, as temperature decreases, random trees of energetically accessible configurations exhibit a sequence of percolation transitions in the configuration space, with local regions containing fewer coupled voids entering the non-percolating immobile phase first. Dynamics is dominated by coupled voids of an optimal group size, which increases as temperature decreases. Comparison with a distinguishable-particle lattice model (DPLM) of glass shows very good quantitative agreements using only two adjustable parameters related to typical energy fluctuations and the interaction range of the micro-strings.

The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibbons, G. W.; Shellard, E. P. S.; Rankin, S. J.

2009-08-01

Preface; List of contributors; 1. Introduction; Part I. Popular Symposium: 2. Our complex cosmos and its future Martin J. Rees; 3. Theories of everything and Hawking's wave function of the Universe James B. Hartle; 4. The problem of space-time singularities: implications for quantum gravity? Roger Penrose; 5. Warping spacetime Kip Thorne; 6. 60 years in a nutshell Stephen W. Hawking; Part II. Spacetime Singularities: 7. Cosmological perturbations and singularities George F. R. Ellis; 8. The quantum physics of chronology protection Matt Visser; 9. Energy dominance and the Hawking-Ellis vacuum conservation theorem Brandon Carter; 10. On the instability of extra space dimensions Roger Penrose; Part III. Black Holes: 11. Black hole uniqueness and the inner horizon stability problem Werner Israel; 12. Black holes in the real universe and their prospects as probes of relativistic gravity Martin J. Rees; 13. Primordial black holes Bernard Carr; 14. Black hole pair creation Simon F. Ross; 15. Black holes as accelerators Steven Giddings; Part IV. Hawking Radiation: 16. Black holes and string theory Malcolm Perry; 17. M theory and black hole quantum mechanics Joe Polchinski; 18. Playing with black strings Gary Horowitz; 19. Twenty years of debate with Stephen Leonard Susskind; Part V. Quantum Gravity: 20. Euclidean quantum gravity: the view from 2002 Gary Gibbons; 21. Zeta functions, anomalies and stable branes Ian Moss; 22. Some reflections on the status of conventional quantum theory when applied to quantum gravity Chris Isham; 23. Quantum geometry and its ramifications Abhay Ashtekar; 24. Topology change in quantum gravity Fay Dowker; Part VI. M Theory and Beyond: 25. The past and future of string theory Edward Witten; 26. String theory David Gross; 27. A brief description of string theory Michael Green; 28. The story of M Paul Townsend; 29. Gauged supergravity and holographic field theory Nick Warner; 30. 57 varieties in a NUTshell Chris Pope; Part VII. de Sitter Space: 31. Adventures in de Sitter space Raphael Bousso; 32. de Sitter space in non-critical string theory Andrew Strominger; 33. Supergravity, M theory and cosmology Renata Kallosh; Part VIII. Quantum Cosmology: 34. The state of the universe James B. Hartle; 35. Quantum cosmology Don Page; 36. Quantum cosmology and eternal inflation A. Vilenkin; 37. Probability in the deterministic theory known as quantum mechanics Bryce de Witt; 38. The interpretation of quantum cosmology and the problem of time J. Halliwell; 39. What local supersymmetry can do for quantum cosmology Peter D'Eath; Part IX. Cosmology: 40. Inflation and cosmological perturbations Alan Guth; 41. The future of cosmology: observational and computational prospects Paul Shellard; 42. The ekpyrotic universe and its cyclic extension Neil Turok; 43. Inflationary theory versus the ekpyrotic/cyclic scenario Andrei Linde; 44. Brane (new) worlds Pierre Binetruy; 45. Publications of Stephen Hawking; Index.

The Birth of String Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cappelli, Andrea; Castellani, Elena; Colomo, Filippo; Di Vecchia, Paolo

2012-04-01

Part I. Overview: 1. Introduction and synopsis; 2. Rise and fall of the hadronic string G. Veneziano; 3. Gravity, unification, and the superstring J. H. Schwarz; 4. Early string theory as a challenging case study for philosophers E. Castellani; Part II. The Prehistory: The Analytic S-Matrix: 5. Introduction to Part II; 6. Particle theory in the sixties: from current algebra to the Veneziano amplitude M. Ademollo; 7. The path to the Veneziano model H. R. Rubinstein; 8. Two-component duality and strings P. G. O. Freund; 9. Note on the prehistory of string theory M. Gell-Mann; Part III. The Dual Resonance Model: 10. Introduction to Part III; 11. From the S-matrix to string theory P. Di Vecchia; 12. Reminiscence on the birth of string theory J. A. Shapiro; 13. Personal recollections D. Amati; 14. Early string theory at Fermilab and Rutgers L. Clavelli; 15. Dual amplitudes in higher dimensions: a personal view C. Lovelace; 16. Personal recollections on dual models R. Musto; 17. Remembering the 'supergroup' collaboration F. Nicodemi; 18. The '3-Reggeon vertex' S. Sciuto; Part IV. The String: 19. Introduction to Part IV; 20. From dual models to relativistic strings P. Goddard; 21. The first string theory: personal recollections L. Susskind; 22. The string picture of the Veneziano model H. B. Nielsen; 23. From the S-matrix to string theory Y. Nambu; 24. The analogue model for string amplitudes D. B. Fairlie; 25. Factorization in dual models and functional integration in string theory S. Mandelstam; 26. The hadronic origins of string theory R. C. Brower; Part V. Beyond the Bosonic String: 27. Introduction to Part V; 28. From dual fermion to superstring D. I. Olive; 29. Dual models with fermions: memoirs of an early string theorist P. Ramond; 30. Personal recollections A. Neveu; 31. Aspects of fermionic dual models E. Corrigan; 32. The dual quark models K. Bardakci and M. B. Halpern; 33. Remembering the dawn of relativistic strings J.-L. Gervais; 34. Early string theory in Cambridge: personal recollections C. Montonen; Part VI. The Superstring: 35. Introduction to Part VI; 36. Supersymmetry in string theory F. Gliozzi; 37. Gravity from strings: personal reminiscences of early developments T. Yoneya; 38. From the Nambu-Goto to the σ-model action L. Brink; 39. Locally supersymmetric action for superstring P. Di Vecchia; 40. Personal recollections E. Cremmer; 41. The scientific contributions of Joël Scherk J. H. Schwarz; Part VII. Preparing the String Renaissance: 42. Introduction to Part VII; 43. From strings to superstrings: a personal perspective M. B. Green; 44. Quarks, strings and beyond A. M. Polyakov; 45. The rise of the superstring theory A. Cappelli and F. Colomo; Appendices; Index.

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

McAllister, Liam

2018-05-14

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

None

2018-05-22

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons.Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

None

2018-06-28

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

None

2018-05-23

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

None

2017-12-09

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

McAllister, Liam

2018-05-24

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe";. The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions".This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde. Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

Sen, Ashoke

2018-04-27

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network". The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher.

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

None

2018-05-23

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe";. The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

High Energy Theory Workshops and Visitors at the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics FY16

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pierce, Aaron

This award provided partial support for the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics to host the 5-day workshop "Emergent themes in String Theory" this winter, March 15 - 19, 2016. on the University of Michigan campus. In addition, this award provided limited support for the Young High Energy Theorist (YHET) visitor program at the University of Michigan.

Research in the Theory of Condensed Matter and Elementary Particles: Final Report, September 1, 1984 - November 30, 1987

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Friedan, D.; Kadanoff, L.; Nambu, Y.; Shenker, S.

1988-04-01

Progress is reported in the field of condensed matter physics in the area of two-dimensional critical phenomena, specifically results allowing complete classification of all possible two-dimensional critical phenomena in a certain domain. In the field of high energy physics, progress is reported in string and conformal field theory, and supersymmetry.

Topological resolution of gauge theory singularities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saracco, Fabio; Tomasiello, Alessandro; Torroba, Gonzalo

2013-08-21

Some gauge theories with Coulomb branches exhibit singularities in perturbation theory, which are usually resolved by nonperturbative physics. In string theory this corresponds to the resolution of timelike singularities near the core of orientifold planes by effects from F or M theory. We propose a new mechanism for resolving Coulomb branch singularities in three-dimensional gauge theories, based on Chern-Simons interactions. This is illustrated in a supersymmetric S U ( 2 ) Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons theory. We calculate the one-loop corrections to the Coulomb branch of this theory and find a result that interpolates smoothly between the high-energy metric (that would exhibit themore » singularity) and a regular singularity-free low-energy result. We suggest possible applications to singularity resolution in string theory and speculate a relationship to a similar phenomenon for the orientifold six-plane in massive IIA supergravity.« less

Remarks on entanglement entropy in string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balasubramanian, Vijay; Parrikar, Onkar

2018-03-01

Entanglement entropy for spatial subregions is difficult to define in string theory because of the extended nature of strings. Here we propose a definition for bosonic open strings using the framework of string field theory. The key difference (compared to ordinary quantum field theory) is that the subregion is chosen inside a Cauchy surface in the "space of open string configurations." We first present a simple calculation of this entanglement entropy in free light-cone string field theory, ignoring subtleties related to the factorization of the Hilbert space. We reproduce the answer expected from an effective field theory point of view, namely a sum over the one-loop entanglement entropies corresponding to all the particle-excitations of the string, and further show that the full string theory regulates ultraviolet divergences in the entanglement entropy. We then revisit the question of factorization of the Hilbert space by analyzing the covariant phase-space associated with a subregion in Witten's covariant string field theory. We show that the pure gauge (i.e., BRST exact) modes in the string field become dynamical at the entanglement cut. Thus, a proper definition of the entropy must involve an extended Hilbert space, with new stringy edge modes localized at the entanglement cut.

Abelian Higgs cosmic strings: Small-scale structure and loops

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hindmarsh, Mark; Stuckey, Stephanie; Bevis, Neil

2009-06-15

Classical lattice simulations of the Abelian Higgs model are used to investigate small-scale structure and loop distributions in cosmic string networks. Use of the field theory ensures that the small-scale physics is captured correctly. The results confirm analytic predictions of Polchinski and Rocha 29 for the two-point correlation function of the string tangent vector, with a power law from length scales of order the string core width up to horizon scale. An analysis of the size distribution of string loops gives a very low number density, of order 1 per horizon volume, in contrast with Nambu-Goto simulations. Further, our loopmore » distribution function does not support the detailed analytic predictions for loop production derived by Dubath et al. 30. Better agreement to our data is found with a model based on loop fragmentation 32, coupled with a constant rate of energy loss into massive radiation. Our results show a strong energy-loss mechanism, which allows the string network to scale without gravitational radiation, but which is not due to the production of string width loops. From evidence of small-scale structure we argue a partial explanation for the scale separation problem of how energy in the very low frequency modes of the string network is transformed into the very high frequency modes of gauge and Higgs radiation. We propose a picture of string network evolution, which reconciles the apparent differences between Nambu-Goto and field theory simulations.« less

Further Development of HS Field Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdurrahman, Abdulmajeed; Faridani, Jacqueline; Gassem, Mahmoud

2006-04-01

We present a systematic treatment of the HS Field theory of the open bosonic string and discuss its relationship to other full string field theories of the open bosonic string such as Witten's theory and the CVS theory. In the development of the HS field theory we encounter infinite dimensional matrices arising from the change of representation between the two theories, i.e., the HS field theory and the full string field theory. We give a general procedure of how to invert these gigantic matrices. The inversion of these matrices involves the computation of many infinite sums. We give the values of these sums and state their generalizations arising from considering higher order vertices (i.e., more than three strings) in string field theory. Moreover, we give a general procedure, on how to evaluate the generalized sums, that can be extended to many generic sums of similar properties. We also discuss the conformal operator connecting the HS field theory to that of the CVS string field theory.

Bell's Inequalities, Superquantum Correlations, and String Theory

DOE PAGES

Chang, Lay Nam; Lewis, Zachary; Minic, Djordje; ...

2011-01-01

We offermore » an interpretation of superquantum correlations in terms of a “doubly” quantum theory. We argue that string theory, viewed as a quantum theory with two deformation parameters, the string tension α ' , and the string coupling constant g s , is such a superquantum theory that transgresses the usual quantum violations of Bell's inequalities. We also discuss the ℏ → ∞ limit of quantum mechanics in this context. As a superquantum theory, string theory should display distinct experimentally observable supercorrelations of entangled stringy states.« less

Entanglement branes in a two-dimensional string theory

DOE PAGES

Donnelly, William; Wong, Gabriel

2017-09-20

What is the meaning of entanglement in a theory of extended objects such as strings? To address this question we consider the spatial entanglement between two intervals in the Gross-Taylor model, the string theory dual to two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory at large N. The string diagrams that contribute to the entanglement entropy describe open strings with endpoints anchored to the entangling surface, as first argued by Susskind. We develop a canonical theory of these open strings, and describe how closed strings are divided into open strings at the level of the Hilbert space. Here, we derive the modular Hamiltonian for themore » Hartle-Hawking state and show that the corresponding reduced density matrix describes a thermal ensemble of open strings ending on an object at the entangling surface that we call an entanglement brane, or E-brane.« less

Anisotropic string cosmological model in Brans–Dicke theory of gravitation with time-dependent deceleration parameter

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maurya, D. Ch., E-mail: dcmaurya563@gmail.com; Zia, R., E-mail: rashidzya@gmail.com; Pradhan, A., E-mail: pradhan.anirudh@gmail.com

We discuss a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic string cosmological models in the Brans–Dicke theory of gravitation. For a spatially homogeneous metric, it is assumed that the expansion scalar θ is proportional to the shear scalar σ. This condition leads to A = kB{sup m}, where k and m are constants. With these assumptions and also assuming a variable scale factor a = a(t), we find solutions of the Brans–Dicke field equations. Various phenomena like the Big Bang, expanding universe, and shift from anisotropy to isotropy are observed in the model. It can also be seen that in early stage ofmore » the evolution of the universe, strings dominate over particles, whereas the universe is dominated by massive strings at the late time. Some physical and geometrical behaviors of the models are also discussed and observed to be in good agreement with the recent observations of SNe la supernovae.« less

Analytical Tools for Investigating and Modeling Agent-Based Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-06-01

of Black Holes Cluster 10 : Juan M. Maldacena (1924), Journal of High Energy Physics Field theory models for tachyon and gauge field string dy...namics; Super-Poincare Invariant Superstring Field The- ory; Level Four Approximation to the Tachyon Potential in Superstring Field Theory; SO(32) Spinors

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

Sen, Ashoke

2017-12-18

Part 7.The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

ScienceCinema

None

2018-02-09

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental InteractionS". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher

CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory 2010

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2010-01-22

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher« less

3D string theory and Umbral moonshine

DOE PAGES

Kachru, Shamit; Paquette, Natalie M.; Volpato, Roberto

2017-09-05

Here, the simplest string theory compactifications to 3D with 16 supercharges—the heterotic string on T 7, and type II strings onmore » $$K3 \\times T^3$$ —are related by U-duality, and share a moduli space of vacua parametrized by $$O(8, 24;{{\\mathbb Z}}) ~\\backslash ~O(8, 24)~ /~ (O(8) \\times O(24))$$ . One can think of this as the moduli space of even, self-dual 32-dimensional lattices with signature (8,24). At 24 special points in moduli space, the lattice splits as $$\\Gamma^{8, 0} \\oplus \\Gamma^{0, 24}$$ . $$\\Gamma^{0, 24}$$ can be the Leech lattice or any of 23 Niemeier lattices, while $$\\Gamma^{8, 0}$$ is the E 8 root lattice. We show that starting from this observation, one can find a precise connection between the Umbral groups and type IIA string theory on K3. This may provide a natural physical starting point for understanding Mathieu and Umbral moonshine. The maximal unbroken subgroups of Umbral groups in 6D (or any other limit) are those obtained by starting at the associated Niemeier point and moving in moduli space while preserving the largest possible subgroup of the Umbral group. To illustrate the action of these symmetries on BPS states, we discuss the computation of certain protected four-derivative terms in the effective field theory, and recover facts about the spectrum and symmetry representations of 1/2-BPS states.« less

Matter-antimatter asymmetry in the universe via string-inspired CPT violation at early eras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mavromatos, Nick E.

2018-01-01

In four-space-time dimensional string/brane theory, obtained either through compactification of the extra spatial dimensions, or by appropriate restriction to brane worlds with three large spatial dimensions, the rich physics potential associated with the presence of non-trivial Kalb-Ramond (KR) axion-like fields has not been fully exploited so far. In this talk, I discuss a scenario whereby such fields produce spontaneous Lorentz- and CPT-violating cosmological backgrounds over which strings propagate, which in the early Universe can lead to Baryogenesis through Leptogenesis in models with heavy right-handed neutrinos.

Spectral flow as a map between N = (2 , 0)-models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Athanasopoulos, P.; Faraggi, A. E.; Gepner, D.

2014-07-01

The space of (2 , 0) models is of particular interest among all heterotic-string models because it includes the models with the minimal SO (10) unification structure, which is well motivated by the Standard Model of particle physics data. The fermionic Z2 ×Z2 heterotic-string models revealed the existence of a new symmetry in the space of string configurations under the exchange of spinors and vectors of the SO (10) GUT group, dubbed spinor-vector duality. In this paper we generalize this idea to arbitrary internal rational conformal field theories (RCFTs). We explain how the spectral flow operator normally acting within a general (2 , 2) theory can be used as a map between (2 , 0) models. We describe the details, give an example and propose more simple currents that can be used in a similar way.

String Theory Methods for Condensed Matter Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nastase, Horatiu

2017-09-01

Preface; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Part I. Condensed Matter Models and Problems: 1. Lightning review of statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, phases and phase transitions; 2. Magnetism in solids; 3. Electrons in solids: Fermi gas vs. Fermi liquid; 4. Bosonic quasi-particles: phonons and plasmons; 5. Spin-charge separation in 1+1 dimensional solids: spinons and holons; 6. The Ising model and the Heisenberg spin chain; 7. Spin chains and integrable systems; 8. The thermodynamic Bethe ansatz; 9. Conformal field theories and quantum phase transitions; 10. Classical vs. quantum Hall effect; 11. Superconductivity: Landau-Ginzburg, London and BCS; 12. Topology and statistics: Berry and Chern-Simons, anyons and nonabelions; 13. Insulators; 14. The Kondo effect and the Kondo problem; 15. Hydrodynamics and transport properties: from Boltzmann to Navier-Stokes; Part II. Elements of General Relativity and String Theory: 16. The Einstein equation and the Schwarzschild solution; 17. The Reissner-Nordstrom and Kerr-Newman solutions and thermodynamic properties of black holes; 18. Extra dimensions and Kaluza-Klein; 19. Electromagnetism and gravity in various dimensions. Consistent truncations; 20. Gravity plus matter: black holes and p-branes in various dimensions; 21. Weak/strong coupling dualities in 1+1, 2+1, 3+1 and d+1 dimensions; 22. The relativistic point particle and the relativistic string; 23. Lightcone strings and quantization; 24. D-branes and gauge fields; 25. Electromagnetic fields on D-branes. Supersymmetry and N = 4 SYM. T-duality of closed strings; 26. Dualities and M theory; 27. The AdS/CFT correspondence: definition and motivation; Part III. Applying String Theory to Condensed Matter Problems: 28. The pp wave correspondence: string Hamiltonian from N = 4 SYM; 29. Spin chains from N = 4 SYM; 30. The Bethe ansatz: Bethe strings from classical strings in AdS; 31. Integrability and AdS/CFT; 32. AdS/CFT phenomenology: Lifshitz, Galilean and Schrodinger symmetries and their gravity duals; 33. Finite temperature and black holes; 34. Hot plasma equilibrium thermodynamics: entropy, charge density and chemical potential of strongly coupled theories; 35. Spectral functions and transport properties; 36. Dynamic and nonequilibrium properties of plasmas: electric transport, Langevin diffusion and thermalization via black hole quasi-normal modes; 37. The holographic superconductor; 38. The fluid-gravity correspondence: conformal relativistic fluids from black hole horizons; 39. Nonrelativistic fluids: from Einstein to Navier-Stokes and back; Part IV. Advanced Applications: 40. Fermi gas and liquid in AdS/CFT; 41. Quantum Hall effect from string theory; 42. Quantum critical systems and AdS/CFT; 43. Particle-vortex duality and ABJM vs. AdS4 X CP3 duality; 44. Topology and non-standard statistics from AdS/CFT; 45. DBI scalar model for QGP/black hole hydro- and thermo-dynamics; 46. Holographic entanglement entropy in condensed matter; 47. Holographic insulators; 48. Holographic strange metals and the Kondo problem; References; Index.

No-Ghost Theorem for Neveu-Schwarz String in 0-Picture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohriki, M.; Kunitomo, H.; Murata, M.

2010-12-01

The no-ghost theorem for Neveu-Schwarz string is directly proved in 0-picture. The one-to-one correspondence between physical states in 0-picture and in the conventional (-1)-picture is confirmed. It is shown that a nontrivial metric consistent with the BRST cohomology is needed to define a positive semidefinite norm in the physical Hilbert space. As a by-product, we find a new inverse picture-changing operator, which is noncovariant but has a nonsingular operator product with itself. A possibility to construct a new gauge-invariant superstring field theory is discussed.

Relativistic harmonic oscillator revisited

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bars, Itzhak

2009-02-15

The familiar Fock space commonly used to describe the relativistic harmonic oscillator, for example, as part of string theory, is insufficient to describe all the states of the relativistic oscillator. We find that there are three different vacua leading to three disconnected Fock sectors, all constructed with the same creation-annihilation operators. These have different spacetime geometric properties as well as different algebraic symmetry properties or different quantum numbers. Two of these Fock spaces include negative norm ghosts (as in string theory), while the third one is completely free of ghosts. We discuss a gauge symmetry in a worldline theory approachmore » that supplies appropriate constraints to remove all the ghosts from all Fock sectors of the single oscillator. The resulting ghost-free quantum spectrum in d+1 dimensions is then classified in unitary representations of the Lorentz group SO(d,1). Moreover, all states of the single oscillator put together make up a single infinite dimensional unitary representation of a hidden global symmetry SU(d,1), whose Casimir eigenvalues are computed. Possible applications of these new results in string theory and other areas of physics and mathematics are briefly mentioned.« less

The Rising Landscape: A Visual Exploration of Superstring Revolutions in Physics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Chaomei; Kuljis, Jasna

2003-01-01

Discussion of knowledge domain visualization focuses on practical issues concerning modeling and visualizing scientific revolutions. Studies growth patterns of specialties derived from citation and cocitation data on string theory in physics, using the general framework of Thomas Kuhn's structure of scientific revolutions. (Author/LRW)

Novel string field theory with also negative energy constituents/objects gives Veneziano amplitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nielsen, H. B.; Ninomiya, M.

2018-02-01

We have proposed a new type of string field theory. The main point of the present article is to cure some technical troubles: missing two out three terms in Veneziano amplitude. Our novel string field theory, describes a theory with many strings in terms of "objects", which are not exactly, but close to Charles Thorn's string bits. The new point is that the objects in terms of which the universe states are constructed, and which have an essentially 26-momentum variable called J μ , can have the energy J 0 be also negative as well as positive. We get a long way in deriving in this model the Veneziano model and obtain all the three terms needed for a four point amplitude. This result strongly indicates that our novel string field theory is indeed string theory.

Life on moduli space?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, Stephen D. H.

2009-10-01

While the number of metastable landscape vacua in string theory is vast, the number of supermoduli vacua which lead to distinct low-energy physics is even larger, perhaps infinitely so. From the anthropic perspective it is therefore important to understand whether complex life is possible on moduli space—i.e., in low-energy effective theories with (1) exact supersymmetry and (2) some massless multiplets (moduli). Unless life is essentially impossible on moduli space as a consequence of these characteristics, anthropic reasoning in string theory suggests that the overwhelming majority of sentient beings would observe 1-2. We investigate whether 1 and 2 are by themselves automatically inimical to life and conclude, tentatively, that they are not. In particular, we describe moduli scenarios in which complex life seems possible.

A note on the WGC, effective field theory and clockwork within string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibáñez, Luis E.; Montero, Miguel

2018-02-01

It has been recently argued that Higgsing of theories with U(1) n gauge interactions consistent with the Weak Gravity Conjecture (WGC) may lead to effective field theories parametrically violating WGC constraints. The minimal examples typically involve Higgs scalars with a large charge with respect to a U(1) (e.g. charges ( Z, 1) in U(1)2 with Z ≫ 1). This type of Higgs multiplets play also a key role in clockwork U(1) theories. We study these issues in the context of heterotic string theory and find that, even if there is no new physics at the standard magnetic WGC scale Λ ˜ g IR M P , the string scale is just slightly above, at a scale ˜ √{k_{IR}}Λ. Here k IR is the level of the IR U(1) worldsheet current. We show that, unlike the standard magnetic cutoff, this bound is insensitive to subsequent Higgsing. One may argue that this constraint gives rise to no bound at the effective field theory level since k IR is model dependent and in general unknown. However there is an additional constraint to be taken into account, which is that the Higgsing scalars with large charge Z should be part of the string massless spectrum, which becomes an upper bound k IR ≤ k 0 2 , where k 0 is the level of the UV currents. Thus, for fixed k 0, Z cannot be made parametrically large. The upper bound on the charges Z leads to limitations on the size and structure of hierarchies in an iterated U(1) clockwork mechanism.

On two heuristic viewpoints concerning the study of light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bi, Siwen

2015-02-01

It has been a debatable problem that what the essence of light is, and how it is produced. Since the modern times, as James Clerk Maxwell setting the theory of electromagnetic up, the mainstream consciousness was occupied gradually by the wave theory of light. But at the end of 19th century, a series experimental phenomenon weren't precisely explained by the wave theory of light such as photoelectric effect experiment. Then Albert Einstein published his famous paper "On a Heuristic Viewpoint Concerning the Production and Transformation of Light", which laid the foundation of light quantum hypothesis. While solving these problems perfectly, a new problem was caused that because the wave theory and the quantum theory are both applicable to interpret some of the experiment of light, what is the essence of light. This paper first outlines the history of optical development and current status, and states the difficulties and deficiencies of the study of light. Then we put forward the key concept of the paper called lightstring which consults some points of the theory of modern optics and physics which called the optical frequency comb and the string theory, then presents the essence of light based on the light string concept in order to make the concept of photons specific. And then we put forward the production mechanism of light ---- the String-Light effect based on the concept of light string. In this paper, we attempt to put forward a new idea of the study of the essence of light and the production mechanism of it.

High Energy Theory Workshops and Visitors at the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics FY16

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pierce, Aaron

This award provided partial support for the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics to host two workshops "Beyond the Standard Model 2016" in October 2016, and the "5th MCTP Symposium: Foundations of String Cosmology" in April 2017 on the University of Michigan campus.

PhD Thesis: String theory in the early universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gwyn, Rhiannon

2009-11-01

The intersection of string theory with cosmology is unavoidable in the early universe, and its exploration may shine light on both fields. In this thesis, three papers at this intersection are presented and reviewed, with the aim of providing a thorough and pedagogical guide to their results. First, we address the longstanding problem of finding a string theory realisation of the axion. Using warped compactifications in heterotic string theory, we show that the axion decay constant can be lowered to acceptable values by the warp factor. Next, we move to the subject of cosmic strings, whose network evolution could have important consequences for astrophysics and cosmology. In particular, there are quantitative differences between cosmic superstring networks and GUT cosmic string networks. We investigate the properties of cosmic superstring networks in warped backgrounds, giving the tension and properties of three-string junctions in these backgrounds. Finally, we examine the possibility that cosmic strings in heterotic string theory could be responsible for generating the galactic magnetic fields that seeded those observed today.

Counting surface-kernel epimorphisms from a co-compact Fuchsian group to a cyclic group with motivations from string theory and QFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bibak, Khodakhast; Kapron, Bruce M.; Srinivasan, Venkatesh

2016-09-01

Graphs embedded into surfaces have many important applications, in particular, in combinatorics, geometry, and physics. For example, ribbon graphs and their counting is of great interest in string theory and quantum field theory (QFT). Recently, Koch et al. (2013) [12] gave a refined formula for counting ribbon graphs and discussed its applications to several physics problems. An important factor in this formula is the number of surface-kernel epimorphisms from a co-compact Fuchsian group to a cyclic group. The aim of this paper is to give an explicit and practical formula for the number of such epimorphisms. As a consequence, we obtain an 'equivalent' form of Harvey's famous theorem on the cyclic groups of automorphisms of compact Riemann surfaces. Our main tool is an explicit formula for the number of solutions of restricted linear congruence recently proved by Bibak et al. using properties of Ramanujan sums and of the finite Fourier transform of arithmetic functions.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Donnelly, William; Wong, Gabriel

What is the meaning of entanglement in a theory of extended objects such as strings? To address this question we consider the spatial entanglement between two intervals in the Gross-Taylor model, the string theory dual to two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory at large N. The string diagrams that contribute to the entanglement entropy describe open strings with endpoints anchored to the entangling surface, as first argued by Susskind. We develop a canonical theory of these open strings, and describe how closed strings are divided into open strings at the level of the Hilbert space. Here, we derive the modular Hamiltonian for themore » Hartle-Hawking state and show that the corresponding reduced density matrix describes a thermal ensemble of open strings ending on an object at the entangling surface that we call an entanglement brane, or E-brane.« less

Quantum Chromodynamics and Color Confinement (confinement 2000) - Proceedings of the International Symposium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suganuma, H.; Fukushima, M.; Toki, H.

The Table of Contents for the book is as follows: * Preface * Opening Address * Monopole Condensation and Quark Confinement * Dual QCD, Effective String Theory, and Regge Trajectories * Abelian Dominance and Monopole Condensation * Non-Abelian Stokes Theorem and Quark Confinement in QCD * Infrared Region of QCD and Confining Configurations * BRS Quartet Mechanism for Color Confinement * Color Confinement and Quartet Mechanism * Numerical Tests of the Kugo-Ojima Color Confinement Criterion * Monopoles and Confinement in Lattice QCD * SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory at T > 0 in a Finite Box with Fixed Holonomy * Confining and Dirac Strings in Gluodynamics * Cooling, Monopoles, and Vortices in SU(2) Lattice Gauge Theory * Quark Confinement Physics from Lattice QCD * An (Almost) Perfect Lattice Action for SU(2) and SU(3) Gluodynamics * Vortices and Confinement in Lattice QCD * P-Vortices, Nexuses and Effects of Gribov Copies in the Center Gauges * Laplacian Center Vortices * Center Vortices at Strong Couplings and All Couplings * Simulations in SO(3) × Z(2) Lattice Gauge Theory * Exciting a Vortex - the Cost of Confinement * Instantons in QCD * Deformation of Instanton in External Color Fields * Field Strength Correlators in the Instanton Liquid * Instanton and Meron Physics in Lattice QCD * The Dual Ginzburg-Landau Theory for Confinement and the Role of Instantons * Lattice QCD for Quarks, Gluons and Hadrons * Hadronic Spectral Functions in QCD * Universality and Chaos in Quantum Field Theories * Lattice QCD Study of Three Quark Potential * Probing the QCD Vacuum with Flavour Singlet Objects : η' on the Lattice * Lattice Studies of Quarks and Gluons * Quarks and Hadrons in QCD * Supersymmetric Nonlinear Sigma Models * Chiral Transition and Baryon-number Susceptibility * Light Quark Masses in QCD * Chiral Symmetry of Baryons and Baryon Resonances * Confinement and Bound States in QCD * Parallel Session * Off-diagonal Gluon Mass Generation and Strong Randomness of Off-diagonal Gluon Phase in the Maximally Abelian Gauge * On the Colour Confinement and the Minimal Surface * Glueball Mass and String Tension of SU(2) Gluodynamics from Abelian Monopoles and Strings * Application of the Non-Perturbative Renormalization Group to the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio Model at Finite Temperature and Density * Confining Flux-Tube and Hadrons in QCD * Gauge Symmetry Breakdown due to Dynamical Higgs Scalar * Spatial Structure of Quark Cooper Pairs * New Approach to Axial Coupling Constants in the QCD Sum Rule and Instanton Effects * String Breaking on a Lattice * Bethe-Salpeter Approach for Mesons within the Dual Ginzburg-Landau Theory * Gauge Dependence and Matching Procedure of a Nonrelativistic QCD Boundstate Formalism * A Mathematical Approach to the SU(2)-Quark Confinement * Simulations of Odd Flavors QCD by Hybrid Monte Carlo * Non-Perturbative Renormalization Group Analysis of Dynamical Chiral Symmetry Breaking with Beyond Ladder Contributions * Charmonium Physics in Finite Temperature Lattice QCD * From Meson-Nucleon Scattering to Vector Mesons in Nuclear Matter * Symposium Program * List of Participants

String cosmology and the landscape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bena, Iosif; Graña, Mariana

2017-03-01

String Theory is believed to have a landscape of 10500 vacua with properties that resemble those of our Universe. The existence of these vacua can be combined with anthropic reasoning to explain some of the hardest problems in cosmology and high-energy physics: the cosmological constant problem, the hierarchy problem, and the un-natural almost-flatness of the inflationary potential. We will explain the construction of these vacua, focusing on the challenges of obtaining vacua with a positive cosmological constant.

Finite temperature corrections and embedded strings in noncommutative geometry and the standard model with neutrino mixing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martins, R. A.

The recent extension of the standard model to include massive neutrinos in the framework of noncommutative geometry and the spectral action principle involves new scalar fields and their interactions with the usual complex scalar doublet. After ensuring that they bring no unphysical consequences, we address the question of how these fields affect the physics predicted in the Weinberg-Salam theory, particularly in the context of the electroweak phase transition. Applying the Dolan-Jackiw procedure, we calculate the finite temperature corrections, and find that the phase transition is first order. The new scalar interactions significantly improve the stability of the electroweak Z string,more » through the 'bag' phenomenon described by Vachaspati and Watkins ['Bound states can stabilize electroweak strings', Phys. Lett. B 318, 163-168 (1993)]. (Recently, cosmic strings have climbed back into interest due to a new evidence.) Sourced by static embedded strings, an internal space analogy of Cartan's torsion is drawn, and a possible Higgs-force-like 'gravitational' effect of this nonpropagating torsion on the fermion masses is described. We also check that the field generating the Majorana mass for the {nu}{sub R} is nonzero in the physical vacuum.« less

Intrinsic non-commutativity of closed string theory

DOE PAGES

Freidel, Laurent; Leigh, Robert G.; Minic, Djordje

2017-09-14

We show that the proper interpretation of the cocycle operators appearing in the physical vertex operators of compactified strings is that the closed string target is noncommutative. We track down the appearance of this non-commutativity to the Polyakov action of the at closed string in the presence of translational monodromies (i.e., windings). Here, in view of the unexpected nature of this result, we present detailed calculations from a variety of points of view, including a careful understanding of the consequences of mutual locality in the vertex operator algebra, as well as a detailed analysis of the symplectic structure of themore » Polyakov string. Finally, we also underscore why this non-commutativity was not emphasized previously in the existing literature. This non-commutativity can be thought of as a central extension of the zero-mode operator algebra, an effect set by the string length scale $-$ it is present even in trivial backgrounds. Clearly, this result indicates that the α'→0 limit is more subtle than usually assumed.« less

Intrinsic non-commutativity of closed string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Freidel, Laurent; Leigh, Robert G.; Minic, Djordje

We show that the proper interpretation of the cocycle operators appearing in the physical vertex operators of compactified strings is that the closed string target is noncommutative. We track down the appearance of this non-commutativity to the Polyakov action of the at closed string in the presence of translational monodromies (i.e., windings). Here, in view of the unexpected nature of this result, we present detailed calculations from a variety of points of view, including a careful understanding of the consequences of mutual locality in the vertex operator algebra, as well as a detailed analysis of the symplectic structure of themore » Polyakov string. Finally, we also underscore why this non-commutativity was not emphasized previously in the existing literature. This non-commutativity can be thought of as a central extension of the zero-mode operator algebra, an effect set by the string length scale $-$ it is present even in trivial backgrounds. Clearly, this result indicates that the α'→0 limit is more subtle than usually assumed.« less

Worldsheet factorization for twistor-strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamo, Tim

2014-04-01

We study the multiparticle factorization properties of two worldsheet theories which — at tree-level — describe the scattering of massless particles in four dimensions: the Berkovits-Witten twistor-string for = 4 super-Yang-Mills coupled to = 4 conformal supergravity, and the Skinner twistor-string for = 8 supergravity. By considering these string-like theories, we can study factorization at the level of the worldsheet before any Wick contractions or integrals have been performed; this is much simpler than considering the factorization properties of the amplitudes themselves. In Skinner's twistor-string this entails the addition of worldsheet gravity as well as a formalism that represents all external states in a manifestly symmetric way, which we develop explicitly at genus zero. We confirm that the scattering amplitudes of Skinner's theory, as well as the gauge theory amplitudes for the planar sector of the Berkovits-Witten theory, factorize appropriately at genus zero. In the non-planar sector, we find behavior indicative of conformal gravity in the Berkovits-Witten twistor-string. We contrast factorization in twistor-strings with the story in ordinary string theory, and also make some remarks on higher genus factorization and disconnected prescriptions.

Gabriel Weinreich: The life and style

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartmann, William M.

2003-10-01

Gabriel Weinreich (Gabi) was born in Vilna, Poland (now the capitol of Lithuania) one year prior to the founding of the Acoustical Society of America. When the second world war began in central Europe, Gabi's family came, in serial fashion, to New York City-Gabi himself arriving in 1941. Gabi studied physics at Columbia, and received a Ph.D. in 1953 for a thesis on atomic physics directed by the legendary I. I. Rabi. He subsequently worked on fundamental properties of semiconductors, first at Bell Labs, then, starting in 1960, at the University of Michigan. In 1977 he turned his attention to the acoustics of musical instruments, mainly the piano and bowed strings. He studied all phases of the physical elements: string excitation, string vibration, coupling, and radiation. Gabi brought his special style to acoustics-a combination of theory and experiment that imaginatively imports ideas and techniques from one area of physics into another, a willingness to attack traditional problems afresh by returning to first principles, and the ability to present ideas with incisive wit and charm so that information is not only informative but is also entertaining.

Dark solitons, D-branes and noncommutative tachyon field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giaccari, Stefano; Nian, Jun

2017-11-01

In this paper we discuss the boson/vortex duality by mapping the (3+1)D Gross-Pitaevskii theory into an effective string theory in the presence of boundaries. Via the effective string theory, we find the Seiberg-Witten map between the commutative and the noncommutative tachyon field theories, and consequently identify their soliton solutions with D-branes in the effective string theory. We perform various checks of the duality map and the identification of soliton solutions. This new insight between the Gross-Pitaevskii theory and the effective string theory explains the similarity of these two systems at quantitative level.

Final Report May 1, 2012 to May 31, 2015: "Theoretical Studies in Elementary Particle Physics"

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Collins, John C.; Roiban, Radu

2015-08-19

This final report summarizes work at Penn State University from May 1, 2012 to May 31, 2015. The work was in theoretical elementary particle physics. Many new results in perturbative QCD, in string theory, and in related areas were obtained, with a substantial impact on the experimental program.

Life on moduli space?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsu, Stephen D. H.

2009-10-15

While the number of metastable landscape vacua in string theory is vast, the number of supermoduli vacua which lead to distinct low-energy physics is even larger, perhaps infinitely so. From the anthropic perspective it is therefore important to understand whether complex life is possible on moduli space - i.e., in low-energy effective theories with (1) exact supersymmetry and (2) some massless multiplets (moduli). Unless life is essentially impossible on moduli space as a consequence of these characteristics, anthropic reasoning in string theory suggests that the overwhelming majority of sentient beings would observe 1-2. We investigate whether 1 and 2 aremore » by themselves automatically inimical to life and conclude, tentatively, that they are not. In particular, we describe moduli scenarios in which complex life seems possible.« less

Non-perturbative String Theory from Water Waves

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Iyer, Ramakrishnan; Johnson, Clifford V.; /Southern California U.

2012-06-14

We use a combination of a 't Hooft limit and numerical methods to find non-perturbative solutions of exactly solvable string theories, showing that perturbative solutions in different asymptotic regimes are connected by smooth interpolating functions. Our earlier perturbative work showed that a large class of minimal string theories arise as special limits of a Painleve IV hierarchy of string equations that can be derived by a similarity reduction of the dispersive water wave hierarchy of differential equations. The hierarchy of string equations contains new perturbative solutions, some of which were conjectured to be the type IIA and IIB string theoriesmore » coupled to (4, 4k ? 2) superconformal minimal models of type (A, D). Our present paper shows that these new theories have smooth non-perturbative extensions. We also find evidence for putative new string theories that were not apparent in the perturbative analysis.« less

Democratic Superstring Field Theory and Its Gauge Fixing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kroyter, M.

This work is my contribution to the proceedings of the conference``SFT2010 -- the third international conference on string field theory and related topics'' and it reflects my talk there, which described the democratic string field theory and its gauge fixing. The democratic string field theory is the only fully RNS string field theory to date. It lives in the large Hilbert space and includes all picture numbers. Picture changing amounts in this formalism to a gauge transformation. We describe the theory and its properties and show that when partially gauge fixed it can be reduced to the modified theory and to the non-polynomial theory. In the latter case we can even include the Ramond sector in the picture-fixed action. We also show that another partial gauge-fixing leads to a new consistent string field theory at picture number -1.

Emerging geometry from maximally super-symmetric Yang-Mills theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vazquez, Samuel Enrique

In this thesis, we explore the emergence of space-time geometry, and string theory physics from N = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills (SYM) theory with gauge group U(N). This is done in the context of the anti-de-Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence (AdS/CFT). The main results of this thesis are the following. First, we study single trace perturbations around generic 1/2 BPS states of the theory. We do this in the large N limit, and at one-loop in the 't-Hooft coupling. We show how these states can be mapped to dynamical lattices with boson statistics and periodic boundary conditions. By dynamical, we mean that the total boson occupation number is not conserved in general. Then, we show how to derive an effective sigma model for these systems which coincides with the Polyakov action of a probe string on a 1/2 BPS geometry (in the fast string limit). Secondly, we study non-supersymmetric perturbations of the vacuum which give rise to bosonic lattices with open boundary conditions. We also do this in the large N limit, and at one-loop in the 't-Hooft coupling. We show that these states are dual to open strings on D3-branes known as "Giant Gravitons". These lattice systems are also dynamical, but in some special cases, we show that we get an integrable spin chain with open boundary conditions. Next, we study single trace perturbations at strong coupling. We do this by taking a "dilute gas" approximation. We derive an all-loop result for the dispersion relation of the "magnons" which coincides with previous conjectures in the literature. What is more, we derive the geometrical picture of the so-called "giant magnon" string solution of Hofman and Maldacena, directly from the field theory. Finally, we explore the question of classical integrability of open strings on D-branes. In particular, we study the case of the giant gravitons, and compare the integrable structures on both sides of the AdS/CFT correspondence.

100 Years Werner Heisenberg: Works and Impact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papenfuß, Dietrich; Lüst, Dieter; Schleich, Wolfgang P.

2003-09-01

Over 40 renowned scientists from all around the world discuss the work and influence of Werner Heisenberg. The papers result from the symposium held by the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Heisenberg's birth, one of the most important physicists of the 20th century and cofounder of modern-day quantum mechanics. Taking atomic and laser physics as their starting point, the scientists illustrate the impact of Heisenberg's theories on astroparticle physics, high-energy physics and string theory right up to processing quantum information.

Elementary Particles and the Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwarz, John H.

2005-07-01

1. Excess baggage J. Hartle; 2. Through the clouds E. Witten; 3. Covariant foundations of the superparticle L. Brink; 4. Chiral symmetry and confinement T. Goldman; 5. The original fifth interaction Y. Neeman; 6. The mass hierarchy of leptons and quarks H. Fritzsch; 7. Spacetime duality in string theory J. H. Schwarz; 8. Symmetry and quasi-symmetry Y. Nambu; 9. On an exceptional non-associative superspace M. Gunaydin; 10. Algebra of reparametrization-invariant and normal ordered operators in open string field theory P. Ramond; 11. Superconductivity of an ideal charged boson system T. D. Lee; 12. Some remarks on the symmetry approach to nuclear rotational motion L. C. Biedebharn and P. Truini; 13. Uncomputability, intractability and the efficiency of heat engines S. Lloyd; 14. The new mathematical physics I. Singer; 15. For the birds V. Telegdi; 16. Gell-Mann's approach to physics A. Salam; 17. Remarks M. Goldberger.

Spin chains and string theory.

PubMed

Kruczenski, Martin

2004-10-15

Recently, an important test of the anti de Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence has been done using rotating strings with two angular momenta. We show that such a test can be described more generally as the agreement between two actions: one a low energy description of a spin chain appearing in the field theory side, and the other a limit of the string action in AdS5xS5. This gives a map between the mean value of the spin in the boundary theory and the position of the string in the bulk, and shows how a string action can emerge from a gauge theory in the large-N limit.

Physical interpretation of antigravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bars, Itzhak; James, Albin

2016-02-01

Geodesic incompleteness is a problem in both general relativity and string theory. The Weyl-invariant Standard Model coupled to general relativity (SM +GR ), and a similar treatment of string theory, are improved theories that are geodesically complete. A notable prediction of this approach is that there must be antigravity regions of spacetime connected to gravity regions through gravitational singularities such as those that occur in black holes and cosmological bang/crunch. Antigravity regions introduce apparent problems of ghosts that raise several questions of physical interpretation. It was shown that unitarity is not violated, but there may be an instability associated with negative kinetic energies in the antigravity regions. In this paper we show that the apparent problems can be resolved with the interpretation of the theory from the perspective of observers strictly in the gravity region. Such observers cannot experience the negative kinetic energy in antigravity directly, but can only detect in and out signals that interact with the antigravity region. This is no different from a spacetime black box for which the information about its interior is encoded in scattering amplitudes for in/out states at its exterior. Through examples we show that negative kinetic energy in antigravity presents no problems of principles but is an interesting topic for physical investigations of fundamental significance.

LHC - a "Why" Facility

ScienceCinema

Gordon Kane

2017-12-09

The Standard Models of particle physics and cosmology describe the world we see, and how it works, very well. But we want to understand (not just accommodate) much more – how does the Higgs mechanism work, what is the dark matter, why is the universe matter and not antimatter, why is parity violated, why are the particles (quarks and leptons) what they are, and why are the forces that act on them to make our world what they are, and more. Today is an exciting time to be doing particle physics – on the experimental side we have data coming from LHC and dark matter experiments that will provide clues to these questions, and on the theoretical side we have a framework (string theory) that addresses all these “why” questions. LHC data will not qualitatively improve our description – rather, it may provide the data that will allow us to learn about the dark matter, the Higgs physics, the matter asymmetry, etc, to test underlying theories such as string theory, and begin to answer the “why” questions. Supersymmetry is the best motivated discovery, and it would also open a window to the underlying theory near the Planck scale.

A superstring field theory for supergravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reid-Edwards, R. A.; Riccombeni, D. A.

2017-09-01

A covariant closed superstring field theory, equivalent to classical tendimensional Type II supergravity, is presented. The defining conformal field theory is the ambitwistor string worldsheet theory of Mason and Skinner. This theory is known to reproduce the scattering amplitudes of Cachazo, He and Yuan in which the scattering equations play an important role and the string field theory naturally incorporates these results. We investigate the operator formalism description of the ambitwsitor string and propose an action for the string field theory of the bosonic and supersymmetric theories. The correct linearised gauge symmetries and spacetime actions are explicitly reproduced and evidence is given that the action is correct to all orders. The focus is on the NeveuSchwarz sector and the explicit description of tree level perturbation theory about flat spacetime. Application of the string field theory to general supergravity backgrounds and the inclusion of the Ramond sector are briefly discussed.

Supersymmetric k-defects

DOE PAGES

Koehn, Michael; Trodden, Mark

2016-03-03

In supersymmetric theories, topological defects can have nontrivial behaviors determined purely by whether or not supersymmetry is restored in the defect core. A well-known example of this is that some supersymmetric cosmic strings are automatically superconducting, leading to important cosmological effects and constraints. We investigate the impact of nontrivial kinetic interactions, present in a number of particle physics models of interest in cosmology, on the relationship between supersymmetry and supercurrents on strings. Furthermore, we find that in some cases it is possible for superconductivity to be disrupted by the extra interactions.

Hyperconifold transitions, mirror symmetry, and string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davies, Rhys

2011-09-01

Multiply-connected Calabi-Yau threefolds are of particular interest for both string theorists and mathematicians. Recently it was pointed out that one of the generic degenerations of these spaces (occurring at codimension one in moduli space) is an isolated singularity which is a finite cyclic quotient of the conifold; these were called hyperconifolds. It was also shown that if the order of the quotient group is even, such singular varieties have projective crepant resolutions, which are therefore smooth Calabi-Yau manifolds. The resulting topological transitions were called hyperconifold transitions, and change the fundamental group as well as the Hodge numbers. Here Batyrev's construction of Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces in toric fourfolds is used to demonstrate that certain compact examples containing the remaining hyperconifolds — the Z and Z cases — also have Calabi-Yau resolutions. The mirrors of the resulting transitions are studied and it is found, surprisingly, that they are ordinary conifold transitions. These are the first examples of conifold transitions with mirrors which are more exotic extremal transitions. The new hyperconifold transitions are also used to construct a small number of new Calabi-Yau manifolds, with small Hodge numbers and fundamental group Z or Z. Finally, it is demonstrated that a hyperconifold is a physically sensible background in Type IIB string theory. In analogy to the conifold case, non-perturbative dynamics smooth the physical moduli space, such that hyperconifold transitions correspond to non-singular processes in the full theory.

Runaway relaxion monodromy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McAllister, Liam; Schwaller, Pedro; Servant, Geraldine; Stout, John; Westphal, Alexander

2018-02-01

We examine the relaxion mechanism in string theory. An essential feature is that an axion winds over N ≫ 1 fundamental periods. In string theory realizations via axion monodromy, this winding number corresponds to a physical charge carried by branes or fluxes. We show that — in the context of NS5-brane axion monodromy — this charge backreacts on the compact space, ruining the structure of the relaxion action. In particular, the barriers generated by strong gauge dynamics have height ∝ e - N , so the relaxion does not stop when the Higgs acquires a vev. Backreaction of monodromy charge can therefore spoil the relaxion mechanism. We comment on the limitations of technical naturalness arguments in this context.

Free field theory as a string theory?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gopakumar, Rajesh

2004-11-01

An approach to systematically implement open-closed string duality for free large N gauge theories is summarised. We show how the relevant closed string moduli space emerges from a reorganisation of the Feynman diagrams contributing to free field correlators. We also indicate why the resulting integrand on moduli space has the right features to be that of a string theory on AdS. To cite this article: R. Gopakumar, C. R. Physique 5 (2004).

Holography and noncommutative yang-mills theory

PubMed

Li; Wu

2000-03-06

In this Letter a recently proposed gravity dual of noncommutative Yang-Mills theory is derived from the relations between closed string moduli and open string moduli recently suggested by Seiberg and Witten. The only new input one needs is a simple form of the running string tension as a function of energy. This derivation provides convincing evidence that string theory integrates with the holographical principle and demonstrates a direct link between noncommutative Yang-Mills theory and holography.

The dyon spectra of finite gauge theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrari, Frank

1997-02-01

It is shown that all the ( p, q) dyon bound states exist and are unique in N = 4 and N = 2 with four massless flavor supersymmetric SU(2) Yang-Mills theories, where p and q are any relatively prime integers. The proof can be understood in the context of field theory alone, and does not rely on any duality assumption. We also give a general physical argument showing that these theories should have at least an exact Γ(2) duality symmetry, and then deduce in particular the existence of the (2 p,2 q) vector multiplets in the Nf = 4 theory. The corresponding massive theories are studied in parallel, and it is shown that though in these cases the spectrum is no longer self-dual at a given point on the moduli space, it is still in perfect agreement with an exact S duality. We also discuss the interplay between our results and both the semiclassical quantization and the heterotic-type II string-string duality conjecture.

Supersymmetric tools in Yang-Mills theories at strong coupling: The beginning of a long journey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shifman, Mikhail

2018-04-01

Development of holomorphy-based methods in super-Yang-Mills theories started in the early 1980s and lead to a number of breakthrough results. I review some results in which I participated. The discovery of Seiberg’s duality and the Seiberg-Witten solution of 𝒩 = 2 Yang-Mills were the milestones in the long journey of which, I assume, much will be said in other talks. I will focus on the discovery (2003) of non-Abelian vortex strings with various degrees of supersymmetry, supported in some four-dimensional Yang-Mills theories and some intriguing implications of this discovery. One of the recent results is the observation of a soliton string in the bulk 𝒩 = 2 theory with the U(2) gauge group and four flavors, which can become critical in a certain limit. This is the case of a “reverse holography,” with a very transparent physical meaning.

Hyperresonance Unifying Theory and the resulting Law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Omerbashich, Mensur

2012-07-01

Hyperresonance Unifying Theory (HUT) is herein conceived based on theoretical and experimental geophysics, as that absolute extension of both Multiverse and String Theories, in which all universes (the Hyperverse) - of non-prescribed energies and scales - mutually orbit as well as oscillate in tune. The motivation for this is to explain oddities of "attraction at a distance" and physical unit(s) attached to the Newtonian gravitational constant G. In order to make sure HUT holds absolutely, we operate over non-temporal, unitless and quantities with derived units only. A HUT's harmonic geophysical localization (here for the Earth-Moon system; the Georesonator) is indeed achieved for mechanist and quantum scales, in form of the Moon's Equation of Levitation (of Anti-gravity). HUT holds true for our Solar system the same as its localized equation holds down to the precision of terrestrial G-experiments, regardless of the scale: to 10^-11 and 10^-39 for mechanist and quantum scales, respectively. Due to its absolute accuracy (within NIST experimental limits), the derived equation is regarded a law. HUT can indeed be demonstrated for our entire Solar system in various albeit empirical ways. In summary, HUT shows: (i) how classical gravity can be expressed in terms of scale and the speed of light; (ii) the tuning-forks principle is universal; (iii) the body's fundamental oscillation note is not a random number as previously believed; (iv) earthquakes of about M6 and stronger arise mainly due to Earth's alignments longer than three days to two celestial objects in our Solar system, whereas M7+ earthquakes occur mostly during two simultaneous such alignments; etc. HUT indicates: (v) quantum physics is objectocentric, i.e. trivial in absolute terms so it cannot be generalized beyond classical mass-bodies; (vi) geophysics is largely due to the magnification of mass resonance; etc. HUT can be extended to multiverse (10^17) and string scales (10^-67) too, providing a constraint to String Theory. HUT is the unifying theory as it demotes classical forces to states of stringdom. The String Theory's paradigm on vibrational rather than particlegenic reality has thus been confirmed.

String Theory: Big Problem for Small Size

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sahoo, S.

2009-01-01

String theory is the most promising candidate theory for a unified description of all the fundamental forces that exist in nature. It provides a mathematical framework that combines quantum theory with Einstein's general theory of relativity. The typical size of a string is of the order of 10[superscript -33] cm, called the Planck length. But due…

Modern physics - Guest editorial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howes, Ruth

2000-02-01

What an exciting time to be a physicist! You only have to attend the plenaries at an AAPT meeting to realize just how many mysteries there still are. Will string theory actually prove to be a Theory of Everything? Can we use physics to understand, predict, and perhaps eventually mitigate damaging hurricanes? Is the warming trend of the Earth due to man-made changes in the atmosphere? Have we found the nuclear "island of stability" with elements 114, 116, and 118? For that matter, why is ice slippery?

Galileon string measure and other modified measure extended objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vulfs, T. O.; Guendelman, E. I.

2017-12-01

We show that it is possible to formulate string theory as a “Galileon string theory”. The Galileon field χ enters in the definition of the integration measure in the action. Following the methods of the modified measure string theory, we find that the final equations are again those of the sigma-model. Moreover, the string tension appears again as an additional dynamical degree of freedom. At the same time, the theory satisfies all requirements of the Galileon higher derivative theory at the action level while the equations of motion are still of the second-order. A Galileon symmetry is displayed explicitly in the conformal string worldsheet frame. Also, we define the Galileon gauge transformations. Generalizations to branes with other modified measures are discussed.

p-adic string theories provide lattice Discretization to the ordinary string worldsheet.

PubMed

Ghoshal, Debashis

2006-10-13

A class of models called p-adic strings is useful in understanding the tachyonic instability of string theory. These are found to be empirically related to the ordinary strings in the p-->1 limit. We propose that these models provide discretization for the string worldsheet and argue that the limit is naturally thought of as a continuum limit in the sense of the renormalization group.

p-adic String Theories Provide Lattice Discretization to the Ordinary String Worldsheet

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ghoshal, Debashis

2006-10-13

A class of models called p-adic strings is useful in understanding the tachyonic instability of string theory. These are found to be empirically related to the ordinary strings in the p{yields}1 limit. We propose that these models provide discretization for the string worldsheet and argue that the limit is naturally thought of as a continuum limit in the sense of the renormalization group.

[ital N]-string vertices in string field theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bordes, J.; Abdurrahman, A.; Anton, F.

1994-03-15

We give the general form of the vertex corresponding to the interaction of an arbitrary number of strings. The technique employed relies on the comma'' representation of string field theory where string fields and interactions are represented as matrices and operations between them such as multiplication and trace. The general formulation presented here shows that the interaction vertex of [ital N] strings, for any arbitrary [ital N], is given as a function of particular combinations of matrices corresponding to the change of representation between the full string and the half string degrees of freedom.

Elliptic genus of E-strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Joonho; Kim, Seok; Lee, Kimyeong; Park, Jaemo; Vafa, Cumrun

2017-09-01

We study a family of 2d N=(0, 4) gauge theories which describes at low energy the dynamics of E-strings, the M2-branes suspended between a pair of M5 and M9 branes. The gauge theory is engineered using a duality with type IIA theory, leading to the D2-branes suspended between an NS5-brane and 8 D8-branes on an O8-plane. We compute the elliptic genus of this family of theories, and find agreement with the known results for single and two E-strings. The partition function can in principle be computed for arbitrary number of E-strings, and we compute them explicitly for low numbers. We test our predictions against the partially known results from topological strings, as well as from the instanton calculus of 5d Sp(1) gauge theory. Given the relation to topological strings, our computation provides the all genus partition function of the refined topological strings on the canonical bundle over 1/2K3.

Quantum space foam and string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nekrasov, Nikita

2006-11-03

String theory is originally defined as a modification of the Feynman rules in perturbation theory. It contains gravity in its perturbative spectrum. We review some recent developments which demonstrate that nonperturbative effects of quantum gravity, such as spacetime foam, arise in string theory as well.Prepared for the proceedings of 'Albert Einstein Century Conference' , Paris July 2005.

Conservation laws for waves on a string from isometries and conformal isometries of the Minkowski metric

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Brandon; Menon, Balraj

Noether's theorems describe the interplay between variational symmetries (symmetries of the action functional) and local conservation laws admitted by a physical system. In Lagrangian field theories defined on a differentiable manifold  endowed with a metric g, the variational symmetries are intimately tied to the isometries of the metric g. We highlight this connection by relating the variational symmetries of waves on a string to the isometries and conformal isometries of the Minkowski metric. The associated local conservation laws and conserved quantities for this physical system are determined and their physical significance discussed. The geometric nature of these conservation laws are further elucidated by discussing their Poisson bracket formulation in the Hamiltonian framework. This work was partially supported by the UCA Robert Noyce Scholars Program.

String model for the dynamics of glass-forming liquids

PubMed Central

Pazmiño Betancourt, Beatriz A.; Douglas, Jack F.; Starr, Francis W.

2014-01-01

We test the applicability of a living polymerization theory to describe cooperative string-like particle rearrangement clusters (strings) observed in simulations of a coarse-grained polymer melt. The theory quantitatively describes the interrelation between the average string length L, configurational entropy Sconf, and the order parameter for string assembly Φ without free parameters. Combining this theory with the Adam-Gibbs model allows us to predict the relaxation time τ in a lower temperature T range than accessible by current simulations. In particular, the combined theories suggest a return to Arrhenius behavior near Tg and a low T residual entropy, thus avoiding a Kauzmann “entropy crisis.” PMID:24880303

String model for the dynamics of glass-forming liquids.

PubMed

Pazmiño Betancourt, Beatriz A; Douglas, Jack F; Starr, Francis W

2014-05-28

We test the applicability of a living polymerization theory to describe cooperative string-like particle rearrangement clusters (strings) observed in simulations of a coarse-grained polymer melt. The theory quantitatively describes the interrelation between the average string length L, configurational entropy Sconf, and the order parameter for string assembly Φ without free parameters. Combining this theory with the Adam-Gibbs model allows us to predict the relaxation time τ in a lower temperature T range than accessible by current simulations. In particular, the combined theories suggest a return to Arrhenius behavior near Tg and a low T residual entropy, thus avoiding a Kauzmann "entropy crisis."

Thermodynamic limit of random partitions and dispersionless Toda hierarchy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takasaki, Kanehisa; Nakatsu, Toshio

2012-01-01

We study the thermodynamic limit of random partition models for the instanton sum of 4D and 5D supersymmetric U(1) gauge theories deformed by some physical observables. The physical observables correspond to external potentials in the statistical model. The partition function is reformulated in terms of the density function of Maya diagrams. The thermodynamic limit is governed by a limit shape of Young diagrams associated with dominant terms in the partition function. The limit shape is characterized by a variational problem, which is further converted to a scalar-valued Riemann-Hilbert problem. This Riemann-Hilbert problem is solved with the aid of a complex curve, which may be thought of as the Seiberg-Witten curve of the deformed U(1) gauge theory. This solution of the Riemann-Hilbert problem is identified with a special solution of the dispersionless Toda hierarchy that satisfies a pair of generalized string equations. The generalized string equations for the 5D gauge theory are shown to be related to hidden symmetries of the statistical model. The prepotential and the Seiberg-Witten differential are also considered.

Note on tachyon actions in string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Headrick, Matthew

2009-02-15

A number of spacetime fields in string theory (notably the metric, dilaton, bosonic and type 0 bulk closed-string tachyon, and bosonic open-string tachyon) have the following property: whenever the spacetime field configuration factorizes in an appropriate sense, the matter sector of the world-sheet theory factorizes into a tensor product of two decoupled theories. Since the beta functions for such a product theory necessarily also factorize, this property strongly constrains the form of the spacetime action encoding those beta functions. We show that this constraint alone--without needing actually to compute any of the beta functions--is sufficient to fix the form ofmore » the two-derivative action for the metric-dilaton system, as well as the potential for the bosonic open-string tachyon. We also show that no action consistent with this constraint exists for the closed-string tachyon coupled to the metric and dilaton.« less

Gödel universes in string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrow, John D.; Dabrowski, Mariusz P.

1998-11-01

We show that homogeneous Gödel spacetimes need not contain closed timelike curves in low-energy-effective string theories. We find exact solutions for the Gödel metric in string theory for the full O(α') action including both dilaton and axion fields. The results are valid for bosonic, heterotic and super-strings. To first order in the inverse string tension α', these solutions display a simple relation between the angular velocity of the Gödel universe, Ω, and the inverse string tension of the form α'=1/Ω2 in the absence of the axion field. The generalization of this relationship is also found when the axion field is present.

Black holes and black strings of N = 2, d = 5 supergravity in the H-FGK formalism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meessen, Patrick; Ortín, Tomás; Perz, Jan; Shahbazi, C. S.

2012-09-01

We study general classes and properties of extremal and non-extremal static black-hole solutions of N = 2, d = 5 supergravity coupled to vector multiplets using the recently proposed H-FGK formalism, which we also extend to static black strings. We explain how to determine the integration constants and physical parameters of the blackhole and black-string solutions. We derive some model-independent statements, including the transformation of non-extremal flow equations to the form of those for the extremal flow. We apply our methods to the construction of example solutions (among others a new extremal string solution of heterotic string theory on K 3 × S 1). In the cases where we have calculated it explicitly, the product of areas of the inner and outer horizon of a non-extremal solution coincides with the square of the moduli-independent area of the horizon of the extremal solution with the same charges.

From decay to complete breaking: pulling the strings in SU(2) Yang-Mills theory.

PubMed

Pepe, M; Wiese, U-J

2009-05-15

We study {2Q+1} strings connecting two static charges Q in (2+1)D SU(2) Yang-Mills theory. While the fundamental {2} string between two charges Q=1/2 is unbreakable, the adjoint {3} string connecting two charges Q=1 can break. When a {4} string is stretched beyond a critical length, it decays into a {2} string by gluon pair creation. When a {5} string is stretched, it first decays into a {3} string, which eventually breaks completely. The energy of the screened charges at the ends of a string is well described by a phenomenological constituent gluon model.

Higher-Loop Amplitude Monodromy Relations in String and Gauge Theory.

PubMed

Tourkine, Piotr; Vanhove, Pierre

2016-11-18

The monodromy relations in string theory provide a powerful and elegant formalism to understand some of the deepest properties of tree-level field theory amplitudes, like the color-kinematics duality. This duality has been instrumental in tremendous progress on the computations of loop amplitudes in quantum field theory, but a higher-loop generalization of the monodromy construction was lacking. In this Letter, we extend the monodromy relations to higher loops in open string theory. Our construction, based on a contour deformation argument of the open string diagram integrands, leads to new identities that relate planar and nonplanar topologies in string theory. We write one and two-loop monodromy formulas explicitly at any multiplicity. In the field theory limit, at one-loop we obtain identities that reproduce known results. At two loops, we check our formulas by unitarity in the case of the four-point N=4 super-Yang-Mills amplitude.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kachru, Shamit; Paquette, Natalie M.; Volpato, Roberto

Here, the simplest string theory compactifications to 3D with 16 supercharges—the heterotic string on T 7, and type II strings onmore » $$K3 \\times T^3$$ —are related by U-duality, and share a moduli space of vacua parametrized by $$O(8, 24;{{\\mathbb Z}}) ~\\backslash ~O(8, 24)~ /~ (O(8) \\times O(24))$$ . One can think of this as the moduli space of even, self-dual 32-dimensional lattices with signature (8,24). At 24 special points in moduli space, the lattice splits as $$\\Gamma^{8, 0} \\oplus \\Gamma^{0, 24}$$ . $$\\Gamma^{0, 24}$$ can be the Leech lattice or any of 23 Niemeier lattices, while $$\\Gamma^{8, 0}$$ is the E 8 root lattice. We show that starting from this observation, one can find a precise connection between the Umbral groups and type IIA string theory on K3. This may provide a natural physical starting point for understanding Mathieu and Umbral moonshine. The maximal unbroken subgroups of Umbral groups in 6D (or any other limit) are those obtained by starting at the associated Niemeier point and moving in moduli space while preserving the largest possible subgroup of the Umbral group. To illustrate the action of these symmetries on BPS states, we discuss the computation of certain protected four-derivative terms in the effective field theory, and recover facts about the spectrum and symmetry representations of 1/2-BPS states.« less

Windings of twisted strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casali, Eduardo; Tourkine, Piotr

2018-03-01

Twistor string models have been known for more than a decade now but have come back under the spotlight recently with the advent of the scattering equation formalism which has greatly generalized the scope of these models. A striking ubiquitous feature of these models has always been that, contrary to usual string theory, they do not admit vibrational modes and thus describe only conventional field theory. In this paper we report on the surprising discovery of a whole new sector of one of these theories which we call "twisted strings," when spacetime has compact directions. We find that the spectrum is enhanced from a finite number of states to an infinite number of interacting higher spin massive states. We describe both bosonic and world sheet supersymmetric models, their spectra and scattering amplitudes. These models have distinctive features of both string and field theory, for example they are invariant under stringy T-duality but have the high energy behavior typical of field theory. Therefore they describe a new kind of field theories in target space, sitting on their own halfway between string and field theory.

Experiences from Participants in Large-Scale Group Practice of the Maharishi Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programs and Parallel Principles of Quantum Theory, Astrophysics, Quantum Cosmology, and String Theory: Interdisciplinary Qualitative Correspondences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svenson, Eric Johan

Participants on the Invincible America Assembly in Fairfield, Iowa, and neighboring Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, practicing Maharishi Transcendental Meditation(TM) (TM) and the TM-Sidhi(TM) programs in large groups, submitted written experiences that they had had during, and in some cases shortly after, their daily practice of the TM and TM-Sidhi programs. Participants were instructed to include in their written experiences only what they observed and to leave out interpretation and analysis. These experiences were then read by the author and compared with principles and phenomena of modern physics, particularly with quantum theory, astrophysics, quantum cosmology, and string theory as well as defining characteristics of higher states of consciousness as described by Maharishi Vedic Science. In all cases, particular principles or phenomena of physics and qualities of higher states of consciousness appeared qualitatively quite similar to the content of the given experience. These experiences are presented in an Appendix, in which the corresponding principles and phenomena of physics are also presented. These physics "commentaries" on the experiences were written largely in layman's terms, without equations, and, in nearly every case, with clear reference to the corresponding sections of the experiences to which a given principle appears to relate. An abundance of similarities were apparent between the subjective experiences during meditation and principles of modern physics. A theoretic framework for understanding these rich similarities may begin with Maharishi's theory of higher states of consciousness provided herein. We conclude that the consistency and richness of detail found in these abundant similarities warrants the further pursuit and development of such a framework.

Bifurcation analysis and phase diagram of a spin-string model with buckled states.

PubMed

Ruiz-Garcia, M; Bonilla, L L; Prados, A

2017-12-01

We analyze a one-dimensional spin-string model, in which string oscillators are linearly coupled to their two nearest neighbors and to Ising spins representing internal degrees of freedom. String-spin coupling induces a long-range ferromagnetic interaction among spins that competes with a spin-spin antiferromagnetic coupling. As a consequence, the complex phase diagram of the system exhibits different flat rippled and buckled states, with first or second order transition lines between states. This complexity translates to the two-dimensional version of the model, whose numerical solution has been recently used to explain qualitatively the rippled to buckled transition observed in scanning tunneling microscopy experiments with suspended graphene sheets. Here we describe in detail the phase diagram of the simpler one-dimensional model and phase stability using bifurcation theory. This gives additional insight into the physical mechanisms underlying the different phases and the behavior observed in experiments.

Open string fluctuations in AdS space with and without torsion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, A. L.; Lomholt, M. A.

2003-09-01

The equations of motion and boundary conditions for the fluctuations around a classical open string, in a curved space-time with torsion, are considered in compact and world-sheet covariant form. The rigidly rotating open strings in anti de Sitter space with and without torsion are investigated in detail. By carefully analyzing the tangential fluctuations at the boundary, we show explicitly that the physical fluctuations (which at the boundary are combinations of normal and tangential fluctuations) are finite, even though the world-sheet is singular there. The divergent 2-curvature thus seems less dangerous than expected in these cases. The general formalism can be straightforwardly used also to study the (bosonic part of the) fluctuations around the closed strings, recently considered in connection with the AdS/conformal field theory duality, on AdS5×S5 and AdS3×S3×T4.

Bifurcation analysis and phase diagram of a spin-string model with buckled states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz-Garcia, M.; Bonilla, L. L.; Prados, A.

2017-12-01

We analyze a one-dimensional spin-string model, in which string oscillators are linearly coupled to their two nearest neighbors and to Ising spins representing internal degrees of freedom. String-spin coupling induces a long-range ferromagnetic interaction among spins that competes with a spin-spin antiferromagnetic coupling. As a consequence, the complex phase diagram of the system exhibits different flat rippled and buckled states, with first or second order transition lines between states. This complexity translates to the two-dimensional version of the model, whose numerical solution has been recently used to explain qualitatively the rippled to buckled transition observed in scanning tunneling microscopy experiments with suspended graphene sheets. Here we describe in detail the phase diagram of the simpler one-dimensional model and phase stability using bifurcation theory. This gives additional insight into the physical mechanisms underlying the different phases and the behavior observed in experiments.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons.Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McAllister, Liam

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe";. The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions".This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde. Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McAllister, Liam

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe";. The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental InteractionS". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sen, Ashoke

Part 7.The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five seriesmore » of pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions";. This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde. Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sen, Ashoke

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network". The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher.« less

On the gauge chosen by the bosonic open string

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pesando, Igor

2017-05-01

String theory gives S matrix elements from which is not possible to read any gauge information. Using factorization we go off shell in the simplest and most naive way and we read which are the vertices suggested by string. To compare with the associated Effective Field Theory it is natural to use color ordered vertices. The α‧ = 0 color ordered vertices suggested by string theory are more efficient than the usual ones since the three gluon color ordered vertex has three terms instead of six and the four gluon one has one term instead of three. They are written in the so called Gervais-Neveu gauge. The full Effective Field Theory is in a generalization of the Gervais-Neveu gauge with α‧ corrections. Moreover a field redefinition is required to be mapped to the field used by string theory. We also give an intuitive way of understanding why string choose this gauge in terms of the minimal number of couplings necessary to reproduce the non-abelian amplitudes starting from color ordered ones.

On the solubility of certain classes of non-linear integral equations in p-adic string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khachatryan, Kh. A.

2018-04-01

We study classes of non-linear integral equations that have immediate application to p-adic mathematical physics and to cosmology. We prove existence and uniqueness theorems for non-trivial solutions in the space of bounded functions.

Classical probes of string/gauge theory duality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishizeki, Riei

The AdS/CFT correspondence has played an important role in the recent development of string theory. The reason is that it proposes a description of certain gauge theories in terms of string theory. It is such that simple string theory computations give information about the strong coupling regime of the gauge theory. Vice versa, gauge theory computations give information about string theory and quantum gravity. Although much is known about AdS/CFT, the precise map between the two sides of the correspondence is not completely understood. In the unraveling of such map classical string solutions play a vital role. In this thesis, several classical string solutions are proposed to help understand the AdS/CFT duality. First, rigidly rotating strings on a two-sphere are studied. Taking special limits of such solutions leads to two cases: the already known giant magnon solution, and a new solution which we call the single spike solution. Next, we compute the scattering phase shift of the single spike solutions and compare the result with the giant magnon solutions. Intriguingly, the results are the same up to non-logarithmic terms, indicating that the single spike solution should have the same rich spin chain structure as the giant magnon solution. Afterward, we consider open string solutions ending on the boundary of AdS5. The lines traced by the ends of such open strings can be viewed as Wilson loops in N = 4 SYM theory. After applying an inversion transformation, the open Wilson loops become closed Wilson loops whose expectation value is consistent with previously conjectured results. Next, several Wilson loops for N = 4 SYM in an AdS5 pp-wave background are considered and translated to the pure AdS 5 background and their interpretation as forward quark-gluon scattering is suggested. In the last part of this thesis, a class of classical solutions for closed strings moving in AdS3 x S 1 ⊂ AdS5 x S5 with energy E and spin S in AdS3 and angular momentum J and winding m in S1 is explained. The relation between different limits of the spiky string solution with the Landau-Lifshitz model is of particular interest. The presented solutions provide new classes of string motion that are used to better understand the AdS/CFT correspondence, including the single spike solution and previously unknown examples of supersymmetric Wilson loops.

No-scale inflation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ellis, John; Garcia, Marcos A. G.; Nanopoulos, Dimitri V.; Olive, Keith A.

2016-05-01

Supersymmetry is the most natural framework for physics above the TeV scale, and the corresponding framework for early-Universe cosmology, including inflation, is supergravity. No-scale supergravity emerges from generic string compactifications and yields a non-negative potential, and is therefore a plausible framework for constructing models of inflation. No-scale inflation yields naturally predictions similar to those of the Starobinsky model based on R+{R}2 gravity, with a tilted spectrum of scalar perturbations: {n}s∼ 0.96, and small values of the tensor-to-scalar perturbation ratio r\\lt 0.1, as favoured by Planck and other data on the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Detailed measurements of the CMB may provide insights into the embedding of inflation within string theory as well as its links to collider physics.

Factorization of chiral string amplitudes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Yu-tin; Siegel, Warren; Yuan, Ellis Ye

We re-examine a closed-string model defined by altering the boundary conditions for one handedness of two-dimensional propagators in otherwise-standard string theory. We evaluate the amplitudes using Kawai-Lewellen-Tye factorization into open-string amplitudes. The only modification to standard string theory is effectively that the spacetime Minkowski metric changes overall sign in one open-string factor. This cancels all but a finite number of states: as found in earlier approaches, with enough supersymmetry (e.g., type II) the tree amplitudes reproduce those of the massless truncation of ordinary string theory. However, we now find for the other cases that additional fields, formerly thought to bemore » auxiliary, describe new spin-2 states at the two adjacent mass levels (tachyonic and tardyonic). The tachyon is always a ghost, but can be avoided in the heterotic case.« less

Factorization of chiral string amplitudes

DOE PAGES

Huang, Yu-tin; Siegel, Warren; Yuan, Ellis Ye

2016-09-16

We re-examine a closed-string model defined by altering the boundary conditions for one handedness of two-dimensional propagators in otherwise-standard string theory. We evaluate the amplitudes using Kawai-Lewellen-Tye factorization into open-string amplitudes. The only modification to standard string theory is effectively that the spacetime Minkowski metric changes overall sign in one open-string factor. This cancels all but a finite number of states: as found in earlier approaches, with enough supersymmetry (e.g., type II) the tree amplitudes reproduce those of the massless truncation of ordinary string theory. However, we now find for the other cases that additional fields, formerly thought to bemore » auxiliary, describe new spin-2 states at the two adjacent mass levels (tachyonic and tardyonic). The tachyon is always a ghost, but can be avoided in the heterotic case.« less

Deconfinement and the Hagedorn transition in string theory.

PubMed

Chaudhuri, S

2001-03-05

We introduce a new definition of the thermal partition function in string theory. With this new definition, the thermal partition functions of all of the string theories obey thermal duality relations with self-dual Hagedorn temperature beta(2)(H) = 4pi(2)alpha('). A beta-->beta(2)(H)/beta transformation maps the type I theory into a new string theory (type I) with thermal D p-branes, spatial hypersurfaces supporting a p-dimensional finite temperature non-Abelian Higgs-gauge theory for p< or =9. We demonstrate a continuous phase transition in the behavior of the static heavy quark-antiquark potential for small separations r(2)(*)

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS PROGRAM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rutherfoord, John P.; Johns, Kenneth A.; Shupe, Michael A.

2013-07-29

The High Energy Physics Group at the University of Arizona has conducted forefront research in elementary particle physics. Our theorists have developed new ideas in lattice QCD, SUSY phenomenology, string theory phenomenology, extra spatial dimensions, dark matter, and neutrino astrophysics. The experimentalists produced significant physics results on the ATLAS experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider and on the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. In addition, the experimentalists were leaders in detector development and construction, and on service roles in these experiments.

Singularity resolution in string theory and new quantum condensed matter phases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fidkowski, Lukasz

2007-12-01

In the first part of this thesis (chapters 1 through 4) we study singularity resolution in string theory. We employ an array of techniques, including the AdS-CFT correspondence, exact solvability of low dimensional models, and supersymmetry. We are able to detect a signature of the black hole singularity by analytically continuing certain AdS-CFT correlators. Also in AdS-CFT, we are able to study a D-brane snapping transition on both sides of the correspondence. In the second part (chapters 5 through 7) we study topological phases in condensed matter systems. We investigate theoretical lattice models realizing such phases, use these to derive nontrivial mathematical physics results, and study an idealized quantum interferometer designed to detect such a phase in quantum Hall systems.

Fluxes, holography and twistors: String theory paths to four dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Peng

2007-12-01

There are presently three popular paths to obtain four dimensional physics from string theory: compactification, holography and twistor space. We present results in this thesis on each of them, discussing the geometric structure of flux compactifications, the interplay between holography and S -duality in M-theory and the perturbative amplitudes of the marginally deformed super-Yang-Mills theory obtained from topological string theory on a supertwistor space. First we analyze supersymmetric flux compactifications of ten dimensional string theories to four dimensions. Back reaction of the fluxes on the six dimensional internal geometry is characterized by G-structures. In type IIB compactification on SU(3)-structure manifold with N = 1 supersymmetry, we solve the equations dictating the five components of intrinsic torsion. We find that the six dimensional manifold always retains an integrable almost complex structure compatible with supersymmetry. In terms of the various vacuum fields, the axion/dilaton is found to be generically non-holomorphic, and the four dimensional cosmological constant is nonvanishing only if the SU(3) structure group is reduced to SU(2). The equations are solved by one holomorphic function. Around the poles and zeros of the holomorphic function, the geometry locally looks like the well known type-A and type-B solutions. When this function is a constant, the geometry can be viewed as a holographic RG flow. After classifying the type IIB SU(3)-structure flux vacua, we analyze the effect of non-perturbative corrections on the moduli space of N = 2 flux compactifications. At energy below the Kaluza-Klein scale, the four dimensional effective theory is a gauged supergravity theory with vanishing cosmological constant. The gauging of isometries on the hyper-multiplet moduli space is induced by the fluxes. We show that instanton corrections which could potentially lift the gauged isometries are in fact prohibited both in the type IIA and heterotic string theories by the inclusion of flux. Hence gauged supergravity is a robust framework for studying flux vacua even when these stringy effects are taken into account. The mechanisms which protect the gauged isometries are different in the two theories. Then we switch to the understanding of SL(2, Z ) duality transformations in asymptotically AdS4 x S7 spacetime with an Abelian gauge theory. The bulk duality acts non-trivially on the three-dimensional SCFT of coincident M2-branes on the conformal boundary. We develop a systematic method to holographically obtain the deformations of the boundary CFT manifested by generalized boundary conditions and show how SL(2, Z ) duality relates different deformations of the conformal vacuum. We analyze in detail marginal deformations and deformations by dimension 4 operators. In the case of massive deformations, the RG flow induces a Legendre transform as well as S-duality. Correlation functions in the CFT are computed by differentiating with respect to magnetic bulk sources, whereas correlation functions in the Legendre dual CFT are computed using electric bulk sources. Under massive deformations, the boundary effective action is generically minimized by massive self-dual configurations of the U(1) gauge field. We show that a massive and self-dual boundary condition corresponds to the unique self-dual topologically massive gauge theory in three dimensions. Thus, self-duality in three dimensions can be understood as a consequence of SL(2, Z ) invariance in the bulk of AdS4. We discuss various implications for understanding the strongly interacting worldvolume theory of M2-branes and more general dualities of the maximally supersymmetric AdS4 supergravity theory. Finally we study the twistor string theory whose D-instanton expansion gives the perturbative expansion of marginally deformed N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theories. More precisely this string theory is a topological B-model with both open and closed string sectors with target space CP3|4 , a super-Calabi-Yau manifold. The tree-level amplitudes in the N = 1 beta-deformed field theory are exactly reproduced by introducing non-anticommutative star-products among the D1 and D5 open strings. A related star-product gives the tree-level amplitudes of the non-supersymmetric gamma-deformed conformal field theory. The non-anticommutativity arises essentially from the deformation of the supertwistor space which reduces the amount of superconformal symmetries realized by the supertwistor space. The tree-level gluonic amplitudes in more general marginally deformed field theories are also discussed using twistor string theory.

On the Minimal Length Uncertainty Relation and the Foundations of String Theory

DOE PAGES

Chang, Lay Nam; Lewis, Zachary; Minic, Djordje; ...

2011-01-01

We review our work on the minimal length uncertainty relation as suggested by perturbative string theory. We discuss simple phenomenological implications of the minimal length uncertainty relation and then argue that the combination of the principles of quantum theory and general relativity allow for a dynamical energy-momentum space. We discuss the implication of this for the problem of vacuum energy and the foundations of nonperturbative string theory.

Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Callender, Craig; Huggett, Nick

2001-04-01

Preface; 1. Introduction Craig Callendar and Nick Huggett; Part I. Theories of Quantum Gravity and their Philosophical Dimensions: 2. Spacetime and the philosophical challenge of quantum gravity Jeremy Butterfield and Christopher Isham; 3. Naive quantum gravity Steven Weinstein; 4. Quantum spacetime: what do we know? Carlo Rovelli; Part II. Strings: 5. Reflections on the fate of spacetime Edward Witten; 6. A philosopher looks at string theory Robert Weingard; 7. Black holes, dumb holes, and entropy William G. Unruh; Part III. Topological Quantum Field Theory: 8. Higher-dimensional algebra and Planck scale physics John C. Baez; Part IV. Quantum Gravity and the Interpretation of General Relativity: 9. On general covariance and best matching Julian B. Barbour; 10. Pre-Socratic quantum gravity Gordon Belot and John Earman; 11. The origin of the spacetime metric: Bell's 'Lorentzian Pedagogy' and its significance in general relativity Harvey R. Brown and Oliver Pooley; Part IV. Quantum Gravity and the Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: 12. Quantum spacetime without observers: ontological clarity and the conceptual foundations of quantum gravity Sheldon Goldstein and Stefan Teufel; 13. On gravity's role in quantum state reduction Roger Penrose; 14. Why the quantum must yield to gravity Joy Christian.

Solvability of a Nonlinear Integral Equation in Dynamical String Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khachatryan, A. Kh.; Khachatryan, Kh. A.

2018-04-01

We investigate an integral equation of the convolution type with a cubic nonlinearity on the entire real line. This equation has a direct application in open-string field theory and in p-adic string theory and describes nonlocal interactions. We prove that there exists a one-parameter family of bounded monotonic solutions and calculate the limits of solutions constructed at infinity.

Twistor theory at fifty: from contour integrals to twistor strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atiyah, Michael; Dunajski, Maciej; Mason, Lionel J.

2017-10-01

We review aspects of twistor theory, its aims and achievements spanning the last five decades. In the twistor approach, space-time is secondary with events being derived objects that correspond to compact holomorphic curves in a complex threefold-the twistor space. After giving an elementary construction of this space, we demonstrate how solutions to linear and nonlinear equations of mathematical physics-anti-self-duality equations on Yang-Mills or conformal curvature-can be encoded into twistor cohomology. These twistor correspondences yield explicit examples of Yang-Mills and gravitational instantons, which we review. They also underlie the twistor approach to integrability: the solitonic systems arise as symmetry reductions of anti-self-dual (ASD) Yang-Mills equations, and Einstein-Weyl dispersionless systems are reductions of ASD conformal equations. We then review the holomorphic string theories in twistor and ambitwistor spaces, and explain how these theories give rise to remarkable new formulae for the computation of quantum scattering amplitudes. Finally, we discuss the Newtonian limit of twistor theory and its possible role in Penrose's proposal for a role of gravity in quantum collapse of a wave function.

Twistor theory at fifty: from contour integrals to twistor strings.

PubMed

Atiyah, Michael; Dunajski, Maciej; Mason, Lionel J

2017-10-01

We review aspects of twistor theory, its aims and achievements spanning the last five decades. In the twistor approach, space-time is secondary with events being derived objects that correspond to compact holomorphic curves in a complex threefold-the twistor space. After giving an elementary construction of this space, we demonstrate how solutions to linear and nonlinear equations of mathematical physics-anti-self-duality equations on Yang-Mills or conformal curvature-can be encoded into twistor cohomology. These twistor correspondences yield explicit examples of Yang-Mills and gravitational instantons, which we review. They also underlie the twistor approach to integrability: the solitonic systems arise as symmetry reductions of anti-self-dual (ASD) Yang-Mills equations, and Einstein-Weyl dispersionless systems are reductions of ASD conformal equations. We then review the holomorphic string theories in twistor and ambitwistor spaces, and explain how these theories give rise to remarkable new formulae for the computation of quantum scattering amplitudes. Finally, we discuss the Newtonian limit of twistor theory and its possible role in Penrose's proposal for a role of gravity in quantum collapse of a wave function.

Matrix theory interpretation of discrete light cone quantization string worldsheets

PubMed

Grignani; Orland; Paniak; Semenoff

2000-10-16

We study the null compactification of type-IIA string perturbation theory at finite temperature. We prove a theorem about Riemann surfaces establishing that the moduli spaces of infinite-momentum-frame superstring worldsheets are identical to those of branched-cover instantons in the matrix-string model conjectured to describe M theory. This means that the identification of string degrees of freedom in the matrix model proposed by Dijkgraaf, Verlinde, and Verlinde is correct and that its natural generalization produces the moduli space of Riemann surfaces at all orders in the genus expansion.

Geometry, topology, and string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Varadarajan, Uday

A variety of scenarios are considered which shed light upon the uses and limitations of classical geometric and topological notions in string theory. The primary focus is on situations in which D-brane or string probes of a given classical space-time see the geometry quite differently than one might naively expect. In particular, situations in which extra dimensions, non-commutative geometries as well as other non-local structures emerge are explored in detail. Further, a preliminary exploration of such issues in Lorentzian space-times with non-trivial causal structures within string theory is initiated.

The Evolution of Social and Semantic Networks in Epistemic Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Margolin, Drew Berkley

2012-01-01

This study describes and tests a model of scientific inquiry as an evolving, organizational phenomenon. Arguments are derived from organizational ecology and evolutionary theory. The empirical subject of study is an "epistemic community" of scientists publishing on a research topic in physics: the string theoretic concept of…

Perturbation theory from automorphic forms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lambert, Neil; West, Peter

2010-05-01

Using our previous construction of Eisenstein-like automorphic forms we derive formulae for the perturbative and non-perturbative parts for any group and representation. The result is written in terms of the weights of the representation and the derivation is largely group theoretical. Specialising to the E n+1 groups relevant to type II string theory and the representation associated with node n + 1 of the E n+1 Dynkin diagram we explicitly find the perturbative part in terms of String Theory variables, such as the string coupling g d and volume V n . For dimensions seven and higher we find that the perturbation theory involves only two terms. In six dimensions we construct the SO(5, 5) automorphic form using the vector representation. Although these automorphic forms are generally compatible with String Theory, the one relevant to R 4 involves terms with g d -6 and so is problematic. We then study a constrained SO(5, 5) automorphic form, obtained by summing over null vectors, and compute its perturbative part. We find that it is consistent with String Theory and makes precise predictions for the perturbative results. We also study the unconstrained automorphic forms for E 6 in the 27 representation and E 7 in the 133 representation, giving their perturbative part and commenting on their role in String Theory.

Strings on plane-waves and spin chains on orbifolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadri, Darius

This thesis covers a number of topics in string theory focusing on various aspects of the AdS/CFT duality in various guises and regimes. In the first chapter we present a self-contained review of the Plane-wave/super-Yang-Mills duality. This duality is a specification of the usual AdS/CFT correspondence in the "Penrose limit". In chapter two we study the most general parallelizable pp-wave backgrounds which are non-dilatonic solutions in the NS-NS sector of type IIA and IIB string theories. We demonstrate that parallelizable pp-wave backgrounds are necessarily homogeneous plane-waves, and that a large class of homogeneous plane-waves are parallelizable, stating the necessary conditions. Quantization of string modes, their compactification and behaviour under T-duality are also studied, as are BPS Dp-branes on such backgrounds. In chapter three we consider giant gravitons on the maximally supersymmetric plane-wave background. We deduce the low energy effective light-cone Hamiltonian of the three-sphere giant graviton, and place sources in this effective gauge theory. Although non-vanishing net electric charge configurations are disallowed by Gauss' law, electric dipoles can be formed. From the string theory point of view these dipoles can be understood as open strings piercing the three-sphere, giving a two dimensional (worldsheet) description of giant gravitons. Chapter four presents some new ideas regarding the relation between super-conformal gauge theories and string theories with three-dimensional target spaces, possible relations of these systems to Hamiltonian lattice gauge theories, and integrable spin chains. We consider N = 1, D = 4 superconformal SU( N)px q Yang-Mills theories dual to AdS5 x S5/Zp x Zq orbifolds. We show that a specific sector of this dilatation operator can be thought of as the transfer matrix for a three-dimensional statistical mechanical system, which in turn is equivalent to a 2 + 1-dimensional string theory where the spatial slices are discretized on a triangular lattice, and comment on the integrability of this N = 1 gauge theory, its connection to three-dimensional lattice gauge theories, extensions to six-dimensional string theories, AdS/CFT type dualities and finally their construction via orbifolds and brane-box models. In the process we discover a new class of almost-BPS BMN type operators with large engineering dimensions but controllably small anomalous corrections.

Numerical exploration of the string theory landscape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metallinos, Konstantinos

String theory is the best candidate to provide a consistent quantum theory of gravity. Its ten dimensional formulation forces us to perform a compactification of the six unobserved dimensions in a very special compact manifold known as Calabi-Yau. The standard way to address this issue is through the flux compactification scenarios. One of the major implications of these scenarios is that the string theory cannot provide a single and unique vacuum as a solution. Rather one can find an extremely large set of solutions, each with its own physical properties. This is the string theory Landscape. In the first part we present the formal description of the flux compactification theory. From the four dimensional point of view this is a supersymmetric theory, fully described only by two functions, the superpotential and the Kahler potential. Their expressions are crucially depend on the geometrical properties of the compact manifold. By writing these functions for the specific Calabi-Yau manifold P41,1,1,6,9 we are looking firstly for supersymmetric and then after breaking the supersymmetry, for non-supersymmetric numerical solutions. These solutions describe the possible vacua and our goal is using statistical analysis to categorize them based on their cosmological properties and to check their stability. Finally we present the existence of stable dS vacua with and without adding an uplifting term on the potential. In the case where there is not an uplifting term the breaking of supersymmetry is done by incorporating alpha' corrections to the Kahler potential. In the second part we construct a KKLT like inflation model, within string theory flux compactifications and, in particular a model of accidental inflation. We investigate the possibility that the apparent fine-tuning of the low energy parameters of the theory needed to have inflation can be generically obtained by scanning the values of the fluxes over the landscape. Furthermore, we find that the existence of a landscape of eternal inflation in this model provides us with a natural theory of initial conditions for the inflationary period in our vacuum. We demonstrate how these two effects work in a small corner of the landscape associated with the complex structure of the Calabi-Yau manifold P41,1,1,6,9 by numerically investigating the flux vacua of a reduced moduli space. This allows us to obtain the distribution of observable parameters for inflation in this mini-landscape directly from the fluxes.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

The CERN Winter School on Supergravity, Strings, and Gauge Theory is the analytic continuation of the yearly training school of the former EC-RTN string network "Constituents, Fundamental Forces and Symmetries of the Universe". The 2010 edition of the school is supported and organized by the CERN Theory Divison, and will take place from Monday January 25 to Friday January 29, at CERN. As its predecessors, this school is meant primarily for training of doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers in recent developments in theoretical high-energy physics and string theory. The programme of the school will consist of five series ofmore » pedagogical lectures, complemented by tutorial discussion sessions in the afternoons. Previous schools in this series were organized in 2005 at SISSA in Trieste, and in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 at CERN, Geneva. Other similar schools have been organized in the past by the former related RTN network "The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions". This edition of the school is not funded by the European Union. The school is funded by the CERN Theory Division, and the Arnold Sommerfeld Center at Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich. Scientific committee: M. Gaberdiel, D. Luest, A. Sevrin, J. Simon, K. Stelle, S. Theisen, A. Uranga, A. Van Proeyen, E. Verlinde. Local organizers: A. Uranga, J. Walcher. This video is Part 11 in the series.« less

A Lesson from the LQG String: Diffeomorphism Covariance is Enough

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Helling, Robert C.

2009-12-15

The importance of manifest diffeomorphism invariance is often cited as a major strength of the loop approach to the quantization of gravity. We study this in a simple example: The world-sheet theory of the bosonic string. The conventional treatment differs in the choice of vacuum state from the loop inspired one, the latter being invariant while the first being only covariant. We argue that physically only covariance is required and display the physical consequences of the invariant but discontinuous choice in the one dimensional example of the harmonic oscillator. Finally, we demonstrate that discretization of infinitesimally singular expressions as commonmore » in the loop approach is not unique but can be seen in analogy with the choice of higher derivative counter terms.« less

Instantons in string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ahlén, Olof, E-mail: olof.ahlen@aei.mpg.de

2015-12-17

These proceedings from the second Caesar Lattes meeting in Rio de Janeiro 2015 are a brief introduction to how automorphic forms appear in the low energy effective action of maximally supersymmetric string theory. The explicit example of the R{sup 4}-interaction of type IIB string theory in ten dimensions is discussed. Its Fourier expansion is interpreted in terms of perturbative and non-perturbative contributions to the four graviton amplitude.

Hadronic density of states from string theory.

PubMed

Pando Zayas, Leopoldo A; Vaman, Diana

2003-09-12

We present an exact calculation of the finite temperature partition function for the hadronic states corresponding to a Penrose-Güven limit of the Maldacena-Nùñez embedding of the N=1 super Yang-Mills (SYM) into string theory. It is established that the theory exhibits a Hagedorn density of states. We propose a semiclassical string approximation to the finite temperature partition function for confining gauge theories admitting a supergravity dual, by performing an expansion around classical solutions characterized by temporal windings. This semiclassical approximation reveals a hadronic energy density of states of a Hagedorn type, with the coefficient determined by the gauge theory string tension as expected for confining theories. We argue that our proposal captures primarily information about states of pure N=1 SYM theory, given that this semiclassical approximation does not entail a projection onto states of large U(1) charge.

Cosmic archaeology with gravitational waves from cosmic strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Yanou; Lewicki, Marek; Morrissey, David E.; Wells, James D.

2018-06-01

Cosmic strings are generic cosmological predictions of many extensions of the standard model of particle physics, such as a U (1 )' symmetry-breaking phase transition in the early Universe or remnants of superstring theory. Unlike other topological defects, cosmic strings can reach a scaling regime that maintains a small fixed fraction of the total energy density of the Universe from a very early epoch until today. If present, they will oscillate and generate gravitational waves with a frequency spectrum that imprints the dominant sources of total cosmic energy density throughout the history of the Universe. We demonstrate that current and future gravitational wave detectors, such as LIGO and LISA, could be capable of measuring the frequency spectrum of gravitational waves from cosmic strings and discerning the energy composition of the Universe at times well before primordial nucleosynthesis and the cosmic microwave background where standard cosmology has yet to be tested. This work establishes a benchmark case that gravitational waves may provide an unprecedented, powerful tool for probing the evolutionary history of the very early Universe.

Double field theory at order α'

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hohm, Olaf; Zwiebach, Barton

2014-11-01

We investigate α' corrections of bosonic strings in the framework of double field theory. The previously introduced "doubled α'-geometry" gives α'-deformed gauge transformations arising in the Green-Schwarz anomaly cancellation mechanism but does not apply to bosonic strings. These require a different deformation of the duality-covariantized Courant bracket which governs the gauge structure. This is revealed by examining the α' corrections in the gauge algebra of closed string field theory. We construct a four-derivative cubic double field theory action invariant under the deformed gauge transformations, giving a first glimpse of the gauge principle underlying bosonic string α' corrections. The usual metric and b-field are related to the duality covariant fields by non-covariant field redefinitions.

Tensor modes on the string theory landscape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Westphal, Alexander

2013-04-01

We attempt an estimate for the distribution of the tensor mode fraction r over the landscape of vacua in string theory. The dynamics of eternal inflation and quantum tunneling lead to a kind of democracy on the landscape, providing no bias towards large-field or small-field inflation regardless of the class of measure. The tensor mode fraction then follows the number frequency distributions of inflationary mechanisms of string theory over the landscape. We show that an estimate of the relative number frequencies for small-field vs large-field inflation, while unattainable on the whole landscape, may be within reach as a regional answer for warped Calabi-Yau flux compactifications of type IIB string theory.

String duality transformations in f(R) gravity from Noether symmetry approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Capozziello, Salvatore; Gionti, Gabriele S.J.; Vernieri, Daniele, E-mail: capozziello@na.inf.it, E-mail: ggionti@as.arizona.edu, E-mail: vernieri@iap.fr

2016-01-01

We select f(R) gravity models that undergo scale factor duality transformations. As a starting point, we consider the tree-level effective gravitational action of bosonic String Theory coupled with the dilaton field. This theory inherits the Busher's duality of its parent String Theory. Using conformal transformations of the metric tensor, it is possible to map the tree-level dilaton-graviton string effective action into f(R) gravity, relating the dilaton field to the Ricci scalar curvature. Furthermore, the duality can be framed under the standard of Noether symmetries and exact cosmological solutions are derived. Using suitable changes of variables, the string-based f(R) Lagrangians aremore » shown in cases where the duality transformation becomes a parity inversion.« less

Note on tachyon moduli and closed strings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carneiro da Cunha, Bruno

2008-07-15

The collective behavior of the SL(2,R) covariant brane states of noncritical c=1 string theory, found in a previous work, is studied in the Fermi liquid approximation. It is found that such states mimic the coset WZW model, whereas only by further restrictions one recovers the double-scaling limit which was purported to be equivalent to closed string models. Another limit is proposed, inspired by the tachyon condensation ideas, where the spectrum is the same of two-dimensional string theory. We close by noting some strange connections between vacuum states of the theory in their different interpretations.

Quark-antiquark potential in defect conformal field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preti, Michelangelo; Trancanelli, Diego; Vescovi, Edoardo

2017-10-01

We consider antiparallel Wilson lines in N = 4 super Yang-Mills in the presence of a codimension-1 defect. We compute the Wilson lines' expectation value both at weak coupling, in the gauge theory, and at strong coupling, by finding the string configurations which are dual to this operator. These configurations display a Gross-Ooguri transition between a connected, U-shaped string phase and a phase in which the string breaks into two disconnected surfaces. We analyze in detail the critical configurations separating the two phases and compare the string result with the gauge theory one in a certain double scaling limit.

Highly symmetric D-brane-anti-D-brane effective actions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatefi, Ehsan

2017-09-01

The entire S-matrix elements of four, five and six point functions of D-brane-anti D-brane system are explored. To deal with symmetries of string amplitudes as well as their all order α ' corrections we first address a four point function of one closed string Ramond-Ramond (RR) and two real tachyons on the world volume of brane-anti brane system. We then focus on symmetries of string theory as well as universal tachyon expansion to achieve both string and effective field theory of an RR and three tachyons where the complete algebraic analysis for the whole S-matrix < {V}_{C^{-1}}{V}_{T^{-1}}{V}_{T^0}{V}_{T^0}> was also revealed. Lastly, we employ all the conformal field theory techniques to < {V}_{C^{-1}}{V}_{T^{-1}}{V}_{T^0}{V}_{T^0}{V}_{T^0}> , working out with symmetries of theory and find out the expansion for the amplitude to be able to precisely discover all order singularity structures of D-brane-anti-D-brane effective actions of string theory. Various remarks about the so called generalized Veneziano amplitude and new string couplings are elaborated as well.

Eisenstein series for infinite-dimensional U-duality groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleig, Philipp; Kleinschmidt, Axel

2012-06-01

We consider Eisenstein series appearing as coefficients of curvature corrections in the low-energy expansion of type II string theory four-graviton scattering amplitudes. We define these Eisenstein series over all groups in the E n series of string duality groups, and in particular for the infinite-dimensional Kac-Moody groups E 9, E 10 and E 11. We show that, remarkably, the so-called constant term of Kac-Moody-Eisenstein series contains only a finite number of terms for particular choices of a parameter appearing in the definition of the series. This resonates with the idea that the constant term of the Eisenstein series encodes perturbative string corrections in BPS-protected sectors allowing only a finite number of corrections. We underpin our findings with an extensive discussion of physical degeneration limits in D < 3 space-time dimensions.

String theory of the Regge intercept.

PubMed

Hellerman, S; Swanson, I

2015-03-20

Using the Polchinski-Strominger effective string theory in the covariant gauge, we compute the mass of a rotating string in D dimensions with large angular momenta J, in one or two planes, in fixed ratio, up to and including first subleading order in the large J expansion. This constitutes a first-principles calculation of the value for the order-J(0) contribution to the mass squared of a meson on the leading Regge trajectory in planar QCD with bosonic quarks. For open strings with Neumann boundary conditions, and for closed strings in D≥5, the order-J(0) term in the mass squared is exactly calculated by the semiclassical approximation. This term in the expansion is universal and independent of the details of the theory, assuming only D-dimensional Poincaré invariance and the absence of other infinite-range excitations on the string world volume, beyond the Nambu-Goldstone bosons.

The conical pendulum: the tethered aeroplane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazza, Anthony P.; Metcalf, William E.; Cinson, Anthony D.; Lynch, John J.

2007-01-01

The introductory physics lab curriculum usually has one experiment on uniform circular motion (UCM). Physics departments typically have several variable-speed rotators in storage that, if they work, no longer work well. Replacing these rotators with new ones is costly, especially when they are only used once a year. This article describes how an inexpensive (ap10) tethered aeroplane, powered by a small electric motor, can be used to study UCM. The aeroplane is easy to see and entertaining to watch. For a given string length and air speed, a tethered aeroplane quickly finds a stable, horizontal, circular orbit. Using a digital video (DV) camcorder, VideoPoint Capture, QuickTime player, metre sticks and a stopwatch, data on the aeroplane's motion were obtained. The length of the string was varied from 120 to 340 cm while the air speed ranged from 200 to 480 cm s-1. For each string length and air speed, the period of the orbit and the diameter of the path were carefully measured. Theoretical values of path radii were then calculated using Newton's second law. The agreement between experiment and theory was usually better than 2%.

Music. Grade 13. Curriculum S.16.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ontario Dept. of Education, Toronto.

GRADES OR AGES: Grade 13. SUBJECT MATTER: Music. ORGANIZATION AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE: The central portion of the guide is divided into six units: voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and theory and form. Each unit is in list form. The guide is offset printed and staple-bound with a paper cover. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES: A list of…

Pathomechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis--time for a string theory?

PubMed

Weyand, Cornelia M; Goronzy, Jörg J

2006-04-01

RA is a quintessential autoimmune disease with a growing number of cells, mediators, and pathways implicated in this tissue-injurious inflammation. Now Kuhn and colleagues have provided convincing evidence that autoantibodies reacting with citrullinated proteins, known for their sensitivity and specificity as biomarkers in RA, enhance tissue damage in collagen-induced arthritis (see the related article beginning on page 961). This study adds yet another soldier to the growing army of autoaggressive mechanisms that underlie RA. With great success researchers have dismantled the pathogenic subunits of RA, adding gene to gene, molecule to molecule, and pathway to pathway in an ever more complex scheme of dysfunction. The complexity of the emerging disease model leaves us speechless. It seems that with this wealth of data available, we need to develop a new theory for this disease. We may want to seek guidance from our colleagues in physics and mathematics who have successfully integrated their knowledge of elementary particles and the complexity of their interacting forces by formulating the string theory.

Pathomechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis — time for a string theory?

PubMed Central

Weyand, Cornelia M.; Goronzy, Jörg J.

2006-01-01

RA is a quintessential autoimmune disease with a growing number of cells, mediators, and pathways implicated in this tissue-injurious inflammation. Now Kuhn and colleagues have provided convincing evidence that autoantibodies reacting with citrullinated proteins, known for their sensitivity and specificity as biomarkers in RA, enhance tissue damage in collagen-induced arthritis (see the related article beginning on page 961). This study adds yet another soldier to the growing army of autoaggressive mechanisms that underlie RA. With great success researchers have dismantled the pathogenic subunits of RA, adding gene to gene, molecule to molecule, and pathway to pathway in an ever more complex scheme of dysfunction. The complexity of the emerging disease model leaves us speechless. It seems that with this wealth of data available, we need to develop a new theory for this disease. We may want to seek guidance from our colleagues in physics and mathematics who have successfully integrated their knowledge of elementary particles and the complexity of their interacting forces by formulating the string theory. PMID:16585957

Higher winding strings and confined monopoles in N=2 supersymmetric QCD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Auzzi, R.; Bolognesi, S.; Shifman, M.

2010-04-15

We consider composite string solutions in N=2 SQCD with the gauge group U(N), the Fayet-Iliopoulos term {xi}{ne}0 and N (s)quark flavors. These bulk theories support non-Abelian strings and confined monopoles identified with kinks in the two-dimensional world-sheet theory. Similar and more complicated kinks (corresponding to composite confined monopoles) must exist in the world-sheet theories on composite strings. In a bid to detect them we analyze the Hanany-Tong (HT) model, focusing on a particular example of N=2. Unequal quark mass terms in the bulk theory result in the twisted masses in the N=(2,2) HT model. For spatially coinciding 2-strings, we findmore » three distinct minima of potential energy, corresponding to three different 2-strings. Then we find BPS-saturated kinks interpolating between each pair of vacua. Two kinks can be called elementary. They emanate one unit of the magnetic flux and have the same mass as the conventional 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole on the Coulomb branch of the bulk theory ({xi}=0). The third kink represents a composite bimonopole, with twice the minimal magnetic flux. Its mass is twice the mass of the elementary confined monopole. We find instantons in the HT model, and discuss quantum effects in composite strings at strong coupling. In addition, we study the renormalization group flow in this model.« less

Topological defects in alternative theories to cosmic inflation and string cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexander, Stephon H. S.

The physics of the Early Universe is described in terms of the inflationary paradigm, which is based on a marriage between Einstein's general theory of relativity minimally coupled to quantum field theory. Inflation was posed to solve some of the outstanding problems of the Standard Big Bang Cosmology (SBB) such as the horizon, formation of structure and monopole problems. Despite its observational and theoretical successes, inflation is plagued with fine tuning and initial singularity problems. On the other hand, superstring/M theory, a theory of quantum gravity, possesses symmetries which naturally avoid space-time singularities. This thesis investigates alternative theories to cosmic inflation for solving the initial singularity, horizon and monopole problems, making use of topological defects. It was proposed by Dvali, Liu and Vaschaspati that the monopole problem can be solved without inflation if domain walls "sweep" up the monopoles in the early universe, thus reducing their number density significantly. Necessary for this mechanism to work is the presence of an attractive force between the monopole and the domain wall as well as a channel for the monopole's unwinding. We show numerically and analytically in two field theory models that for global defects the attraction is a universal result but the unwinding is model specific. The second part of this thesis investigates a string/M theory inspired model for solving the horizon problem. It was proposed by Moffat, Albrecht and Magueijo that the horizon problem is solved with a "phase transition" associated with a varying speed of light before the surface of last scattering. We provide a string/M theory mechanism based on assuming that our space-time is a D-3 brane probing a bulk supergravity black hole bulk background. This mechanism provides the necessary time variation of the velocity of light to solve the horizon problem. We suggest a mechanism which stablilizes the speed of light on the D-3 brane. We finally address the cosmological initial singularity problem using the target space duality inherent in string/M theory. It was suggested by Brandenberger and Vafa that superstring theory can solve the singularity problem and in addition explain why only three spatial dimensions can become large. We show that under specific conditions this mechanism still persists when including the effects of D-branes.

Topological defects in open string field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kojita, Toshiko; Maccaferri, Carlo; Masuda, Toru; Schnabl, Martin

2018-04-01

We show how conformal field theory topological defects can relate solutions of open string field theory for different boundary conditions. To this end we generalize the results of Graham and Watts to include the action of defects on boundary condition changing fields. Special care is devoted to the general case when nontrivial multiplicities arise upon defect action. Surprisingly the fusion algebra of defects is realized on open string fields only up to a (star algebra) isomorphism.

The effective supergravity of little string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antoniadis, Ignatios; Delgado, Antonio; Markou, Chrysoula; Pokorski, Stefan

2018-02-01

In this work we present the minimal supersymmetric extension of the five-dimensional dilaton-gravity theory that captures the main properties of the holographic dual of little string theory. It is described by a particular gauging of N=2 supergravity coupled with one vector multiplet associated with the string dilaton, along the U(1) subgroup of SU(2) R-symmetry. The linear dilaton in the fifth coordinate solution of the equations of motion (with flat string frame metric) breaks half of the supersymmetries to N=1 in four dimensions. Interest in the linear dilaton model has lately been revived in the context of the clockwork mechanism, which has recently been proposed as a new source of exponential scale separation in field theory.

Classical theory of radiating strings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Copeland, Edmund J.; Haws, D.; Hindmarsh, M.

1990-01-01

The divergent part of the self force of a radiating string coupled to gravity, an antisymmetric tensor and a dilaton in four dimensions are calculated to first order in classical perturbation theory. While this divergence can be absorbed into a renormalization of the string tension, demanding that both it and the divergence in the energy momentum tensor vanish forces the string to have the couplings of compactified N = 1 D = 10 supergravity. In effect, supersymmetry cures the classical infinities.

Tensionless Strings and Supersymmetric Sigma Models: Aspects of the Target Space Geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bredthauer, Andreas

2007-01-01

In this thesis, two aspects of string theory are discussed, tensionless strings and supersymmetric sigma models. The equivalent to a massless particle in string theory is a tensionless string. Even almost 30 years after it was first mentioned, it is still quite poorly understood. We discuss how tensionless strings give rise to exact solutions to supergravity and solve closed tensionless string theory in the ten dimensional maximally supersymmetric plane wave background, a contraction of AdS(5)xS(5) where tensionless strings are of great interest due to their proposed relation to higher spin gauge theory via the AdS/CFT correspondence. For a sigma model, the amount of supersymmetry on its worldsheet restricts the geometry of the target space. For N=(2,2) supersymmetry, for example, the target space has to be bi-hermitian. Recently, with generalized complex geometry, a new mathematical framework was developed that is especially suited to discuss the target space geometry of sigma models in a Hamiltonian formulation. Bi-hermitian geometry is so-called generalized Kaehler geometry but the relation is involved. We discuss various amounts of supersymmetry in phase space and show that this relation can be established by considering the equivalence between the Hamilton and Lagrange formulation of the sigma model. In the study of generalized supersymmetric sigma models, we find objects that favor a geometrical interpretation beyond generalized complex geometry.

Surface operators from M -strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mori, Hironori; Sugimoto, Yuji

2017-01-01

It has been found that surface operators have a significant role in Alday-Gaiotto-Tachikawa (AGT) relation. This duality is an outstanding consequence of M -theory, but it is actually encoded into the brane web for which the topological string can work. From this viewpoint, the surface defect in AGT relation is geometrically engineered as a toric brane realization. Also, there is a class of the brane configuration in M -theory called M -strings which can be translated into the language of the topological string. In this work, we propose a new M -string configuration which can realize AGT relation in the presence of the surface defect by utilizing the geometric transition in the refined topological string.

High Energy Theory Workshops and Visitors at the Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics FY15

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pierce, Aaron T.

The String theory workshop was held from March 4-7, 2015 on the University of Michigan campus. Local organizers were Gordon Kane and Aaron Pierce. Piyush Kumar (Yale), Jim Halverson (KITP), Bobby Acharya (ICTP) and Sven Krippendorf (Oxford) served as external organizers.The meeting focused on the status of work to project 10 or 11 dimensional string/M theories onto our 4 spacetime dimensions (compactification). The workshop had 31 participants, half from outside the U.S. Participants were encouraged to focus on predictions for recent and forthcoming data, particularly for Higgs physics and LHC and dark matter, rather than on the traditional approach ofmore » embedding the Standard Model particles and forces. The Higgs boson sympoosium was locally organized by James Wells (chair), Aaron Pierce and Jianming Qian. Additional input in the early stages by Stefan Pokorski (Warsaw) who was unable to attend in the end. The workshop consistent of 22 talks from experts around the world, both theoretical and experimental. Experimentalists summarized the current state of knowledge of the Higgs boson and its varients. The theory talks ranged from technical calculations of Standard Model processes to speculative novel ideas. The YHET visitor program invited weekly young visitors to the University of Michigan campus to present their work. This year 24 participants came under the program, with 17 of them receiving at least partial support for their visits.« less

Exploring the spectrum of regularized bosonic string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ambjørn, J., E-mail: ambjorn@nbi.dk; Makeenko, Y., E-mail: makeenko@nbi.dk

2015-03-15

We implement a UV regularization of the bosonic string by truncating its mode expansion and keeping the regularized theory “as diffeomorphism invariant as possible.” We compute the regularized determinant of the 2d Laplacian for the closed string winding around a compact dimension, obtaining the effective action in this way. The minimization of the effective action reliably determines the energy of the string ground state for a long string and/or for a large number of space-time dimensions. We discuss the possibility of a scaling limit when the cutoff is taken to infinity.

Entanglement Entropy in Two-Dimensional String Theory.

PubMed

Hartnoll, Sean A; Mazenc, Edward A

2015-09-18

To understand an emergent spacetime is to understand the emergence of locality. Entanglement entropy is a powerful diagnostic of locality, because locality leads to a large amount of short distance entanglement. Two-dimensional string theory is among the very simplest instances of an emergent spatial dimension. We compute the entanglement entropy in the large-N matrix quantum mechanics dual to two-dimensional string theory in the semiclassical limit of weak string coupling. We isolate a logarithmically large, but finite, contribution that corresponds to the short distance entanglement of the tachyon field in the emergent spacetime. From the spacetime point of view, the entanglement is regulated by a nonperturbative "graininess" of space.

Brane inflation and cosmic string tension in superstring theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Firouzjahi, Hassan; Tye, S.-H. Henry

2005-03-01

In a simple reanalysis of the KKLMMT scenario, we argue that the slow roll condition in the D3-overline {D}3 -brane inflationary scenario in superstring theory requires no more than a moderate tuning. The cosmic string tension is very sensitive to the conformal coupling: with less fine-tuning, the cosmic string tension (as well as the ratio of tensor to scalar perturbation mode) increases rapidly and can easily saturate the present observational bound. In a multi-throat brane inflationary scenario, this feature substantially improves the chance of detecting and measuring the properties of the cosmic strings as a window to the superstring theory and our pre-inflationary universe.

Emergent Geometry from Entropy and Causality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engelhardt, Netta

In this thesis, we investigate the connections between the geometry of spacetime and aspects of quantum field theory such as entanglement entropy and causality. This work is motivated by the idea that spacetime geometry is an emergent phenomenon in quantum gravity, and that the physics responsible for this emergence is fundamental to quantum field theory. Part I of this thesis is focused on the interplay between spacetime and entropy, with a special emphasis on entropy due to entanglement. In general spacetimes, there exist locally-defined surfaces sensitive to the geometry that may act as local black hole boundaries or cosmological horizons; these surfaces, known as holographic screens, are argued to have a connection with the second law of thermodynamics. Holographic screens obey an area law, suggestive of an association with entropy; they are also distinguished surfaces from the perspective of the covariant entropy bound, a bound on the total entropy of a slice of the spacetime. This construction is shown to be quite general, and is formulated in both classical and perturbatively quantum theories of gravity. The remainder of Part I uses the Anti-de Sitter/ Conformal Field Theory (AdS/CFT) correspondence to both expand and constrain the connection between entanglement entropy and geometry. The AdS/CFT correspondence posits an equivalence between string theory in the "bulk" with AdS boundary conditions and certain quantum field theories. In the limit where the string theory is simply classical General Relativity, the Ryu-Takayanagi and more generally, the Hubeny-Rangamani-Takayanagi (HRT) formulae provide a way of relating the geometry of surfaces to entanglement entropy. A first-order bulk quantum correction to HRT was derived by Faulkner, Lewkowycz and Maldacena. This formula is generalized to include perturbative quantum corrections in the bulk at any (finite) order. Hurdles to spacetime emergence from entanglement entropy as described by HRT and its quantum generalizations are discussed, both at the classical and perturbatively quantum limits. In particular, several No Go Theorems are proven, indicative of a conclusion that supplementary approaches or information may be necessary to recover the full spacetime geometry. Part II of this thesis involves the relation between geometry and causality, the property that information cannot travel faster than light. Requiring this of any quantum field theory results in constraints on string theory setups that are dual to quantum field theories via the AdS/CFT correspondence. At the level of perturbative quantum gravity, it is shown that causality in the field theory constraints the causal structure in the bulk. At the level of nonperturbative quantum string theory, we find that constraints on causal signals restrict the possible ways in which curvature singularities can be resolved in string theory. Finally, a new program of research is proposed for the construction of bulk geometry from the divergences of correlation functions in the dual field theory. This divergence structure is linked to the causal structure of the bulk and of the field theory.

ABJ quadrality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Honda, Masazumi; Pang, Yi; Zhu, Yaodong

2017-11-01

We study physical consequences of adding orientifolds to the ABJ triality, which is among 3d N=6 superconformal Chern-Simons theory known as ABJ theory, type IIA string in AdS 4 × ℂℙ3 and N=6 supersymmetric (SUSY) Vasiliev higher spin theory in AdS 4. After adding the orientifolds, it is known that the gauge group of the ABJ theory becomes O( N 1) × USp(2 N 2) while the background of the string theory is replaced by AdS 4 × ℂℙ3/ Z 2, and the supersymmetries in the both theories reduce to N=5 . We propose that adding the orientifolds to the N=6 Vasiliev theory leads to N=5 SUSY Vasiliev theory. It turns out that the N=5 case is more involved because there are two formulations of the N=5 Vasiliev theory with either O or USp internal symmetry. We show that the two N=5 Vasiliev theories can be understood as certain projections of the N=6 Vasiliev theory, which we identify with the orientifold projections in the Vasiliev theory. We conjecture that the O( N 1) × USp(2 N 2) ABJ theory has the two vector model like limits: N 2 ≫ N 1 and N 1 ≫ N 2 which correspond to the semi-classical N=5 Vasiliev theories with O( N 1) and USp(2 N 2) internal symmetries respectively. These correspondences together with the standard AdS/CFT correspondence comprise the ABJ quadrality among the N=5 ABJ theory, string/M-theory and two N=5 Vasliev theories. We provide a precise holographic dictionary for the correspondences by comparing correlation functions of stress tensor and flavor currents. Our conjecture is supported by various evidence such as agreements of the spectra, one-loop free energies and SUSY enhancement on the both sides. We also predict the leading free energy of the N=5 Vasiliev theory from the CFT side. As a byproduct, we give a derivation of the relation between the parity violating phase in the N=6 Vasiliev theory and the parameters in the N=6 ABJ theory, which was conjectured in [1].

String theory embeddings of nonrelativistic field theories and their holographic Hořava gravity duals.

PubMed

Janiszewski, Stefan; Karch, Andreas

2013-02-22

We argue that generic nonrelativistic quantum field theories with a holographic description are dual to Hořava gravity. We construct explicit examples of this duality embedded in string theory by starting with relativistic dual pairs and taking a nonrelativistic scaling limit.

Negative branes, supergroups and the signature of spacetime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dijkgraaf, Robbert; Heidenreich, Ben; Jefferson, Patrick; Vafa, Cumrun

2018-02-01

We study the realization of supergroup gauge theories using negative branes in string theory. We show that negative branes are intimately connected with the possibility of timelike compactification and exotic spacetime signatures previously studied by Hull. Isolated negative branes dynamically generate a change in spacetime signature near their worldvolumes, and are related by string dualities to a smooth M-theory geometry with closed timelike curves. Using negative D3-branes, we show that SU(0| N) supergroup theories are holographically dual to an exotic variant of type IIB string theory on {dS}_{3,2}× {\\overline{S}}^5 , for which the emergent dimensions are timelike. Using branes, mirror symmetry and Nekrasov's instanton calculus, all of which agree, we derive the Seiberg-Witten curve for N=2 SU( N | M ) gauge theories. Together with our exploration of holography and string dualities for negative branes, this suggests that supergroup gauge theories may be non-perturbatively well-defined objects, though several puzzles remain.

Dynamical behavior and Jacobi stability analysis of wound strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lake, Matthew J.; Harko, Tiberiu

2016-06-01

We numerically solve the equations of motion (EOM) for two models of circular cosmic string loops with windings in a simply connected internal space. Since the windings cannot be topologically stabilized, stability must be achieved (if at all) dynamically. As toy models for realistic compactifications, we consider windings on a small section of mathbb {R}^2, which is valid as an approximation to any simply connected internal manifold if the winding radius is sufficiently small, and windings on an S^2 of constant radius mathcal {R}. We then use Kosambi-Cartan-Chern (KCC) theory to analyze the Jacobi stability of the string equations and determine bounds on the physical parameters that ensure dynamical stability of the windings. We find that, for the same initial conditions, the curvature and topology of the internal space have nontrivial effects on the microscopic behavior of the string in the higher dimensions, but that the macroscopic behavior is remarkably insensitive to the details of the motion in the compact space. This suggests that higher-dimensional signatures may be extremely difficult to detect in the effective (3+1)-dimensional dynamics of strings compactified on an internal space, even if configurations with nontrivial windings persist over long time periods.

Hierarchies in Quantum Gravity: Large Numbers, Small Numbers, and Axions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stout, John Eldon

Our knowledge of the physical world is mediated by relatively simple, effective descriptions of complex processes. By their very nature, these effective theories obscure any phenomena outside their finite range of validity, discarding information crucial to understanding the full, quantum gravitational theory. However, we may gain enormous insight into the full theory by understanding how effective theories with extreme characteristics--for example, those which realize large-field inflation or have disparate hierarchies of scales--can be naturally realized in consistent theories of quantum gravity. The work in this dissertation focuses on understanding the quantum gravitational constraints on these "extreme" theories in well-controlled corners of string theory. Axion monodromy provides one mechanism for realizing large-field inflation in quantum gravity. These models spontaneously break an axion's discrete shift symmetry and, assuming that the corrections induced by this breaking remain small throughout the excursion, create a long, quasi-flat direction in field space. This weakly-broken shift symmetry has been used to construct a dynamical solution to the Higgs hierarchy problem, dubbed the "relaxion." We study this relaxion mechanism and show that--without major modifications--it can not be naturally embedded within string theory. In particular, we find corrections to the relaxion potential--due to the ten-dimensional backreaction of monodromy charge--that conflict with naive notions of technical naturalness and render the mechanism ineffective. The super-Planckian field displacements necessary for large-field inflation may also be realized via the collective motion of many aligned axions. However, it is not clear that string theory provides the structures necessary for this to occur. We search for these structures by explicitly constructing the leading order potential for C4 axions and computing the maximum possible field displacement in all compactifications of type IIB string theory on toric Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces with h1,1 ≤ 4 in the Kreuzer-Skarke database. While none of these examples can sustain a super-Planckian displacement--the largest possible is 0.3 Mpl--we find an alignment mechanism responsible for large displacements in random matrix models at large h 1,1 >> 1, indicating that large-field inflation may be feasible in compactifications with tens or hundreds of axions. These results represent a modest step toward a complete understanding of large hierarchies and naturalness in quantum gravity.

Electromagnetic interaction in the theory of straight strings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nikitin, I.N.; Pron`ko, G.P.

1995-06-01

A scheme is proposed for including electromagnetic interaction into the theories of stretched relativistic objects. In the theory of the straight string, the operator of electromagnetic interaction is constructed, and form factors of electromagnetic transitions are calculated. 6 refs., 1 fig.

Is the Orthographic/Phonological Onset a Single Unit in Reading Aloud?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mousikou, Petroula; Coltheart, Max; Saunders, Steven; Yen, Lisa

2010-01-01

Two main theories of visual word recognition have been developed regarding the way orthographic units in printed words map onto phonological units in spoken words. One theory suggests that a string of single letters or letter clusters corresponds to a string of phonemes (Coltheart, 1978; Venezky, 1970), while the other suggests that a string of…

Arithmetic and Hyperbolic Structures in String Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Persson, Daniel

2010-01-01

This monograph is an updated and extended version of the author's PhD thesis. It consists of an introductory text followed by two separate parts which are loosely related but may be read independently of each other. In Part I we analyze certain hyperbolic structures arising when studying gravity in the vicinity of a spacelike singularity (the "BKL-limit"). In this limit, spatial points decouple and the dynamics exhibits ultralocal behaviour which may be described in terms of a (possibly chaotic) hyperbolic billiard. In all supergravities arising as low-energy limits of string theory or M-theory, the billiard dynamics takes place within the fundamental Weyl chambers of certain hyperbolic Kac-Moody algebras, suggesting that these algebras generate hidden infinite-dimensional symmetries of the theory. Part II of the thesis is devoted to a study of how (U-)dualities in string theory provide powerful constraints on perturbative and non-perturbative quantum corrections. These dualities are described by certain arithmetic groups G(Z) which are conjectured to be preserved in the effective action. The exact couplings are given by automorphic forms on the double quotient G(Z)G/K. We discuss in detail various methods of constructing automorphic forms, with particular emphasis on non-holomorphic Eisenstein series. We provide detailed examples for the physically relevant cases of SL(2,Z) and SL(3,Z), for which we construct their respective Eisenstein series and compute their (non-abelian) Fourier expansions. We also show how these techniques can be applied to hypermultiplet moduli spaces in type II Calabi-Yau compactifications, and we provide a detailed analysis for the universal hypermultiplet.

A black hole quartet: New solutions and applications to string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Padi, Megha

In this thesis, we study a zoo of black hole solutions which help us connect string theory to the universe we live in. The intuition for how to attack fundamental problems can often be found in a toy model. In Chapter 2, we show that three-dimensional topologically massive gravity with a negative cosmological constant -ℓ -2 and coupling constant has "warped AdS3" solutions with SL(2, R ) x U(1) isometry. For muℓ > 3, we show that certain discrete quotients of warped AdS3 lead to black holes. Their thermodynamics is consistent with the existence of a holographic dual CFT with central charges cR = 15mℓ 2+81Gmm ℓ2+27 and cL = 12mℓ 2Gmm ℓ2+27 . The entropy of many supersymmetric black holes have been accounted for, but more realistic non-supersymmetric black holes have been largely overlooked. In Chapter 3, we derive new single-centered and multi-centered non-BPS black hole solutions for several four dimensional models which, after Kaluza-Klein reduction, admit a description in terms of a sigma model with symmetric target space. In particular, we provide the exact solution with generic charges and asymptotic moduli in N=2 supergravity coupled to one vector multiplet. As it stands, the current formulation of string theory allows for an extremely large number of possible solutions (or vacua). We first analyze this landscape by looking for universal characteristics. In Chapter 4, we provide evidence for the conjecture that gravity is always the weakest force in any string compactification. We show that, in several examples arising in string theory, higher-derivative corrections always make extremal non-supersymmetric black holes lighter than the classical bound M/Q = 1. In Chapter 5, we construct novel black hole bound states, called orientiholes, that are T-dual to IIB orientifold compactifications. The gravitational entropy of such orientiholes provides an "experimental" estimate of the number of vacua in various sectors of the IIB landscape. Furthermore, basic physical properties of orientiholes map to (sometimes subtle) microscopic features, thus providing a useful alternative viewpoint on a number of issues arising in D-brane model building. We also suggest a relation to the topological string analogous to the OSV conjecture.

Width of the confining string in Yang-Mills theory.

PubMed

Gliozzi, F; Pepe, M; Wiese, U-J

2010-06-11

We investigate the transverse fluctuations of the confining string connecting two static quarks in (2+1)D SU(2) Yang-Mills theory using Monte Carlo calculations. The exponentially suppressed signal is extracted from the large noise by a very efficient multilevel algorithm. The resulting width of the string increases logarithmically with the distance between the static quark charges. Corrections at intermediate distances due to universal higher-order terms in the effective string action are calculated analytically. They accurately fit the numerical data.

Hot string soup: Thermodynamics of strings near the Hagedorn transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lowe, David A.; Thorlacius, Lárus

1995-01-01

Above the Hagedorn energy density closed fundamental strings form a long string phase. The dynamics of weakly interacting long strings is described by a simple Boltzmann equation which can be solved explicitly for equilibrium distributions. The averge total number of long strings grows logarithmically with total energy in the microcanonical ensemble. This is consistent with calculations of the free single string density of states provided the thermodynamic limit is carefully defined. If the theory contains open strings the long string phase is suppressed.

S-Duality, Deconstruction and Confinement for a Marginal Deformation of N=4 SUSY Yang-Mills

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dorey, Nick

2004-08-01

We study an exactly marginal deformation of Script N = 4 SUSY Yang-Mills with gauge group U(N) using field theory and string theory methods. The classical theory has a Higgs branch for rational values of the deformation parameter. We argue that the quantum theory also has an S-dual confining branch which cannot be seen classically. The low-energy effective theory on these branches is a six-dimensional non-commutative gauge theory with sixteen supercharges. Confinement of magnetic and electric charges, on the Higgs and confining branches respectively, occurs due to the formation of BPS-saturated strings in the low energy theory. The results also suggest a new way of deconstructing Little String Theory as a large-N limit of a confining gauge theory in four dimensions.

Critical string from non-Abelian vortex in four dimensions

DOE PAGES

Shifman, M.; Yung, A.

2015-09-25

In a class of non-Abelian solitonic vortex strings supported in certain N = 2 super-Yang–Mills theories we search for the vortex which can behave as a critical fundamental string. We use the Polchinski–Strominger criterion of the ultraviolet completeness. We identify an appropriate four-dimensional bulk theory: it has the U(2) gauge group, the Fayet–Iliopoulos term and four flavor hypermultiplets. It supports semilocal vortices with the world-sheet theory for orientational (size) moduli described by the weighted CP(2,2) model. The latter is superconformal. Its target space is six-dimensional. The overall Virasoro central charge is critical. Lastly, we show that the world-sheet theory onmore » the vortex supported in this bulk model is the bona fide critical string.« less

European Physical Society Conference on High Energy Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

The European Physical Society Conference on High Energy Physics, organized by the High Energy and Particle Physics Division of the European Physical Society, is a major international conference that reviews biennially since 1971 the state of our knowledge of the fundamental constituents of matter and their interactions. The latest conferences in this series were held in Stockholm, Grenoble, Krakow, Manchester, Lisbon, and Aachen. Jointly organized by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the University of Vienna, the Vienna University of Technology, and the Stefan Meyer Institute for Subatomic Physics of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the 23rd edition of this conference took place in Vienna, Austria. Among the topics covered were Accelerators, Astroparticle Physics, Cosmology and Gravitation, Detector R&D and Data Handling, Education and Outreach, Flavour Physics and Fundamental Symmetries, Heavy Ion Physics, Higgs and New Physics, Neutrino Physics, Non-Perturbative Field Theory and String Theory, QCD and Hadronic Physics, as well as Top and Electroweak Physics.

On non-BPS effective actions of string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatefi, Ehsan

2018-05-01

We discuss some physical prospective of the non-BPS effective actions of type IIA and IIB superstring theories. By dealing with all complete three and four point functions, including a closed Ramond-Ramond string (in terms of both its field strength and its potential), gauge (scalar) fields as well as a real tachyon and under symmetry structures, we find various restricted world volume and bulk Bianchi identities. The complete forms of the non-BPS scattering amplitudes including their Chan-Paton factors are elaborated. All the singularity structures of the non-BPS amplitudes, their all order α ' higher-derivative corrections, their contact terms and various modified Bianchi identities are derived. Finally, we show that scattering amplitudes computed in different super-ghost pictures are compatible when suitable Bianchi identities are imposed on the Ramond-Ramond fields. Moreover, we argue that the higher-derivative expansion in powers of the momenta of the tachyon is universal.

Asymptotic analysis of the Boltzmann equation for dark matter relics in the presence of a running dilaton and space-time defects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bender, Carl M.; Mavromatos, Nick E.; Sarkar, Sarben

2013-03-01

The interplay of dilatonic effects in dilaton cosmology and stochastic quantum space-time defects within the framework of string/brane cosmologies is examined. The Boltzmann equation describes the physics of thermal dark-matter-relic abundances in the presence of rolling dilatons. These dilatons affect the coupling of stringy matter to D-particle defects, which are generic in string theory. This coupling leads to an additional source term in the Boltzmann equation. The techniques of asymptotic matching and boundary-layer theory, which were recently applied by two of the authors (Bender and Sarkar) to a Boltzmann equation, are used here to find the detailed asymptotic relic abundances for all ranges of the expectation value of the dilaton field. The phenomenological implications for the search for supersymmetric dark matter in current colliders, such as the LHC, are discussed.

Large-D gravity and low-D strings.

PubMed

Emparan, Roberto; Grumiller, Daniel; Tanabe, Kentaro

2013-06-21

We show that in the limit of a large number of dimensions a wide class of nonextremal neutral black holes has a universal near-horizon limit. The limiting geometry is the two-dimensional black hole of string theory with a two-dimensional target space. Its conformal symmetry explains the properties of massless scalars found recently in the large-D limit. For black branes with string charges, the near-horizon geometry is that of the three-dimensional black strings of Horne and Horowitz. The analogies between the α' expansion in string theory and the large-D expansion in gravity suggest a possible effective string description of the large-D limit of black holes. We comment on applications to several subjects, in particular to the problem of critical collapse.

On the worldsheet theory of the type IIA {text{Ad}}{{text{S}}_4} × mathbb{C}{mathbb{P}_3} superstring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundin, Per

2010-04-01

We perform a detailed study of the type IIA superstring in {text{Ad}}{{text{S}}_4} × mathbb{C}{mathbb{P}_3} . After introducing suitable bosonic light-cone and fermionic kappa worldsheet gauges we derive the pure boson and fermion SU(2|2)×U(1) covariant light-cone Hamiltonian up to quartic order in fields. As a first application of our derivation we calculate energy shifts for string configurations in a closed fermionic subsector and successfully match these with a set of light-cone Bethe equations. We then turn to investigate the mismatch between the degrees of freedom of scattering states and oscillatory string modes. Since only light string modes appear as fundamental Bethe roots in the scattering theory, the physical role of the remaining 4 F + 4 B massive oscillators is rather unclear. By continuing a line of research initiated by Zarembo, we shed light on this question by calculating quantum corrections for the propagators of the bosonic massive fields. We show that, once loop corrections are incorporated, the massive coordinates dissolve in a continuum state of two light particles.

R symmetries and a heterotic MSSM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kappl, Rolf; Nilles, Hans Peter; Schmitz, Matthias

2015-02-01

We employ powerful techniques based on Hilbert and Gröbner bases to analyze particle physics models derived from string theory. Individual models are shown to have a huge landscape of vacua that differ in their phenomenological properties. We explore the (discrete) symmetries of these vacua, the new R symmetry selection rules and their consequences for moduli stabilization.

The Future of Theoretical Physics and Cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibbons, G. W.; Shellard, E. P. S.; Rankin, S. J.

2003-11-01

Based on lectures given in honor of Stephen Hawking's 60th birthday, this book comprises contributions from the world's leading theoretical physicists. Popular lectures progress to a critical evaluation of more advanced subjects in modern cosmology and theoretical physics. Topics covered include the origin of the universe, warped spacetime, cosmological singularities, quantum gravity, black holes, string theory, quantum cosmology and inflation. The volume provides a fascinating overview of the variety of subjects to which Stephen Hawking has contributed.

Chiral phase transition from string theory.

PubMed

Parnachev, Andrei; Sahakyan, David A

2006-09-15

The low energy dynamics of a certain D-brane configuration in string theory is described at weak t'Hooft coupling by a nonlocal version of the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model. We study this system at finite temperature and strong t'Hooft coupling, using the string theory dual. We show that for sufficiently low temperatures chiral symmetry is broken, while for temperatures larger then the critical value, it gets restored. We compute the latent heat and observe that the phase transition is of the first order.

Yang-Mills gauge conditions from Witten's open string field theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng Haidong; Siegel, Warren

2007-02-15

We construct the Zinn-Justin-Batalin-Vilkovisky action for tachyons and gauge bosons from Witten's 3-string vertex of the bosonic open string without gauge fixing. Through canonical transformations, we find the off-shell, local, gauge-covariant action up to 3-point terms, satisfying the usual field theory gauge transformations. Perturbatively, it can be extended to higher-point terms. It also gives a new gauge condition in field theory which corresponds to the Feynman-Siegel gauge on the world-sheet.

Anomaly of strings of 6d {N}=(1,0) theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimizu, Hiroyuki; Tachikawa, Yuji

2016-11-01

We obtain the anomaly polynomial of strings of general 6d {N}=(1,0) theories in terms of anomaly inflow. Our computation sheds some light on the reason why the simplest 6d {N}=(1,0) theory has E 8 flavor symmetry, and also partially explains a curious numerology in F-theory.

Dual little strings from F-theory and flop transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hohenegger, Stefan; Iqbal, Amer; Rey, Soo-Jong

2017-07-01

A particular two-parameter class of little string theories can be described by M parallel M5-branes probing a transverse affine A N - 1 singularity. We previously discussed the duality between the theories labelled by ( N, M) and ( M, N). In this work, we propose that these two are in fact only part of a larger web of dual theories. We provide evidence that the theories labelled by ( N, M) and (NM/k,k) are dual to each other, where k = gcd( N, M). To argue for this duality, we use a geometric realization of these little string theories in terms of F-theory compactifications on toric, non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds X N, M which have a double elliptic fibration structure. We show explicitly for a number of examples that X NM/ k, k is part of the extended moduli space of X N, M , i.e. the two are related through symmetry transformations and flop transitions. By working out the full duality map, we provide a simple check at the level of the free energy of little string theories.

Non-associativity in non-geometric string and M-theory backgrounds, the algebra of octonions, and missing momentum modes

DOE PAGES

Günaydin, Murat; Lüst, Dieter; Malek, Emanuel

2016-11-07

We propose a non-associative phase space algebra for M-theory backgrounds with locally non-geometric fluxes based on the non-associative algebra of octonions. Our proposal is based on the observation that the non-associative algebra of the non-geometric R-flux background in string theory can be obtained by a proper contraction of the simple Malcev algebra generated by imaginary octonions. Furthermore, by studying a toy model of a four-dimensional locally non-geometric M-theory background which is dual to a twisted torus, we show that the non-geometric background is “missing” a momentum mode. The resulting seven-dimensional phase space can thus be naturally identified with the imaginarymore » octonions. This allows us to interpret the full uncontracted algebra of imaginary octonions as the uplift of the string theory R-flux algebra to M-theory, with the contraction parameter playing the role of the string coupling constant g s.« less

Non-associativity in non-geometric string and M-theory backgrounds, the algebra of octonions, and missing momentum modes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Günaydin, Murat; Lüst, Dieter; Malek, Emanuel

We propose a non-associative phase space algebra for M-theory backgrounds with locally non-geometric fluxes based on the non-associative algebra of octonions. Our proposal is based on the observation that the non-associative algebra of the non-geometric R-flux background in string theory can be obtained by a proper contraction of the simple Malcev algebra generated by imaginary octonions. Furthermore, by studying a toy model of a four-dimensional locally non-geometric M-theory background which is dual to a twisted torus, we show that the non-geometric background is “missing” a momentum mode. The resulting seven-dimensional phase space can thus be naturally identified with the imaginarymore » octonions. This allows us to interpret the full uncontracted algebra of imaginary octonions as the uplift of the string theory R-flux algebra to M-theory, with the contraction parameter playing the role of the string coupling constant g s.« less

Discrete-time modelling of musical instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Välimäki, Vesa; Pakarinen, Jyri; Erkut, Cumhur; Karjalainen, Matti

2006-01-01

This article describes physical modelling techniques that can be used for simulating musical instruments. The methods are closely related to digital signal processing. They discretize the system with respect to time, because the aim is to run the simulation using a computer. The physics-based modelling methods can be classified as mass-spring, modal, wave digital, finite difference, digital waveguide and source-filter models. We present the basic theory and a discussion on possible extensions for each modelling technique. For some methods, a simple model example is chosen from the existing literature demonstrating a typical use of the method. For instance, in the case of the digital waveguide modelling technique a vibrating string model is discussed, and in the case of the wave digital filter technique we present a classical piano hammer model. We tackle some nonlinear and time-varying models and include new results on the digital waveguide modelling of a nonlinear string. Current trends and future directions in physical modelling of musical instruments are discussed.

Cosmic strings and superconducting cosmic strings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Copeland, Edmund

1988-01-01

The possible consequences of forming cosmic strings and superconducting cosmic strings in the early universe are discussed. Lecture 1 describes the group theoretic reasons for and the field theoretic reasons why cosmic strings can form in spontaneously broken gauge theories. Lecture 2 discusses the accretion of matter onto string loops, emphasizing the scenario with a cold dark matter dominated universe. In lecture 3 superconducting cosmic strings are discussed, as is a mechanism which leads to the formation of structure from such strings.

Charge modulation as fingerprints of phase-string triggered interference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zheng; Tian, Chushun; Jiang, Hong-Chen; Qi, Yang; Weng, Zheng-Yu; Zaanen, Jan

2015-07-01

Charge order appears to be an ubiquitous phenomenon in doped Mott insulators, which is currently under intense experimental and theoretical investigations particularly in the high Tc cuprates. This phenomenon is conventionally understood in terms of Hartree-Fock-type mean-field theory. Here we demonstrate a mechanism for charge modulation which is rooted in the many-particle quantum physics arising in the strong coupling limit. Specifically, we consider the problem of a single hole in a bipartite t -J ladder. As a remnant of the fermion signs, the hopping hole picks up subtle phases pending the fluctuating spins, the so-called phase-string effect. We demonstrate the presence of charge modulations in the density matrix renormalization group solutions which disappear when the phase strings are switched off. This form of charge modulation can be understood analytically in a path-integral language with a mean-field-like approximation adopted, showing that the phase strings give rise to constructive interferences leading to self-localization. When the latter occurs, left- and right-moving propagating modes emerge inside the localization volume and their interference is responsible for the real space charge modulation.

Brane Physics in M-theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Argurio, Riccardo

1998-07-01

The thesis begins with an introduction to M-theory (at a graduate student's level), starting from perturbative string theory and proceeding to dualities, D-branes and finally Matrix theory. The following chapter treats, in a self-contained way, of general classical p-brane solutions. Black and extremal branes are reviewed, along with their semi-classical thermodynamics. We then focus on intersecting extremal branes, the intersection rules being derived both with and without the explicit use of supersymmetry. The last three chapters comprise more advanced aspects of brane physics, such as the dynamics of open branes, the little theories on the world-volume of branes and how the four dimensional Schwarzschild black hole can be mapped to an extremal configuration of branes, thus allowing for a statistical interpretation of its entropy. The original results were already reported in hep-th/9701042, hep-th/9704190, hep-th/9710027 and hep-th/9801053.

SUSY’s Ladder: Reframing sequestering at Large Volume

DOE PAGES

Reece, Matthew; Xue, Wei

2016-04-07

Theories with approximate no-scale structure, such as the Large Volume Scenario, have a distinctive hierarchy of multiple mass scales in between TeV gaugino masses and the Planck scale, which we call SUSY's Ladder. This is a particular realization of Split Supersymmetry in which the same small parameter suppresses gaugino masses relative to scalar soft masses, scalar soft masses relative to the gravitino mass, and the UV cutoff or string scale relative to the Planck scale. This scenario has many phenomenologically interesting properties, and can avoid dangers including the gravitino problem, flavor problems, and the moduli-induced LSP problem that plague othermore » supersymmetric theories. We study SUSY's Ladder using a superspace formalism that makes the mysterious cancelations in previous computations manifest. This opens the possibility of a consistent effective field theory understanding of the phenomenology of these scenarios, based on power-counting in the small ratio of string to Planck scales. We also show that four-dimensional theories with approximate no-scale structure enforced by a single volume modulus arise only from two special higher-dimensional theories: five-dimensional supergravity and ten-dimensional type IIB supergravity. As a result, this gives a phenomenological argument in favor of ten dimensional ultraviolet physics which is different from standard arguments based on the consistency of superstring theory.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGreevy, John Austen; /Stanford U., Phys. Dept.

This thesis is a study of D-branes in string compactifications. In this context, D-branes are relevant as an important component of the nonperturbative spectrum, as an incisive probe of these backgrounds, and as a natural stringy tool for localizing gauge interactions. In the first part of the thesis, we discuss half-BPS D-branes in compactifications of type II string theory on Calabi-Yau threefolds. The results we describe for these objects are pertinent both in their role as stringy brane-worlds, and in their role as solitonic objects. In particular, we determine couplings of these branes to the moduli determining the closed-string geometry,more » both perturbatively and non-perturbatively in the worldsheet expansion. We provide a local model for transitions in moduli space where the BPS spectrum jumps, and discuss the extension of mirror symmetry between Calabi-Yau manifolds to the case when D-branes are present. The next section is an interlude which provides some applications of D-branes to other curved backgrounds of string theory. In particular, we discuss a surprising phenomenon in which fundamental strings moving through background Ramond-Ramond fields dissolve into large spherical D3-branes. This mechanism is used to explain a previously-mysterious fact discovered via the AdS-CFT correspondence. Next, we make a connection between type IIA string vacua of the type discussed in the first section and M-theory compactifications on manifolds of G{sub 2} holonomy. Finally we discuss constructions of string vacua which do not have large radius limits. In the final part of the thesis, we develop techniques for studying the worldsheets of open strings ending on the curved D-branes studied in the first section. More precisely, we formulate a large class of massive two-dimensional gauge theories coupled to boundary matter, which flow in the infrared to the relevant boundary conformal field theories. Along with many other applications, these techniques are used to describe world-volume theories of point-like D-probes of various Calabi-Yau threefolds.« less

New dimensions for wound strings: The modular transformation of geometry to topology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McGreevy, John; Silverstein, Eva; Starr, David

2007-02-15

We show, using a theorem of Milnor and Margulis, that string theory on compact negatively curved spaces grows new effective dimensions as the space shrinks, generalizing and contextualizing the results in E. Silverstein, Phys. Rev. D 73, 086004 (2006).. Milnor's theorem relates negative sectional curvature on a compact Riemannian manifold to exponential growth of its fundamental group, which translates in string theory to a higher effective central charge arising from winding strings. This exponential density of winding modes is related by modular invariance to the infrared small perturbation spectrum. Using self-consistent approximations valid at large radius, we analyze this correspondencemore » explicitly in a broad set of time-dependent solutions, finding precise agreement between the effective central charge and the corresponding infrared small perturbation spectrum. This indicates a basic relation between geometry, topology, and dimensionality in string theory.« less

String-theoretic deformation of the Parke-Taylor factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizera, Sebastian; Zhang, Guojun

2017-09-01

Scattering amplitudes in a range of quantum field theories can be computed using the Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formalism. In theories with color ordering, the key ingredient is the so-called Parke-Taylor factor. In this paper we give a fully SL (2 ,C )-covariant definition and study the properties of a new integrand called the "string Parke-Taylor" factor. It has an α' expansion whose leading coefficient is the field-theoretic Parke-Taylor factor. Its main application is that it leads to a CHY formulation of open string tree-level amplitudes. In fact, the definition of the string Parke-Taylor factor was motivated by trying to extend the compact formula for the first α' correction found by He and Zhang, while the main ingredient in its definition is a determinant of a matrix introduced in the context of string theory by Stieberger and Taylor.

String universality in ten dimensions.

PubMed

Adams, Allan; Taylor, Washington; Dewolfe, Oliver

2010-08-13

We show that the N=1 supergravity theories in ten dimensions with gauge groups U(1){496} and E{8}×U(1){248} are not consistent quantum theories. Cancellation of anomalies cannot be made compatible with supersymmetry and Abelian gauge invariance. Thus, in ten dimensions all supersymmetric theories of gravity without known inconsistencies are realized in string theory.

The large N limit of superconformal field theories and supergravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maldacena, Juan

1999-07-01

We show that the large N limit of certain conformal field theories in various dimensions include in their Hilbert space a sector describing supergravity on the product of Anti-deSitter spacetimes, spheres and other compact manifolds. This is shown by taking some branes in the full M/string theory and then taking a low energy limit where the field theory on the brane decouples from the bulk. We observe that, in this limit, we can still trust the near horizon geometry for large N. The enhanced supersymmetries of the near horizon geometry correspond to the extra supersymmetry generators present in the superconformal group (as opposed to just the super-Poincare group). The 't Hooft limit of 3+1N=4 super-Yang-Mills at the conformal point is shown to contain strings: they are IIB strings. We conjecture that compactifications of M/string theory on various Anti-deSitter spacetimes is dual to various conformal field theories. This leads to a new proposal for a definition of M-theory which could be extended to include five non-compact dimensions.

Chern-Simons gauge theory on orbifolds: Open strings from three dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hořava, Petr

1996-12-01

Chern-Simons gauge theory is formulated on three-dimensional Z2 orbifolds. The locus of singular points on a given orbifold is equivalent to a link of Wilson lines. This allows one to reduce any correlation function on orbifolds to a sum of more complicated correlation functions in the simpler theory on manifolds. Chern-Simons theory on manifolds is known to be related to two-dimensional (2D) conformal field theory (CFT) on closed-string surfaces; here it is shown that the theory on orbifolds is related to 2D CFT of unoriented closed- and open-string models, i.e. to worldsheet orbifold models. In particular, the boundary components of the worldsheet correspond to the components of the singular locus in the 3D orbifold. This correspondence leads to a simple identification of the open-string spectra, including their Chan-Paton degeneration, in terms of fusing Wilson lines in the corresponding Chern-Simons theory. The correspondence is studied in detail, and some exactly solvable examples are presented. Some of these examples indicate that it is natural to think of the orbifold group Z2 as a part of the gauge group of the Chern-Simons theory, thus generalizing the standard definition of gauge theories.

Background Independence and Duality Invariance in String Theory.

PubMed

Hohm, Olaf

2017-03-31

Closed string theory exhibits an O(D,D) duality symmetry on tori, which in double field theory is manifest before compactification. I prove that to first order in α^{'} there is no manifestly background independent and duality invariant formulation of bosonic string theory in terms of a metric, b field, and dilaton. To this end I use O(D,D) invariant second order perturbation theory around flat space to show that the unique background independent candidate expression for the gauge algebra at order α^{'} is inconsistent with the Jacobi identity. A background independent formulation exists instead for frame variables subject to α^{'}-deformed frame transformations (generalized Green-Schwarz transformations). Potential applications for curved backgrounds, as in cosmology, are discussed.

Carving out the end of the world or (superconformal bootstrap in six dimensions)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chang, Chi-Ming; Lin, Ying-Hsuan

We bootstrap N=(1,0) superconformal field theories in six dimensions, by analyzing the four-point function of flavor current multiplets. By assuming E 8 flavor group, we present universal bounds on the central charge C T and the flavor central charge C J. Based on the numerical data, we conjecture that the rank-one E-string theory saturates the universal lower bound on C J , and numerically determine the spectrum of long multiplets in the rank-one E-string theory. We comment on the possibility of solving the higher-rank E-string theories by bootstrap and thereby probing M-theory on AdS 7×S 4/Z 2 .

Carving out the end of the world or (superconformal bootstrap in six dimensions)

DOE PAGES

Chang, Chi-Ming; Lin, Ying-Hsuan

2017-08-29

We bootstrap N=(1,0) superconformal field theories in six dimensions, by analyzing the four-point function of flavor current multiplets. By assuming E 8 flavor group, we present universal bounds on the central charge C T and the flavor central charge C J. Based on the numerical data, we conjecture that the rank-one E-string theory saturates the universal lower bound on C J , and numerically determine the spectrum of long multiplets in the rank-one E-string theory. We comment on the possibility of solving the higher-rank E-string theories by bootstrap and thereby probing M-theory on AdS 7×S 4/Z 2 .

New 5-adic Cantor sets and fractal string.

PubMed

Kumar, Ashish; Rani, Mamta; Chugh, Renu

2013-01-01

In the year (1879-1884), George Cantor coined few problems and consequences in the field of set theory. One of them was the Cantor ternary set as a classical example of fractals. In this paper, 5-adic Cantor one-fifth set as an example of fractal string have been introduced. Moreover, the applications of 5-adic Cantor one-fifth set in string theory have also been studied.

Breakdown of String Perturbation Theory for Many External Particles.

PubMed

Ghosh, Sudip; Raju, Suvrat

2017-03-31

We consider massless string scattering amplitudes in a limit where the number of external particles becomes very large, while the energy of each particle remains small. Using the growth of the volume of the relevant moduli space, and by means of independent numerical evidence, we argue that string perturbation theory breaks down in this limit. We discuss some remarkable implications for the information paradox.

String tensions in deformed Yang-Mills theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poppitz, Erich; Shalchian T., M. Erfan

2018-01-01

We study k-strings in deformed Yang-Mills (dYM) with SU(N) gauge group in the semiclassically calculable regime on R^3× S^1 . Their tensions Tk are computed in two ways: numerically, for 2 ≤ N ≤ 10, and via an analytic approach using a re-summed perturbative expansion. The latter serves both as a consistency check on the numerical results and as a tool to analytically study the large-N limit. We find that dYM k-string ratios Tk/T1 do not obey the well-known sine- or Casimir-scaling laws. Instead, we show that the ratios Tk/T1 are bound above by a square root of Casimir scaling, previously found to hold for stringlike solutions of the MIT Bag Model. The reason behind this similarity is that dYM dynamically realizes, in a theoretically controlled setting, the main model assumptions of the Bag Model. We also compare confining strings in dYM and in other four-dimensional theories with abelian confinement, notably Seiberg-Witten theory, and show that the unbroken Z_N center symmetry in dYM leads to different properties of k-strings in the two theories; for example, a "baryon vertex" exists in dYM but not in softly-broken Seiberg-Witten theory. Our results also indicate that, at large values of N, k-strings in dYM do not become free.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Williams, Hugh H.; Balasubramanian, V.; Bernstein, G.

The University of Pennsylvania elementary particle physics/particle cosmology group, funded by the Department of Energy Office of Science, participates in research in high energy physics and particle cosmology that addresses some of the most important unanswered questions in science. The research is divided into five areas. Energy Frontier - We participate in the study of proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland using the ATLAS detector. The University of Pennsylvania group was responsible for the design, installation, and commissioning of the front-end electronics for the Transition Radiation Tracker (TRT) and plays the primary role in its maintenancemore » and operation. We play an important role in the triggering of ATLAS, and we have made large contributions to the TRT performance and to the study and identification of electrons, photons, and taus. We have been actively involved in searches for the Higgs boson and for SUSY and other exotic particles. We have made significant contributions to measurement of Standard Model processes such as inclusive photon production and WW pair production. We also have participated significantly in R&D for upgrades to the ATLAS detector. Cosmic Frontier - The Dark Energy Survey (DES) telescope will be used to elucidate the nature of dark energy and the distribution of dark matter. Penn has played a leading role both in the use of weak gravitational lensing of distant galaxies and the discovery of large numbers of distant supernovae. The techniques and forecasts developed at Penn are also guiding the development of the proposed Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).We are also developing a new detector, MiniClean, to search for direct detection of dark matter particles. Intensity Frontier - We are participating in the design and R&D of detectors for the Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (now DUNE), a new experiment to study the properties of neutrinos. Advanced Techology R&D - We have an extensive involvement in electronics required for sophisticated new detectors at the LHC and are developing electronics for the LSST camera. Theoretical Physics - We are carrying out a broad program studying the fundamental forces of nature and early universe cosmology and mathematical physics. Our activities span the range from model building, formal field theory, and string theory to new paradigms for cosmology and the interface of string theory with mathematics. Our effort combines extensive development of the formal aspects of string theory with a focus on real phenomena in particle physics, cosmology and gravity.« less

Mellin transforming the minimal model CFTs: AdS/CFT at strong curvature

DOE PAGES

Lowe, David A.

2016-07-14

Mack has conjectured that all conformal field theories are equivalent to string theories. Here, we explore the example of the two-dimensional minimal model CFTs and confirm that the Mellin transformed amplitudes have the desired properties of string theory in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime.

Finite-g Strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vicedo, Benoit

2008-10-01

In view of one day proving the AdS/CFT correspondence, a deeper understanding of string theory on certain curved backgrounds such as AdS_5xS^5 is required. In this dissertation we make a step in this direction by focusing on RxS^3. It was discovered in recent years that string theory on AdS_5xS^5 admits a Lax formulation. However, the complete statement of integrability requires not only the existence of a Lax formulation, but also that the resulting integrals of motion are in pairwise involution. This idea is central to the first part of this thesis. Exploiting this integrability we apply algebro-geometric methods to string theory on RxS^3 and obtain the general finite-gap solution. The construction is based on an invariant algebraic curve previously found in the AdS_5xS^5 case. However, encoding the dynamics of the solution requires specification of additional marked points. By restricting the symplectic structure of the string to this algebro-geometric data we derive the action-angle variables of the system. We then perform a first-principle semiclassical quantisation of string theory on RxS^3 as a toy model for strings on AdS_5xS^5. The result is exactly what one expects from the dual gauge theory perspective, namely the underlying algebraic curve discretises in a natural way. We also derive a general formula for the fluctuation energies around the generic finite-gap solution. The ideas used can be generalised to AdS_5xS^5.

String-driven inflation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turok, Neil

1988-01-01

It is argued that, in fundamental string theories, as one traces the universe back in time a point is reached when the expansion rate is so fast that the rate of string creation due to quantum effects balances the dilution of the string density due to the expansion. One is therefore led into a phase of constant string density and an exponentially expanding universe. Fundamental strings therefore seem to lead naturally to inflation.

A class of exact classical solutions to string theory.

PubMed

Coley, A A

2002-12-31

We show that the recently obtained class of spacetimes for which all of the scalar curvature invariants vanish (which can be regarded as generalizations of pp-wave spacetimes) are exact solutions in string theory to all perturbative orders in the string tension scale. As a result the spectrum of the theory can be explicitly obtained, and these spacetimes are expected to provide some hints for the study of superstrings on more general backgrounds. Since these Lorentzian spacetimes suffer no quantum corrections to all loop orders they may also offer insights into quantum gravity.

Non-polynomial closed string field theory: loops and conformal maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hua, Long; Kaku, Michio

1990-11-01

Recently, we proposed the complete classical action for the non-polynomial closed string field theory, which succesfully reproduced all closed string tree amplitudes. (The action was simultaneously proposed by the Kyoto group). In this paper, we analyze the structure of the theory. We (a) compute the explicit conformal map for all g-loop, p-puncture diagrams, (b) compute all one-loop, two-puncture maps in terms of hyper-elliptic functions, and (c) analyze their modular structure. We analyze, but do not resolve, the question of modular invariance.

Segmented strings coupled to a B-field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vegh, David

2018-04-01

In this paper we study segmented strings in AdS3 coupled to a background two-form whose field strength is proportional to the volume form. By changing the coupling, the theory interpolates between the Nambu-Goto string and the SL(2, ℝ) Wess-Zumino-Witten model. In terms of the kink momentum vectors, the action is independent of the coupling and the classical theory reduces to a single discrete-time Toda-type theory. The WZW model is a singular point in coupling space where the map into Toda variables degenerates.

Charged black holes and the AdS/CFT correspondence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tesileanu, Tiberiu

The AdS/CFT duality is an equivalence between string theory and gauge theory. The duality allows one to use calculations done in classical gravity to derive results in strongly-coupled field theories. This thesis explores several applications of the duality that have some relevance to condensed matter physics. In the first of these applications, it is shown that a large class of strongly-coupled (3 + 1)-dimensional conformal field theories undergo a superfluid phase transition in which a certain chiral primary operator develops a non-zero expectation value at low temperatures. A suggestion is made for the identity of the condensing operator in the field theory. In a different application, the conifold theory, an SU(N) x SU(N) gauge theory, is studied at nonzero chemical potential for baryon number density. In the low-temperature limit, the near-horizon geometry of the dual supergravity solution becomes a warped product AdS 2 x R3 x T1,1, with logarithmic warp factors. This encodes a type of emergent quantum near-criticality in the field theory. A similar construction is analyzed in the context of M theory. This construction is based on branes wrapped around topologically nontrivial cycles of the geometry. Several non-supersymmetric solutions are found, which pass a number of stability checks. Reducing one of the solutions to type IIA string theory, and T-dualizing to type IIB yields a product of a squashed Sasaki-Einstein manifold with an extremal BTZ black hole. Possible field theory interpretations are discussed.

Pitch glide effect induced by a nonlinear string-barrier interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kartofelev, Dmitri; Stulov, Anatoli; Välimäki, Vesa

2015-10-01

Interactions of a vibrating string with its supports and other spatially distributed barriers play a significant role in the physics of many stringed musical instruments. It is well known that the tone of the string vibrations is determined by the string supports, and that the boundary conditions of the string termination may cause a short-lasting initial fundamental frequency shifting. Generally, this phenomenon is associated with the nonlinear modulation of the stiff string tension. The aim of this paper is to study the initial frequency glide phenomenon that is induced only by the string-barrier interaction, apart from other possible physical causes, and without the interfering effects of dissipation and dispersion. From a numerical simulation perspective, this highly nonlinear problem may present various difficulties, not the least of which is the risk of numerical instability. We propose a numerically stable and a purely kinematic model of the string-barrier interaction, which is based on the travelling wave solution of the ideal string vibration. The model is capable of reproducing the motion of the vibrating string exhibiting the initial fundamental frequency glide, which is caused solely by the complex nonlinear interaction of the string with its termination. The results presented in this paper can expand our knowledge and understanding of the timbre evolution and the physical principles of sound generation of numerous stringed instruments, such as lutes called the tambura, sitar and biwa.

Black branes as piezoelectrics.

PubMed

Armas, Jay; Gath, Jakob; Obers, Niels A

2012-12-14

We find a realization of linear electroelasticity theory in gravitational physics by uncovering a new response coefficient of charged black branes, exhibiting their piezoelectric behavior. Taking charged dilatonic black strings as an example and using the blackfold approach we measure their elastic and piezolectric moduli. We also use our results to draw predictions about the equilibrium condition of charged dilatonic black rings in dimensions higher than six.

Q&A: Brian Greene on music and string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffman, Jascha

2010-05-01

Brian Greene, author of best-selling books The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, is a theoretical physicist at Columbia University, New York. As an orchestral work based on his 2008 children's book, Icarus at the Edge of Time, premieres next week, Greene discusses black holes and how music might portray the physics of warped space-time.

Non-Abelian semilocal strings in N=2 supersymmetric QCD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shifman, M.; Yung, A.; Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, St. Petersburg 188300

2006-06-15

We consider a benchmark bulk theory in four dimensions: N=2 supersymmetric QCD with the gauge group U(N) and N{sub f} flavors of fundamental matter hypermultiplets (quarks). The nature of the Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) strings in this benchmark theory crucially depends on N{sub f}. If N{sub f}{>=}N and all quark masses are equal, it supports non-Abelian BPS strings which have internal (orientational) moduli. If N{sub f}>N these strings become semilocal, developing additional moduli {rho} related to (unlimited) variations of their transverse size. Using the U(2) gauge group with N{sub f}=3, 4 as an example, we derive an effective low-energy theory on themore » (two-dimensional) string world sheet. Our derivation is field theoretic, direct and explicit: we first analyze the Bogomol'nyi equations for string-geometry solitons, suggest an ansatz, and solve it at large {rho}. Then we use this solution to obtain the world-sheet theory. In the semiclassical limit our result confirms the Hanany-Tong conjecture, which rests on brane-based arguments, that the world-sheet theory is an N=2 supersymmetric U(1) gauge theory with N positively and N{sub e}=N{sub f}-N negatively charged matter multiplets and the Fayet-Iliopoulos term determined by the four-dimensional coupling constant. We conclude that the Higgs branch of this model is not lifted by quantum effects. As a result, such strings cannot confine. Our analysis of infrared effects, not seen in the Hanany-Tong consideration, shows that, in fact, the derivative expansion can make sense only provided that the theory under consideration is regularized in the infrared, e.g. by the quark mass differences. The world-sheet action discussed in this paper becomes a bona fide low-energy effective action only if {delta}m{sub AB}{ne}0.« less

On the BV formalism of open superstring field theory in the large Hilbert space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsunaga, Hiroaki; Nomura, Mitsuru

2018-05-01

We construct several BV master actions for open superstring field theory in the large Hilbert space. First, we show that a naive use of the conventional BV approach breaks down at the third order of the antifield number expansion, although it enables us to define a simple "string antibracket" taking the Darboux form as spacetime antibrackets. This fact implies that in the large Hilbert space, "string fields-antifields" should be reassembled to obtain master actions in a simple manner. We determine the assembly of the string anti-fields on the basis of Berkovits' constrained BV approach, and give solutions to the master equation defined by Dirac antibrackets on the constrained string field-antifield space. It is expected that partial gauge-fixing enables us to relate superstring field theories based on the large and small Hilbert spaces directly: reassembling string fields-antifields is rather natural from this point of view. Finally, inspired by these results, we revisit the conventional BV approach and construct a BV master action based on the minimal set of string fields-antifields.

Instability of black strings in the third-order Lovelock theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giacomini, Alex; Henríquez-Báez, Carla; Lagos, Marcela; Oliva, Julio; Vera, Aldo

2016-05-01

We show that homogeneous black strings of third-order Lovelock theory are unstable under s-wave perturbations. This analysis is done in dimension D =9 , which is the lowest dimension that allows the existence of homogeneous black strings in a theory that contains only the third-order Lovelock term in the Lagrangian. As is the case in general relativity, the instability is produced by long wavelength perturbations and it stands for the perturbative counterpart of a thermal instability. We also provide a comparative analysis of the instabilities of black strings at a fixed radius in general relativity, Gauss-Bonnet, and third-order Lovelock theories. We show that the minimum critical wavelength that triggers the instability grows with the power of the curvature defined in the Lagrangian. The maximum exponential growth during the time of the perturbation is the largest in general relativity and it decreases with the number of curvatures involved in the Lagrangian.

Behavior of boundary string field theory associated with integrable massless flow.

PubMed

Fujii, A; Itoyama, H

2001-06-04

We put forward an idea that the boundary entropy associated with integrable massless flow of thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) is identified with tachyon action of boundary string field theory. We show that the temperature parametrizing a massless flow in the TBA formalism can be identified with tachyon energy for the classical action at least near the ultraviolet fixed point, i.e., the open string vacuum.

Evolution equation in the field theory of strings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marui, M.; Sugamoto, A.; Oda, I.

This paper reports on a stringy version of the Altarelli-Parisi equation given within the field theory of bosonic strings formulated in the light-cone gauge. Using this equation, the authors study the behavior of the decay function of strings under the change of reference scale, especially imposing an assumption of large transverse momentum. In some cases the n-th moment of the decay function behaves very differently from QCD.

PASCOS 2012 - 18th International Symposium on Particles Strings and Cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2014-03-01

The XVII International Conference on Strings, Particles and Cosmology, PASCOS 2012, was held in the City of Mérida, Mexico, from June 3-8, 2012. The conference series is aimed at exploring the interface and interplay between particle physics, string theory and cosmology. With the advent of new data, the emphasis of the XVIII edition of PASCOS was on phenomenology and the interpretation of recent observational and experimental results. The conference followed the format of previous conferences in this series, with plenary reviews and contributed presentations in parallel sessions. The lectures covered a wide range of subjects which included: Dark matter and dark energy, flavor physics and CP violation, neutrino physics, supersymmetry, Higgs physics, baryogenesis and EDMs, supergravity, high energy cosmic rays, string and F-theory GUTs, and string phenomenology. This is the first time that PASCOS was held in Latin America. The aim to do it in Mexico was to engage the Latin American community and thus to bring the conference to a wider and different audience, a goal which was thoroughly achieved. The venue was held at the Hotel Fiesta Americana in the beautiful city of Mérida. The social events included a reception with typical local food at the Katun restaurant, conference dinner at the historical Quinta Montes Molina, and an excursion to the archeological site of Dzibilchaltún including a swim at the famous cenote. PASCOS 2012 was possible thanks to the generous support of the following sponsors: CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología), UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México: Consejo Técnico de la Investigación Científica, Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Instituto de Física), Cinvestav, (Centro de Estudios Avanzados del IPN: U. Zacatanco, U. Mérida and Secretaría General), ICyTDF (Instituto Científico y Tecnológico del D.F.), PIFI (Programa Integral de Fortalecimiento Institucional, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus León), SMF (Sociedad Mexicana de Física), ICTP (International Centre for Theoretical Physics), BUAP (Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla), the Government of the State of Yucatán, the University of Hamburg, and Telmex. We also want to acknowledge the invaluable help of the staff of the Mexican Physical Society, in particular Lic. Santos Zúñniga Sánchez and Ms. Claudia Velasco Marín, and of the conference secretaries, Ms. Lizette Ramírez Bermúdez (UNAM) and Ms. Mariana del Castillo Sánchez (Cinvestav), for their support before, during and after the organization of PASCOS 2012. Last but not least, we would like to thank all the PASCOS 2012 participants for their attendance and for contributing to make the conference an engaging and stimulating event. The organizers, Myriam Mondragón, Adnan Bashir, David Delepine, Francisco Larios, Oscar Loaiza, Axel de la Macorra, Lukas Nellen, Sarira Sahu, Humberto Salazar and Liliana Velasco-Sevilla.

Pointless strings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Periwal, V.

1988-01-01

The author proves that bosonic string perturbation theory diverges and is not Borel summable. This is an indication of a non-perturbative instability of the bosonic string vacuum. He formulates two-dimensional sigma models in terms of algebras of functions. He extends this formulation to general C* algebras. He illustrates the utility of these algebraic notions by calculating some determinants of interest in the study of string propagation in orbifold backgrounds. He studies the geometry of spaces of field theories and show that the vanishing of the curvature of the natural Gel'fand-Naimark-Segal metric on such spaces is exactly the strong associativity conditionmore » of the operator product expansion.He shows that string scattering amplitudes arise as invariants of renormalization, when he formulates renormalization in terms of rescalings of the metric on the string world-sheet.« less

Towards weakly constrained double field theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kanghoon

2016-08-01

We show that it is possible to construct a well-defined effective field theory incorporating string winding modes without using strong constraint in double field theory. We show that X-ray (Radon) transform on a torus is well-suited for describing weakly constrained double fields, and any weakly constrained fields are represented as a sum of strongly constrained fields. Using inverse X-ray transform we define a novel binary operation which is compatible with the level matching constraint. Based on this formalism, we construct a consistent gauge transform and gauge invariant action without using strong constraint. We then discuss the relation of our result to the closed string field theory. Our construction suggests that there exists an effective field theory description for massless sector of closed string field theory on a torus in an associative truncation.

Interpolating the Coulomb phase of little string theory

DOE PAGES

Lin, Ying -Hsuan; Shao, Shu -Heng; Wang, Yifan; ...

2015-12-03

We study up to 8-derivative terms in the Coulomb branch effective action of (1,1) little string theory, by collecting results of 4-gluon scattering amplitudes from both perturbative 6D super-Yang-Mills theory up to 4-loop order, and tree-level double scaled little string theory (DSLST). In previous work we have matched the 6-derivative term from the 6D gauge theory to DSLST, indicating that this term is protected on the entire Coulomb branch. The 8-derivative term, on the other hand, is unprotected. In this paper we compute the 8-derivative term by interpolating from the two limits, near the origin and near the infinity onmore » the Coulomb branch, numerically from SU(k) SYM and DSLST respectively, for k=2,3,4,5. We discuss the implication of this result on the UV completion of 6D SYM as well as the strong coupling completion of DSLST. As a result, we also comment on analogous interpolating functions in the Coulomb phase of circle-compactified (2,0) little string theory.« less

Universe or Multiverse?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carr, Bernard

2009-08-01

Part I. Overviews: 1. Introduction and overview Bernard Carr; 2. Living in the multiverse Steven Weinberg; 3. Enlightenment, knowledge, ignorance, temptation Frank Wilczek; Part II. Cosmology and Astrophysics: 4. Cosmology and the multiverse Martin J. Rees; 5. The anthropic principle revisited Bernard Carr; 6. Cosmology from the top down Stephen Hawking; 7. The multiverse hierarchy Max Tegmark; 8. The inflationary universe Andrei Linde; 9. A model of anthropic reasoning: the dark to ordinary matter ratio Frank Wilczek; 10. Anthropic predictions: the case of the cosmological constant Alexander Vilenkin; 11. The definition and classification of universes James D. Bjorken; 12. M/string theory and anthropic reasoning Renata Kallosh; 13. The anthropic principle, dark energy and the LHC Savas Dimopoulos and Scott Thomas; Part III. Particle Physics and Quantum Theory: 14. Quarks, electrons and atoms in closely related universes Craig J. Hogan; 15. The fine-tuning problems of particle physics and anthropic mechanisms John F. Donoghue; 16. The anthropic landscape of string theory Leonard Susskind; 17. Cosmology and the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics Viatcheslav Mukhanov; 18. Anthropic reasoning and quantum cosmology James B. Hartle; 19. Micro-anthropic principle for quantum theory Brandon Carter; Part IV. More General Philosophical Issues: 20. Scientific alternatives to the anthropic principle Lee Smolin; 21. Making predictions in a multiverse: conundrums, dangers, coincidences Anthony Aguirre; 22. Multiverses: description, uniqueness and testing George Ellis; 23. Predictions and tests of multiverse theories Don N. Page; 24. Observation selection theory and cosmological fine-tuning Nick Bostrom; 25. Are anthropic arguments, involving multiverses and beyond, legitimate? William R. Stoeger; 26. The multiverse hypothesis: a theistic perspective Robin Collins; 27. Living in a simulated universe John D. Barrow; 28. Universes galore: where will it all end? Paul Davies; Index.

What every physicist should know about string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Witten, Edward

2015-11-15

Some of nature’s rhymes—the appearance of similar structures in different areas of physics—underlie the way that string theory potentially unifies gravity with the other forces of nature and eliminates the ultraviolet divergences that plague quantum gravity.

Moduli space potentials for heterotic non-Abelian flux tubes: Weak deformation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shifman, M.; Yung, A.; Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, St. Petersburg 188300

2010-09-15

We consider N=2 supersymmetric QCD with the U(N) gauge group (with no Fayet-Iliopoulos term) and N{sub f} flavors of massive quarks deformed by the mass term {mu} for the adjoint matter, W={mu}A{sup 2}, assuming that N{<=}N{sub f}<2N. This deformation breaks N=2 supersymmetry down to N=1. This theory supports non-Abelian flux tubes (strings) which are stabilized by W. They are referred to as F-term stabilized strings. We focus on the studies of such strings in the vacuum in which N squarks condense, at small {mu}, so that the Z{sub N} strings preserve, in a sense, their Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield nature. The (s)quark massesmore » are assumed to be nondegenerate. We calculate string tensions both in the classical and quantum regimes. Then we translate our results for the tensions in terms of the effective low-energy weighted CP(N{sub f}-1) model on the string world sheet. The bulk {mu} deformation makes this theory N=(0,2) supersymmetric heterotic weighted CP(N{sub f}-1) model in two dimensions. We find the deformation potential on the world sheet. This significantly expands the class of the heterotically deformed CP models emerging on the string world sheet compared to that suggested by Edalati and Tong. Among other things, we show that nonperturbative quantum effects in the bulk theory are exactly reproduced by the quantum effects in the world-sheet theory.« less

Little string origin of surface defects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haouzi, Nathan; Schmid, Christian

2017-05-01

We derive a large class of codimension-two defects of 4d \\mathcal{N}=4 Super Yang-Mills (SYM) theory from the (2, 0) little string. The origin of the little string is type IIB theory compactified on an ADE singularity. The defects are D-branes wrapping the 2-cycles of the singularity. We use this construction to make contact with the description of SYM defects due to Gukov and Witten [1]. Furthermore, we provide a geometric perspective on the nilpotent orbit classification of codimension-two defects, and the connection to ADE-type Toda CFT. The only data needed to specify the defects is a set of weights of the algebra obeying certain constraints, which we give explicitly. We highlight the differences between the defect classification in the little string theory and its (2 , 0) CFT limit.

Millicharged dark matter in quantum gravity and string theory.

PubMed

Shiu, Gary; Soler, Pablo; Ye, Fang

2013-06-14

We examine the millicharged dark matter scenario from a string theory perspective. In this scenario, kinetic and mass mixings of the photon with extra U(1) bosons are claimed to give rise to small electric charges, carried by dark matter particles, whose values are determined by continuous parameters of the theory. This seems to contradict folk theorems of quantum gravity that forbid the existence of irrational charges in theories with a single massless gauge field. By considering the underlying structure of the U(1) mass matrix that appears in type II string compactifications, we show that millicharges arise exclusively through kinetic mixing, and require the existence of at least two exactly massless gauge bosons.

Loop Variables in String Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sathiapalan, B.

The loop variable approach is a proposal for a gauge-invariant generalization of the sigma-model renormalization group method of obtaining equations of motion in string theory. The basic guiding principle is space-time gauge invariance rather than world sheet properties. In essence it is a version of Wilson's exact renormalization group equation for the world sheet theory. It involves all the massive modes and is defined with a finite world sheet cutoff, which allows one to go off the mass-shell. On shell the tree amplitudes of string theory are reproduced. The equations are gauge-invariant off shell also. This paper is a self-contained discussion of the loop variable approach as well as its connection with the Wilsonian RG.

New infinite-dimensional hidden symmetries for heterotic string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao Yajun

The symmetry structures of two-dimensional heterotic string theory are studied further. A (2d+n)x(2d+n) matrix complex H-potential is constructed and the field equations are extended into a complex matrix formulation. A pair of Hauser-Ernst-type linear systems are established. Based on these linear systems, explicit formulations of new hidden symmetry transformations for the considered theory are given and then these symmetry transformations are verified to constitute infinite-dimensional Lie algebras: the semidirect product of the Kac-Moody o(d,d+n-circumflex) and Virasoro algebras (without center charges). These results demonstrate that the heterotic string theory under consideration possesses more and richer symmetry structures than previously expected.

An Integrated Higgs Force Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colella, Antonio

2016-03-01

An Integrated Higgs force theory (IHFT) was based on 2 key requirement amplifications: a matter particle/Higgs force was one and inseparable; a matter particle/Higgs force bidirectionally condensed/evaporated from/to super force. These were basis of 5 theories: particle creation, baryogenesis, superpartner/quark decays, spontaneous symmetry breaking, and stellar black holes. Our universe's 129 matter/force particles contained 64 supersymmetric Higgs particles; 9 transient matter particles/Higgs forces decayed to 8 permanent matter particles/Higgs forces; mass was given to a matter particle by its Higgs force and gravitons; and sum of 8 Higgs force energies of 8 permanent matter particles was dark energy. An IHFT's essence is the intimate physical relationships between 8 theories. These theories are independent because physicists in one theory worked independently of physicists in the other seven. An IHFT's premise is without sacrificing their integrities, 8 independent existing theories are replaced by 8 interrelated amplified theories. Requirement amplifications provide interfaces between the 8 theories. Intimate relationships between 8 theories including the above 5 and string, Higgs forces, and Super Universe are described. The sorting category selected was F. PARTICLES AND FIELDS (e.g., F1 Higgs Physics, F10 Alternative Beyond the Standard Model Physics, F11 Dark Sector Theories and Searches, and F12 Particle Cosmology).

Dualities in String Cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meissner, K. A.

We describe in this chapter a set of duality symmetries present in the string-inspired theory of gravity coupled to the dilaton. These dualities are the cornerstones of String Cosmology, which provides alternatives to the usual inflation scenario. The crucial role of Prof. Gabriele Veneziano in the discovery and the development of string dualities is described and emphasized.

The Emergence of Fermions and the E11 Content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Englert, François; Houart, Laurent

Claudio's warm and endearing personality adds to our admiration for his achievements in physics a sense of friendliness. His constant interest in fundamental questions motivated the following presentation of our attempt to understand the nature of fermions. This problem is an essential element of the quantum world and might be related to the quest for quantum gravity. We shall review how space-time fermions can emerge out of bosons in string theory and how this fact affects the extended Kac-Moody approach to the M-theory project.

The effect of gas and fluid flows on nonlinear lateral vibrations of rotating drill strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khajiyeva, Lelya; Kudaibergenov, Askar; Kudaibergenov, Askat

2018-06-01

In this work we develop nonlinear mathematical models describing coupled lateral vibrations of a rotating drill string under the effect of external supersonic gas and internal fluid flows. An axial compressive load and a torque also affect the drill string. The mathematical models are derived by the use of Novozhilov's nonlinear theory of elasticity with implementation of Hamilton's variation principle. Expressions for the gas flow pressure are determined according to the piston theory. The fluid flow is considered as added mass inside the curved tube of the drill string. Using an algorithm developed in the Mathematica computation program on the basis of the Galerkin approach and the stiffness switching method the numerical solution of the obtained approximate differential equations is found. Influences of the external loads, drill string angular speed of rotation, parameters of the gas and fluid flows on the drill string vibrations are shown.

Strings from massive higher spins: the asymptotic uniqueness of the Veneziano amplitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caron-Huot, Simon; Komargodski, Zohar; Sever, Amit; Zhiboedov, Alexander

2017-10-01

We consider weakly coupled theories of massive higher-spin particles. This class of models includes, for instance, tree-level String Theory and Large-N Yang-Mills theory. The S-matrix in such theories is a meromorphic function obeying unitarity and crossing symmetry. We discuss the (unphysical) regime s, t ≫ 1, in which we expect the amplitude to be universal and exponentially large. We develop methods to study this regime and show that the amplitude necessarily coincides with the Veneziano amplitude there. In particular, this implies that the leading Regge trajectory, j( t), is asymptotically linear in Yang-Mills theory. Further, our analysis shows that any such theory of higherspin particles has stringy excitations and infinitely many asymptotically parallel subleading trajectories. More generally, we argue that, under some assumptions, any theory with at least one higher-spin particle must have strings.

Philosophy of Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crease, Robert P.

2017-10-01

There are some physics controversies that no amount of physics research can answer. Why is doing string theory scientific despite its lack of empirical predictions? How should we interpret quantum mechanics? What is the nature of time and space? What constitutes fundamental physics? One can answer these questions dogmatically by appealing to textbooks or by making rough and ready pronouncements, but the issues behind them can often be significantly clarified by the sort of systematic, critical reflection that philosophy practices. Philosophy comes in several traditions. Three of these-known as 'analytic,' 'pragmatic' and 'continental'-have paid particular attention to physics. This ebook illustrates philosophy of physics in action, and how it can help physics, by using four examples from physics to exhibit the aims and value of these philosophical approaches.

Multiloop ghost vertices and the determination of the multiloop measure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

West, P.

1988-04-01

Using the group-theoretic approach to string theory, the multiloop vertices previously computed are extended to include ghost oscillators. In accord with the approach, we show how demanding that zero-norm physical states decouple leads to a set of first-order differential equations which uniquely determine the multiloop measure. Permanent address: Mathematics Department, Kings College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK.

Renormalized Polyakov loop in the deconfined phase of SU(N) gauge theory and gauge-string duality.

PubMed

Andreev, Oleg

2009-05-29

We use gauge-string duality to analytically evaluate the renormalized Polyakov loop in pure Yang-Mills theories. For SU(3), the result is in quite good agreement with lattice simulations for a broad temperature range.

Localized gravity in string theory.

PubMed

Karch, A; Randall, L

2001-08-06

We propose a string realization of the AdS4 brane in AdS5 that is known to localize gravity. Our theory is M D5 branes in the near horizon geometry of N D3 branes, where M and N are appropriately tuned.

Five-dimensional gauge theory and compactification on a torus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haghighat, Babak; Vandoren, Stefan

2011-09-01

We study five-dimensional minimally supersymmetric gauge theory compactified on a torus down to three dimensions, and its embedding into string/M-theory using geometric engineering. The moduli space on the Coulomb branch is hyperkähler equipped with a metric with modular transformation properties. We determine the one-loop corrections to the metric and show that they can be interpreted as worldsheet and D1-brane instantons in type IIB string theory. Furthermore, we analyze instanton corrections coming from the solitonic BPS magnetic string wrapped over the torus. In particular, we show how to compute the path-integral for the zero-modes from the partition function of the M5 brane, or, using a 2d/4d correspondence, from the partition function of N=4 SYM theory on a Hirzebruch surface.

Purely cubic action for string field theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horowitz, G. T.; Lykken, J.; Rohm, R.; Strominger, A.

1986-01-01

It is shown that Witten's (1986) open-bosonic-string field-theory action and a closed-string analog can be written as a purely cubic interaction term. The conventional form of the action arises by expansion around particular solutions of the classical equations of motion. The explicit background dependence of the conventional action via the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin operator is eliminated in the cubic formulation. A closed-form expression is found for the full nonlinear gauge-transformation law.

BPS algebras, genus zero and the heterotic Monster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paquette, Natalie M.; Persson, Daniel; Volpato, Roberto

2017-10-01

In this note, we expand on some technical issues raised in (Paquette et al 2016 Commun. Number Theory Phys. 10 433-526) by the authors, as well as providing a friendly introduction to and summary of our previous work. We construct a set of heterotic string compactifications to 0  +  1 dimensions intimately related to the Monstrous moonshine module of Frenkel, Lepowsky, and Meurman (and orbifolds thereof). Using this model, we review our physical interpretation of the genus zero property of Monstrous moonshine. Furthermore, we show that the space of (second-quantized) BPS-states forms a module over the Monstrous Lie algebras mg —some of the first and most prominent examples of Generalized Kac-Moody algebras—constructed by Borcherds and Carnahan. In particular, we clarify the structure of the module present in the second-quantized string theory. We also sketch a proof of our methods in the language of vertex operator algebras, for the interested mathematician.

Theoretical Mathematics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stöltzner, Michael

Answering to the double-faced influence of string theory on mathematical practice and rigour, the mathematical physicists Arthur Jaffe and Frank Quinn have contemplated the idea that there exists a `theoretical' mathematics (alongside `theoretical' physics) whose basic structures and results still require independent corroboration by mathematical proof. In this paper, I shall take the Jaffe-Quinn debate mainly as a problem of mathematical ontology and analyse it against the backdrop of two philosophical views that are appreciative towards informal mathematical development and conjectural results: Lakatos's methodology of proofs and refutations and John von Neumann's opportunistic reading of Hilbert's axiomatic method. The comparison of both approaches shows that mitigating Lakatos's falsificationism makes his insights about mathematical quasi-ontology more relevant to 20th century mathematics in which new structures are introduced by axiomatisation and not necessarily motivated by informal ancestors. The final section discusses the consequences of string theorists' claim to finality for the theory's mathematical make-up. I argue that ontological reductionism as advocated by particle physicists and the quest for mathematically deeper axioms do not necessarily lead to identical results.

Non-Abelian string and particle braiding in topological order: Modular SL (3 ,Z ) representation and (3 +1 ) -dimensional twisted gauge theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Juven C.; Wen, Xiao-Gang

2015-01-01

String and particle braiding statistics are examined in a class of topological orders described by discrete gauge theories with a gauge group G and a 4-cocycle twist ω4 of G 's cohomology group H4(G ,R /Z ) in three-dimensional space and one-dimensional time (3 +1 D ) . We establish the topological spin and the spin-statistics relation for the closed strings and their multistring braiding statistics. The 3 +1 D twisted gauge theory can be characterized by a representation of a modular transformation group, SL (3 ,Z ) . We express the SL (3 ,Z ) generators Sx y z and Tx y in terms of the gauge group G and the 4-cocycle ω4. As we compactify one of the spatial directions z into a compact circle with a gauge flux b inserted, we can use the generators Sx y and Tx y of an SL (2 ,Z ) subgroup to study the dimensional reduction of the 3D topological order C3 D to a direct sum of degenerate states of 2D topological orders Cb2 D in different flux b sectors: C3 D=⊕bCb2 D . The 2D topological orders Cb2 D are described by 2D gauge theories of the group G twisted by the 3-cocycle ω3 (b ), dimensionally reduced from the 4-cocycle ω4. We show that the SL (2 ,Z ) generators, Sx y and Tx y, fully encode a particular type of three-string braiding statistics with a pattern that is the connected sum of two Hopf links. With certain 4-cocycle twists, we discover that, by threading a third string through two-string unlink into a three-string Hopf-link configuration, Abelian two-string braiding statistics is promoted to non-Abelian three-string braiding statistics.

Deforming baryons into confining strings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hartnoll, Sean A.; Portugues, Ruben

2004-09-15

We find explicit probe D3-brane solutions in the infrared of the Maldacena-Nunez background. The solutions describe deformed baryon vertices: q external quarks are separated in spacetime from the remaining N-q. As the separation is taken to infinity we recover known solutions describing infinite confining strings in N=1 gauge theory. We present results for the mass of finite confining strings as a function of length. We also find probe D2-brane solutions in a confining type IIA geometry, the reduction of a G{sub 2} holonomy M theory background. The relation between these deformed baryons and confining strings is not as straightforward.

String unification scale and the hyper-charge Kac-Moody level in the non-supersymmetric standard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Gi-Chol; Hagiwara, Kaoru

1998-02-01

The string theory predicts the unification of the gauge couplings and gravity. The minimal supersymmetric Standard Model, however, gives the unification scale ~2x1016 GeV which is significantly smaller than the string scale ~5x1017 GeV of the weak coupling heterotic string theory. We study the unification scale of the non-supersymmetric minimal Standard Model quantitatively at the two-loop level. We find that the unification scale should be at most ~4x1016 GeV and the desired Kac-Moody level of the hyper-charge coupling should be 1.33<~kY<~1.35.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Park, I.Y.; Tirziu, A.; Tseytlin, A.A.

We consider circular strings rotating with equal spins S{sub 1}=S{sub 2}=S in two orthogonal planes in AdS{sub 5} and suggest that they may be dual to long gauge-theory operators built out of self-dual components of gauge field strength. As was found in hep-th/0404187, the one-loop anomalous dimensions of the such gauge-theory operators are described by an antiferromagnetic XXX{sub 1} spin chain and scale linearly with length L>>1. We find that in the case of rigid rotating string both the classical energy E{sub 0} and the 1-loop string correction E{sub 1} depend linearly on the spin S (within the stability regionmore » of the solution). This supports the identification of the rigid rotating string with the gauge-theory operator corresponding to the maximal-spin (ferromagnetic) state of the XXX{sub 1} spin chain. The energy of more general rotating and pulsating strings also happens to scale linearly with both the spin and the oscillation number. Such solutions should be dual to other lower-spin states of the spin chain, with the antiferromagnetic ground state presumably corresponding to the string pulsating in two planes with no rotation.« less

An Integrated Theory of Everything (TOE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colella, Antonio

2014-03-01

An Integrated TOE unifies all known physical phenomena from the Planck cube to the Super Universe (multiverse). Each matter/force particle is represented by a Planck cube string. Any Super Universe object is a volume of contiguous Planck cubes. Super force Planck cube string singularities existed at the start of all universes. An Integrated TOE foundations are twenty independent existing theories and without sacrificing their integrities, are replaced by twenty interrelated amplified theories. Amplifications of Higgs force theory are key to an Integrated TOE and include: 64 supersymmetric Higgs particles; super force condensations to 17 matter particles/associated Higgs forces; spontaneous symmetry breaking is bidirectional; and the sum of 8 permanent Higgs force energies is dark energy. Stellar black hole theory was amplified to include a quark star (matter) with mass, volume, near zero temperature, and maximum entropy. A black hole (energy) has energy, minimal volume (singularity), near infinite temperature, and minimum entropy. Our precursor universe's super supermassive quark star (matter) evaporated to a super supermassive black hole (energy). This transferred total conserved energy/mass and transformed entropy from maximum to minimum. Integrated Theory of Everything Book Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a1c9IvdoGY Research Article Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD-QoLeVbSY Research Article: http://toncolella.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/m080112.pdf.

Second quantization of a covariant relativistic spacetime string in Steuckelberg-Horwitz-Piron theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suleymanov, Michael; Horwitz, Lawrence; Yahalom, Asher

2017-06-01

A relativistic 4D string is described in the framework of the covariant quantum theory first introduced by Stueckelberg [ Helv. Phys. Acta 14, 588 (1941)], and further developed by Horwitz and Piron [ Helv. Phys. Acta 46, 316 (1973)], and discussed at length in the book of Horwitz [Relativistic Quantum Mechanics, Springer (2015)]. We describe the space-time string using the solutions of relativistic harmonic oscillator [ J. Math. Phys. 30, 66 (1989)]. We first study the problem of the discrete string, both classically and quantum mechanically, and then turn to a study of the continuum limit, which contains a basically new formalism for the quantization of an extended system. The mass and energy spectrum are derived. Some comparison is made with known string models.

Pinching parameters for open (super) strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Playle, Sam; Sciuto, Stefano

2018-02-01

We present an approach to the parametrization of (super) Schottky space obtained by sewing together three-punctured discs with strips. Different cubic ribbon graphs classify distinct sets of pinching parameters; we show how they are mapped onto each other. The parametrization is particularly well-suited to describing the region within (super) moduli space where open bosonic or Neveu-Schwarz string propagators become very long and thin, which dominates the IR behaviour of string theories. We show how worldsheet objects such as the Green's function converge to graph theoretic objects such as the Symanzik polynomials in the α ' → 0 limit, allowing us to see how string theory reproduces the sum over Feynman graphs. The (super) string measure takes on a simple and elegant form when expressed in terms of these parameters.

Mass and angular momentum of black holes in low-energy heterotic string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Jun-Jin

2016-04-01

We investigate conserved charges in the low-energy effective field theory describing heterotic string theory. Starting with a general Lagrangian that consists of a metric, a scalar field, a vector gauge field, together with a two-form potential, we derive off-shell Noether potentials of the Lagrangian and generalize the Abbott-Deser-Tekin (ADT) formalism to the off-shell level by establishing one-to-one correspondence between the ADT potential and the off-shell Noether potential. It is proved that the off-shell generalized ADT formalism is conformally invariant. Then, we apply the formulation to compute mass and angular momentum of the four-dimensional Kerr-Sen black hole and the five-dimensional rotating charged black string in the string frame without a necessity to transform the metrics into the Einstein frame.

Ambitwistor formulations of R 2 gravity and ( DF)2 gauge theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azevedo, Thales; Engelund, Oluf Tang

2017-11-01

We consider D-dimensional amplitudes in R 2 gravities (conformal gravity in D = 4) and in the recently introduced ( DF)2 gauge theory, from the perspective of the CHY formulae and ambitwistor string theory. These theories are related through the BCJ double-copy construction, and the ( DF)2 gauge theory obeys color-kinematics duality. We work out the worldsheet details of these theories and show that they admit a formulation as integrals on the support of the scattering equations, or alternatively, as ambitwistor string theories. For gravity, this generalizes the work done by Berkovits and Witten on conformal gravity to D dimensions. The ambitwistor is also interpreted as a D-dimensional generalization of Witten's twistor string (SYM + conformal supergravity). As part of our ambitwistor investigation, we discover another ( DF)2 gauge theory containing a photon that couples to Einstein gravity. This theory can provide an alternative KLT description of Einstein gravity compared to the usual Yang-Mills squared.

Birth of the Universe from the Multiverse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mersini-Houghton, Laura

2015-01-01

Compactification of extra dimensions in string theory leads to a vast number of (3+1) dimensional worlds, (about 10500 so far), coined the landscape. At the time of the discovery of the landscape, the question which one of these worlds is our universe seemed hopeless. Many argued that the vastness of the landscape undermines the very foundations of string theory for two reasons: (i) the theory seemed unfalsifiable since for every observation we could find a matching world on the landscape; (ii) the method advocated at the time for making sense of this landscape was the anthropic principle. The former objection implied string theory can not be scientific. The latter concern is that anthropics do not help scientific inquiry and rigor but rather it may seem to push some version of creationism to the next level. For these reasons the whole field of string theory and also, of cosmology that relied on it for answers about fundamental questions such as the origins of the universe, seemed to be in deep crisis at the beginning of the millenia...

Unifying relations for scattering amplitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, Clifford; Shen, Chia-Hsien; Wen, Congkao

2018-02-01

We derive new amplitudes relations revealing a hidden unity among a wideranging variety of theories in arbitrary spacetime dimensions. Our results rely on a set of Lorentz invariant differential operators which transmute physical tree-level scattering amplitudes into new ones. By transmuting the amplitudes of gravity coupled to a dilaton and two-form, we generate all the amplitudes of Einstein-Yang-Mills theory, Dirac-Born-Infield theory, special Galileon, nonlinear sigma model, and biadjoint scalar theory. Transmutation also relates amplitudes in string theory and its variants. As a corollary, celebrated aspects of gluon and graviton scattering like color-kinematics duality, the KLT relations, and the CHY construction are inherited traits of the transmuted amplitudes. Transmutation recasts the Adler zero as a trivial consequence of the Weinberg soft theorem and implies new subleading soft theorems for certain scalar theories.

The status of modern five-dimensional gravity (A short review: Why physics needs the fifth dimension)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wesson, Paul S.

2015-11-01

Recent criticism of higher-dimensional extensions of Einstein's theory is considered. This may have some justification in regard to string theory, but is misguided as applied to five-dimensional (5D) theories with a large extra dimension. Such theories smoothly embed general relativity, ensuring recovery of the latter's observational support. When the embedding of spacetime is carried out in accordance with Campbell's theorem, the resulting 5D theory naturally explains the origin of classical matter and vacuum energy. Also, constraints on the equations of motion near a high-energy surface or membrane in the 5D manifold lead to quantization and quantum uncertainty. These are major returns on the modest investment of one extra dimension. Instead of fruitless bickering about whether it is possible to "see" the fifth dimension, it is suggested that it be treated on par with other concepts of physics, such as time. The main criterion for the acceptance of a fifth dimension (or not) should be its usefulness.

Theoretical prediction and impact of fundamental electric dipole moments

DOE PAGES

Ellis, Sebastian A. R.; Kane, Gordon L.

2016-01-13

The predicted Standard Model (SM) electric dipole moments (EDMs) of electrons and quarks are tiny, providing an important window to observe new physics. Theories beyond the SM typically allow relatively large EDMs. The EDMs depend on the relative phases of terms in the effective Lagrangian of the extended theory, which are generally unknown. Underlying theories, such as string/M-theories compactified to four dimensions, could predict the phases and thus EDMs in the resulting supersymmetric (SUSY) theory. Earlier one of us, with collaborators, made such a prediction and found, unexpectedly, that the phases were predicted to be zero at tree level inmore » the theory at the unification or string scale ~O(10 16 GeV). Electroweak (EW) scale EDMs still arise via running from the high scale, and depend only on the SM Yukawa couplings that also give the CKM phase. Here we extend the earlier work by studying the dependence of the low scale EDMs on the constrained but not fully known fundamental Yukawa couplings. The dominant contribution is from two loop diagrams and is not sensitive to the choice of Yukawa texture. The electron EDM should not be found to be larger than about 5 × 10 –30e cm, and the neutron EDM should not be larger than about 5 × 10 –29e cm. These values are quite a bit smaller than the reported predictions from Split SUSY and typical effective theories, but much larger than the Standard Model prediction. Also, since models with random phases typically give much larger EDMs, it is a significant testable prediction of compactified M-theory that the EDMs should not be above these upper limits. The actual EDMs can be below the limits, so once they are measured they could provide new insight into the fundamental Yukawa couplings of leptons and quarks. As a result, we comment also on the role of strong CP violation. EDMs probe fundamental physics near the Planck scale.« less

Theoretical prediction and impact of fundamental electric dipole moments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ellis, Sebastian A. R.; Kane, Gordon L.

The predicted Standard Model (SM) electric dipole moments (EDMs) of electrons and quarks are tiny, providing an important window to observe new physics. Theories beyond the SM typically allow relatively large EDMs. The EDMs depend on the relative phases of terms in the effective Lagrangian of the extended theory, which are generally unknown. Underlying theories, such as string/M-theories compactified to four dimensions, could predict the phases and thus EDMs in the resulting supersymmetric (SUSY) theory. Earlier one of us, with collaborators, made such a prediction and found, unexpectedly, that the phases were predicted to be zero at tree level inmore » the theory at the unification or string scale ~O(10 16 GeV). Electroweak (EW) scale EDMs still arise via running from the high scale, and depend only on the SM Yukawa couplings that also give the CKM phase. Here we extend the earlier work by studying the dependence of the low scale EDMs on the constrained but not fully known fundamental Yukawa couplings. The dominant contribution is from two loop diagrams and is not sensitive to the choice of Yukawa texture. The electron EDM should not be found to be larger than about 5 × 10 –30e cm, and the neutron EDM should not be larger than about 5 × 10 –29e cm. These values are quite a bit smaller than the reported predictions from Split SUSY and typical effective theories, but much larger than the Standard Model prediction. Also, since models with random phases typically give much larger EDMs, it is a significant testable prediction of compactified M-theory that the EDMs should not be above these upper limits. The actual EDMs can be below the limits, so once they are measured they could provide new insight into the fundamental Yukawa couplings of leptons and quarks. As a result, we comment also on the role of strong CP violation. EDMs probe fundamental physics near the Planck scale.« less

Studying critical string emerging from non-Abelian vortex in four dimensions

DOE PAGES

Koroteev, P.; Shifman, M.; Yung, A.

2016-05-26

Recently a special vortex string was found in a class of soliton vortices supported in four-dimensional Yang–Mills theories that under certain conditions can become infinitely thin and can be interpreted as a critical ten-dimensional string. The appropriate bulk Yang–Mills theory has the U(2) gauge group and the Fayet–Iliopoulos term. It supports semilocal non-Abelian vortices with the world-sheet theory for orientational and size moduli described by the weighted CP(2,2) model. Here, the full target space ismore » $$\\mathbb R$$ 4 x Y 6 where is a non-compact Calabi–Yau space.« less

An evaluation of string theory for the prediction of dynamic tire properties using scale model aircraft tires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, S. K.; Dodge, R. N.; Nybakken, G. H.

1972-01-01

The string theory was evaluated for predicting lateral tire dynamic properties as obtained from scaled model tests. The experimental data and string theory predictions are in generally good agreement using lateral stiffness and relaxation length values obtained from the static or slowly rolling tire. The results indicate that lateral forces and self-aligning torques are linearly proportional to tire lateral stiffness and to the amplitude of either steer or lateral displacement. In addition, the results show that the ratio of input excitation frequency to road speed is the proper independent variable by which frequency should be measured.

Implications of a class of grand unified theories for large scale structure in the universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shafi, Q.; Stecker, F. W.

1983-01-01

A class of grand unified theories in which cosmologicaly significant axion and neutrino energy densities arise naturally is discussed. To obtain large scale structure three scenarios are considered: (1) an inflationary scenario; (2) inflation followed by string production; and (3) a non-inflationary scenario with density fluctuations caused solely by strings. Inflation may be compatible with the recent observational indications that mega 1 on the scale of superclusters, particularly if strings are present.

Cosmic strings - A problem or a solution?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, David P.; Bouchet, Francois R.

1988-01-01

The most fundamental issue in the theory of cosmic strings is addressed by means of Numerical Simulations: the existence of a scaling solution. The resolution of this question will determine whether cosmic strings can form the basis of an attractive theory of galaxy formation or prove to be a cosmological disaster like magnetic monopoles or domain walls. After a brief discussion of our numerical technique, results are presented which, though still preliminary, offer the best support to date of this scaling hypothesis.

Origin of gauge invariance in string theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Horowitz, G. T.; Strominger, A.

1986-01-01

A first quantization of the space-time embedding Chi exp mu and the world-sheet metric rho of the open bosonic string. The world-sheet metric rho decouples from S-matrix elements in 26 dimensions. This formulation of the theory naturally includes 26-dimensional gauge transformations. The gauge invariance of S-matrix elements is a direct consequence of the decoupling of rho. Second quantization leads to a string field Phi(Chi exp mu, rho) with a gauge-covariant equation of motion.

String splitting and strong coupling meson decay.

PubMed

Cotrone, A L; Martucci, L; Troost, W

2006-04-14

We study the decay of high spin mesons using the gauge-string theory correspondence. The rate of the process is calculated by studying the splitting of a macroscopic string intersecting a D-brane. The result is applied to the decay of mesons in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory with a small number of flavors and in a gravity dual of large N QCD. In QCD the decay of high spin mesons is found to be heavily suppressed in the regime of validity of the supergravity description.

Implications of a class of grand-unified theories for large-scale structure in the universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shafi, Q.; Stecker, F. W.

1984-01-01

A class of grand-unified theories in which cosmologically significant axion and neutrino energy densities arise naturally is considered. To obtain large-scale structure, attention is given to (1) an inflationary scenario, (2) inflation followed by string production, and (3) a noninflationary scenario with density fluctuations caused solely by strings. It is shown that inflation may be compatible with the recent observational indications that Omega less than 1 on the scale of superclusters, particularly if strings are present.

Quantum vacua of 2d maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koloğlu, Murat

2017-11-01

We analyze the classical and quantum vacua of 2d N=(8,8) supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with SU( N) and U( N) gauge group, describing the worldvolume interactions of N parallel D1-branes with flat transverse directions {R}^8 . We claim that the IR limit of the SU( N) theory in the superselection sector labeled M (mod N) — identified with the internal dynamics of ( M, N)-string bound states of the Type IIB string theory — is described by the symmetric orbifold N=(8,8) sigma model into ({R}^8)^{D-1}/S_D when D = gcd( M, N) > 1, and by a single massive vacuum when D = 1, generalizing the conjectures of E. Witten and others. The full worldvolume theory of the D1-branes is the U( N) theory with an additional U(1) 2-form gauge field B coming from the string theory Kalb-Ramond field. This U( N) + B theory has generalized field configurations, labeled by the Z-valued generalized electric flux and an independent {Z}_N -valued 't Hooft flux. We argue that in the quantum mechanical theory, the ( M, N)-string sector with M units of electric flux has a {Z}_N -valued discrete θ angle specified by M (mod N) dual to the 't Hooft flux. Adding the brane center-of-mass degrees of freedom to the SU( N) theory, we claim that the IR limit of the U( N) + B theory in the sector with M bound F-strings is described by the N=(8,8) sigma model into {Sym}^D({R}^8) . We provide strong evidence for these claims by computing an N=(8,8) analog of the elliptic genus of the UV gauge theories and of their conjectured IR limit sigma models, and showing they agree. Agreement is established by noting that the elliptic genera are modular-invariant Abelian (multi-periodic and meromorphic) functions, which turns out to be very restrictive.

Effective description of domain wall strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodrigues, Davi R.; Abanov, Ar.; Sinova, J.; Everschor-Sitte, K.

2018-04-01

The analysis of domain wall dynamics is often simplified to one-dimensional physics. For domain walls in thin films, more realistic approaches require the description as two-dimensional objects. This includes the study of vortices and curvatures along the domain walls as well as the influence of boundary effects. Here we provide a theory in terms of soft modes that allows us to analytically study the physics of extended domain walls and their stability. By considering irregularly shaped skyrmions as closed domain walls, we analyze their plasticity and compare their dynamics with those of circular skyrmions. Our theory directly provides an analytical description of the excitation modes of magnetic skyrmions, previously accessible only through sophisticated micromagnetic numerical calculations and spectral analysis. These analytical expressions provide the scaling behavior of the different physics on parameters that experiments can test.

Four-qubit entanglement classification from string theory.

PubMed

Borsten, L; Dahanayake, D; Duff, M J; Marrani, A; Rubens, W

2010-09-03

We invoke the black-hole-qubit correspondence to derive the classification of four-qubit entanglement. The U-duality orbits resulting from timelike reduction of string theory from D=4 to D=3 yield 31 entanglement families, which reduce to nine up to permutation of the four qubits.

BRST-BFV analysis of anomalies in bosonic string theory interacting with background gravitational field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchbinder, I. L.; Mistchuk, B. R.; Pershin, V. D.

1995-02-01

A general BRST-BFV analysis of the anomaly in string theory coupled to background fields is carried out. An exact equation for the c-valued symbol of the anomaly operator is found and the structure of its solution is studied.

Grand Unification as a Bridge Between String Theory and Phenomenology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pati, Jogesh C.

2006-06-09

In the first part of the talk, I explain what empirical evidence points to the need for having an effective grand unification-like symmetry possessing the symmetry SU(4)-color in 4D. If one assumes the premises of a future predictive theory including gravity--be it string/M theory or a reincarnation--this evidence then suggests that such a theory should lead to an effective grand unification-like symmetry as above in 4D, near the string-GUT-scale, rather than the standard model symmetry. Advantages of an effective supersymmetric G(224) = SU(2){sub L} x SU(2){sub R} x SU(4){sup c} or SO(10) symmetry in 4D in explaining (1) observed neutrinomore » oscillations, (2) baryogenesis via leptogenesis, and (3) certain fermion mass-relations are noted. And certain distinguishing tests of a SUSY G(224) or SO(10)-framework involving CP and flavor violations (as in {mu} {yields} e{gamma}, {tau} {yields} {mu}{gamma}, edm's of the neutron and the electron) as well as proton decay are briefly mentioned. Recalling some of the successes we have had in our understanding of nature so far, and the current difficulties of string/M theory as regards the large multiplicity of string vacua, some comments are made on the traditional goal of understanding vis a vis the recently evolved view of landscape and anthropism.« less

Critical non-Abelian vortex in four dimensions and little string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shifman, M.; Yung, A.

2017-08-01

As was shown recently, non-Abelian vortex strings supported in four-dimensional N =2 supersymmetric QCD with the U(2) gauge group and Nf=4 quark multiplets (flavors) become critical superstrings. In addition to the translational moduli, non-Abelian strings under consideration carry six orientational and size moduli. Together, they form a ten-dimensional target space required for a superstring to be critical. The target space of the string sigma model is a product of the flat four-dimensional space and a Calabi-Yau noncompact threefold, namely, the conifold. We study closed string states which emerge in four dimensions and identify them with hadrons of four-dimensional N =2 QCD. One massless state was found previously; it emerges as a massless hypermultiplet associated with the deformation of the complex structure of the conifold. In this paper, we find a number of massive states. To this end, we exploit the approach used in LST little string theory, namely, the equivalence between the critical string on the conifold and noncritical c =1 string with the Liouville field and a compact scalar at the self-dual radius. The states we find carry "baryonic" charge (its definition differs from standard). We interpret them as "monopole necklaces" formed (at strong coupling) by the closed string with confined monopoles attached.

Coulomb string tension, asymptotic string tension, and the gluon chain

DOE PAGES

Greensite, Jeff; Szczepaniak, Adam P.

2015-02-01

We compute, via numerical simulations, the non-perturbative Coulomb potential and position-space ghost propagator in pure SU(3) gauge theory in Coulomb gauge. We find that that the Coulomb potential scales nicely in accordance with asymptotic freedom, that the Coulomb potential is linear in the infrared, and that the Coulomb string tension is about four times larger than the asymptotic string tension. We explain how it is possible that the asymptotic string tension can be lower than the Coulomb string tension by a factor of four.

Automorphic properties of low energy string amplitudes in various dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, Michael B.; Russo, Jorge G.; Vanhove, Pierre

2010-04-01

This paper explores the moduli-dependent coefficients of higher-derivative interactions that appear in the low-energy expansion of the four-supergraviton amplitude of maximally supersymmetric string theory compactified on a d torus. These automorphic functions are determined for terms up to order ∂6R4 and various values of d by imposing a variety of consistency conditions. They satisfy Laplace eigenvalue equations with or without source terms, whose solutions are given in terms of Eisenstein series, or more general automorphic functions, for certain parabolic subgroups of the relevant U-duality groups. The ultraviolet divergences of the corresponding supergravity field theory limits are encoded in various logarithms, although the string theory expressions are finite. This analysis includes intriguing representations of SL(d) and SO(d,d) Eisenstein series in terms of toroidally compactified one and two-loop string and supergravity amplitudes.

Ambitwistor Strings in Four Dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geyer, Yvonne; Lipstein, Arthur E.; Mason, Lionel

2014-08-01

We develop ambitwistor string theories for four dimensions to obtain new formulas for tree-level gauge and gravity amplitudes with arbitrary amounts of supersymmetry. Ambitwistor space is the space of complex null geodesics in complexified Minkowski space, and in contrast to earlier ambitwistor strings, we use twistors rather than vectors to represent this space. Although superficially similar to the original twistor string theories of Witten, Berkovits, and Skinner, these theories differ in the assignment of world sheet spins of the fields, rely on both twistor and dual twistor representatives for the vertex operators, and use the ambitwistor procedure for calculating correlation functions. Our models are much more flexible, no longer requiring maximal supersymmetry, and the resulting formulas for amplitudes are simpler, having substantially reduced moduli. These are supported on the solutions to the scattering equations refined according to helicity and can be checked by comparison with corresponding formulas of Witten and of Cachazo and Skinner.

Closed strings and moduli in AdS3/CFT2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sax, Olof Ohlsson; Stefański, Bogdan

2018-05-01

String theory on AdS3 × S3 × T4 has 20 moduli. We investigate how the perturbative closed string spectrum changes as we move around this moduli space in both the RR and NSNS flux backgrounds. We find that, at weak string coupling, only four of the moduli affect the energies. In the RR background the only effect of these moduli is to change the radius of curvature of the background. On the other hand, in the NSNS background, the moduli introduce worldsheet interactions which enable the use of integrability methods to solve the spectral problem. Our results show that the worldsheet theory is integrable across the 20 dimensional moduli space.

39 Questionable Assumptions in Modern Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Volk, Greg

2009-03-01

The growing body of anomalies in new energy, low energy nuclear reactions, astrophysics, atomic physics, and entanglement, combined with the failure of the Standard Model and string theory to predict many of the most basic fundamental phenomena, all point to a need for major new paradigms. Not Band-Aids, but revolutionary new ways of conceptualizing physics, in the spirit of Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. This paper identifies a number of long-held, but unproven assumptions currently being challenged by an increasing number of alternative scientists. Two common themes, both with venerable histories, keep recurring in the many alternative theories being proposed: (1) Mach's Principle, and (2) toroidal, vortex particles. Matter-based Mach's Principle differs from both space-based universal frames and observer-based Einsteinian relativity. Toroidal particles, in addition to explaining electron spin and the fundamental constants, satisfy the basic requirement of Gauss's misunderstood B Law, that motion itself circulates. Though a comprehensive theory is beyond the scope of this paper, it will suggest alternatives to the long list of assumptions in context.

Cosmological density fluctuations produced by vacuum strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vilenkin, A.

1981-04-01

Consideration is given to the possible role of vacuum domain strings produced in the grand unification phase transition in the early universe in the generation of the density fluctuations giving rise to galaxies. The cosmological evolution of the strings formed in the grand unification phase transition is analyzed, with attention given to possible mechanisms for the damping out of oscillations produced by tension in convoluted strings and closed loops. The cosmological density fluctuations introduced by infinite strings and closed loops smaller than the horizon are then shown to be capable of giving rise to mass condensations on a scale of approximately 10 to the 9th solar masses at the time of the decoupling of radiation from matter, around which the galaxies condense. Differences between the present theory and that suggested by Zel'dovich (1980) are pointed out, and it is noted that string formation at the grand unification phase transition is possible only if the manifold of the degenerate vacua of the gauge theory is not simply connected.

String modular phases in Calabi-Yau families

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadir, Shabnam; Lynker, Monika; Schimmrigk, Rolf

2011-12-01

We investigate the structure of singular Calabi-Yau varieties in moduli spaces that contain a Brieskorn-Pham point. Our main tool is a construction of families of deformed motives over the parameter space. We analyze these motives for general fibers and explicitly compute the L-series for singular fibers for several families. We find that the resulting motivic L-functions agree with the L-series of modular forms whose weight depends both on the rank of the motive and the degree of the degeneration of the variety. Surprisingly, these motivic L-functions are identical in several cases to L-series derived from weighted Fermat hypersurfaces. This shows that singular Calabi-Yau spaces of non-conifold type can admit a string worldsheet interpretation, much like rational theories, and that the corresponding irrational conformal field theories inherit information from the Gepner conformal field theory of the weighted Fermat fiber of the family. These results suggest that phase transitions via non-conifold configurations are physically plausible. In the case of severe degenerations we find a dimensional transmutation of the motives. This suggests further that singular configurations with non-conifold singularities may facilitate transitions between Calabi-Yau varieties of different dimensions.

Axion string dynamics I: 2+1D

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fleury, Leesa M.; Moore, Guy D.

2016-05-03

If the axion exists and if the initial axion field value is uncorrelated at causally disconnected points, then it should be possible to predict the efficiency of cosmological axion production, relating the axionic dark matter density to the axion mass. The main obstacle to making this prediction is correctly treating the axion string cores. We develop a new algorithm for treating the axionic string cores correctly in 2+1 dimensions. When the axionic string cores are given their full physical string tension, axion production is about twice as efficient as in previous simulations. We argue that the string network in 2+1more » dimensions should behave very differently than in 3+1 dimensions, so this result cannot be simply carried over to the physical case. We outline how to extend our method to 3+1D axion string dynamics.« less

The relationship of dynamical heterogeneity to the Adam-Gibbs and random first-order transition theories of glass formation.

PubMed

Starr, Francis W; Douglas, Jack F; Sastry, Srikanth

2013-03-28

We carefully examine common measures of dynamical heterogeneity for a model polymer melt and test how these scales compare with those hypothesized by the Adam and Gibbs (AG) and random first-order transition (RFOT) theories of relaxation in glass-forming liquids. To this end, we first analyze clusters of highly mobile particles, the string-like collective motion of these mobile particles, and clusters of relative low mobility. We show that the time scale of the high-mobility clusters and strings is associated with a diffusive time scale, while the low-mobility particles' time scale relates to a structural relaxation time. The difference of the characteristic times for the high- and low-mobility particles naturally explains the well-known decoupling of diffusion and structural relaxation time scales. Despite the inherent difference of dynamics between high- and low-mobility particles, we find a high degree of similarity in the geometrical structure of these particle clusters. In particular, we show that the fractal dimensions of these clusters are consistent with those of swollen branched polymers or branched polymers with screened excluded-volume interactions, corresponding to lattice animals and percolation clusters, respectively. In contrast, the fractal dimension of the strings crosses over from that of self-avoiding walks for small strings, to simple random walks for longer, more strongly interacting, strings, corresponding to flexible polymers with screened excluded-volume interactions. We examine the appropriateness of identifying the size scales of either mobile particle clusters or strings with the size of cooperatively rearranging regions (CRR) in the AG and RFOT theories. We find that the string size appears to be the most consistent measure of CRR for both the AG and RFOT models. Identifying strings or clusters with the "mosaic" length of the RFOT model relaxes the conventional assumption that the "entropic droplets" are compact. We also confirm the validity of the entropy formulation of the AG theory, constraining the exponent values of the RFOT theory. This constraint, together with the analysis of size scales, enables us to estimate the characteristic exponents of RFOT.

Measurement problem in Program Universe. Revision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noyes, H. P.; Gefwert, C.; Manthey, M. J.

1985-07-01

The measurement problem of contemporary physics is in our view an artifact of its philosophical and mathematical underpinnings. We describe a new philosophical view of theory formation, rooted in Wittgenstein, and Bishop's and Martin-Loef's constructivity, which obviates such discussions. We present an unfinished, but very encouraging, theory which is compatible with this philosophical framework. The theory is based on the concepts of counting and combinatorics in the framework provided by the combinatorial hierarchy, a unique hierarchy of bit strings which interact by an operation called discrimination. Measurement criteria incorporate c, h-bar and m/sub p/ or (not and) G. The resulting theory is discrete throughout, contains no infinities, and, as far as we have developed it, is in agreement with quantum mechanical and cosmological fact.

Instantons on a non-commutative T4 from twisted (2,0) and little string theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, Yeuk-Kwan E.; Ganor, Ori J.; Krogh, Morten; Mikhailov, Andrei Yu.

We show that the moduli space of the (2,0) and little-string theories compactified on T3 with R-symmetry twists is equal to the moduli space of U(1) instantons on a non-commutative T4. The moduli space of U( q) instantons on a non-commutative T4 is obtained from little-string theories of NS5-branes at Aq-1 singularities with twists. A large class of gauge theories with N=4 SUSY in 2+1D and N=2 SUSY in 3+1D are limiting cases of these theories. Hence, the moduli spaces of these gauge theories can be read off from the moduli spaces of instantons on non-commutative tori. We study the phase transitions in these theories and the action of T-duality. On the purely mathematical side, we give a prediction for the moduli space of two U(1) instantons on a non-commutative T4.

Calabi-Yau Geometries: Algorithms, Databases and Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Yang-Hui

2013-08-01

With a bird's-eye view, we survey the landscape of Calabi-Yau threefolds, compact and noncompact, smooth and singular. Emphasis will be placed on the algorithms and databases which have been established over the years, and how they have been useful in the interaction between the physics and the mathematics, especially in string and gauge theories. A skein which runs through this review will be algorithmic and computational algebraic geometry and how, implementing its principles on powerful computers and experimenting with the vast mathematical data, new physics can be learnt. It is hoped that this interdisciplinary glimpse will be of some use to the beginning student.

Plucked String on a Shoestring Budget

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gluck, Paul

2009-01-01

The physics of the plucked string has been treated in many articles and books. For our 12th-grade high school physics laboratory, we have built a cheap, simple sonometer apparatus for each pair of students on which they may investigate some interesting phenomena that arise when a string is plucked. Among these are the generation of harmonics…

XIII Modave Summer School in Mathematical Physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2017-09-01

The Modave Summer School on Mathematical Physics is a yearly summer school in topics of theoretical physics. Various topics ranging from quantum gravity and cosmology to theoretical particle physics and string theory. The school takes place in Modave, a charming village in the Belgian Ardennes close to Huy. Modave School is organised by PhD students for PhD students, and this makes it rather unique. The courses are taught by Post-Docs or late PhD students, and they are all made of pedagogical, basic blackboard lectures about recent topics in theoretical physics. Participants and lecturers eat and sleep in the same place where the lectures are given. The absence of senior members, and the fact of spending day and night together in an isolated, peaceful place contribute to creating an informal atmosphere and facilitating interactions. Lectures of the thirteenth edition are centered around the following subjects: bulk reconstruction in AdS/CFT, twistor theory, AdS_2/CFT_1 and SYK, geometry and topology, and asymptotic charges.

A Two-Step Integrated Theory of Everything (TOE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colella, Antonio

2017-01-01

Two opposing TOE visions are my Two-Step (physics/math) and Hawking's single math step. My Two-Step should replace the single step because of the latter's near zero results after a century of attempts. My physics step had 3 goals. First ``Everything'' was defined as 20 interrelated amplified theories (e.g. string, Higgs forces, spontaneous symmetry breaking, particle decays, dark matter, dark energy, stellar black holes) and their intimate physical interrelationships. Amplifications of Higgs forces theory (e.g. matter particles and their associated Higgs forces were one and inseparable, spontaneous symmetry breaking was bidirectional and caused by high temperatures not Higgs forces, and sum of 8 Higgs forces of 8 permanent matter particles was dark energy) were key to my Two-Step TOE. The second goal answered all outstanding physics questions: what were Higgs forces, dark energy, dark matter, stellar black holes, our universe's creation, etc.? The third goal provided correct inputs for the two part second math step, an E8 Lie algebra for particles and an N-body cosmology simulation (work in progress). Scientific advancement occurs only if the two opposing TOEs are openly discussed/debated.

The Wonders of Supersymmetry: From Quantum Mechanics, Topology, and Noise, to (maybe) the LHC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Poppitz, Erich

2010-04-07

Supersymmetry, relating bosons and fermions was discovered almost 40 years ago in string theory and in quantum field theory, but the seeds of its 'miraculous' properties could have been seen already in quantum mechanics - which is also where it has found some of its more important applications. This talk introduces supersymmetry via the supersymmetric anharmonic oscillator. We shall see that this seemingly trivial example is sufficiently rich, allowing us to illustrate the uses of supersymmetric concepts in a variety of fields: mathematics, elementary particle physics, critical phenomena, and stochastic dynamics.

The Wonders of Supersymmetry: From Quantum Mechanics, Topology, and Noise, to (maybe) the LHC

ScienceCinema

Poppitz, Erich

2017-12-22

Supersymmetry, relating bosons and fermions was discovered almost 40 years ago in string theory and in quantum field theory, but the seeds of its 'miraculous' properties could have been seen already in quantum mechanics - which is also where it has found some of its more important applications. This talk introduces supersymmetry via the supersymmetric anharmonic oscillator. We shall see that this seemingly trivial example is sufficiently rich, allowing us to illustrate the uses of supersymmetric concepts in a variety of fields: mathematics, elementary particle physics, critical phenomena, and stochastic dynamics.

Density fluctuations from strings and galaxy formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vilenkin, A.; Shafi, Q.

1983-01-01

The spectra of density fluctuations caused by strings in a universe dominated either by baryons, neutrinos, or axions are presented. Realistic scenarios for galaxy formation seem possible in all three cases. Examples of grand unified theories which lead to strings with the desired mass scales are given.

Dualities in CHL-models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Persson, Daniel; Volpato, Roberto

2018-04-01

We define a very general class of CHL-models associated with any string theory S (bosonic or supersymmetric) compactified on an internal CFT C× Td . We take the orbifold by a pair (g, δ) , where g is a (possibly non-geometric) symmetry of C and δ is a translation along T n . We analyze the T-dualities of these models and show that in general they contain Atkin–Lehner type symmetries. This generalizes our previous work on N=4 CHL-models based on heterotic string theory on T 6 or type II on K3× T2 , as well as the ‘monstrous’ CHL-models based on a compactification of heterotic string theory on the Frenkel–Lepowsky–Meurman CFT V\

Wrapping rules (in) string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergshoeff, Eric A.; Riccioni, Fabio

2018-01-01

In this paper we show that the number of all 1/2-BPS branes in string theory compactified on a torus can be derived by universal wrapping rules whose formulation we present. These rules even apply to branes in less than ten dimensions whose ten-dimensional origin is an exotic brane. In that case the wrapping rules contain an additional combinatorial factor that is related to the highest dimension in which the ten-dimensional exotic brane, after compactification, can be realized as a standard brane. We show that the wrapping rules also apply to cases with less supersymmetry. As a specific example, we discuss the compactification of IIA/IIB string theory on ( T 4/ ℤ 2) × T n .

Kibble-Zurek scaling and string-net coarsening in topologically ordered systems.

PubMed

Chandran, Anushya; Burnell, F J; Khemani, Vedika; Sondhi, S L

2013-10-09

We consider the non-equilibrium dynamics of topologically ordered systems driven across a continuous phase transition into proximate phases with no, or reduced, topological order. This dynamics exhibits scaling in the spirit of Kibble and Zurek but now without the presence of symmetry breaking and a local order parameter. The late stages of the process are seen to exhibit a slow, coarsening dynamics for the string-net that underlies the physics of the topological phase, a potentially interesting signature of topological order. We illustrate these phenomena in the context of particular phase transitions out of the Abelian Z2 topologically ordered phase of the toric code/Z2 gauge theory, and the non-Abelian SU(2)k ordered phases of the relevant Levin-Wen models.

M-theory through the looking glass: Tachyon condensation in the E8 heterotic string

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horava, Petr; Horava, Petr; Keeler, Cynthia A.

2007-09-20

We study the spacetime decay to nothing in string theory and M-theory. First we recall a nonsupersymmetric version of heterotic M-theory, in which bubbles of nothing -- connecting the two E_8 boundaries by a throat -- are expected to be nucleated. We argue that the fate of this system should be addressed at weak string coupling, where the nonperturbative instanton instability is expected to turn into a perturbative tachyonic one. We identify the unique string theory that could describe this process: The heterotic model with one E_8 gauge group and a singlet tachyon. We then use worldsheet methods to studymore » the tachyon condensation in the NSR formulation of this model, and show that it induces a worldsheet super-Higgs effect. The main theme of our analysis is the possibility of making meaningful alternative gauge choices for worldsheet supersymmetry, in place of the conventional superconformal gauge. We show in a version of unitary gauge how the worldsheet gravitino assimilates the goldstino and becomes dynamical. This picture clarifies recent results of Hellerman and Swanson. We also present analogs of R_\\xi gauges, and note the importance of logarithmic CFT in the context of tachyon condensation.« less

The Relationship of Dynamical Heterogeneity to the Adam-Gibbs and Random First-Order Transition Theories of Glass Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starr, Francis; Douglas, Jack; Sastry, Srikanth

2013-03-01

We examine measures of dynamical heterogeneity for a bead-spring polymer melt and test how these scales compare with the scales hypothesized by the Adam and Gibbs (AG) and random first-order transition (RFOT) theories. We show that the time scale of the high-mobility clusters and strings is associated with a diffusive time scale, while the low-mobility particles' time scale relates to a structural relaxation time. The difference of the characteristic times naturally explains the decoupling of diffusion and structural relaxation time scales. We examine the appropriateness of identifying the size scales of mobile particle clusters or strings with the size of cooperatively rearranging regions (CRR) in the AG and RFOT theories. We find that the string size appears to be the most consistent measure of CRR for both the AG and RFOT models. Identifying strings or clusters with the``mosaic'' length of the RFOT model relaxes the conventional assumption that the``entropic droplet'' are compact. We also confirm the validity of the entropy formulation of the AG theory, constraining the exponent values of the RFOT theory. This constraint, together with the analysis of size scales, enables us to estimate the characteristic exponents of RFOT.

Applications of holography to condensed matter physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, Simon F.

2012-10-01

Holography is one of the key insights to emerge from string theory. It connects quantum gravity to field theory, and thereby provides a non-perturbative formulation of string theory. This has enabled progress on a range of theoretical issues, from the quantum description of spacetime to the calculation of scattering amplitudes in supersymmetric field theories. There have been important insights into both the field theories and the spacetime picture. More recently, applied holography has been the subject of intense and rapid development. The idea here is to use the spacetime description to address questions about strongly coupled field theory relevant to application areas such as finite-temperature QCD and condensed matter physics; the focus in this special issue is on the latter. This involves the study of field theory at finite temperature and with chemical potentials for appropriate charges, described in spacetime by charged black hole solutions. The use of holography to study these systems requires a significant extrapolation, from the field theories where classical gravitational calculations in the bulk are a useful approximation to the experimentally relevant theories. Nonetheless, the approach has had some striking qualitative successes, including the construction of holographic versions of superconducting or superfluid phase transitions, the identification of Fermi liquids with a variety of thermal behaviours, and the construction of a map between a class of gravity solutions and the hydrodynamic regime in the field theory. The use of holography provides a qualitatively new perspective on these aspects of strong coupling dynamics. In addition to insight into the behaviour of the strongly coupled field theories, this work has led to new insights into the bulk dynamics and a deeper understanding of holography. The purpose of this focus issue is to strengthen the connections between this direction and other gravitational research and to make the gravity community more aware of these developments. The issue is made up of original research contributions at the forefront of this area, giving a sense of the range of activity and presenting significant new contributions. Simon F RossGuest Editor

M theory through the looking glass: Tachyon condensation in the E{sub 8} heterotic string

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Horava, Petr; Keeler, Cynthia A.

2008-03-15

We study the spacetime decay to nothing in string theory and M-theory. First we recall a nonsupersymmetric version of heterotic M-theory, in which bubbles of nothing--connecting the two E{sub 8} boundaries by a throat--are expected to be nucleated. We argue that the fate of this system should be addressed at weak string coupling, where the nonperturbative instanton instability is expected to turn into a perturbative tachyonic one. We identify the unique string theory that could describe this process: The heterotic model with one E{sub 8} gauge group and a singlet tachyon. We then use world sheet methods to study themore » tachyon condensation in the Neveu-Schwarz-Ramond formulation of this model, and show that it induces a world sheet super-Higgs effect. The main theme of our analysis is the possibility of making meaningful alternative gauge choices for world sheet supersymmetry, in place of the conventional superconformal gauge. We show in a version of unitary gauge how the world sheet gravitino assimilates the Goldstino and becomes dynamical. This picture clarifies recent results of Hellerman and Swanson. We also present analogs of R{sub {xi}} gauges, and note the importance of logarithmic conformal field theories in the context of tachyon condensation.« less

General N=1 supersymmetric flux vacua of massive type IIA string theory.

PubMed

Behrndt, Klaus; Cvetic, Mirjam

2005-07-08

We derive conditions for the existence of four-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric flux vacua of massive type IIA string theory with general supergravity fluxes turned on. For an SU(3) singlet Killing spinor, we show that such flux vacua exist when the internal geometry is nearly Kähler. The geometry is not warped, all the allowed fluxes are proportional to the mass parameter, and the dilaton is fixed by a ratio of (quantized) fluxes. The four-dimensional cosmological constant, while negative, becomes small in the vacuum with the weak string coupling.

Discrete mathematical physics and particle modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greenspan, D.

The theory and application of the arithmetic approach to the foundations of both Newtonian and special relativistic mechanics are explored. Using only arithmetic, a reformulation of the Newtonian approach is given for: gravity; particle modeling of solids, liquids, and gases; conservative modeling of laminar and turbulent fluid flow, heat conduction, and elastic vibration; and nonconservative modeling of heat convection, shock-wave generation, the liquid drop problem, porous flow, the interface motion of a melting solid, soap films, string vibrations, and solitons. An arithmetic reformulation of special relativistic mechanics is given for theory in one space dimension, relativistic harmonic oscillation, and theory in three space dimensions. A speculative quantum mechanical model of vibrations in the water molecule is also discussed.

Communication: Towards first principles theory of relaxation in supercooled liquids formulated in terms of cooperative motion.

PubMed

Freed, Karl F

2014-10-14

A general theory of the long time, low temperature dynamics of glass-forming fluids remains elusive despite the almost 20 years since the famous pronouncement by the Nobel Laureate P. W. Anderson, "The deepest and most interesting unsolved problem in solid state theory is probably the theory of the nature of glass and the glass transition" [Science 267, 1615 (1995)]. While recent work indicates that Adam-Gibbs theory (AGT) provides a framework for computing the structural relaxation time of supercooled fluids and for analyzing the properties of the cooperatively rearranging dynamical strings observed in low temperature molecular dynamics simulations, the heuristic nature of AGT has impeded general acceptance due to the lack of a first principles derivation [G. Adam and J. H. Gibbs, J. Chem. Phys. 43, 139 (1965)]. This deficiency is rectified here by a statistical mechanical derivation of AGT that uses transition state theory and the assumption that the transition state is composed of elementary excitations of a string-like form. The strings are assumed to form in equilibrium with the mobile particles in the fluid. Hence, transition state theory requires the strings to be in mutual equilibrium and thus to have the size distribution of a self-assembling system, in accord with the simulations and analyses of Douglas and co-workers. The average relaxation rate is computed as a grand canonical ensemble average over all string sizes, and use of the previously determined relation between configurational entropy and the average cluster size in several model equilibrium self-associating systems produces the AGT expression in a manner enabling further extensions and more fundamental tests of the assumptions.

Communication: Towards first principles theory of relaxation in supercooled liquids formulated in terms of cooperative motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freed, Karl F.

2014-10-01

A general theory of the long time, low temperature dynamics of glass-forming fluids remains elusive despite the almost 20 years since the famous pronouncement by the Nobel Laureate P. W. Anderson, "The deepest and most interesting unsolved problem in solid state theory is probably the theory of the nature of glass and the glass transition" [Science 267, 1615 (1995)]. While recent work indicates that Adam-Gibbs theory (AGT) provides a framework for computing the structural relaxation time of supercooled fluids and for analyzing the properties of the cooperatively rearranging dynamical strings observed in low temperature molecular dynamics simulations, the heuristic nature of AGT has impeded general acceptance due to the lack of a first principles derivation [G. Adam and J. H. Gibbs, J. Chem. Phys. 43, 139 (1965)]. This deficiency is rectified here by a statistical mechanical derivation of AGT that uses transition state theory and the assumption that the transition state is composed of elementary excitations of a string-like form. The strings are assumed to form in equilibrium with the mobile particles in the fluid. Hence, transition state theory requires the strings to be in mutual equilibrium and thus to have the size distribution of a self-assembling system, in accord with the simulations and analyses of Douglas and co-workers. The average relaxation rate is computed as a grand canonical ensemble average over all string sizes, and use of the previously determined relation between configurational entropy and the average cluster size in several model equilibrium self-associating systems produces the AGT expression in a manner enabling further extensions and more fundamental tests of the assumptions.

Communication: Towards first principles theory of relaxation in supercooled liquids formulated in terms of cooperative motion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Freed, Karl F., E-mail: freed@uchicago.edu

A general theory of the long time, low temperature dynamics of glass-forming fluids remains elusive despite the almost 20 years since the famous pronouncement by the Nobel Laureate P. W. Anderson, “The deepest and most interesting unsolved problem in solid state theory is probably the theory of the nature of glass and the glass transition” [Science 267, 1615 (1995)]. While recent work indicates that Adam-Gibbs theory (AGT) provides a framework for computing the structural relaxation time of supercooled fluids and for analyzing the properties of the cooperatively rearranging dynamical strings observed in low temperature molecular dynamics simulations, the heuristic naturemore » of AGT has impeded general acceptance due to the lack of a first principles derivation [G. Adam and J. H. Gibbs, J. Chem. Phys. 43, 139 (1965)]. This deficiency is rectified here by a statistical mechanical derivation of AGT that uses transition state theory and the assumption that the transition state is composed of elementary excitations of a string-like form. The strings are assumed to form in equilibrium with the mobile particles in the fluid. Hence, transition state theory requires the strings to be in mutual equilibrium and thus to have the size distribution of a self-assembling system, in accord with the simulations and analyses of Douglas and co-workers. The average relaxation rate is computed as a grand canonical ensemble average over all string sizes, and use of the previously determined relation between configurational entropy and the average cluster size in several model equilibrium self-associating systems produces the AGT expression in a manner enabling further extensions and more fundamental tests of the assumptions.« less

High-energy zero-norm states and symmetries of string theory.

PubMed

Chan, Chuan-Tsung; Ho, Pei-Ming; Lee, Jen-Chi; Teraguchi, Shunsuke; Yang, Yi

2006-05-05

High-energy limit of zero-norm states in the old covariant first quantized spectrum of the 26D open bosonic string, together with the assumption of a smooth behavior of string theory in this limit, are used to derive infinitely many linear relations among the leading high-energy, fixed-angle behavior of four-point functions of different string states. As a result, ratios among all high-energy scattering amplitudes of four arbitrary string states can be calculated algebraically and the leading order amplitudes can be expressed in terms of that of four tachyons as conjectured by Gross in 1988. A dual calculation can also be performed and equivalent results are obtained by taking the high-energy limit of Virasoro constraints. Finally, we compute all high-energy scattering amplitudes of three tachyons and one massive state at the leading order by saddle-point approximation to verify our results.

Supersymmetric attractors, topological strings, and the M5-brane CFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guica, Monica M.

One of the purposes of this thesis is to present the consistent and unifying picture that emerges in string and M-theory with eight supercharges. On one hand, this involves classifying and relating supersymmetric objects that occur in N = 2 compactifications of string and M-theory on a Calabi-Yau manifold. These come in a surprisingly wide variety of four and five-dimensional black holes, black rings and their sometimes very complicated bound states. On the other hand, the topological string also makes its appearance in theories with eight supercharges, and turns out to compute certain black hole degeneracies. We dedicate the introduction and the first chapter to summarizing and reviewing the beautiful relationships between black holes, black rings, their dual conformal field theory and the topological string, and we also outline the remaining puzzles and issues. Some of the black holes in question can be obtained by multiply-wrapping an M-theory M5-brane on a self-intersecting four-cycle in the Calabi-Yau manifold. Their dual microscopic description is known, and consists of a two-dimensional conformal field theory (CFT) which is the low-energy limit of the gauge theory that resides on the worldvolume of the M5 brane. We show that in a certain limit the M5-brane CFT is - perhaps surprisingly - able to reproduce the entropy of a completely different type of black holes, those obtained from wrapped M2-branes, whose microscopic description has not yet been understood. We also argue that certain black hole bound states should also be described by the same CFT, which suggests a unifying description of the various black objects in eight-supercharge supergravity theories. Finally, we describe and present a proof of the so-called OSV conjecture, which states that the mixed partition function of N = 2 four-dimensional BPS black holes equals the modulus square of the type A topological string partition function. We also attempt to use this relationship to better understand corrections to the entropy of supersymmetric black holes and rings in five dimensions.

Amplitudes on plane waves from ambitwistor strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamo, Tim; Casali, Eduardo; Mason, Lionel; Nekovar, Stefan

2017-11-01

In marked contrast to conventional string theory, ambitwistor strings remain solvable worldsheet theories when coupled to curved background fields. We use this fact to consider the quantization of ambitwistor strings on plane wave metric and plane wave gauge field backgrounds. In each case, the worldsheet model is anomaly free as a consequence of the background satisfying the field equations. We derive vertex operators (in both fixed and descended picture numbers) for gravitons and gluons on these backgrounds from the worldsheet CFT, and study the 3-point functions of these vertex operators on the Riemann sphere. These worldsheet correlation functions reproduce the known results for 3-point scattering amplitudes of gravitons and gluons in gravitational and gauge theoretic plane wave backgrounds, respectively.

Constraints on cosmic strings using data from the first Advanced LIGO observing run

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbott, B. P.; Abbott, R.; Abbott, T. D.; Acernese, F.; Ackley, K.; Adams, C.; Adams, T.; Addesso, P.; Adhikari, R. X.; Adya, V. B.; Affeldt, C.; Afrough, M.; Agarwal, B.; Agathos, M.; Agatsuma, K.; Aggarwal, N.; Aguiar, O. D.; Aiello, L.; Ain, A.; Ajith, P.; Allen, B.; Allen, G.; Allocca, A.; Altin, P. A.; Amato, A.; Ananyeva, A.; Anderson, S. B.; Anderson, W. G.; Antier, S.; Appert, S.; Arai, K.; Araya, M. C.; Areeda, J. S.; Arnaud, N.; Arun, K. G.; Ascenzi, S.; Ashton, G.; Ast, M.; Aston, S. M.; Astone, P.; Aufmuth, P.; Aulbert, C.; AultONeal, K.; Avila-Alvarez, A.; Babak, S.; Bacon, P.; Bader, M. K. M.; Bae, S.; Baker, P. T.; Baldaccini, F.; Ballardin, G.; Ballmer, S. W.; Banagiri, S.; Barayoga, J. C.; Barclay, S. E.; Barish, B. C.; Barker, D.; Barone, F.; Barr, B.; Barsotti, L.; Barsuglia, M.; Barta, D.; Bartlett, J.; Bartos, I.; Bassiri, R.; Basti, A.; Batch, J. C.; Baune, C.; Bawaj, M.; Bazzan, M.; Bécsy, B.; Beer, C.; Bejger, M.; Belahcene, I.; Bell, A. S.; Berger, B. K.; Bergmann, G.; Berry, C. P. L.; Bersanetti, D.; Bertolini, A.; Betzwieser, J.; Bhagwat, S.; Bhandare, R.; Bilenko, I. A.; Billingsley, G.; Billman, C. R.; Birch, J.; Birney, R.; Birnholtz, O.; Biscans, S.; Bisht, A.; Bitossi, M.; Biwer, C.; Bizouard, M. A.; Blackburn, J. K.; Blackman, J.; Blair, C. D.; Blair, D. G.; Blair, R. M.; Bloemen, S.; Bock, O.; Bode, N.; Boer, M.; Bogaert, G.; Bohe, A.; Bondu, F.; Bonnand, R.; Boom, B. A.; Bork, R.; Boschi, V.; Bose, S.; Bouffanais, Y.; Bozzi, A.; Bradaschia, C.; Brady, P. R.; Braginsky, V. B.; Branchesi, M.; Brau, J. E.; Briant, T.; Brillet, A.; Brinkmann, M.; Brisson, V.; Brockill, P.; Broida, J. E.; Brooks, A. F.; Brown, D. A.; Brown, D. D.; Brown, N. M.; Brunett, S.; Buchanan, C. C.; Buikema, A.; Bulik, T.; Bulten, H. J.; Buonanno, A.; Buskulic, D.; Buy, C.; Byer, R. L.; Cabero, M.; Cadonati, L.; Cagnoli, G.; Cahillane, C.; Calderón Bustillo, J.; Callister, T. A.; Calloni, E.; Camp, J. B.; Canepa, M.; Canizares, P.; Cannon, K. C.; Cao, H.; Cao, J.; Capano, C. D.; Capocasa, E.; Carbognani, F.; Caride, S.; Carney, M. F.; Casanueva Diaz, J.; Casentini, C.; Caudill, S.; Cavaglià, M.; Cavalier, F.; Cavalieri, R.; Cella, G.; Cepeda, C. B.; Cerboni Baiardi, L.; Cerretani, G.; Cesarini, E.; Chamberlin, S. J.; Chan, M.; Chao, S.; Charlton, P.; Chassande-Mottin, E.; Chatterjee, D.; Cheeseboro, B. D.; Chen, H. Y.; Chen, Y.; Cheng, H.-P.; Chincarini, A.; Chiummo, A.; Chmiel, T.; Cho, H. S.; Cho, M.; Chow, J. H.; Christensen, N.; Chu, Q.; Chua, A. J. K.; Chua, S.; Chung, A. K. W.; Chung, S.; Ciani, G.; Ciolfi, R.; Cirelli, C. E.; Cirone, A.; Clara, F.; Clark, J. A.; Cleva, F.; Cocchieri, C.; Coccia, E.; Cohadon, P.-F.; Colla, A.; Collette, C. G.; Cominsky, L. R.; Constancio, M.; Conti, L.; Cooper, S. J.; Corban, P.; Corbitt, T. R.; Corley, K. R.; Cornish, N.; Corsi, A.; Cortese, S.; Costa, C. A.; Coughlin, M. W.; Coughlin, S. B.; Coulon, J.-P.; Countryman, S. T.; Couvares, P.; Covas, P. B.; Cowan, E. E.; Coward, D. M.; Cowart, M. J.; Coyne, D. C.; Coyne, R.; Creighton, J. D. E.; Creighton, T. D.; Cripe, J.; Crowder, S. G.; Cullen, T. J.; Cumming, A.; Cunningham, L.; Cuoco, E.; Dal Canton, T.; Danilishin, S. L.; D'Antonio, S.; Danzmann, K.; Dasgupta, A.; Da Silva Costa, C. F.; Dattilo, V.; Dave, I.; Davier, M.; Davis, D.; Daw, E. J.; Day, B.; De, S.; DeBra, D.; Degallaix, J.; De Laurentis, M.; Deléglise, S.; Del Pozzo, W.; Denker, T.; Dent, T.; Dergachev, V.; De Rosa, R.; DeRosa, R. T.; DeSalvo, R.; Devenson, J.; Devine, R. C.; Dhurandhar, S.; Díaz, M. C.; Di Fiore, L.; Di Giovanni, M.; Di Girolamo, T.; Di Lieto, A.; Di Pace, S.; Di Palma, I.; Di Renzo, F.; Doctor, Z.; Dolique, V.; Donovan, F.; Dooley, K. L.; Doravari, S.; Dorrington, I.; Douglas, R.; Dovale Álvarez, M.; Downes, T. P.; Drago, M.; Drever, R. W. P.; Driggers, J. C.; Du, Z.; Ducrot, M.; Duncan, J.; Dwyer, S. E.; Edo, T. B.; Edwards, M. C.; Effler, A.; Eggenstein, H.-B.; Ehrens, P.; Eichholz, J.; Eikenberry, S. S.; Eisenstein, R. A.; Essick, R. C.; Etienne, Z. B.; Etzel, T.; Evans, M.; Evans, T. M.; Factourovich, M.; Fafone, V.; Fair, H.; Fairhurst, S.; Fan, X.; Farinon, S.; Farr, B.; Farr, W. M.; Fauchon-Jones, E. J.; Favata, M.; Fays, M.; Fehrmann, H.; Feicht, J.; Fejer, M. M.; Fernandez-Galiana, A.; Ferrante, I.; Ferreira, E. C.; Ferrini, F.; Fidecaro, F.; Fiori, I.; Fiorucci, D.; Fisher, R. P.; Fitz-Axen, M.; Flaminio, R.; Fletcher, M.; Fong, H.; Forsyth, P. W. F.; Forsyth, S. S.; Fournier, J.-D.; Frasca, S.; Frasconi, F.; Frei, Z.; Freise, A.; Frey, R.; Frey, V.; Fries, E. M.; Fritschel, P.; Frolov, V. V.; Fulda, P.; Fyffe, M.; Gabbard, H.; Gabel, M.; Gadre, B. U.; Gaebel, S. M.; Gair, J. R.; Gammaitoni, L.; Ganija, M. R.; Gaonkar, S. G.; Garufi, F.; Gaudio, S.; Gaur, G.; Gayathri, V.; Gehrels, N.; Gemme, G.; Genin, E.; Gennai, A.; George, D.; George, J.; Gergely, L.; Germain, V.; Ghonge, S.; Ghosh, Abhirup; Ghosh, Archisman; Ghosh, S.; Giaime, J. A.; Giardina, K. D.; Giazotto, A.; Gill, K.; Glover, L.; Goetz, E.; Goetz, R.; Gomes, S.; González, G.; Gonzalez Castro, J. M.; Gopakumar, A.; Gorodetsky, M. L.; Gossan, S. E.; Gosselin, M.; Gouaty, R.; Grado, A.; Graef, C.; Granata, M.; Grant, A.; Gras, S.; Gray, C.; Greco, G.; Green, A. C.; Groot, P.; Grote, H.; Grunewald, S.; Gruning, P.; Guidi, G. M.; Guo, X.; Gupta, A.; Gupta, M. K.; Gushwa, K. E.; Gustafson, E. K.; Gustafson, R.; Hall, B. R.; Hall, E. D.; Hammond, G.; Haney, M.; Hanke, M. M.; Hanks, J.; Hanna, C.; Hannam, M. D.; Hannuksela, O. A.; Hanson, J.; Hardwick, T.; Harms, J.; Harry, G. M.; Harry, I. W.; Hart, M. J.; Haster, C.-J.; Haughian, K.; Healy, J.; Heidmann, A.; Heintze, M. C.; Heitmann, H.; Hello, P.; Hemming, G.; Hendry, M.; Heng, I. S.; Hennig, J.; Henry, J.; Heptonstall, A. W.; Heurs, M.; Hild, S.; Hoak, D.; Hofman, D.; Holt, K.; Holz, D. E.; Hopkins, P.; Horst, C.; Hough, J.; Houston, E. A.; Howell, E. J.; Hu, Y. M.; Huerta, E. A.; Huet, D.; Hughey, B.; Husa, S.; Huttner, S. H.; Huynh-Dinh, T.; Indik, N.; Ingram, D. R.; Inta, R.; Intini, G.; Isa, H. N.; Isac, J.-M.; Isi, M.; Iyer, B. R.; Izumi, K.; Jacqmin, T.; Jani, K.; Jaranowski, P.; Jawahar, S.; Jiménez-Forteza, F.; Johnson, W. W.; Jones, D. I.; Jones, R.; Jonker, R. J. G.; Ju, L.; Junker, J.; Kalaghatgi, C. V.; Kalogera, V.; Kandhasamy, S.; Kang, G.; Kanner, J. B.; Karki, S.; Karvinen, K. S.; Kasprzack, M.; Katolik, M.; Katsavounidis, E.; Katzman, W.; Kaufer, S.; Kawabe, K.; Kéfélian, F.; Keitel, D.; Kemball, A. J.; Kennedy, R.; Kent, C.; Key, J. S.; Khalili, F. Y.; Khan, I.; Khan, S.; Khan, Z.; Khazanov, E. A.; Kijbunchoo, N.; Kim, Chunglee; Kim, J. C.; Kim, W.; Kim, W. S.; Kim, Y.-M.; Kimbrell, S. J.; King, E. J.; King, P. J.; Kirchhoff, R.; Kissel, J. S.; Kleybolte, L.; Klimenko, S.; Koch, P.; Koehlenbeck, S. M.; Koley, S.; Kondrashov, V.; Kontos, A.; Korobko, M.; Korth, W. Z.; Kowalska, I.; Kozak, D. B.; Krämer, C.; Kringel, V.; Krishnan, B.; Królak, A.; Kuehn, G.; Kumar, P.; Kumar, R.; Kumar, S.; Kuo, L.; Kutynia, A.; Kwang, S.; Lackey, B. D.; Lai, K. H.; Landry, M.; Lang, R. N.; Lange, J.; Lantz, B.; Lanza, R. K.; Lartaux-Vollard, A.; Lasky, P. D.; Laxen, M.; Lazzarini, A.; Lazzaro, C.; Leaci, P.; Leavey, S.; Lee, C. H.; Lee, H. K.; Lee, H. M.; Lee, H. W.; Lee, K.; Lehmann, J.; Lenon, A.; Leonardi, M.; Leroy, N.; Letendre, N.; Levin, Y.; Li, T. G. F.; Libson, A.; Littenberg, T. B.; Liu, J.; Lo, R. K. L.; Lockerbie, N. A.; London, L. T.; Lord, J. E.; Lorenzini, M.; Loriette, V.; Lormand, M.; Losurdo, G.; Lough, J. D.; Lousto, C. O.; Lovelace, G.; Lück, H.; Lumaca, D.; Lundgren, A. P.; Lynch, R.; Ma, Y.; Macfoy, S.; Machenschalk, B.; MacInnis, M.; Macleod, D. M.; Magaña Hernandez, I.; Magaña-Sandoval, F.; Magaña Zertuche, L.; Magee, R. M.; Majorana, E.; Maksimovic, I.; Man, N.; Mandic, V.; Mangano, V.; Mansell, G. L.; Manske, M.; Mantovani, M.; Marchesoni, F.; Marion, F.; Márka, S.; Márka, Z.; Markakis, C.; Markosyan, A. S.; Maros, E.; Martelli, F.; Martellini, L.; Martin, I. W.; Martynov, D. V.; Mason, K.; Masserot, A.; Massinger, T. J.; Masso-Reid, M.; Mastrogiovanni, S.; Matas, A.; Matichard, F.; Matone, L.; Mavalvala, N.; Mazumder, N.; McCarthy, R.; McClelland, D. E.; McCormick, S.; McCuller, L.; McGuire, S. C.; McIntyre, G.; McIver, J.; McManus, D. J.; McRae, T.; McWilliams, S. T.; Meacher, D.; Meadors, G. D.; Meidam, J.; Mejuto-Villa, E.; Melatos, A.; Mendell, G.; Mercer, R. A.; Merilh, E. L.; Merzougui, M.; Meshkov, S.; Messenger, C.; Messick, C.; Metzdorff, R.; Meyers, P. M.; Mezzani, F.; Miao, H.; Michel, C.; Middleton, H.; Mikhailov, E. E.; Milano, L.; Miller, A. L.; Miller, A.; Miller, B. B.; Miller, J.; Millhouse, M.; Minazzoli, O.; Minenkov, Y.; Ming, J.; Mishra, C.; Mitra, S.; Mitrofanov, V. P.; Mitselmakher, G.; Mittleman, R.; Moggi, A.; Mohan, M.; Mohapatra, S. R. P.; Montani, M.; Moore, B. C.; Moore, C. J.; Moraru, D.; Moreno, G.; Morriss, S. R.; Mours, B.; Mow-Lowry, C. M.; Mueller, G.; Muir, A. W.; Mukherjee, Arunava; Mukherjee, D.; Mukherjee, S.; Mukund, N.; Mullavey, A.; Munch, J.; Muniz, E. A. M.; Murray, P. G.; Napier, K.; Nardecchia, I.; Naticchioni, L.; Nayak, R. K.; Nelemans, G.; Nelson, T. J. N.; Neri, M.; Nery, M.; Neunzert, A.; Newport, J. M.; Newton, G.; Ng, K. K. Y.; Nguyen, T. T.; Nichols, D.; Nielsen, A. B.; Nissanke, S.; Nitz, A.; Noack, A.; Nocera, F.; Nolting, D.; Normandin, M. E. N.; Nuttall, L. K.; Oberling, J.; Ochsner, E.; Oelker, E.; Ogin, G. H.; Oh, J. J.; Oh, S. H.; Ohme, F.; Oliver, M.; Oppermann, P.; Oram, Richard J.; O'Reilly, B.; Ormiston, R.; Ortega, L. F.; O'Shaughnessy, R.; Ottaway, D. J.; Overmier, H.; Owen, B. J.; Pace, A. E.; Page, J.; Page, M. A.; Pai, A.; Pai, S. A.; Palamos, J. R.; Palashov, O.; Palomba, C.; Pal-Singh, A.; Pan, H.; Pang, B.; Pang, P. T. H.; Pankow, C.; Pannarale, F.; Pant, B. C.; Paoletti, F.; Paoli, A.; Papa, M. A.; Paris, H. R.; Parker, W.; Pascucci, D.; Pasqualetti, A.; Passaquieti, R.; Passuello, D.; Patricelli, B.; Pearlstone, B. L.; Pedraza, M.; Pedurand, R.; Pekowsky, L.; Pele, A.; Penn, S.; Perez, C. J.; Perreca, A.; Perri, L. M.; Pfeiffer, H. P.; Phelps, M.; Piccinni, O. J.; Pichot, M.; Piergiovanni, F.; Pierro, V.; Pillant, G.; Pinard, L.; Pinto, I. M.; Pitkin, M.; Poggiani, R.; Popolizio, P.; Porter, E. K.; Post, A.; Powell, J.; Prasad, J.; Pratt, J. W. W.; Predoi, V.; Prestegard, T.; Prijatelj, M.; Principe, M.; Privitera, S.; Prix, R.; Prodi, G. A.; Prokhorov, L. G.; Puncken, O.; Punturo, M.; Puppo, P.; Pürrer, M.; Qi, H.; Qin, J.; Qiu, S.; Quetschke, V.; Quintero, E. A.; Quitzow-James, R.; Raab, F. J.; Rabeling, D. S.; Radkins, H.; Raffai, P.; Raja, S.; Rajan, C.; Rakhmanov, M.; Ramirez, K. E.; Rapagnani, P.; Raymond, V.; Razzano, M.; Read, J.; Regimbau, T.; Rei, L.; Reid, S.; Reitze, D. H.; Rew, H.; Reyes, S. D.; Ricci, F.; Ricker, P. M.; Rieger, S.; Riles, K.; Rizzo, M.; Robertson, N. A.; Robie, R.; Robinet, F.; Rocchi, A.; Rolland, L.; Rollins, J. G.; Roma, V. J.; Romano, J. D.; Romano, R.; Romel, C. L.; Romie, J. H.; Rosińska, D.; Ross, M. P.; Rowan, S.; Rüdiger, A.; Ruggi, P.; Ryan, K.; Sachdev, S.; Sadecki, T.; Sadeghian, L.; Sakellariadou, M.; Salconi, L.; Saleem, M.; Salemi, F.; Samajdar, A.; Sammut, L.; Sampson, L. M.; Sanchez, E. J.; Sandberg, V.; Sandeen, B.; Sanders, J. R.; Sassolas, B.; Saulson, P. R.; Sauter, O.; Savage, R. L.; Sawadsky, A.; Schale, P.; Scheuer, J.; Schmidt, E.; Schmidt, J.; Schmidt, P.; Schnabel, R.; Schofield, R. M. S.; Schönbeck, A.; Schreiber, E.; Schuette, D.; Schulte, B. W.; Schutz, B. F.; Schwalbe, S. G.; Scott, J.; Scott, S. M.; Seidel, E.; Sellers, D.; Sengupta, A. S.; Sentenac, D.; Sequino, V.; Sergeev, A.; Shaddock, D. A.; Shaffer, T. J.; Shah, A. A.; Shahriar, M. S.; Shao, L.; Shapiro, B.; Shawhan, P.; Sheperd, A.; Shoemaker, D. H.; Shoemaker, D. M.; Siellez, K.; Siemens, X.; Sieniawska, M.; Sigg, D.; Silva, A. D.; Singer, A.; Singer, L. P.; Singh, A.; Singh, R.; Singhal, A.; Sintes, A. M.; Slagmolen, B. J. J.; Smith, B.; Smith, J. R.; Smith, R. J. E.; Son, E. J.; Sonnenberg, J. A.; Sorazu, B.; Sorrentino, F.; Souradeep, T.; Spencer, A. P.; Srivastava, A. K.; Staley, A.; Steer, D. A.; Steinke, M.; Steinlechner, J.; Steinlechner, S.; Steinmeyer, D.; Stephens, B. C.; Stone, R.; Strain, K. A.; Stratta, G.; Strigin, S. E.; Sturani, R.; Stuver, A. L.; Summerscales, T. Z.; Sun, L.; Sunil, S.; Sutton, P. J.; Swinkels, B. L.; Szczepańczyk, M. J.; Tacca, M.; Talukder, D.; Tanner, D. B.; Tápai, M.; Taracchini, A.; Taylor, J. A.; Taylor, R.; Theeg, T.; Thomas, E. G.; Thomas, M.; Thomas, P.; Thorne, K. A.; Thorne, K. S.; Thrane, E.; Tiwari, S.; Tiwari, V.; Tokmakov, K. V.; Toland, K.; Tonelli, M.; Tornasi, Z.; Torrie, C. I.; Töyrä, D.; Travasso, F.; Traylor, G.; Trifirò, D.; Trinastic, J.; Tringali, M. C.; Trozzo, L.; Tsang, K. W.; Tse, M.; Tso, R.; Tuyenbayev, D.; Ueno, K.; Ugolini, D.; Unnikrishnan, C. S.; Urban, A. L.; Usman, S. A.; Vahlbruch, H.; Vajente, G.; Valdes, G.; Vallisneri, M.; van Bakel, N.; van Beuzekom, M.; van den Brand, J. F. J.; Van Den Broeck, C.; Vander-Hyde, D. C.; van der Schaaf, L.; van Heijningen, J. V.; van Veggel, A. A.; Vardaro, M.; Varma, V.; Vass, S.; Vasúth, M.; Vecchio, A.; Vedovato, G.; Veitch, J.; Veitch, P. J.; Venkateswara, K.; Venugopalan, G.; Verkindt, D.; Vetrano, F.; Viceré, A.; Viets, A. D.; Vinciguerra, S.; Vine, D. J.; Vinet, J.-Y.; Vitale, S.; Vo, T.; Vocca, H.; Vorvick, C.; Voss, D. V.; Vousden, W. D.; Vyatchanin, S. P.; Wade, A. R.; Wade, L. E.; Wade, M.; Walet, R.; Walker, M.; Wallace, L.; Walsh, S.; Wang, G.; Wang, H.; Wang, J. Z.; Wang, M.; Wang, Y.-F.; Wang, Y.; Ward, R. L.; Warner, J.; Was, M.; Watchi, J.; Weaver, B.; Wei, L.-W.; Weinert, M.; Weinstein, A. J.; Weiss, R.; Wen, L.; Wessel, E. K.; Weßels, P.; Westphal, T.; Wette, K.; Whelan, J. T.; Whiting, B. F.; Whittle, C.; Williams, D.; Williams, R. D.; Williamson, A. R.; Willis, J. L.; Willke, B.; Wimmer, M. H.; Winkler, W.; Wipf, C. C.; Wittel, H.; Woan, G.; Woehler, J.; Wofford, J.; Wong, K. W. K.; Worden, J.; Wright, J. L.; Wu, D. S.; Wu, G.; Yam, W.; Yamamoto, H.; Yancey, C. C.; Yap, M. J.; Yu, Hang; Yu, Haocun; Yvert, M.; ZadroŻny, A.; Zanolin, M.; Zelenova, T.; Zendri, J.-P.; Zevin, M.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, M.; Zhang, T.; Zhang, Y.-H.; Zhao, C.; Zhou, M.; Zhou, Z.; Zhu, S. J.; Zhu, X. J.; Zucker, M. E.; Zweizig, J.; LIGO Scientific Collaboration; Virgo Collaboration

2018-05-01

Cosmic strings are topological defects which can be formed in grand unified theory scale phase transitions in the early universe. They are also predicted to form in the context of string theory. The main mechanism for a network of Nambu-Goto cosmic strings to lose energy is through the production of loops and the subsequent emission of gravitational waves, thus offering an experimental signature for the existence of cosmic strings. Here we report on the analysis conducted to specifically search for gravitational-wave bursts from cosmic string loops in the data of Advanced LIGO 2015-2016 observing run (O1). No evidence of such signals was found in the data, and as a result we set upper limits on the cosmic string parameters for three recent loop distribution models. In this paper, we initially derive constraints on the string tension G μ and the intercommutation probability, using not only the burst analysis performed on the O1 data set but also results from the previously published LIGO stochastic O1 analysis, pulsar timing arrays, cosmic microwave background and big-bang nucleosynthesis experiments. We show that these data sets are complementary in that they probe gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loops during very different epochs. Finally, we show that the data sets exclude large parts of the parameter space of the three loop distribution models we consider.

Harmonizing Physics & Cosmology With Everything Else in the Universe(s)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asija, Pal

2006-03-01

This paper postulates a theory of everything including our known finite physical universe within and as sub-set of an infinite virtual invisible universe occupying some of the same space and time. It attempts to harmonize astrophysics with everything else including life. It compares and contrasts properties, similarities, differences and relationships between the two universe(s). A particular attention is paid to the interface between the two and the challenges of building and/or traversing bridges between them. A number of inflection points between the two are identified. The paper also delineates their relationship to big bang, theory of evolution, gravity, dark matter, black holes, time travel, speed of light, theory of relativity and string theory just to name a few. Several new terms are introduced and defined to discuss proper relationship, transition and interface between the body, soul and spirit as well as their relationship to brain and mind. Physical bodies & beings are compared with virtual, meta and ultra bodies and beings and how the ``Virtual Inside'' relates to people, pets, plants and particles and their micro constituents as well as macro sets. The past, present, and potential of the concurrent universe(s) is compared and contrasted along with many myths and misconceptions of the meta physics as well as modern physics.

Plucked String on a Shoestring Budget

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gluck, Paul

2009-01-01

The physics of the plucked string has been treated in many articles and books.1-4 For our 12th-grade high school physics laboratory, we have built a cheap, simple sonometer apparatus for each pair of students on which they may investigate some interesting phenomena that arise when a string is plucked. Among these are the generation of harmonics (overtones) and the way their number depends on the length of a string and on where one plucks, the relation between the frequencies of the fundamental and those of the harmonics, and the way these are affected by changes in the length and the tension in the string. Such an experiment will help students appreciate the working of stringed musical instruments and, in particular, the contribution of overtones to the richness of sound produced.

CMB power spectrum contribution from cosmic strings using field-evolution simulations of the Abelian Higgs model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bevis, Neil; Hindmarsh, Mark; Kunz, Martin; Urrestilla, Jon

2007-03-01

We present the first field-theoretic calculations of the contribution made by cosmic strings to the temperature power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Unlike previous work, in which strings were modeled as idealized one-dimensional objects, we evolve the simplest example of an underlying field theory containing local U(1) strings, the Abelian Higgs model. Limitations imposed by finite computational volumes are overcome using the scaling property of string networks and a further extrapolation related to the lessening of the string width in comoving coordinates. The strings and their decay products, which are automatically included in the field theory approach, source metric perturbations via their energy-momentum tensor, the unequal-time correlation functions of which are used as input into the CMB calculation phase. These calculations involve the use of a modified version of CMBEASY, with results provided over the full range of relevant scales. We find that the string tension μ required to normalize to the WMAP 3-year data at multipole ℓ=10 is Gμ=[2.04±0.06(stat.)±0.12(sys.)]×10-6, where we have quoted statistical and systematic errors separately, and G is Newton’s constant. This is a factor 2 3 higher than values in current circulation.

Physics of automated driving in framework of three-phase traffic theory.

PubMed

Kerner, Boris S

2018-04-01

We have revealed physical features of automated driving in the framework of the three-phase traffic theory for which there is no fixed time headway to the preceding vehicle. A comparison with the classical model approach to automated driving for which an automated driving vehicle tries to reach a fixed (desired or "optimal") time headway to the preceding vehicle has been made. It turns out that automated driving in the framework of the three-phase traffic theory can exhibit the following advantages in comparison with the classical model of automated driving: (i) The absence of string instability. (ii) Considerably smaller speed disturbances at road bottlenecks. (iii) Automated driving vehicles based on the three-phase theory can decrease the probability of traffic breakdown at the bottleneck in mixed traffic flow consisting of human driving and automated driving vehicles; on the contrary, even a single automated driving vehicle based on the classical approach can provoke traffic breakdown at the bottleneck in mixed traffic flow.

Physics of automated driving in framework of three-phase traffic theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerner, Boris S.

2018-04-01

We have revealed physical features of automated driving in the framework of the three-phase traffic theory for which there is no fixed time headway to the preceding vehicle. A comparison with the classical model approach to automated driving for which an automated driving vehicle tries to reach a fixed (desired or "optimal") time headway to the preceding vehicle has been made. It turns out that automated driving in the framework of the three-phase traffic theory can exhibit the following advantages in comparison with the classical model of automated driving: (i) The absence of string instability. (ii) Considerably smaller speed disturbances at road bottlenecks. (iii) Automated driving vehicles based on the three-phase theory can decrease the probability of traffic breakdown at the bottleneck in mixed traffic flow consisting of human driving and automated driving vehicles; on the contrary, even a single automated driving vehicle based on the classical approach can provoke traffic breakdown at the bottleneck in mixed traffic flow.

Topics in Two-Dimensional Quantum Gravity and Chern-Simons Gauge Theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zemba, Guillermo Raul

A series of studies in two and three dimensional theories is presented. The two dimensional problems are considered in the framework of String Theory. The first one determines the region of integration in the space of inequivalent tori of a tadpole diagram in Closed String Field Theory, using the naive Witten three-string vertex. It is shown that every surface is counted an infinite number of times and the source of this behavior is identified. The second study analyzes the behavior of the discrete matrix model of two dimensional gravity without matter using a mathematically well-defined construction, confirming several conjectures and partial results from the literature. The studies in three dimensions are based on Chern Simons pure gauge theory. The first one deals with the projection of the theory onto a two-dimensional surface of constant time, whereas the second analyzes the large N behavior of the SU(N) theory and makes evident a duality symmetry between the only two parameters of the theory. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253 -1690.).

From the currency rate quotations onto strings and brane world scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horváth, D.; Pincak, R.

2012-11-01

In the paper, we study the projections of the real exchange rate dynamics onto the string-like topology. Our approach is inspired by the contemporary movements in the string theory. The string map of data is defined here by the boundary conditions, characteristic length, real valued and the method of redistribution of information. As a practical matter, this map represents the detrending and data standardization procedure. We introduced maps onto 1-end-point and 2-end-point open strings that satisfy the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. The questions of the choice of extra-dimensions, symmetries, duality and ways to the partial compactification are discussed. Subsequently, we pass to higher dimensional and more complex objects. The 2D-Brane was suggested which incorporated bid-ask spreads. Polarization by the spread was considered which admitted analyzing arbitrage opportunities on the market where transaction costs are taken into account. The model of the rotating string which naturally yields calculation of angular momentum is suitable for tracking of several currency pairs. The systematic way which allows one suggest more structured maps suitable for a simultaneous study of several currency pairs was analyzed by means of the Gâteaux generalized differential calculus. The effect of the string and brane maps on test data was studied by comparing their mean statistical characteristics. The study revealed notable differences between topologies. We review the dependence on the characteristic string length, mean fluctuations and properties of the intra-string statistics. The study explores the coupling of the string amplitude and volatility. The possible utilizations of the string theory approach in financial markets are slight.

AdS/CFT beyond the N = 4 SYM paradigm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomoni, Elli

In this thesis we present studies in the AdS/CFT correspondence that intend to push the present knowledge beyond the N = 4 super Yang-Mills (SYM) paradigm. The first part is concerned with the study of non-supersymmetric deformations of N = 4 SYM (which still are in the N = 4 universality class). For non-supersymmetric CFT's at Large N we explore the correspondence between string theory tachyons in the bulk and instabilities on the boundary effective action. The operators dual to AdS tachyons have anomalous dimensions that are purely complex numbers. We give a prescription for calculating the mass of the tachyon from the field theory side. Moreover, we apply this general dictionary to the case of intersecting D7 flavor branes in AdS 5 x S5 and obtain the mass of the open string tachyon that is dual to the instability in the mesonic sector of the theory. In the second part we present work aiming at finding string theory duals for gauge theories beyond the N = 4 universality class, i.e. theories that have genuinely less supersymmetry and unquenched flavor. Arguably the next simplest example after N = 4 SYM is N = 2 SU(Nc) SYM coupled to Nf = 2Nc fundamental hypermultiplets. The theory admits a Veneziano expansion of large Nc and large Nf, with Nf/Nc and lambda = g2Nc kept fixed. The topological structure of large N diagrams invites a general conjecture: the flavor-singlet sector of a gauge theory in the Veneziano limit is dual to a closed string theory. We present the one-loop Hamiltonian for the scalar sector of N = 2 superconformal QCD and study this integrability of the theory. Furthermore, we explore the chiral spectrum of the protected operators of the theory using the one-loop anomalous dimensions and, additionally, by studying the index of the theory. We finally search for possible AdS dual trying to match the chiral spectrum. We conclude that the string dual is a sub-critical background containing both an AdS 5 and an S1 factor.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shiu, Gary; Everett, Lisa

The Tenth Annual International String Phenomenology Conference was held at the University of Wisconsin, Madison on August 22-26, 2011. The Conference was organized by Profs. Gary Shiu and Lisa Everett, with the help of two postdoctoral fellows Heng-Yu Chen and Jiajun Xu. The scientific subjects of the talks and discussions were chosen to be widely interdisciplinary, reflecting the scope and maturity of the field. The conference brought together researchers of diverse subfields in physics and mathematics to present and discuss recent developments in connecting observable particle physics and cosmology with the domain of fundamental theory. This report summarizes the outcomemore » of this conference.« less

A new method for finding the minimum free energy pathway of ions and small molecule transportation through protein based on 3D-RISM theory and the string method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, Norio

2018-05-01

A new method for finding the minimum free energy pathway (MFEP) of ions and small molecule transportation through a protein based on the three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) theory combined with the string method has been proposed. The 3D-RISM theory produces the distribution function, or the potential of mean force (PMF), for transporting substances around the given protein structures. By applying the string method to the PMF surface, one can readily determine the MFEP on the PMF surface. The method has been applied to consider the Na+ conduction pathway of channelrhodopsin as an example.

Quantum phases of a vortex string.

PubMed

Auzzi, Roberto; Prem Kumar, S

2009-12-04

We argue that the world sheet dynamics of magnetic k strings in the Higgs phase of the mass-deformed N = 4 theory is controlled by a bosonic O(3) sigma model with anisotropy and a topological theta term. The theory interpolates between a massless O(2) symmetric regime, a massive O(3) symmetric phase, and another massive phase with a spontaneously broken Z(2) symmetry. The first two phases are separated by a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. When theta = pi, the O(3) symmetric phase flows to an interacting fixed point; sigma model kinks and their dyonic partners become degenerate, mirroring the behavior of monopoles in the parent gauge theory. This leads to the identification of the kinks with monopoles confined on the string.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhu, Zheng; Tian, Chushun; Jiang, Hong-Chen

Charge order appears to be an ubiquitous phenomenon in doped Mott insulators, which is currently under intense experimental and theoretical investigations particularly in the high T c cuprates. This phenomenon is conventionally understood in terms of Hartree-Fock-type mean-field theory. Here we demonstrate a mechanism for charge modulation which is rooted in the many-particle quantum physics arising in the strong coupling limit. Specifically, we consider the problem of a single hole in a bipartite t - J ladder. As a remnant of the fermion signs, the hopping hole picks up subtle phases pending the fluctuating spins, the so-called phase-string effect. Wemore » demonstrate the presence of charge modulations in the density matrix renormalization group solutions which disappear when the phase strings are switched off. This form of charge modulation can be understood analytically in a path-integral language with a mean-field-like approximation adopted, showing that the phase strings give rise to constructive interferences leading to self-localization. When the latter occurs, left- and right-moving propagating modes emerge inside the localization volume and their interference is responsible for the real space charge modulation.« less

Axion cosmology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marsh, David J. E.

2016-07-01

Axions comprise a broad class of particles that can play a major role in explaining the unknown aspects of cosmology. They are also well-motivated within high energy physics, appearing in theories related to CP-violation in the standard model, supersymmetric theories, and theories with extra-dimensions, including string theory, and so axion cosmology offers us a unique view onto these theories. I review the motivation and models for axions in particle physics and string theory. I then present a comprehensive and pedagogical view on the cosmology and astrophysics of axion-like particles, starting from inflation and progressing via BBN, the CMB, reionization and structure formation, up to the present-day Universe. Topics covered include: axion dark matter (DM); direct and indirect detection of axions, reviewing existing and future experiments; axions as dark radiation; axions and the cosmological constant problem; decays of heavy axions; axions and stellar astrophysics; black hole superradiance; axions and astrophysical magnetic fields; axion inflation, and axion DM as an indirect probe of inflation. A major focus is on the population of ultralight axions created via vacuum realignment, and its role as a DM candidate with distinctive phenomenology. Cosmological observations place robust constraints on the axion mass and relic density in this scenario, and I review where such constraints come from. I next cover aspects of galaxy formation with axion DM, and ways this can be used to further search for evidence of axions. An absolute lower bound on DM particle mass is established. It is ma > 10-24eV from linear observables, extending to ma ≳ 10-22eV from non-linear observables, and has the potential to reach ma ≳ 10-18eV in the future. These bounds are weaker if the axion is not all of the DM, giving rise to limits on the relic density at low mass. This leads to the exciting possibility that the effects of axion DM on structure formation could one day be detected, and the axion mass and relic density measured from cosmological observables.

Patterns of the cosmic microwave background from evolving string networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bouchet, Francois R.; Bennett, David P.; Stebbins, Albert

1988-01-01

A network of cosmic strings generated in the early universe may still exist today. As the strings move across the sky, they produce, by gravitational lensing, a characteristic pattern of anisotropies in the temperature of the cosmic microwave background. The observed absence of such anisotropies places constraints on theories in which galaxy formation is seeded by strings, but it is anticipated that the next generation of experiments will detect them.

Light Z' in heterotic string standardlike models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Athanasopoulos, P.; Faraggi, A. E.; Mehta, V. M.

2014-05-01

The discovery of the Higgs boson at the LHC supports the hypothesis that the Standard Model provides an effective parametrization of all subatomic experimental data up to the Planck scale. String theory, which provides a viable perturbative approach to quantum gravity, requires for its consistency the existence of additional gauge symmetries beyond the Standard Model. The construction of heterotic string models with a viable light Z' is, however, highly constrained. We outline the construction of standardlike heterotic string models that allow for an additional Abelian gauge symmetry that may remain unbroken down to low scales. We present a string inspired model, consistent with the string constraints.

Diffractive Scattering and Gauge/String Duality

ScienceCinema

Tan, Chung-I

2018-05-11

High-energy diffractive scattering will be discussed based on Gauge/String duality. As shown by Brower, Polchinski, Strassler and Tan, the ubiquitous Pomeron emerges naturally in gauge theories with string-theoretical descriptions. Its existence is intimately tied to gluons, and also to the energy-momentum tensor. With a confining dual background metric, the Pomeron can be interpreted as a 'massive graviton'. In a single unified step, both its infrared and ultraviolet properties are dealt with, reflecting confinement and conformal symmetry respectively. An effective field theory for high-energy scattering can be constructed. Applications based on this approach will also be described.

Topics in string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorbatov, Elie

In the first part of the dissertation we study noncommutative field theories at finite temperature. We find evidence for winding states and observe the existence of a transition to a new phase where there is a reduction of the degrees of freedom in the non-planar sector of the theory. We emphasize that such a transition is generic and insensitive to the particulars of the UV definition of the theory. In the second part we investigate some aspects of M-theory compactifications on orbifolds. The heterotic E8 x E 8 string compactified on T4/ ZN has gauge group G x G˜ with massless states in the twisted sector charged under both factors. In the dual M-theory description on T4/ ZN x S1/Z 2 the two groups do not communicate with each other since they reside on the boundary of the eleven dimensional spacetime. This leads to a conundrum for the twisted states of the perturbative heterotic string for there does not seem to be local degrees of freedom which carry charges under both G and G˜. We propose a resolution of this apparent paradox by nonperturbative states in M-theory. In support of our argument we review the consideration of six-dimensional gauge couplings and verify the local anomaly cancellation. In order to understand the dynamical properties of these states we deform the orbifold geometry, find an equivalent string theory background, and brane engineer the low energy six-dimensional field theories. In the process we encounter many exotic and surprising phenomena which are intrinsically M-theoretic and completely invisible to the perturbative observer.

All conjugate-maximal-helicity-violating amplitudes from topological open string theory in twistor space.

PubMed

Roiban, Radu; Volovich, Anastasia

2004-09-24

It has recently been proposed that the D-instanton expansion of the open topological B model on P(3|4) is equivalent to the perturbative expansion of the maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions. In this letter we show how to construct the gauge theory results for all n-point conjugate-maximal-helicity-violating amplitudes by computing the integral over the moduli space of curves of degree n-3 in P(3|4), providing strong support to the string theory construction.

Explaining Today's Physics Through History and Biography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindley, David

2014-03-01

Quantum computers, string theory, holographic universes - to the general audience, today's physics can be as mystifying as it is fascinating. But modern ideas evolved from an earlier phase of physics - Newtonian mechanics, simple cause and effect - that is in principle easier for the non-expert to grasp. I have found that writing about physics from a historical and biographical perspective is an effective way to convey modern thinking by explaining where it comes from - it is a way of carrying the reader from concepts that make intuitive sense to ideas that seem, on first encounter, utterly bizarre. Smuggling explanations into stories satisfies the reader's desire for narrative - bearing in mind that narrative can include the evolution of ideas as well as tales about intriguing and original people.

Three-dimensional gauge theories and gravitational instantons from string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherkis, Sergey Alexander

Various realizations of gauge theories in string theory allow an identification of their spaces of vacua with gravitational instantons. Also, they provide a correspondence of vacua of gauge theories with nonabelian monopole configurations and solutions of a system of integrable equations called Nahm equations. These identifications make it possible to apply powerful techniques of differential and algebraic geometry to solve the gauge theories in question. In other words, it becomes possible to find the exact metrics on their moduli spaces of vacua with all quantum corrections included. As another outcome we obtain for the first time the description of a series of all Dk-type gravitational instantons.

Adventures in heterotic string phenomenology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dundee, George Benjamin

In this Dissertation, we consider three topics in the study of effective field theories derived from orbifold compactifications of the heterotic string. In Chapter 2 we provide a primer for those interested in building models based on orbifold compactifications of the heterotic string. In Chapter 3, we analyze gauge coupling unification in the context of heterotic strings on anisotropic orbifolds. This construction is very much analogous to effective five dimensional orbifold GUT field theories. Our analysis assumes three fundamental scales, the string scale, M S, a compactification scale, MC, and a mass scale for some of the vector-like exotics, MEX; the other exotics are assumed to get mass at MS. In the particular models analyzed, we show that gauge coupling unification is not possible with MEX = M C and in fact we require MEX << MC ˜ 3 x 1016 GeV. We find that about 10% of the parameter space has a proton lifetime (from dimension six gauge exchange) 1033 yr ≲ tau(p → pi0e+) ≲ 1036 yr, which is potentially observable by the next generation of proton decay experiments. 80% of the parameter space gives proton lifetimes below Super-K bounds. In Chapter 4, we examine the relationship between the string coupling constant, gSTRING, and the grand unified gauge coupling constant, alphaGUT, in the models of Chapter 3. We find that the requirement that the theory be perturbative provides a non-trivial constraint on these models. Interestingly, there is a correlation between the proton decay rate (due to dimension six operators) and the string coupling constant in this class of models. Finally, we make some comments concerning the extension of these models to the six (and higher) dimensional case. In Chapter 5, we discuss the issues of supersymmetry breaking and moduli stabilization within the context of E8 ⊗ E8 heterotic orbifold constructions and, in particular, we focus on the class of "mini-landscape" models. These theories contain a non-Abelian hidden gauge sector which generates a non-perturbative superpotential leading to supersymmetry breaking and moduli stabilization. We demonstrate this effect in a simple model which contains many of the features of the more general construction. In addition, we argue that once supersymmetry is broken in a restricted sector of the theory, then all moduli are stabilized by supergravity effects. Finally, we obtain the low energy superparticle spectrum resulting from this simple model.

Aspects of the Antisymmetric Tensor Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lahiri, Amitabha

1991-02-01

With the possible exception of gravitation, fundamental interactions are generally described by theories of point particles interacting via massless gauge fields. Since the advent of string theories the picture of physical interaction has changed to accommodate one in which extended objects interact with each other. The generalization of the gauge theories to extended objects leads to theories of antisymmetric tensor fields. At scales corresponding to present-day laboratory experiments one expects to see only point particles, their interactions modified by the presence of antisymmetric tensor fields in the theory. Therefore, in order to establish the validity of any theory with antisymmetric tensor fields one needs to look for manifestations of these fields at low energies. The principal problem of gauge theories is the failure to provide a suitable explanation for the generation of masses for the fields in the theory. While there is a known mechanism (spontaneous symmetry breaking) for generating masses for both the matter fields and the gauge fields, the lack of experimental evidence in support of an elementary scalar field suggests that one look for alternative ways of generating masses for the fields. The interaction of gauge fields with an antisymmetric tensor field seems to be an attractive way of doing so, especially since all indications point to the possibility that there will be no remnant degrees of freedom. On the other hand the interaction of such a field with black holes suggest an independent way of verifying the existence of such fields. In this dissertation the origins of the antisymmetric tensor field are discussed in terms of string theory. The interaction of black holes with such a field is discussed next. The last chapter discusses the effects of an antisymmetric tensor field on quantum electrodynamics when the fields are minimally coupled.

The implications of the COBE diffuse microwave radiation results for cosmic strings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, David P.; Stebbins, Albert; Bouchet, Francois R.

1992-01-01

We compare the anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background radiation measured by the COBE experiment to those predicted by cosmic string theories. We use an analytic model for the Delta T/T power spectrum that is based on our previous numerical simulations of strings, under the assumption that cosmic strings are the sole source of the measured anisotropy. This implies a value for the string mass per unit length of 1.5 +/- 0.5 x 10 exp -6 C-squared/G. This is within the range of values required for cosmic strings to successfully seed the formation of large-scale structures in the universe. These results clearly encourage further studies of Delta T/T and large-scale structure in the cosmic string model.

TASI Lectures on Cosmological Observables and String Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silverstein, Eva

These lectures provide an updated pedagogical treatment of the theoretical structure and phenomenology of some basic mechanisms for inflation, along with an overview of the structure of cosmological uplifts of holographic duality. A full treatment of the problem requires `ultraviolet completion' because of the sensitivity of inflation to quantum gravity effects, including back reaction and non-adiabatic production of heavy degrees of freedom. Cosmological observations imply accelerated expansion of the late universe, and provide increasingly precise constraints and discovery potential on the amplitude and shape of primordial tensor and scalar perturbations, and some of their correlation functions. Most backgrounds of string theory have positive potential energy, with a rich but still highly constrained landscape of solutions. The theory contains novel mechanisms for inflation, some subject to significant observational tests, with highly UV-sensitive tensor mode measurements being a prime example along with certain shapes of primordial correlation functions. Although the detailed ultraviolet completion is not accessible experimentally, some of these mechanisms directly stimulate a more systematic analysis of the space of low energy theories and signatures relevant for analysis of data, which is sensitive to physics orders of magnitude above the energy scale of inflation as a result of long time evolution (dangerous irrelevance) and the substantial amount of data (allowing constraints on quantities with signal/noise. Portions of these lectures appeared previously in Les Houches 2013, "Post-Planck Cosmology".

Brane decay and an initial spacelike singularity.

PubMed

Kawai, Shinsuke; Keski-Vakkuri, Esko; Leigh, Robert G; Nowling, Sean

2006-01-27

We present a novel string theory scenario where matter in a spacetime originates from a decaying brane at the origin of time. The decay could be considered as a big-bang-like event at X0=0. The closed string interpretation is a time-dependent spacetime with a semi-infinite time direction, with the initial energy of the brane converted into energy flux from the origin. The open string interpretation can be viewed as a string theoretic nonsingular initial condition.

The String of Pearls: Chinese Maritime Presence in the Indian Ocean and Its Effect on Indian Naval Doctrine

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-12-01

6 The term psychophysical refers to the link between physical stimulus and psychological changes. Rose McDermott, Risk Taking in International...Foreign Policy., Barbara Farnham, “Roosevelt and the Munich Crisis: Insights from Prospect Theory,” Political Psychology 13, no. 2 (1992)., Mark L. Haas...gains.170 Losses hurt worse from a psychological standpoint than gains feel good. Figure 9. Prospect Value Graph (From Jervis, 1992

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Ying -Hsuan; Shao, Shu -Heng; Wang, Yifan

We study up to 8-derivative terms in the Coulomb branch effective action of (1,1) little string theory, by collecting results of 4-gluon scattering amplitudes from both perturbative 6D super-Yang-Mills theory up to 4-loop order, and tree-level double scaled little string theory (DSLST). In previous work we have matched the 6-derivative term from the 6D gauge theory to DSLST, indicating that this term is protected on the entire Coulomb branch. The 8-derivative term, on the other hand, is unprotected. In this paper we compute the 8-derivative term by interpolating from the two limits, near the origin and near the infinity onmore » the Coulomb branch, numerically from SU(k) SYM and DSLST respectively, for k=2,3,4,5. We discuss the implication of this result on the UV completion of 6D SYM as well as the strong coupling completion of DSLST. As a result, we also comment on analogous interpolating functions in the Coulomb phase of circle-compactified (2,0) little string theory.« less

Aspects of String Dualities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orgera, Jacopo

In this thesis we investigate some aspects of String Dualities. In particular, in the context of Twistor-String/Field Theories duality, we present some partial results toward the understanding of Conformal Supergravity amplitudes. Also, in the context of AdS/CFT duality, we investigate: the role of Euclidean Wormholes in quantum de-coherence and the semiclassical decay of certain non-supersimmetric vacua.

Marginal deformations of gauge theories and their dual description

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulaxizi, Manuela

Holography and its realization in string theory as the AdS/CFT correspondence, offers an equivalence between gauge theories and gravity that provides a means to explore the otherwise inaccessible large N and strong coupling region of SU(N) gauge theories. While considerable progress has been made in this area, a concrete method for specifying the gravitational background dual to a given gauge theory is still lacking. This is the question addressed in this thesis in the context of exactly marginal deformations of N = 4 SYM. First, a precise relation between the deformation of the superpotential and transverse space noncommutativity is established. In particular, the appropriate noncommutativity matrix theta is determined, relying solely on data from the gauge theory lagrangian and basic notions of the AdS/CFT correspondence. The set ( G , theta) of open string parameters, with G the metric of the transverse space, is then understood as a way to encode information pertaining to the moduli space of the gauge theory. It seems thus natural to expect that it may be possible to obtain the corresponding gravitational solution by mapping the open string fields ( G , theta) to the closed string ones (g, B). This hints at a purely algebraic method for constructing gravity duals to given conformal gauge theories. The idea is tested within the context of the beta-deformed theory where the dual gravity description is known and then used to construct the background for the rho-deformed theory up to third order in the deformation parameter rho. Discrepancy of the higher order in rho terms in the latter case is traced to the nonassociativity of the noncommutative matrix theta.

Some New/Old Approaches to QCD

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Gross, D. J.

1992-11-01

In this lecture I shall discuss some recent attempts to revive some old ideas to address the problem of solving QCD. I believe that it is timely to return to this problem which has been woefully neglected for the last decade. QCD is a permanent part of the theoretical landscape and eventually we will have to develop analytic tools for dealing with the theory in the infra-red. Lattice techniques are useful but they have not yet lived up to their promise. Even if one manages to derive the hadronic spectrum numerically, to an accuracy of 10% or even 1%, we will not be truly satisfied unless we have some analytic understanding of the results. Also, lattice Monte-Carlo methods can only be used to answer a small set of questions. Many issues of great conceptual and practical interest-in particular the calculation of scattering amplitudes, are thus far beyond lattice control. Any progress in controlling QCD in an explicit analytic, fashion would be of great conceptual value. It would also be of great practical aid to experimentalists, who must use rather ad-hoc and primitive models of QCD scattering amplitudes to estimate the backgrounds to interesting new physics. I will discuss an attempt to derive a string representation of QCD and a revival of the large N approach to QCD. Both of these ideas have a long history, many theorist-years have been devoted to their pursuit-so far with little success. I believe that it is time to try again. In part this is because of the progress in the last few years in string theory. Our increased understanding of string theory should make the attempt to discover a stringy representation of QCD easier, and the methods explored in matrix models might be employed to study the large N limit of QCD.

Strings: A possible alternative explanation for the Unification of Gravitation Field and Electromagnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivera, Susana

Throughout the last century, since the last decades of the XIX century, until present day, there had been many attempts to achieve the unification of the Forces of Nature. First unification was done by James Clerk Maxwell, with his Electromagnetic Theory. Then Max Plank developed his Quantum Theory. In 1905, Albert Einstein gave birth to the Special Relativity Theory, and in 1916 he came out with his General Relativity Theory. He noticed that there was an evident parallelism between the Gravitational Force, and the Electromagnetic Force. So, he tried to unify these forces of Nature. But Quantum Theory interposed on his way. On the 1940’s it had been developed the Quantum Electrodynamics (QED), and with it, the unified field theory had an arise interest. On the 60’s and 70’s there was developed the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Along with these theories came the discovery of the strong interaction force and weak interaction force. And though there had been many attempts to unify all these forces of the nature, it could only be achieved the Unification of strong interaction, weak interaction and Electromagnetic Force. On the late 80”s and throughout the last two decades, theories such as “super-string theory”, “or the “M-theory”, among others, groups of Scientists, had been doing grand efforts and finally they came out with the unification of the forces of nature, being the only limitation the use of more than 11 dimensions. Using an ingenious mathematical tool known as the super symmetries, based on the Kaluza - Klein work, they achieve this goal. The strings of these theories are in the rank of 10-33 m. Which make them undetectable. There are many other string theories. The GEUFT theory is based on the existence of concentrated energy lines, which vibrates, expands and contracts, submitting and absorbing energy, matter and antimatter, and which yields a determined geometry, that gives as a result the formation of stars, galaxies, nebulae, clusters on the Macrocosmic level, and that allows the formation of fundamental particles on the Microcosmic level. The strings are described by a function named Symbiosis (σ), which depends on four energetic contributions: (1) Radiation Energy (2) Plasma Energy (3) Conducted Flux Energy and (4) Mass Energy. There is an intimate relation between them, and depending on the value they have at a certain moment and at a certain time, the string dynamics and its geometry are settled. That means that symbiosis describes the strings state in any point of the geometer - energy field. σ = F [Er(σ), Ep(σ), Ef(σ), Em(σ)] (1) This work is an attempt to achieve the unification of the forces of nature, based on the existence of a four dimension Universe.

Super Yang Mills, matrix models and geometric transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrari, Frank

2005-03-01

I explain two applications of the relationship between four-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric gauge theories, zero-dimensional gauged matrix models, and geometric transitions in string theory. The first is related to the spectrum of BPS domain walls or BPS branes. It is shown that one can smoothly interpolate between a D-brane state, whose weak coupling tension scales as N˜1/g, and a closed string solitonic state, whose weak coupling tension scales as N˜1/gs2. This is part of a larger theory of N=1 quantum parameter spaces. The second is a new purely geometric approach to sum exactly over planar diagrams in zero dimension. It is an example of open/closed string duality. To cite this article: F. Ferrari, C. R. Physique 6 (2005).

Dynamical AdS strings across horizons

DOE PAGES

Ishii, Takaaki; Murata, Keiju

2016-03-01

We examine the nonlinear classical dynamics of a fundamental string in anti-deSitter spacetime. The string is dual to the flux tube between an external quark-antiquark pair in $N = 4$ super Yang-Mills theory. We perturb the string by shaking the endpoints and compute its time evolution numerically. We find that with sufficiently strong perturbations the string continues extending and plunges into the Poincare´ horizon. In the evolution, effective horizons are also dynamically created on the string worldsheet. The quark and antiquark are thus causally disconnected, and the string transitions to two straight strings. The forces acting on the endpoints vanishmore » with a power law whose slope depends on the perturbations. Lastly, the condition for this transition to occur is that energy injection exceeds the static energy between the quark-antiquark pair.« less

Problems in particle theory. Technical report - 1993--1994

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adler, S.L.; Wilczek, F.

This report is a progress report on the work of two principal investigators in the broad area of particle physics theory, covering their personal work, that of their coworkers, and their proposed work for the future. One author has worked in the past on various topics in field theory and particle physics, among them current algebras, the physics of neutrino induced reactions, quantum electrodynamics (including strong magnetic field processes), the theory of the axial-vector current anomaly, topics in quantum gravity, and nonlinear models for quark confinement. While much of his work has been analytical, all of the projects listed abovemore » (except for the work on gravity) had phases which required considerable computer work as well. Over the next several years, he proposes to continue or initiate research on the following problems: (1) Acceleration algorithms for the Monte Carlo analysis of lattice field and gauge theories, and more generally, new research in computational neuroscience and pattern recognition. (2) Construction of quaternionic generalizations of complex quantum mechanics and field theory, and their application to composite models of quarks and leptons, and to the problem of unifying quantum theories of matter with general relativity. One author has worked on problems in exotic quantum statistics and its applications to condensed matter systems. His work has also continued on the quantum theory of black holes. This has evolved toward understanding properties of quantum field theory and string theory in incomplete regions of flat space.« less

The physics of unwound and wound strings on the electric guitar applied to the pitch intervals produced by tremolo/vibrato arm systems.

PubMed

Kemp, Jonathan A

2017-01-01

The physics of wound and unwound strings on the electric guitar are presented here, and the pitch intervals produced by the movements of a Fender Stratocaster tremolo unit are explained. Predicted changes in pitch sensitivity of different strings are given, and experimentally verified, for changes in saddle height, the distance of string free to move behind the nut and ratio of diameters/masses of the core and windings of wound strings. Also, it is shown that changes to the gauge of strings (assuming the string tension is sufficient for linear behaviour and in absence of changes to other construction details) don't alter the pitch intervals produced by a given angle of tremolo arm use assuming the instrument is set up with the same sounding pitches and starting bridge angle. It is demonstrated that it not possible to equalise the relative sensitivity of unwound steel stings on a Fender Stratocaster type tremolo unit through string construction techniques. The ratio of core to winding mass in the string, on the other hand, was found to be a very powerful design parameter for choosing the sensitivity of the string to tremolo arm use and standard pitch bends. For instance, the pitch intervals produced by operation of tremolo arm for wound strings may be made to approximately match that for one of the unwound strings if they share very similar core gauges (assuming the winding masses are chosen to give approximately the same tension at their sounding pitches). Such a design, only available currently by custom order, also delivers the optimum equalisation in sensitivity of strings for standard string bends (due to these also being produced by altering the length of the string to generate changes in tension and therefore pitch).

Noncommutative-geometry model for closed bosonic strings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sen, Siddhartha; Holman, R.

1987-01-01

It is shown how Witten's (1986) noncommutative geometry may be extended to describe the closed bosonic string. For closed strings, an explicit representation is provided of the integral operator needed to construct an action and of an associative product on string fields. The proper choice of the action of the integral operator and the associative product in order to give rise to a reasonable theory is explained, and the consequences of such a choice are discussed. It is shown that the ghost numbers of the operator and associative product can be chosen arbitrarily for both open and closed strings, and that this construct can be used as an action for interacting closed bosonic strings.

Description of the heterotic string solutions in U(N) supersymmetric QCD

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bolokhov, P. A.; Theoretical Physics Department, St. Petersburg State University, Ulyanovskaya 1, Peterhof, St. Petersburg, 198504; Shifman, M.

2009-04-15

We continue the study of heterotic non-Abelian Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield-saturated flux tubes (strings). Previously, such solutions were obtained [M. Shifman and A. Yung, Phys. Rev. D 77, 125016 (2008).] in a particular U(2) gauge theory: N=2 supersymmetric QCD deformed by superpotential terms of a special type breaking N=2 supersymmetry down to N=1. Here we generalize the previous results to U(N) gauge theories. As was suggested by Edalati and Tong [M. Edalati and D. Tong, J. High Energy Phys. 05 (2007) 005.], the string world-sheet theory is a heterotic N=(0,2) sigma model, with the CP(N-1) target space for bosonic fields and an extramore » right-handed fermion which couples to the fermion fields of the N=(2,2) CP(N-1) model. We derive the heterotic N=(0,2) world-sheet model directly from the U(N) bulk theory. Parameters of the bulk theory are related to those of the world-sheet theory. Qualitatively this relation turns out to be the same as in the U(2) case.« less

The Illusive Sound of a Bundengan String

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parikesit, Gea O. F.; Kusumaningtyas, Indraswari

2017-01-01

The acoustics of a vibrating string is frequently used as a simple example of how physics can be applied in the field of art. In this paper we describe a simple experiment and analysis using a clipped string. This experiment can generate scientific curiosity among students because the sound generated by the string seem surprising to our senses.…

The Firewall Transformation for Black Holes and Some of Its Implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

't Hooft, Gerard

2017-12-01

A promising strategy for better understanding space and time at the Planck scale, is outlined and further pursued. It is explained in detail, how black hole unitarity demands the existence of transformations that can remove firewalls. This must then be combined with a continuity condition on the horizon, with antipodal identification as an inevitable consequence. The antipodal identification comes with a it{CPT} inversion. We claim to have arrived at `new physics', but rather than string theory, our `new physics' concerns new constraints on the topology and the boundary conditions of general coordinate transformations. The resulting theory is conceptually quite non trivial, and more analysis is needed. A strong entanglement between Hawking particles at opposite sides of the black hole is suspected, but questions remain. A few misconceptions concerning black holes, originating from older investigations, are discussed.

Cooperative strings and glassy interfaces

PubMed Central

Salez, Thomas; Salez, Justin; Dalnoki-Veress, Kari; Raphaël, Elie; Forrest, James A.

2015-01-01

We introduce a minimal theory of glass formation based on the ideas of molecular crowding and resultant string-like cooperative rearrangement, and address the effects of free interfaces. In the bulk case, we obtain a scaling expression for the number of particles taking part in cooperative strings, and we recover the Adam–Gibbs description of glassy dynamics. Then, by including thermal dilatation, the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann relation is derived. Moreover, the random and string-like characters of the cooperative rearrangement allow us to predict a temperature-dependent expression for the cooperative length ξ of bulk relaxation. Finally, we explore the influence of sample boundaries when the system size becomes comparable to ξ. The theory is in agreement with measurements of the glass-transition temperature of thin polymer films, and allows quantification of the temperature-dependent thickness hm of the interfacial mobile layer. PMID:26100908

Evidence for a scaling solution in cosmic-string evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bennett, David P.; Bouchet, Francois R.

1988-01-01

Numerical simulations are used to study the most fundamental issue of cosmic-string evolution: the existence of a scaling solution. Strong evidence is found that a scaling solution does indeed exist. This justifies the main assumption on which the cosmic-string theories of galaxy formation is based. The main conclusion coincides with that of Albrecht and Turok (1985) but the results are not consistent with theirs. In fact, the results indicate that the details of string evolution are very different from the standard dogma.

Worldsheet geometries of ambitwistor string

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohmori, Kantaro

2015-06-01

Mason and Skinner proposed the ambitwistor string theory which directly reproduces the formulas for the amplitudes of massless particles proposed by Cachazo, He and Yuan. In this paper we discuss geometries of the moduli space of worldsheets associated to the bosonic or the RNS ambitwistor string. Further, we investigate the factorization properties of the amplitudes when an internal momentum is near on-shell in the abstract CFT language. Along the way, we propose the existence of the ambitwistor strings with three or four fermionic worldsheet currents.

Non-vanishing superpotentials in heterotic string theory and discrete torsion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buchbinder, Evgeny I.; Ovrut, Burt A.

Here, we study the non-perturbative superpotential in E8 E8 heterotic string theory on a non-simply connected Calabi-Yau manifold X, as well as on its simply connected covering space ~X . The superpotential is induced by the string wrapping holomorphic, isolated, genus 0 curves. According to the residue theorem of Beasley and Witten, the non-perturbative superpotential must vanish in a large class of heterotic vacua because the contributions from curves in the same homology class cancel each other. We point out, however, that in certain cases the curves treated in the residue theorem as lying in the same homology class, canmore » actually have different area with respect to the physical Kahler form and can be in different homology classes. In these cases, the residue theorem is not directly applicable and the structure of the superpotential is more subtle. We also show, in a specific example, that the superpotential is non-zero both on ~X and on X. On the non-simply connected manifold X, we explicitly compute the leading contribution to the superpotential from all holomorphic, isolated, genus 0 curves with minimal area. Furthermore, the reason for the non-vanishing of the superpotental on X is that the second homology class contains a finite part called discrete torsion. As a result, the curves with the same area are distributed among different torsion classes and, hence, do not cancel each other« less

Non-vanishing superpotentials in heterotic string theory and discrete torsion

DOE PAGES

Buchbinder, Evgeny I.; Ovrut, Burt A.

2017-01-10

Here, we study the non-perturbative superpotential in E8 E8 heterotic string theory on a non-simply connected Calabi-Yau manifold X, as well as on its simply connected covering space ~X . The superpotential is induced by the string wrapping holomorphic, isolated, genus 0 curves. According to the residue theorem of Beasley and Witten, the non-perturbative superpotential must vanish in a large class of heterotic vacua because the contributions from curves in the same homology class cancel each other. We point out, however, that in certain cases the curves treated in the residue theorem as lying in the same homology class, canmore » actually have different area with respect to the physical Kahler form and can be in different homology classes. In these cases, the residue theorem is not directly applicable and the structure of the superpotential is more subtle. We also show, in a specific example, that the superpotential is non-zero both on ~X and on X. On the non-simply connected manifold X, we explicitly compute the leading contribution to the superpotential from all holomorphic, isolated, genus 0 curves with minimal area. Furthermore, the reason for the non-vanishing of the superpotental on X is that the second homology class contains a finite part called discrete torsion. As a result, the curves with the same area are distributed among different torsion classes and, hence, do not cancel each other« less

Holographic Spherically Symmetric Metrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petri, Michael

The holographic principle (HP) conjectures, that the maximum number of degrees of freedom of any realistic physical system is proportional to the system's boundary area. The HP has its roots in the study of black holes. It has recently been applied to cosmological solutions. In this article we apply the HP to spherically symmetric static space-times. We find that any regular spherically symmetric object saturating the HP is subject to tight constraints on the (interior) metric, energy-density, temperature and entropy-density. Whenever gravity can be described by a metric theory, gravity is macroscopically scale invariant and the laws of thermodynamics hold locally and globally, the (interior) metric of a regular holographic object is uniquely determined up to a constant factor and the interior matter-state must follow well defined scaling relations. When the metric theory of gravity is general relativity, the interior matter has an overall string equation of state (EOS) and a unique total energy-density. Thus the holographic metric derived in this article can serve as simple interior 4D realization of Mathur's string fuzzball proposal. Some properties of the holographic metric and its possible experimental verification are discussed. The geodesics of the holographic metric describe an isotropically expanding (or contracting) universe with a nearly homogeneous matter-distribution within the local Hubble volume. Due to the overall string EOS the active gravitational mass-density is zero, resulting in a coasting expansion with Ht = 1, which is compatible with the recent GRB-data.

Open/closed string duality and relativistic fluids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niarchos, Vasilis

2016-07-01

We propose an open/closed string duality in general backgrounds extending previous ideas about open string completeness by Ashoke Sen. Our proposal sets up a general version of holography that works in gravity as a tomographic principle. We argue, in particular, that previous expectations of a supergravity/Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) correspondence are naturally embedded in this conjecture and can be tested in a well-defined manner. As an example, we consider the correspondence between open string field theories on extremal D-brane setups in flat space in the large-N , large 't Hooft limit, and asymptotically flat solutions in ten-dimensional type II supergravity. We focus on a convenient long-wavelength regime, where specific effects of higher-spin open string modes can be traced explicitly in the dual supergravity computation. For instance, in this regime we show how the full Abelian DBI action arises from supergravity as a straightforward reformulation of relativistic hydrodynamics. In the example of a (2 +1 )-dimensional open string theory this reformulation involves an Abelian Hodge duality. We also point out how different deformations of the DBI action, related to higher-derivative corrections and non-Abelian effects, can arise in this context as deformations in corresponding relativistic hydrodynamics.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ko, Sung Moon; Park, Jeong-Hyuck; Suh, Minwoo, E-mail: sinsmk2003@sogang.ac.kr, E-mail: park@sogang.ac.kr, E-mail: minsuh@usc.edu

Double Field Theory suggests to view the whole massless sector of closed strings as the gravitational unity. The fundamental symmetries therein, including the O( D , D ) covariance, can determine unambiguously how the Standard Model as well as a relativistic point particle should couple to the closed string massless sector. The theory also refines the notion of singularity. We consider the most general, spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat, static vacuum solution to D =4 Double Field Theory, which contains three free parameters and consequently generalizes the Schwarzschild geometry. Analyzing the circular geodesic of a point particle in string frame, wemore » obtain the orbital velocity as a function of R /( M {sub ∞} G ) which is the dimensionless radial variable normalized by mass. The rotation curve generically features a maximum and thus non-Keplerian over a finite range, while becoming asymptotically Keplerian at infinity, R /( M {sub ∞} G )→ ∞. The adoption of the string frame rather than Einstein frame is the consequence of the fundamental symmetry principle. Our result opens up a new scheme to solve the dark matter/energy problems by modifying General Relativity at 'short' range of R /( M {sub ∞} G ).« less

Beads + String = Atoms You Can See.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hermann, Christine K. F.

1998-01-01

Presents hands-on activities that give students a head start in learning the vocabulary and basic theory involved in understanding atomic structure. Uses beads to represent protons, neutrons, and electrons and string to represent orbitals. (DDR)

Dangerous angular Kaluza-Klein/glueball relics in string theory cosmology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dufaux, J. F.; CITA, University of Toronto, 60 St. George st., Toronto, ON M5S 3H8; Kofman, L.

2008-07-15

The presence of Kaluza-Klein (KK) particles in the universe is a potential manifestation of string theory cosmology. In general, they can be present in the high temperature bath of the early universe. In particular examples, string theory inflation often ends with brane-antibrane annihilation followed by the energy cascading through massive closed string loops to KK modes which then decay into lighter standard model particles. However, massive KK modes in the early universe may become dangerous cosmological relics if the inner manifold contains warped throat(s) with approximate isometries. In the complimentary picture, in the AdS/CFT dual gauge theory with extra isometries,more » massive glueballs of various spins become the dangerous cosmological relics. The decay of these angular KK modes/glueballs, located around the tip of the throat, is caused by isometry breaking which results from gluing the throat to the compact Calabi-Yau (CY) manifold. We address the problem of these angular KK particles/glueballs, studying their interactions and decay channels, from the theory side, and the resulting cosmological constraints on the warped compactification parameters, from the phenomenology side. The abundance and decay time of the long-lived nonrelativistic angular KK modes depend strongly on the parameters of the warped geometry, so that observational constraints rule out a significant fraction of the parameter space. In particular, the coupling of the angular KK particles can be weaker than gravitational.« less

Consistent higher derivative gravitational theories with stable de Sitter and anti-de Sitter backgrounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biswas, Tirthabir; Koshelev, Alexey S.; Mazumdar, Anupam

2017-02-01

In this paper we provide the criteria for any generally covariant, parity preserving, and torsion-free theory of gravity to possess a stable de Sitter (dS) or anti-de Sitter (AdS) background. By stability we mean the absence of tachyonic or ghostlike states in the perturbative spectrum that can lead to classical instabilities and violation of quantum unitarity. While we find that the usual suspects, the F (R ) and F (G ) theories, can indeed possess consistent (A)dS backgrounds, G being the Gauss-Bonnet term, another interesting class of theories, string-inspired infinite derivative gravitational theories, can also be consistent around such curved vacuum solutions. Our study should not only be relevant for quantum gravity and early universe cosmology involving ultraviolet physics, but also for modifications of gravity in the infrared sector vying to replace dark energy.

Nonsymmetric gravity theories: Inconsistencies and a cure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Damour, T.; Deser, S.; McCarthy, J.

1993-02-01

Motivated by the apparent dependence of string σ models on the sum of spacetime metric and antisymmetric tensor fields, we reconsider gravity theories constructed from a nonsymmetric metric. We first show, by expanding in powers of the antisymmetric field, that all such ``geometrical'' theories homogeneous in second derivatives violate standard physical requirements: ghost freedom, absence of algebraic inconsistencies, or continuity of degree-of-freedom content. This no-go result applies in particular to the old unified theory of Einstein and its recent avatars. However, we find that the addition of nonderivative, ``cosmological'' terms formally restores consistency by giving a mass to the antisymmetric tensor field, thereby transmuting it into a fifth-force-like massive vector but with novel possible matter couplings. The resulting macroscopic models also exhibit ``van der Waals''-type gravitational effects, and may provide useful phenomenological foils to general relativity.

Semiclassical (qft) and Quantum (string) Rotating Black Holes and Their Evaporation:. New Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouchareb, A.; Ramón Medrano, M.; Sánchez, N. G.

Combination of both quantum field theory (QFT) and string theory in curved backgrounds in a consistent framework, the string analogue model, allows us to provide a full picture of the Kerr-Newman black hole and its evaporation going beyond the current picture. We compute the quantum emission cross-section of strings by a Kerr-Newman black hole (KNbh). It shows the black hole emission at the Hawking temperature Tsem in the early stage of evaporation and the new string emission featuring a Hagedorn transition into a string state of temperature Ts at the last stages. New bounds on J and Q emerge in the quantum string regime (besides the known ones of the classical/semiclassical QFT regime). The last state of evaporation of a semiclassical Kerr-Newman black hole with mass M > mPl, angular momentum J and charge Q is a string state of temperature Ts, string mass Ms, J = 0 and Q = 0, decaying as usual quantum strings do into all kinds of particles. (Naturally, in this framework, there is no loss of information, (there is no paradox at all).) We compute the string entropy Ss(m, j) from the microscopic string density of states of mass m and spin mode j, ρ(m, j). (Besides the Hagedorn transition at Ts) we find for high j (extremal string states j → m2α‧c), a new phase transition at a temperature Tsj = √ {j/hbar }Ts, higher than Ts. By precisely identifying the semiclassical and quantum (string) gravity regimes, we find a new formula for the Kerr black hole entropy Ssem(M, J), as a function of the usual Bekenstein-Hawking entropy S sem(0). For M ≫ mPl and J < GM2/c, S sem(0) is the leading term, but for high angular momentum, (nearly extremal case J = GM2/c), a gravitational phase transition operates and the whole entropy Ssem is drastically different from the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy S sem(0). This new extremal black hole transition occurs at a temperature Tsem J = (J/ℏ)Tsem, higher than the Hawking temperature Tsem.

Einstein unmasked

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foster, Brian

2008-09-01

This is a remarkable and, at times, bewilderingly diverse volume. Consisting of 20 essays that represent the proceedings of a conference held in 2005 in Berlin, Germany, during the International Year of Physics, it offers insights into Einstein's influence on a swathe of human activity. In the introduction the distinguished editors make some remarkable claims for the book, calling it "an unique attempt" and saying that "there is no better introduction to...string theory", while the first essay states "Not since Newton's Principia..." Clearly this is a volume that aspires to high standards.

The Physics of "String Passing through Ice"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohazzabi, Pirooz

2011-01-01

One of the oldest yet interesting experiments related to heat and thermodynamics is placing a string on a block of ice and hanging two masses from the ends of the string. Sometime later, it is discovered that the string has passed through the ice without cutting it in half. A simple explanation of this effect is that the pressure caused by the…

Brane boxes, anomalies, bending, and tadpoles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Leigh, R.G.; Rozali, M.

1999-01-01

Certain classes of chiral four-dimensional gauge theories may be obtained as the world volume theories of D5-branes are suspended between networks of NS5-branes, the so-called brane box models. In this paper, we derive the stringy consistency conditions placed on these models, and show that they are equivalent to an anomaly cancellation of the gauge theories. We derive these conditions in the orbifold theories which are {ital T} dual to the elliptic brane box models. Specifically, we show that the expression for tadpoles for unphysical twisted Ramond-Ramond 4-form fields in the orbifold theory are proportional to the gauge anomalies of themore » brane box theory. Thus string consistency is equivalent to world volume gauge anomaly cancellation. Furthermore, we find additional cylinder amplitudes which give the {beta} functions of the gauge theory. We show how these correspond to bending of the NS-branes in the brane box theory. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}« less

Tachyon solutions in boundary and open string field theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Calcagni, Gianluca; Nardelli, Giuseppe; Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Universita Cattolica, via Musei 41, 25121 Brescia

2008-12-15

We construct rolling tachyon solutions of open and boundary string field theory (OSFT and BSFT, respectively), in the bosonic and supersymmetric (susy) case. The wildly oscillating solution of susy OSFT is recovered, together with a family of time-dependent BSFT solutions, for the bosonic and susy string. These are parametrized by an arbitrary constant r involved in solving the Green equation of the target fields. When r=0 we recover previous results in BSFT, whereas for r attaining the value predicted by OSFT it is shown that the bosonic OSFT solution is the derivative of the boundary one; in the supersymmetric casemore » the relation between the two solutions is more complicated. This technical correspondence sheds some light on the nature of wild oscillations, which appear in both theories whenever r>0.« less

The illusive sound of a Bundengan string

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parikesit, Gea O. F.; Kusumaningtyas, Indraswari

2017-09-01

The acoustics of a vibrating string is frequently used as a simple example of how physics can be applied in the field of art. In this paper we describe a simple experiment and analysis using a clipped string. This experiment can generate scientific curiosity among students because the sound generated by the string seem surprising to our senses. The first surprise comes from the gong-like sounds produced by the string, which we usually associate with metallic instruments rather than string instruments. The second surprise comes from the fact that when we shift the clip we perceive an increase of pitch, even though the measured value of the frequency with the maximum amplitude is actually decreased. We use high-speed video recording as well as audio spectral analysis to elucidate the physics behind these two surprises. A set of student activities is prepared to help them follow up their curiosity. Students can make their own clipped string, which is found in Indonesia in an instrument called Bundengan, by setting up their own prepared piano as invented by John Cage.

A Summary of Some Discrete-Event System Control Problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudie, Karen

A summary of the area of control of discrete-event systems is given. In this research area, automata and formal language theory is used as a tool to model physical problems that arise in technological and industrial systems. The key ingredients to discrete-event control problems are a process that can be modeled by an automaton, events in that process that cannot be disabled or prevented from occurring, and a controlling agent that manipulates the events that can be disabled to guarantee that the process under control either generates all the strings in some prescribed language or as many strings as possible in some prescribed language. When multiple controlling agents act on a process, decentralized control problems arise. In decentralized discrete-event systems, it is presumed that the agents effecting control cannot each see all event occurrences. Partial observation leads to some problems that cannot be solved in polynomial time and some others that are not even decidable.

Bianchi Type-II String Cosmological Model with Magnetic Field in f ( R, T) Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, N. K.; Singh, J. K.

2014-09-01

The spatially homogeneous and totally anisotropic Bianchi type-II cosmological solutions of massive strings have been investigated in the presence of the magnetic field in the framework of f( R, T) gravity proposed by Harko et al. (Phys Rev D 84:024020, 2011). With the help of special law of variation for Hubble's parameter proposed by Berman (Nuovo Cimento B 74:182, 1983) cosmological model is obtained in this theory. We consider f( R, T) model and investigate the modification R+ f( T) in Bianchi type-II cosmology with an appropriate choice of a function f( T)= μ T. We use the power law relation between average Hubble parameter H and average scale factor R to find the solution. The assumption of constant deceleration parameter leads to two models of universe, i.e. power law model and exponential model. Some physical and kinematical properties of the model are also discussed.

Stringy Gravity: Solving the Dark Problems at `short' distance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jeong-Hyuck

2018-01-01

Dictated by Symmetry Principle, string theory predicts not General Relativity but its own gravity which assumes the entire closed string massless sector to be geometric and thus gravitational. In terms of R/(MG), i.e. the dimensionless radial variable normalized by mass, Stringy Gravity agrees with General Relativity toward infinity, but modifies it at short distance. At far short distance, gravitational force can be even repulsive. These may solve the dark matter and energy problems, as they arise essentially from small R/(MG) observations: long distance divided by much heavier mass. We address the pertinent differential geometry for Stringy Gravity, stringy Equivalence Principle, stringy geodesics and the minimal coupling to the Standard Model. We highlight the notion of `doubled-yet-gauged' coordinate system, in which a gauge orbit corresponds to a single physical point and proper distance is defined between two gauge orbits by a path integral.

Control of the conformations of ion Coulomb crystals in a Penning trap

PubMed Central

Mavadia, Sandeep; Goodwin, Joseph F.; Stutter, Graham; Bharadia, Shailen; Crick, Daniel R.; Segal, Daniel M.; Thompson, Richard C.

2013-01-01

Laser-cooled atomic ions form ordered structures in radiofrequency ion traps and in Penning traps. Here we demonstrate in a Penning trap the creation and manipulation of a wide variety of ion Coulomb crystals formed from small numbers of ions. The configuration can be changed from a linear string, through intermediate geometries, to a planar structure. The transition from a linear string to a zigzag geometry is observed for the first time in a Penning trap. The conformations of the crystals are set by the applied trap potential and the laser parameters, and agree with simulations. These simulations indicate that the rotation frequency of a small crystal is mainly determined by the laser parameters, independent of the number of ions and the axial confinement strength. This system has potential applications for quantum simulation, quantum information processing and tests of fundamental physics models from quantum field theory to cosmology. PMID:24096901

Existence of topological multi-string solutions in Abelian gauge field theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Jongmin; Sohn, Juhee

2017-11-01

In this paper, we consider a general form of self-dual equations arising from Abelian gauge field theories coupled with the Einstein equations. By applying the super/subsolution method, we prove that topological multi-string solutions exist for any coupling constant, which improves previously known results. We provide two examples for application: the self-dual Einstein-Maxwell-Higgs model and the gravitational Maxwell gauged O(3) sigma model.

Sv-map between type I and heterotic sigma models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Wei; Fotopoulos, A.; Stieberger, S.; Taylor, T. R.

2018-05-01

The scattering amplitudes of gauge bosons in heterotic and open superstring theories are related by the single-valued projection which yields heterotic amplitudes by selecting a subset of multiple zeta value coefficients in the α‧ (string tension parameter) expansion of open string amplitudes. In the present work, we argue that this relation holds also at the level of low-energy expansions (or individual Feynman diagrams) of the respective effective actions, by investigating the beta functions of two-dimensional sigma models describing world-sheets of open and heterotic strings. We analyze the sigma model Feynman diagrams generating identical effective action terms in both theories and show that the heterotic coefficients are given by the single-valued projection of the open ones. The single-valued projection appears as a result of summing over all radial orderings of heterotic vertices on the complex plane representing string world-sheet.

Confusing the heterotic string

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benett, D.; Brene, N.; Mizrachi, Leah; Nielsen, H. B.

1986-10-01

A confusion mechanism is proposed as a global modification of the heterotic string model. It envolves a confusion hypersurface across which the two E 8's of the heterotic string are permuted. A remarkable numerical coincidence is found which prevents an inconsistency in the model. The low energy limit of this theory (after compactification) is typically invariant under one E 8 only, thereby removing the shadow world from the original model.

Thermal breakage of a discrete one-dimensional string.

PubMed

Lee, Chiu Fan

2009-09-01

We study the thermal breakage of a discrete one-dimensional string, with open and fixed ends, in the heavily damped regime. Basing our analysis on the multidimensional Kramers escape theory, we are able to make analytical predictions on the mean breakage rate and on the breakage propensity with respect to the breakage location on the string. We then support our predictions with numerical simulations.

Index theorem for non-supersymmetric fermions coupled to a non-Abelian string and electric charge quantization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shifman, M.; Yung, A.

2018-03-01

Non-Abelian strings are considered in non-supersymmetric theories with fermions in various appropriate representations of the gauge group U(N). We derive the electric charge quantization conditions and the index theorems counting fermion zero modes in the string background both for the left-handed and right-handed fermions. In both cases we observe a non-trivial N dependence.

Thermodynamic holography.

PubMed

Wei, Bo-Bo; Jiang, Zhan-Feng; Liu, Ren-Bao

2015-10-19

The holographic principle states that the information about a volume of a system is encoded on the boundary surface of the volume. Holography appears in many branches of physics, such as optics, electromagnetism, many-body physics, quantum gravity, and string theory. Here we show that holography is also an underlying principle in thermodynamics, a most important foundation of physics. The thermodynamics of a system is fully determined by its partition function. We prove that the partition function of a finite but arbitrarily large system is an analytic function on the complex plane of physical parameters, and therefore the partition function in a region on the complex plane is uniquely determined by its values along the boundary. The thermodynamic holography has applications in studying thermodynamics of nano-scale systems (such as molecule engines, nano-generators and macromolecules) and provides a new approach to many-body physics.

New Results in {mathcal {N}}=2 N = 2 Theories from Non-perturbative String

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonelli, Giulio; Grassi, Alba; Tanzini, Alessandro

2018-03-01

We describe the magnetic phase of SU(N) $\\mathcal{N}=2$ Super Yang-Mills theories in the self-dual Omega background in terms of a new class of multi-cut matrix models. These arise from a non-perturbative completion of topological strings in the dual four dimensional limit which engineers the gauge theory in the strongly coupled magnetic frame. The corresponding spectral determinants provide natural candidates for the tau functions of isomonodromy problems for flat spectral connections associated to the Seiberg-Witten geometry.

Holographic space and time: Emergent in what sense?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vistarini, Tiziana

2017-08-01

This paper proposes a metaphysics for holographic duality. In addition to the AdS/CFT correspondence I also consider the dS/CFT conjecture of duality. Both involve non-perturbative string theory and both are exact dualities. But while the AdS/CFT keeps time at the margins of the story, the dS/CFT conjecture gives to time the "space" it deserves by presenting an interesting holographic model of it. My goals in this paper can be summarized in the following way. First, I argue that the formal structure and physical content of the duality do not support the standard philosophical reading of the relation in terms of grounding. Second, I put forward a philosophical scheme mainly extrapolated from the double aspect monism theory. I read holographic duality in this framework as it seems to fit the mathematical and physical structure of the duality smoothly. Inside this framework I propose a notion of spacetime emergence alternative to those ones commonly debated in the AdS/CFT physics and philosophy circles.

Integrability of the Ad{{S}_{5}}\\times {{S}^{5}} superstring and its deformations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Tongeren, Stijn J.

2014-10-01

This article reviews the application of integrability to the spectral problem of strings on Ad{{S}5}× {{S}5} and its deformations. We begin with a pedagogical introduction to integrable field theories culminating in the description of their finite-volume spectra through the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA). Next, we apply these ideas to the Ad{{S}5}× {{S}5} string and in later sections discuss how to account for particular integrable deformations. Through the AdS/CFT correspondence this gives an exact description of anomalous scaling dimensions of single trace operators in planar N=4 supersymmetry Yang-Mills theory, its ‘orbifolds’, and β and γ-deformed supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. We also touch upon some subtleties arising in these deformed theories. Furthermore, we consider complex excited states (bound states) in the su(2) sector and give their TBA description. Finally we discuss the TBA for a quantum deformation of the Ad{{S}5}× {{S}5} superstring S-matrix, with close relations to among others Pohlmeyer reduced string theory, and briefly indicate more recent developments in this area.

(Non-adiabatic) string creation on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puhm, Andrea; Rojas, Francisco; Ugajin, Tomonori

2017-04-01

Nice slices have played a pivotal role in the discussion of the black hole information paradox as they avoid regions of strong spacetime curvature and yet smoothly cut through the infalling matter and the outgoing Hawking radiation, thus, justifying the use of low energy field theory. To avoid information loss it has been argued recently, however, that local effective field theory has to break down at the horizon. To assess the extent of this breakdown in a UV complete framework we study string-theoretic effects on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes. Our purpose is two-fold. First, we use nice slices to address various open questions and caveats of [1] where it was argued that boost-enhanced non-adiabatic string-theoretic effects at the horizon could provide a dynamical mechanism for the firewall. Second, we identify two non-adiabatic effects on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes: pair production of open strings near the horizon enhanced by the presence of the infinite tower of highly excited string states and a late-time non-adiabatic effect intrinsic to nice slices.

(Non-adiabatic) string creation on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes

DOE PAGES

Puhm, Andrea; Rojas, Francisco; Ugajin, Tomonori

2017-04-27

Nice slices have played a pivotal role in the discussion of the black hole information paradox as they avoid regions of strong spacetime curvature and yet smoothly cut through the infalling matter and the outgoing Hawking radiation, thus, justifying the use of low energy field theory. To avoid information loss it has been argued recently, however, that local effective field theory has to break down at the horizon. To assess the extent of this breakdown in a UV complete framework we study string-theoretic effects on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes. Here, our purpose is two-fold. First, we use nicemore » slices to address various open questions and caveats of [1] where it was argued that boost-enhanced non-adiabatic string-theoretic effects at the horizon could provide a dynamical mechanism for the firewall. Second, we identify two non-adiabatic effects on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes: pair production of open strings near the horizon enhanced by the presence of the infinite tower of highly excited string states and a late-time non-adiabatic effect intrinsic to nice slices.« less

(Non-adiabatic) string creation on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Puhm, Andrea; Rojas, Francisco; Ugajin, Tomonori

Nice slices have played a pivotal role in the discussion of the black hole information paradox as they avoid regions of strong spacetime curvature and yet smoothly cut through the infalling matter and the outgoing Hawking radiation, thus, justifying the use of low energy field theory. To avoid information loss it has been argued recently, however, that local effective field theory has to break down at the horizon. To assess the extent of this breakdown in a UV complete framework we study string-theoretic effects on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes. Here, our purpose is two-fold. First, we use nicemore » slices to address various open questions and caveats of [1] where it was argued that boost-enhanced non-adiabatic string-theoretic effects at the horizon could provide a dynamical mechanism for the firewall. Second, we identify two non-adiabatic effects on nice slices in Schwarzschild black holes: pair production of open strings near the horizon enhanced by the presence of the infinite tower of highly excited string states and a late-time non-adiabatic effect intrinsic to nice slices.« less

Experimenting with string musical instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

LoPresto, Michael C.

2012-03-01

What follows are several investigations involving string musical instruments developed for and used in a Science of Sound & Light course. The experiments make use of a guitar, orchestral string instruments and data collection and graphing software. They are designed to provide students with concrete examples of how mathematical formulae, when used in physics, represent reality that can actually be observed, in this case, the operation of string musical instruments.

Topics in Covariant Closed String Field Theory and Two-Dimensional Quantum Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saadi, Maha

1991-01-01

The closed string field theory based on the Witten vertex is found to be nonpolynomial in order to reproduce all tree amplitudes correctly. The interactions have a geometrical pattern of overlaps, which can be thought as the edges of a spherical polyhedron with face-perimeters equal to 2pi. At each vertex of the polyhedron there are three faces, thus all elementary interactions are cubic in the sense that at most three strings can coincide at a point. The quantum action is constructed by substracting counterterms which cancel the overcounting of moduli space, and by adding loop vertices in such a way no possible surfaces are missed. A counterterm that gives the correct one-string one-loop amplitude is formulated. The lowest order loop vertices are analyzed in the cases of genus one and two. Also, a one-loop two -string counterterm that restores BRST invariance to the respective scattering amplitude is constructed. An attempt to understand the formulation of two -dimensional pure gravity from the discrete representation of a two-dimensional surface is made. This is considered as a toy model of string theory. A well-defined mathematical model is used. Its continuum limit cannot be naively interpreted as pure gravity because each term of the sum over surfaces is not positive definite. The model, however, could be considered as an analytic continuation of the standard matrix model formulation of gravity. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.).

Chameleonic dilaton, nonequivalent frames, and the cosmological constant problem in quantum string theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zanzi, Andrea

2010-08-15

The chameleonic behavior of the string theory dilaton is suggested. Some of the possible consequences of the chameleonic string dilaton are analyzed in detail. In particular, (1) we suggest a new stringy solution to the cosmological constant problem and (2) we point out the nonequivalence of different conformal frames at the quantum level. In order to obtain these results, we start taking into account the (strong coupling) string loop expansion in the string frame (S-frame), therefore the so-called form factors are present in the effective action. The correct dark energy scale is recovered in the Einstein frame (E-frame) without unnaturalmore » fine-tunings and this result is robust against all quantum corrections, granted that we assume a proper structure of the S-frame form factors in the strong coupling regime. At this stage, the possibility still exists that a certain amount of fine-tuning may be required to satisfy some phenomenological constraints. Moreover in the E-frame, in our proposal, all the interactions are switched off on cosmological length scales (i.e., the theory is IR-free), while higher derivative gravitational terms might be present locally (on short distances) and it remains to be seen whether these facts clash with phenomenology. A detailed phenomenological analysis is definitely necessary to clarify these points.« less

Conformal twists, Yang–Baxter σ-models & holographic noncommutativity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Araujo, Thiago; Bakhmatov, Ilya; Colgáin, Eoin Ó.; Sakamoto, Jun-ichi; Sheikh-Jabbari, Mohammad M.; Yoshida, Kentaroh

2018-06-01

Expanding upon earlier results (Araujo et al 2017 Phys. Rev. D 95 105006), we present a compendium of σ-models associated with integrable deformations of AdS5 generated by solutions to homogenous classical Yang–Baxter equation. Each example we study from four viewpoints: conformal (Drinfeld) twists, closed string gravity backgrounds, open string parameters and proposed dual noncommutative (NC) gauge theory. Irrespective of whether the deformed background is a solution to supergravity or generalized supergravity, we show that the open string metric associated with each gravity background is undeformed AdS5 with constant open string coupling and the NC structure Θ is directly related to the conformal twist. One novel feature is that Θ exhibits ‘holographic noncommutativity’: while it may exhibit non-trivial dependence on the holographic direction, its value everywhere in the bulk is uniquely determined by its value at the boundary, thus facilitating introduction of a dual NC gauge theory. We show that the divergence of the NC structure Θ is directly related to the unimodularity of the twist. We discuss the implementation of an outer automorphism of the conformal algebra as a coordinate transformation in the AdS bulk and discuss its implications for Yang–Baxter σ-models and self-T-duality based on fermionic T-duality. Finally, we comment on implications of our results for the integrability of associated open strings and planar integrability of dual NC gauge theories.

T-duality simplifies bulk-boundary correspondence: the noncommutative case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hannabuss, Keith C.; Mathai, Varghese; Thiang, Guo Chuan

2018-05-01

We state and prove a general result establishing that T-duality, or the Connes-Thom isomorphism, simplifies the bulk-boundary correspondence, given by a boundary map in K-theory, in the sense of converting it to a simple geometric restriction map. This settles in the affirmative several earlier conjectures of the authors and provides a clear geometric picture of the correspondence. In particular, our result holds in arbitrary spatial dimension, in both the real and complex cases, and also in the presence of disorder, magnetic fields, and H-flux. These special cases are relevant both to string theory and to the study of the quantum Hall effect and topological insulators with defects in condensed matter physics.

Chern-Simons theory and Wilson loops in the Brillouin zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lian, Biao; Vafa, Cumrun; Vafa, Farzan; Zhang, Shou-Cheng

2017-03-01

Berry connection is conventionally defined as a static gauge field in the Brillouin zone. Here we show that for three-dimensional (3D) time-reversal invariant superconductors, a generalized Berry gauge field behaves as a fluctuating field of a Chern-Simons gauge theory. The gapless nodal lines in the momentum space play the role of Wilson loop observables, while their linking and knot invariants modify the gravitational theta angle. This angle induces a topological gravitomagnetoelectric effect where a temperature gradient induces a rotational energy flow. We also show how topological strings may be realized in the six-dimensional phase space, where the physical space defects play the role of topological D-branes.

Dynamical Chern-Simons Theory in the Brillouin Zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lian, Biao; Vafa, Cumrun; Vafa, Farzan; Zhang, Shou-Cheng

Berry connection is conventionally defined as a static gauge field in the Brillouin zone. Here we show that for three-dimensional (3d) time-reversal invariant superconductors, a generalized Berry gauge field behaves as a dynamical fluctuating field of a Chern-Simons gauge theory. The gapless nodal lines in the momentum space play the role of Wilson loop observables, while their linking and knot invariants modify the gravitational theta angle. This angle induces a topological gravitomagnetoelectric effect where a temperature gradient induces a rotational energy flow. We also show how topological strings may be realized in the 6 dimensional phase space, where the physical space defects play the role of topological D-branes.

The physics of unwound and wound strings on the electric guitar applied to the pitch intervals produced by tremolo/vibrato arm systems

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The physics of wound and unwound strings on the electric guitar are presented here, and the pitch intervals produced by the movements of a Fender Stratocaster tremolo unit are explained. Predicted changes in pitch sensitivity of different strings are given, and experimentally verified, for changes in saddle height, the distance of string free to move behind the nut and ratio of diameters/masses of the core and windings of wound strings. Also, it is shown that changes to the gauge of strings (assuming the string tension is sufficient for linear behaviour and in absence of changes to other construction details) don’t alter the pitch intervals produced by a given angle of tremolo arm use assuming the instrument is set up with the same sounding pitches and starting bridge angle. It is demonstrated that it not possible to equalise the relative sensitivity of unwound steel stings on a Fender Stratocaster type tremolo unit through string construction techniques. The ratio of core to winding mass in the string, on the other hand, was found to be a very powerful design parameter for choosing the sensitivity of the string to tremolo arm use and standard pitch bends. For instance, the pitch intervals produced by operation of tremolo arm for wound strings may be made to approximately match that for one of the unwound strings if they share very similar core gauges (assuming the winding masses are chosen to give approximately the same tension at their sounding pitches). Such a design, only available currently by custom order, also delivers the optimum equalisation in sensitivity of strings for standard string bends (due to these also being produced by altering the length of the string to generate changes in tension and therefore pitch). PMID:28934268

PREFACE: Conceptual and Technical Challenges for Quantum Gravity 2014 - Parallel session: Noncommutative Geometry and Quantum Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinetti, P.; Wallet, J.-C.; Amelino-Camelia, G.

2015-08-01

The conference Conceptual and Technical Challenges for Quantum Gravity at Sapienza University of Rome, from 8 to 12 September 2014, has provided a beautiful opportunity for an encounter between different approaches and different perspectives on the quantum-gravity problem. It contributed to a higher level of shared knowledge among the quantum-gravity communities pursuing each specific research program. There were plenary talks on many different approaches, including in particular string theory, loop quantum gravity, spacetime noncommutativity, causal dynamical triangulations, asymptotic safety and causal sets. Contributions from the perspective of philosophy of science were also welcomed. In addition several parallel sessions were organized. The present volume collects contributions from the Noncommutative Geometry and Quantum Gravity parallel session4, with additional invited contributions from specialists in the field. Noncommutative geometry in its many incarnations appears at the crossroad of many researches in theoretical and mathematical physics: • from models of quantum space-time (with or without breaking of Lorentz symmetry) to loop gravity and string theory, • from early considerations on UV-divergencies in quantum field theory to recent models of gauge theories on noncommutative spacetime, • from Connes description of the standard model of elementary particles to recent Pati-Salam like extensions. This volume provides an overview of these various topics, interesting for the specialist as well as accessible to the newcomer. 4partially funded by CNRS PEPS /PTI ''Metric aspect of noncommutative geometry: from Monge to Higgs''

Intersecting branes, Higgs sector, and chirality from N = 4 SYM with soft SUSY breaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sperling, Marcus; Steinacker, Harold C.

2018-04-01

We consider SU( N ) N = 4 super Yang-Mills with cubic and quadratic soft SUSY breaking potential, such that the global SU(4) R is broken to SU(3) or further. As shown recently, this set-up supports a rich set of non-trivial vacua with the geometry of self-intersecting SU(3) branes in 6 extra dimensions. The zero modes on these branes can be interpreted as 3 generations of bosonic and chiral fermionic strings connecting the branes at their intersections. Here, we uncover a large class of exact solutions consisting of branes connected by Higgs condensates, leading to Yukawa couplings between the chiral fermionic zero modes. Under certain decoupling conditions, the backreaction of the Higgs on the branes vanishes exactly. The resulting physics is that of a spontaneously broken chiral gauge theory on branes with fluxes. In particular, we identify combined brane plus Higgs configurations which lead to gauge fields that couple to chiral fermions at low energy. This turns out to be quite close to the Standard Model and its constructions via branes in string theory. As a by-product, we construct a G 2-brane solution corresponding to a squashed fuzzy coadjoint orbit of G 2.

Topological String Theory and Enumerative Geometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Song, Y. S

In this thesis we investigate several problems which have their roots in both topological string theory and enumerative geometry. In the former case, underlying theories are topological field theories, whereas the latter case is concerned with intersection theories on moduli spaces. A permeating theme in this thesis is to examine the close interplay between these two complementary fields of study. The main problems addressed are as follows: In considering the Hurwitz enumeration problem of branched covers of compact connected Riemann surfaces, we completely solve the problem in the case of simple Hurwitz numbers. In addition, utilizing the connection between Hurwitzmore » numbers and Hodge integrals, we derive a generating function for the latter on the moduli space {bar M}{sub g,2} of 2-pointed, genus-g Deligne-Mumford stable curves. We also investigate Givental's recent conjecture regarding semisimple Frobenius structures and Gromov-Witten invariants, both of which are closely related to topological field theories; we consider the case of a complex projective line P{sup 1} as a specific example and verify his conjecture at low genera. In the last chapter, we demonstrate that certain topological open string amplitudes can be computed via relative stable morphisms in the algebraic category.« less

A Cosmologist's Tour Through the New Particle Zoo / Candy Shop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turner, M. S.

Recent developments in elementary particle physics have led to a renaissance in cosmology, in general, and in the study of structure formation, in particular. Already, the study of the very early (t ≤ 10-2s) history of the Universe has provided valuable hints as to the 'initial data' for the structure formation problem - the nature and origin of the primeval density inhomogeneities, the quantity and composition of matter in the Universe today, and numerous candidates for the constituents of the ubiquitous dark matter. The author reviews the multitude of WIMP candidates for the dark matter provided by modern particle physics theories, putting them into context by briefly discussing the theories which predict them. He reviews their various birth sites and birth processes in the early Universe. The author also mentions some very exotic possibilities - unstable WIMPs, cosmic strings, and even the possibility of a relic cosmological term.

Leo Szilard Lectureship Award Talk: From Reductionism to Complexity; A Theoretical Physicist's Journey into Biology and the Social Sciences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

West, Geoffrey

2013-04-01

In this talk I review how a high energy physicist serendipitously migrated from quarks and gluons, dark matter and string theory to thinking about equally big topics like why we live for 100 years (and not a thousand or 2-3 like a mouse), how is this generated from molecular time scales, why do we sleep and where does 8 hours come from, and how is this related to the rate at which we evolve, can there be a quantitative, mathematisable science of cities and companies, and can our exponentially expanding socio-economic universe be sustained, etc, etc? I consider these as integral parts of physics, related to the interface between Reductionism and Complexity, Thermodynamics and Information Theory. The saga will be a personal one ranging from issues connected with the demise of the SSC and attacks on science to the future role of physics and transdisciplinary thinking.

Actions for particles and strings and Chern-Simons gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiusi, Lei; Nair, V. P.

2017-09-01

We consider actions for particles and strings, including twistorial descriptions on 4D Minkowski and AdS5 spacetimes from the point of view of coadjoint orbits for the isometry group. We also consider the collective coordinate dynamics of singular solutions in Chern-Simons (CS) theories and CS theories of gravity. This is a generalization of the work of Einstein, Infeld, and Hoffmann and also has potential points of contact with fluid-gravity correspondence.

String Theory: exact solutions, marginal deformations and hyperbolic spaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlando, Domenico

2006-10-01

This thesis is almost entirely devoted to studying string theory backgrounds characterized by simple geometrical and integrability properties. The archetype of this type of system is given by Wess-Zumino-Witten models, describing string propagation in a group manifold or, equivalently, a class of conformal field theories with current algebras. We study the moduli space of such models by using truly marginal deformations. Particular emphasis is placed on asymmetric deformations that, together with the CFT description, enjoy a very nice spacetime interpretation in terms of the underlying Lie algebra. Then we take a slight detour so to deal with off-shell systems. Using a renormalization-group approach we describe the relaxation towards the symmetrical equilibrium situation. In he final chapter we consider backgrounds with Ramond-Ramond field and in particular we analyze direct products of constant-curvature spaces and find solutions with hyperbolic spaces.

T-duality and α'-corrections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marqués, Diego; Nuñez, Carmen A.

2015-10-01

We construct an O( d, d) invariant universal formulation of the first-order α'-corrections of the string effective actions involving the dilaton, metric and two-form fields. Two free parameters interpolate between four-derivative terms that are even and odd with respect to a Z 2-parity transformation that changes the sign of the two-form field. The Z 2-symmetric model reproduces the closed bosonic string, and the heterotic string effective action is obtained through a Z 2-parity-breaking choice of parameters. The theory is an extension of the generalized frame formulation of Double Field Theory, in which the gauge transformations are deformed by a first-order generalized Green-Schwarz transformation. This deformation defines a duality covariant gauge principle that requires and fixes the four-derivative terms. We discuss the O( d, d) structure of the theory and the (non-)covariance of the required field redefinitions.

Equivalence of meson scattering amplitudes in strong coupling lattice and flat space string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armoni, Adi; Ireson, Edwin; Vadacchino, Davide

2018-03-01

We consider meson scattering in the framework of the lattice strong coupling expansion. In particular we derive an expression for the 4-point function of meson operators in the planar limit of scalar Chromodynamics. Interestingly, in the naive continuum limit the expression coincides with an independently known result, that of the worldline formalism. Moreover, it was argued by Makeenko and Olesen that (assuming confinement) the resulting scattering amplitude in momentum space is the celebrated expression proposed by Veneziano several decades ago. This motivates us to also use holography in order to argue that the continuum expression for the scattering amplitude is related to the result obtained from flat space string theory. Our results hint that at strong coupling and large-Nc the naive continuum limit of the lattice formalism can be related to a flat space string theory.

Twistor-strings and gravity tree amplitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamo, Tim; Mason, Lionel

2013-04-01

Recently we discussed how Einstein supergravity tree amplitudes might be obtained from the original Witten and Berkovits twistor-string theory when external conformal gravitons are restricted to be Einstein gravitons. Here we obtain a more systematic understanding of the relationship between conformal and Einstein gravity amplitudes in that twistor-string theory. We show that although it does not in general yield Einstein amplitudes, we can nevertheless obtain some partial twistor-string interpretation of the remarkable formulae recently been found by Hodges and generalized to all tree amplitudes by Cachazo and Skinner. The Hodges matrix and its higher degree generalizations encode the world sheet correlators of the twistor string. These matrices control both Einstein amplitudes and those of the conformal gravity arising from the Witten and Berkovits twistor-string. Amplitudes in the latter case arise from products of the diagonal elements of the generalized Hodges matrices and reduced determinants give the former. The reduced determinants arise if the contractions in the worldsheet correlator are restricted to form connected trees at MHV. The (generalized) Hodges matrices arise as weighted Laplacian matrices for the graph of possible contractions in the correlators and the reduced determinants of these weighted Laplacian matrices give the sum of the connected tree contributions by an extension of the matrix-tree theorem.

A Search for Cosmic String Loops Using GADGET-2 Cosmological N-Body Simulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braverman, William; Cousins, Bryce; Jia, Hewei

2018-01-01

Cosmic string loops are an extremely elusive hypothetical entity that have eluded the grasp of physicists and astronomers since their existence was postulated in the 1970’s. Finding evidence of their existence could be the first empirical evidence of string theory.Simulating their basic motion in a cold dark matter background using GADGET-2 allows us to predict where they may cluster during large scale structure formation (if they cluster at all). Here, we present our progress in placing cosmic strings into GADGET-2 with their basic equations of motion to lay a ground work for more complex simulations to find where these strings cluster. Ultimately, these simulations could lay a groundwork as to where future microlensing and gravitational wave observatories should look for cosmic strings.

Connecting the ambitwistor and the sectorized heterotic strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azevedo, Thales; Jusinskas, Renann Lipinski

2017-10-01

The sectorized description of the (chiral) heterotic string using pure spinors has been misleadingly viewed as an infinite tension string. One evidence for this fact comes from the tree level 3-point graviton amplitude, which we show to contain the usual Einstein term plus a higher curvature contribution. After reintroducing a dimensionful parameter ℓ in the theory, we demonstrate that the heterotic model is in fact two-fold, depending on the choice of the supersymmetric sector, and that the spectrum also contains one massive (open string like) multiplet. By taking the limit ℓ → ∞, we finally show that the ambitwistor string is recovered, reproducing the unexpected heterotic state in Mason and Skinner's RNS description.

Topics in string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jejjala, Vishnumohan

2002-01-01

This Thesis explores aspects of superstring theory on orbifold spaces and applies some of the intuition gleaned from the study of the non-commutative geometry of space-time to understanding the fractional quantum Hall effect. The moduli space of vacua of marginal and relevant deformations of N = 4 super-Yang-Mills gauge theory in four dimensions is interpreted in terms of non-commutative geometry. A formalism for thinking about the algebraic geometry of the moduli space is developed. Within this framework, the representation theory of the algebras studied provides a natural exposition of D-brane fractionation. The non-commutative moduli space of deformations preserving N = 1 supersymmetry is examined in detail through various examples. In string theory, by the AdS/CFT correspondence, deformations of the N = 4 field theory are dual to the near-horizon geometries of D-branes on orbifolds of AdS5 x S 5. The physics of D-branes on the dual AdS backgrounds is explored. Quivers encapsulate the matter content of supersymmetric field theories on the worldvolumes of D-branes at orbifold singularities. New techniques for constructing quivers are presented here. When N is a normal subgroup of a finite group G, the quiver corresponding to fixed points of the orbifold M/G is computed from a G/N action on the quiver corresponding to M/G . These techniques prove useful for constructing non-Abelian quivers and for examining discrete torsion orbifolds. Quivers obtained through our constructions contain interesting low-energy phenomenology. The matter content on a brane at an isolated singularity of the Delta27 orbifold embeds the Standard Model. The symmetries of the quiver require exactly three generations of fields in the particle spectrum. Lepton masses are suppressed relative to quark masses because lepton Yukawa couplings do not appear in the superpotential. Lepton masses are generated through the Kahler potential and are related to the supersymmetry breaking scale. The model makes falsifiable predictions about TeV scale physics. Susskind has proposed that the fractional quantum Hall system can be realized through an Abelian Chern-Simons theory with a Moyal product. Susskind's Chern-Simons field is a hydrodynamical quantity. Lopez and Fradkin have an alternate Chern-Simons description couched in terms of a statistical gauge field. We show that this statistical Chern-Simons theory also possesses a non-commutative structure and develop the dictionary between the two Chern-Simons pictures.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Marolf, Donald; Palmer, Belkis Cabrera; Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244

A thermodynamic argument is presented suggesting that near-extremal spinning D1-D5-P black strings become unstable when their angular momentum exceeds J{sub crit}=3Q{sub 1}Q{sub 5}/2{radical}(2). In contrast, the dimensionally reduced black holes are thermodynamically stable. The proposed instability involves a phase in which the spin angular momentum above J{sub crit} is transferred to gyration of the string in space, i.e., to orbital angular momentum of parts of the string about the mean location in space. Thus the string becomes a rotating helical coil. We note that an instability of this form would yield a counter-example to the Gubser-Mitra conjecture, which proposes amore » particular link between dynamic black string instabilities and the thermodynamics of black strings. There may also be other instabilities associated with radiation modes of various fields. Our arguments also apply to the D-brane bound states associated with these black strings in weakly coupled string theory.« less

Dark matter relics and the expansion rate in scalar-tensor theories

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dutta, Bhaskar; Jimenez, Esteban; Zavala, Ivonne, E-mail: dutta@physics.tamu.edu, E-mail: este1985@physics.tamu.edu, E-mail: e.i.zavalacarrasco@swansea.ac.uk

We study the impact of a modified expansion rate on the dark matter relic abundance in a class of scalar-tensor theories. The scalar-tensor theories we consider are motivated from string theory constructions, which have conformal as well as disformally coupled matter to the scalar. We investigate the effects of such a conformal coupling to the dark matter relic abundance for a wide range of initial conditions, masses and cross-sections. We find that exploiting all possible initial conditions, the annihilation cross-section required to satisfy the dark matter content can differ from the thermal average cross-section in the standard case. We alsomore » study the expansion rate in the disformal case and find that physically relevant solutions require a nontrivial relation between the conformal and disformal functions. We study the effects of the disformal coupling in an explicit example where the disformal function is quadratic.« less

Three-Point Functions in c≤1 Liouville Theory and Conformal Loop Ensembles.

PubMed

Ikhlef, Yacine; Jacobsen, Jesper Lykke; Saleur, Hubert

2016-04-01

The possibility of extending the Liouville conformal field theory from values of the central charge c≥25 to c≤1 has been debated for many years in condensed matter physics as well as in string theory. It was only recently proven that such an extension-involving a real spectrum of critical exponents as well as an analytic continuation of the Dorn-Otto-Zamolodchikov-Zamolodchikov formula for three-point couplings-does give rise to a consistent theory. We show in this Letter that this theory can be interpreted in terms of microscopic loop models. We introduce in particular a family of geometrical operators, and, using an efficient algorithm to compute three-point functions from the lattice, we show that their operator algebra corresponds exactly to that of vertex operators V_{α[over ^]} in c≤1 Liouville theory. We interpret geometrically the limit α[over ^]→0 of V_{α[over ^]} and explain why it is not the identity operator (despite having conformal weight Δ=0).

REPORT OF RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE GOALS HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wise, Mark B.; Kapustin, Anton N.; Schwarz, John Henry

Caltech High Energy Physics (HEP) has a broad program in both experimental and theoretical physics. We are known for our creativity and leadership. The future is uncertain and we strive to be involved in all the major areas of experimental and theoretical HEP physics so no matter where the important discoveries occur we are well positioned to play an important role. An outstanding group of postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, staff scientists, and technical and administrative personnel support our efforts in experimental and theoretical physics. The PI’s on this grant are involved in the following program of experimental and theoretical activities:more » I) EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS Our CMS group, led by Harvey Newman and Maria Spiropulu, has played a key role in the discovery and interpretation of the Higgs boson and in searches for new physics. They have important hardware responsibilities in both ECAL and HCAL and are also involved in the upgrades needed for the High Luminosity LHC. Newman's group also develops and operates Grid-based computing, networking, and collaborative systems for CMS and the US HEP community. The charged lepton (Mu2e) and quark BaBar flavor physics group is led by David Hitlin and Frank Porter. On Mu2e they have been instrumental in the design of the calorimeter. Construction responsibilities include one third of the crystals and associated readout as well as the calibration system. They also will have responsibility for a major part of the online system software. Although data taking ceased in 2008 the Caltech BaBar group is active on several new forefront analyses. The neutrino group is led by Ryan Patterson. They are central to NOvA's core oscillation physics program, to calibration, and to detector readiness being responsible for the production and installation of 12,000 APD arrays. They have key roles in neutrino appearance and disappearance analysis in MINOS and MINOS+. Sunil Golwala leads the dark matter direct detection effort. Areas of activity include: CDMS II data analysis, contributions to SuperCDMS Soudan operations and analysis, R&D towards SuperCDMS SNOLAB, development of a novel screener for radiocontamination (the BetaCage), and development of new WIMP detector concepts. Ren-Yuan Zhu leads the HEP crystal laboratory for the advanced detector R&D effort. The crystal lab is involved in development of novel scintillating crystals and has proposed several crystal based detector concepts for future HEP experiments at the energy and intensity frontiers. Its current research effort is concentrated on development of fast crystal scintillators with good radiation hardness and low cost. II) THEORETICAL PHYSICS The main theme of Sergei Gukov's current research is the relation between the geometry of quantum group invariants and their categorification, on the one hand, and the physics of supersymmetric gauge theory and string theory, on the other. Anton Kapustin's research spans a variety of topics in non-perturbative Quantum Field Theory (QFT). His main areas of interest are supersymmetric gauge theories, non-perturbative dualities in QFT, disorder operators, Topological Quantum Field Theory, and non-relativistic QFT. He is also interested in the foundations and possible generalizations of Quantum Mechanics. Hirosi Ooguri's current research has two main components. One is to find exact results in Calabi-Yau compactification of string theory. Another is to explore applications of the AdS/CFT correspondence. He also plans to continue his project with Caltech postdoctoral fellows on BPS spectra of supersymmetric gauge theories in diverse dimensions. John Preskill works on quantum information science. This field may lead to important future technologies, and also lead to new understanding of issues in fundamental physics John Schwarz has been exploring a number of topics in superstring theory/M-theory, supersymmetric gauge theory, and their AdS/CFT relationships. Much of the motivation for these studies is the desire to gain a deeper understanding of superstring theory and M-theory. The research interests of Mark Wise span particle physics, cosmology and nuclear physics. His recent work has centered on extensions of the standard model where baryon number and lepton number are gauged and extensions of the standard model that have novel sources of baryon number violation and new sources of charged lepton flavor violation« less

Nonassociative differential geometry and gravity with non-geometric fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aschieri, Paolo; Ćirić, Marija Dimitrijević; Szabo, Richard J.

2018-02-01

We systematically develop the metric aspects of nonassociative differential geometry tailored to the parabolic phase space model of constant locally non-geometric closed string vacua, and use it to construct preliminary steps towards a nonassociative theory of gravity on spacetime. We obtain explicit expressions for the torsion, curvature, Ricci tensor and Levi-Civita connection in nonassociative Riemannian geometry on phase space, and write down Einstein field equations. We apply this formalism to construct R-flux corrections to the Ricci tensor on spacetime, and comment on the potential implications of these structures in non-geometric string theory and double field theory.

Interaction of solitons with a string of coupled quantum dots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, Vijendra, E-mail: vsmedphysics@gmail.com; Swami, O. P., E-mail: omg1789@gmail.com; Nagar, A. K., E-mail: ajaya.nagar@gmail.com

2016-05-06

In this paper, we develop a theory for discrete solitons interaction with a string of coupled quantum dots in view of the local field effects. Discrete nonlinear Schrodinger (DNLS) equations are used to describe the dynamics of the string. Numerical calculations are carried out and results are analyzed with the help of matlab software. With the help of numerical solutions we demonstrate that in the quantum dots string, Rabi oscillations (RO) are self trapped into stable bright Rabi solitons. The Rabi oscillations in different types of nanostructures have potential applications to the elements of quantum logic and quantum memory.

String-like cooperative motion in homogeneous melting

PubMed Central

Zhang, Hao; Khalkhali, Mohammad; Liu, Qingxia; Douglas, Jack F.

2013-01-01

Despite the fundamental nature and practical importance of melting, there is still no generally accepted theory of this ubiquitous phenomenon. Even the earliest simulations of melting of hard discs by Alder and Wainwright indicated the active role of collective atomic motion in melting and here we utilize molecular dynamics simulation to determine whether these correlated motions are similar to those found in recent studies of glass-forming (GF) liquids and other condensed, strongly interacting, particle systems. We indeed find string-like collective atomic motion in our simulations of “superheated” Ni crystals, but other observations indicate significant differences from GF liquids. For example, we observe neither stretched exponential structural relaxation, nor any decoupling phenomenon, while we do find a boson peak, findings that have strong implications for understanding the physical origin of these universal properties of GF liquids. Our simulations also provide a novel view of “homogeneous” melting in which a small concentration of interstitial defects exerts a powerful effect on the crystal stability through their initiation and propagation of collective atomic motion. These relatively rare point defects are found to propagate down the strings like solitons, driving the collective motion. Crystal integrity remains preserved when the permutational atomic motions take the form of ring-like atomic exchanges, but a topological transition occurs at higher temperatures where the rings open to form linear chains similar in geometrical form and length distribution to the strings of GF liquids. The local symmetry breaking effect of the open strings apparently destabilizes the local lattice structure and precipitates crystal melting. The crystal defects are thus not static entities under dynamic conditions, such as elevated temperatures or material loading, but rather are active agents exhibiting a rich nonlinear dynamics that is not addressed in conventional “static” defect melting models. PMID:23556789

String-like cooperative motion in homogeneous melting.

PubMed

Zhang, Hao; Khalkhali, Mohammad; Liu, Qingxia; Douglas, Jack F

2013-03-28

Despite the fundamental nature and practical importance of melting, there is still no generally accepted theory of this ubiquitous phenomenon. Even the earliest simulations of melting of hard discs by Alder and Wainwright indicated the active role of collective atomic motion in melting and here we utilize molecular dynamics simulation to determine whether these correlated motions are similar to those found in recent studies of glass-forming (GF) liquids and other condensed, strongly interacting, particle systems. We indeed find string-like collective atomic motion in our simulations of "superheated" Ni crystals, but other observations indicate significant differences from GF liquids. For example, we observe neither stretched exponential structural relaxation, nor any decoupling phenomenon, while we do find a boson peak, findings that have strong implications for understanding the physical origin of these universal properties of GF liquids. Our simulations also provide a novel view of "homogeneous" melting in which a small concentration of interstitial defects exerts a powerful effect on the crystal stability through their initiation and propagation of collective atomic motion. These relatively rare point defects are found to propagate down the strings like solitons, driving the collective motion. Crystal integrity remains preserved when the permutational atomic motions take the form of ring-like atomic exchanges, but a topological transition occurs at higher temperatures where the rings open to form linear chains similar in geometrical form and length distribution to the strings of GF liquids. The local symmetry breaking effect of the open strings apparently destabilizes the local lattice structure and precipitates crystal melting. The crystal defects are thus not static entities under dynamic conditions, such as elevated temperatures or material loading, but rather are active agents exhibiting a rich nonlinear dynamics that is not addressed in conventional "static" defect melting models.

Notes on S-folds and {N} = 3 theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agarwal, Prarit; Amariti, Antonio

2016-09-01

We consider D3 branes in presence of an S-fold plane. The latter is a non-perturbative object, arising from the combined projection of an S-duality twist and a discrete orbifold of the R-symmetry group. This construction naively gives rise to 4d {N} = 3 SCFTs. Nevertheless it has been observed that in some cases supersymmetry is enhanced to {N} = 4. In this paper we study the explicit counting of degrees of freedom arising from vector multiplets associated to strings suspended between the D3 branes probing the S-fold. We propose that, for trivial discrete torsion, there is no vector multiplet associated to (1, 0) strings stretched between a brane and its image. We then focus on the case of rank 2 {N} = 3 theory that enhances to SU(3) {N} = 4 SYM, explicitly spelling out the isomorphism between the BPS-spectrum of the manifestly {N} = 3 theory and that of three D3 branes in flat spacetime. Subsequently, we consider 3-pronged strings in these setups and show how wall-crossing in the S-fold background implies wall crossing in the flat geometry. This can be considered a consistency check of the conjectured SUSY enhancement. We also find that the above isomorphism implies that a (1, 0) string, suspended between a brane and its image in the S-fold, corresponds to a 3-string junction in the flat geometry. This is in agreement with our claim on the absence of a vector multiplet associated to such (1, 0) strings. This is because the 3-string junction in flat geometry gives rise to a 1/4-th BPS multiplet of the {N} = 4 algebra. Such multiplets always include particles with spin > 1 as opposed to a vector multiplet which is restricted by the requirement that the spins must be ≤ 1.

Low-energy dynamics of gravitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torma, Tibor

The present status of theories of quantum gravity are reviewed from the low energy point of view. String theory relates classical black-hole type solutions of Einstein- like equations (e.g. axidilaton gravity) to the string vacuum. Several such solutions are proposed and their properties are investigated, including their behavior under supersymmetry transformations. A general feature of all possible quantum theories of gravitation is that they lead to a field theory description at low (as compared to the Planck mass) energies. The theoretical consistency, uniqueness and consequences of such an effective theory are investigated. I show that a power counting theorem allows for the momentum expansion that defines the effective theory even in the presence of large masses. I also show that graviton-graviton scattering is free of potential infrared and collinear divergencies that plague perturbative discussions of Yang-Mills theories.

Speed of Transverse Waves in a String Revisited

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rizcallah, Joseph A.

2017-01-01

In many introductory-level physics textbooks, the derivation of the formula for the speed of transverse waves in a string is either omitted altogether or presented under physically overly idealized assumptions about the shape of the considered wave pulse and the related velocity and acceleration distributions. In this paper, we derive the named…

General split helicity gluon tree amplitudes in open twistor string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolan, Louise; Goddard, Peter

2010-05-01

We evaluate all split helicity gluon tree amplitudes in open twistor string theory. We show that these amplitudes satisfy the BCFW recurrence relations restricted to the split helicity case and, hence, that these amplitudes agree with those of gauge theory. To do this we make a particular choice of the sextic constraints in the link variables that determine the poles contributing to the contour integral expression for the amplitudes. Using the residue theorem to re-express this integral in terms of contributions from poles at rational values of the link variables, which we determine, we evaluate the amplitudes explicitly, regaining the gauge theory results of Britto et al. [25].

Dynamics with infinitely many time derivatives in Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background and rolling tachyons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joukovskaya, Liudmila

2009-02-01

Dynamics with infinitely many time derivatives has place in string field theory and have been profoundly investigated there. Recently there has been considerable interest in theories with infinitely many derivatives in the cosmological context in view of new features which these theories might accommodate owing to nonlocal interaction. In present work we continue investigation of such models, as a concrete example we study the dynamics of unstable D-brane in the open string theory in the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background. We construct numerical solutions describing dynamical interpolation between the perturbative and non-perturbative vacua. The obtained solutions have several interesting properties and might be of interest from the cosmological points of view.

Introduction to sporadic groups for physicists

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boya, Luis J.

2013-04-01

We describe the collection of finite simple groups, with a view to physical applications. We recall first the prime cyclic groups Zp and the alternating groups Altn > 4. After a quick revision of finite fields {F}_q, q = pf, with p prime, we consider the 16 families of finite simple groups of Lie type. There are also 26 extra ‘sporadic’ groups, which gather in three interconnected ‘generations’ (with 5+7+8 groups) plus the pariah groups (6). We point out a couple of physical applications, including constructing the biggest sporadic group, the ‘Monster’ group, with close to 1054 elements from arguments of physics, and also the relation of some Mathieu groups with compactification in string and M-theory. This article is dedicated to the memory of Juan Sancho Guimerá.

Non-Abelian black string solutions of N = (2,0) , d = 6 supergravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cano, Pablo A.; Ortín, Tomás; Santoli, Camilla

2016-12-01

We show that, when compactified on a circle, N = (2, 0), d = 6 supergravity coupled to 1 tensor multiplet and n V vector multiplets is dual to N = (2 , 0) , d = 6 supergravity coupled to just n T = n V + 1 tensor multiplets and no vector multiplets. Both theories reduce to the same models of N = 2 , d = 5 supergravity coupled to n V 5 = n V + 2 vector fields. We derive Buscher rules that relate solutions of these theories (and of the theory that one obtains by dualizing the 3-form field strength) admitting an isometry. Since the relations between the fields of N = 2 , d = 5 supergravity and those of the 6-dimensional theories are the same with or without gaugings, we construct supersymmetric non-Abelian solutions of the 6-dimensional gauged theories by uplifting the recently found 5-dimensional supersymmetric non-Abelian black-hole solutions. The solutions describe the usual superpositions of strings and waves supplemented by a BPST instanton in the transverse directions, similar to the gauge dyonic string of Duff, Lü and Pope. One of the solutions obtained interpolates smoothly between two AdS3× S3 geometries with different radii.

Black holes, anti de Sitter space, and topological strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Xi

This thesis is devoted to the study of black holes in string theory, their connection to two and three dimensional anti de-Sitter space, and topological strings. We start by proposing a relation between supersymmetric black holes in four and five dimensions, as well as connections between multi-centered black holes in four dimensions and black rings in five dimensions. This connection is then applied to counting supersymmetric dyonic black holes in four dimensional string compactifications with 16 and 32 supersymmetries, respectively. We then turn to the near horizon attractor geometry AdS 2 x S2 x CY 3, and study the classical supersymmetric D-branes in this background. We also find supersymmetric black hole solutions in supergravity in AdS2 x S2, although the solutions have regions of closed timelike curves. Finally we consider the M-theory attractor geometry AdS3 x S2 x CY3, and compute the elliptic genus of the dual (0, 4) CFT by counting wrapped M2-brane states in the bulk in a dilute gas approximation. This leads to a derivation of the conjectured relation between black hole partition function and topological string amplitudes.

Metal-metal interactions in linear tri-, penta-, hepta-, and nona-nuclear ruthenium string complexes.

PubMed

Niskanen, Mika; Hirva, Pipsa; Haukka, Matti

2012-05-01

Density functional theory (DFT) methodology was used to examine the structural properties of linear metal string complexes: [Ru(3)(dpa)(4)X(2)] (X = Cl(-), CN(-), NCS(-), dpa = dipyridylamine(-)), [Ru(5)(tpda)(4)Cl(2)], and hypothetical, not yet synthesized complexes [Ru(7)(tpta)(4)Cl(2)] and [Ru(9)(ppta)(4)Cl(2)] (tpda = tri-α-pyridyldiamine(2-), tpta = tetra-α-pyridyltriamine(3-), ppta = penta-α-pyridyltetraamine(4-)). Our specific focus was on the two longest structures and on comparison of the string complexes and unsupported ruthenium backboned chain complexes, which have weaker ruthenium-ruthenium interactions. The electronic structures were studied with the aid of visualized frontier molecular orbitals, and Bader's quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) was used to study the interactions between ruthenium atoms. The electron density was found to be highest and distributed most evenly between the ruthenium atoms in the hypothetical [Ru(7)(tpta)(4)Cl(2)] and [Ru(9)(ppta)(4)Cl(2)] string complexes.

Strings, boundary fermions and coincident D-branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wulff, Linus

2007-01-01

This thesis describes an attempt to write down covariant actions for coincident D-branes using so-called boundary fermions instead of matrices to describe the non-abelian fields. These fermions can be thought of as Chan-Paton degrees of freedom for the open string. It is shown that by gauge-fixing and by suitably quantizing these boundary fermions the non-abelian action that is known, the Myers action, can be reproduced. Furthermore it is shown that under natural assumptions, unlike the Myers action, the action formulated using boundary fermions also posseses kappa-symmetry when formulated on superspace. Another aspect of string theory discussed in this thesis is that of tensionless strings. These are of great interest for example because of their possible relation to higher spin gauge theories via the AdS/CFT-correspondence. The tensionless superstring in a plane wave background, a Penrose limit of the near-horizon geometry of a stack of D3-branes, is considered and compared to the tensile case.

Supersymmetric interactions of a six-dimensional self-dual tensor and fixed-shape second quantized strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganor, Ori J.

2018-02-01

"Curvepole (2,0)-theory" is a deformation of the (2,0)-theory with nonlocal interactions. A curvepole is defined as a two-dimensional generalization of a dipole. It is an object of fixed two-dimensional shape of which the boundary is a charged curve that interacts with a 2-form gauge field. Curvepole theory was previously only defined indirectly via M-theory. Here, we propose a supersymmetric Lagrangian, constructed explicitly up to quartic terms, for an "Abelian" curvepole theory, which is an interacting deformation of the free (2,0) tensor multiplet. This theory contains fields of which the quanta are curvepoles (i.e., fixed-shape strings). Supersymmetry is preserved (at least up to quartic terms) if the shape of the curvepoles is (two-dimensional) planar. This nonlocal six-dimensional quantum field theory may also serve as a UV completion for certain (local) five-dimensional gauge theories.

Loss of locality in gravitational correlators with a large number of insertions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Sudip; Raju, Suvrat

2017-09-01

We review lessons from the AdS/CFT correspondence that indicate that the emergence of locality in quantum gravity is contingent upon considering observables with a small number of insertions. Correlation functions, where the number of insertions scales with a power of the central charge of the CFT, are sensitive to nonlocal effects in the bulk theory, which arise from a combination of the effects of the bulk Gauss law and a breakdown of perturbation theory. To examine whether a similar effect occurs in flat space, we consider the scattering of massless particles in the bosonic string and the superstring in the limit, where the number of external particles, n, becomes very large. We use estimates of the volume of the Weil-Petersson moduli space of punctured Riemann surfaces to argue that string amplitudes grow factorially in this limit. We verify this factorial behavior through an extensive numerical analysis of string amplitudes at large n. Our numerical calculations rely on the observation that, in the large n limit, the string scattering amplitude localizes on the Gross-Mende saddle points, even though individual particle energies are small. This factorial growth implies the breakdown of string perturbation theory for n ˜(M/plE ) d -2 in d dimensions, where E is the typical individual particle energy. We explore the implications of this breakdown for the black hole information paradox. We show that the loss of locality suggested by this breakdown is precisely sufficient to resolve the cloning and strong subadditivity paradoxes.

d-Brane Instantons in Type II Orientifolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blumenhagen, Ralph; Cvetič, Mirjam; Kachru, Shamit; Weigand, Timo

2009-11-01

We review recent progress in determining the effects of d-brane instantons in [Formula: see text] supersymmetric compactifications of Type II string theory to four dimensions. We describe the abstract d-brane instanton calculus for holomorphic couplings such as the superpotential, the gauge kinetic function, and higher fermionic F-terms, and we briefly discuss the implications of background fluxes for the instanton sector. We then summarize the concrete consequences of stringy d-brane instantons for the construction of semirealistic models of particle physics or supersymmetry breaking in compact and noncompact geometries.

Entropic Repulsion Between Fluctuating Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janke, W.

The statistical mechanics of fluctuating surfaces plays an important role in a variety of physical systems, ranging from biological membranes to world sheets of strings in theories of fundamental interactions. In many applications it is a good approximation to assume that the surfaces possess no tension. Their statistical properties are then governed by curvature energies only, which allow for gigantic out-of-plane undulations. These fluctuations are the “entropic” origin of long-range repulsive forces in layered surface systems. Theoretical estimates of these forces for simple model surfaces are surveyed and compared with recent Monte Carlo simulations.

String-fluid transition in systems with aligned anisotropic interactions.

PubMed

Brandt, P C; Ivlev, A V; Morfill, G E

2010-06-21

Systems with aligned anisotropic interactions between particles exhibit numerous phase transitions. A remarkable example of the fluid phase transition occurring in such systems is the formation of particle strings--the so-called "string" or "chain" fluids. We employ an approach based on the Ornstein-Zernike (OZ) equation, which allows us to calculate structural properties of fluids with aligned anisotropic interactions. We show that the string-fluid transition can be associated with the bifurcation of the "isotropic" correlation length into two distinct scales which characterize the longitudinal and transverse order in string fluids and, hence, may be used as a fingerprint of this transition. The comparison of the proposed OZ theory with the Monte Carlo simulations reveals fairly good agreement.

Higher order string effects and the properties of the Pomeron

DOE PAGES

Kharzeev, Dmitri; Shuryak, Edward; Zahed, Ismail

2018-01-18

In this paper, we revisit the description of the Pomeron within the effective string theory of QCD. Using a string duality relation, we show how the static potential maps onto the high-energy scattering amplitude that exhibits the Pomeron behavior. Besides the Pomeron intercept and slope, new additional terms stemming from the higher order string corrections are shown to affect both the growth of the nucleon’s size at high energies and its profile in impact parameter space. The stringy description also allows for an odderon that only disappears in critical dimension. Lastlyl, some of the Pomeron’s features that emerge within themore » effective string description can be studied at the future EIC collider.« less

Intersecting flavor branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomoni, Elli; Rastelli, Leonardo

2012-10-01

We consider an instance of the AdS/CFT duality where the bulk theory contains an open string tachyon, and study the instability from the viewpoint of the boundary field theory. We focus on the specific example of the AdS5 × S 5 background with two probe D7 branes intersecting at general angles. For generic angles supersymmetry is completely broken and there is an open string tachyon between the branes. The field theory action for this system is obtained by coupling to {N}=4 super Yang-Mills two {N}=2 hyper multiplets in the fundamental representation of the SU( N) gauge group, but with different choices of embedding of the two {N}=2 subalgebras into {N}=4 . On the field theory side we find a one-loop Coleman-Weinberg instability in the effective potential for the fundamental scalars. We identify a mesonic operator as the dual of the open string tachyon. By AdS/CFT, we predict the tachyon mass for small 't Hooft coupling (large bulk curvature) and confirm that it violates the AdS stability bound.

Gluon scattering amplitudes from gauge/string duality and integrability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Satoh, Yuji

2014-06-01

We discuss the gluon scattering amplitudes of the four-dimensional maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. By the gauge/string duality, the amplitudes at strong coupling are given by the area of the minimal surfaces in anti-de Sitter space, which can be analyzed by a set of integral equations of the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) type. By using the two-dimensional integrable models and conformal field theories underlying the TBA system, we derive analytic expansions of the amplitudes around certain kinematic configurations.

Topological vertex formalism with O5-plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Sung-Soo; Yagi, Futoshi

2018-01-01

We propose a new topological vertex formalism for a type IIB (p ,q ) 5-brane web with an O5-plane. We apply our proposal to five-dimensional N =1 Sp(1) gauge theory with Nf=0 , 1, 8 flavors to compute the topological string partition functions and check the agreement with the known results. Especially for the Nf=8 case, which corresponds to E-string theory on a circle, we obtain a new, yet simple, expression of the partition function with a two Young diagram sum.

Holographic corrections to meson scattering amplitudes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armoni, Adi; Ireson, Edwin

2017-06-01

We compute meson scattering amplitudes using the holographic duality between confining gauge theories and string theory, in order to consider holographic corrections to the Veneziano amplitude and associated higher-point functions. The generic nature of such computations is explained, thanks to the well-understood nature of confining string backgrounds, and two different examples of the calculation in given backgrounds are used to illustrate the details. The effect we discover, whilst only qualitative, is re-obtainable in many such examples, in four-point but also higher point amplitudes.

Plane wave gravitons, curvature singularities and string physics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brooks, R.

1991-03-21

This paper discusses bounded (compactifying) potentials arising from a conspiracy between plane wave graviton and dilaton condensates. So are string propagation and supersymmetry in spacetimes with curvature singularities.

Psyche=singularity: A comparison of Carl Jung's transpersonal psychology and Leonard Susskind's holographic string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desmond, Timothy

In this dissertation I discern what Carl Jung calls the mandala image of the ultimate archetype of unity underlying and structuring cosmos and psyche by pointing out parallels between his transpersonal psychology and Stanford physicist Leonard Susskind's string theory. Despite his atheistic, materialistically reductionist interpretation of it, I demonstrate how Susskind's string theory of holographic information conservation at the event horizons of black holes, and the cosmic horizon of the universe, corroborates the following four topics about which Jung wrote: (1) his near-death experience of the cosmic horizon after a heart attack in 1944; ( 2) his equation relating psychic energy to mass, "Psyche=highest intensity in the smallest space" (1997, 162), which I translate into the equation, Psyche=Singularity; (3) his theory that the mandala, a circle or sphere with a central point, is the symbolic image of the ultimate archetype of unity through the union of opposites, which structures both cosmos and psyche, and which rises spontaneously from the collective unconscious to compensate a conscious mind torn by irreconcilable demands (1989, 334-335, 396-397); and (4) his theory of synchronicity. I argue that Susskind's inside-out black hole model of our Big Bang universe forms a geometrically perfect mandala: a central Singularity encompassed by a two-dimensional sphere which serves as a universal memory bank. Moreover, in precise fulfillment of Jung's theory, Susskind used that mandala to reconcile the notoriously incommensurable paradigms of general relativity and quantum mechanics, providing in the process a mathematically plausible explanation for Jung's near-death experience of his past, present, and future life simultaneously at the cosmic horizon. Finally, Susskind's theory also provides a plausible cosmological model to explain Jung's theory of synchronicity--meaningful coincidences may be tied together by strings at the cosmic horizon, from which they radiate inward as the holographic "movie" of our three-dimensional world.

From anomalies of finite symmetries to heterotic GUTs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaudrevange, Patrick K. S.

2017-11-01

We review the role of finite symmetries for particle physics with special emphasis on discrete anomalies and on their possible origin from extra dimensions. Then, we apply our knowledge on finite symmetries to the problematic proton decay operators of various mass-dimensions, focusing on ℤ4R , i.e. a special R-symmetry of order 4. We show that this ℤ4R symmetry can naturally originate from extra dimensions as a discrete remnant of higher-dimensional Lorentz symmetry. Finally, in order to obtain a unified picture from the heterotic string theory we discuss grand unified theories (GUTs) in extra dimensions compactified on ℤ2 × ℤ2 orbifolds and show how proton decay operators can be suppressed in a certain class of orbifolds.

Classical evolution and quantum generation in generalized gravity theories including string corrections and tachyons: Unified analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Jai-Chan; Noh, Hyerim

2005-03-01

We present cosmological perturbation theory based on generalized gravity theories including string theory correction terms and a tachyonic complication. The classical evolution as well as the quantum generation processes in these varieties of gravity theories are presented in unified forms. These apply both to the scalar- and tensor-type perturbations. Analyses are made based on the curvature variable in two different gauge conditions often used in the literature in Einstein’s gravity; these are the curvature variables in the comoving (or uniform-field) gauge and the zero-shear gauge. Applications to generalized slow-roll inflation and its consequent power spectra are derived in unified forms which include a wide range of inflationary scenarios based on Einstein’s gravity and others.

A study of the dynamic tire properties over a range of tire constructions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nybakken, G. H.; Dodge, R. N.; Clark, S. K.

1973-01-01

The dynamic properties of four model aircraft tires of various construction were evaluated experimentally and compared with available theory. The experimental investigation consisted of measuring the cornering force and the self-aligning torque developed by the tires undergoing sinusoidal steering inputs while operating on a small scale, road-wheel tire testing apparatus. The force and moment data from the different tires are compared with both finite- and point-contact patch string theory predictions. In general, agreement between finite contact patch theory and experimental observation is good. A modified string theory is also presented in which coefficients for cornering force and self-aligning torque are determined separately. This theory improves the correspondence between the experimental and analytical data, particularly on tires with relatively high self-aligning torques.