119253042
Emergent Geometry and Quantum Gravity
We explain how quantum gravity can be defined by quantizing spacetime itself. A pinpoint is that the gravitational constant $G = L_{\rm P}^2$ whose physical dimension is of (length)2 in natural unit introduces a symplectic structure of spacetime which causes a noncommutative spacetime at the Planck scale LP. The symplectic structure of spacetime M leads to an isomorphism between symplectic geometry (M, ω) and Riemannian geometry (M, g) where the deformations of symplectic structure ω in terms of electromagnetic fields F = dA are transformed into those of Riemannian metric g. This approach for quantum gravity allows a background independent formulation where spacetime as well as matter fields is equally emergent from a universal vacuum of quantum gravity which is thus dubbed as the quantum equivalence principle.
118454134
BRST Cohomology and Its Application to QED
We construct the BRST cohomology under a positive definite inner product and obtain the Hodge decomposition theorem at a non-degenerate state vector space $V$. The harmonic states isomorphic with a BRST cohomology class correspond to the physical Hilbert space with positive norm as long as the completeness of $Q_{BRST}$ is satisfied. We explicitly define ``co-BRST'' operator and analyze the quartet mechanism in QED.
119204681
Emergent Spacetime and The Cosmological Constant
We address issues on the origin of gravity and the dark energy (or the cosmological constant) from the perspectives of emergent gravity. We discuss how the emergent gravity reveals a noble, radically different picture about the origin of spacetime, which is crucial for a tenable solution of the cosmological constant problem. In particular, the emergent gravity naturally explains the dynamical origin of flat spacetime, which is absent in Einstein gravity.
15769713
A Complete Classification of D-branes in Type IIB Plane Wave Background
We give a complete classification of D-branes in the type IIB plane wave background using Green-Schwarz superstring theory. We find all possible supersymmetric oblique and curved D-branes and consider their intersections. The supersymmetries preserved by various configurations of these D-branes are also identified. In particular, we show that D+-branes of type (+,−, n, n) for n = 1, 2, 3, 4 preserve 4 dynamical supersymmetries by introducing gauge field excitations and newly discovered oblique D5and D7-branes also preserve four or two dynamical supersymmetries with gauge field condensates. Furthermore we find new curved D-branes preserving four dynamical supersymmetries.
12060341
ALE spaces from noncommutative U(1) instantons via exact Seiberg-Witten map
The exact Seiberg–Witten (SW) map of a noncommutative (NC) gauge theory gives the commutative equivalent as an ordinary gauge theory coupled to a field dependent effective metric. We study instanton solutions of this commutative equivalent whose self-duality equation turns out to be the exact SW map of NC instantons. We derive general differential equations governing U(1) instantons and we explicitly get an exact solution corresponding to the single NC instanton. Remarkably the effective metric induced by the single U(1) instanton is related to the Eguchi–Hanson metric—the simplest gravitational instanton. Surprisingly the instanton number is not quantized but depends on an integration constant. Our result confirms the expected non-perturbative breakdown of the SW map. However, the breakdown of the map arises in a consistent way: the instanton number plays the role of a parameter giving rise to a one-parameter family of Eguchi–Hanson metrics.
12059305
Superstrings and D-branes in A Plane Wave
We carefully analyze the supersymmetry algebra of closed strings and open strings in a type IIB plane wave background. We use eight component chiral spinors, SO(8) MajoranaWeyl spinors, in light-cone gauge to provide a useful basis of string field theory calculation in the plane wave. We consider the two classes of D-branes, D±-branes, and give a worldsheet derivation of conserved supercurrents for all half BPS D-branes preserving 16 supersymmetries in the type IIB plane wave background. We exhaustively provide the supersymmetry algebra of the half BPS branes as well. We also point out that the supersymmetry algebra distinguishes the two SO(4) directions with relative sign which is consistent with the Z2 symmetry of the string action.
18986664
Discovery Potential of the Standard Model Higgs Boson Through H -> WW Decay Mode with the ATLAS Detector at LHC
We report results of a study of the Standard Model Higgs boson discovery potential through the W-pair leptonic decay modes with the ATLAS detector at LHC at 14 TeV center-of-mass energy. We used MC samples with full detector simulation and reconstruction of the ATLAS experiment to estimate the ATLAS detection sensitivity for the reaction of pp -> H -> WW -> e\nu \mu\nu with no hard jet or two hard jets in the final states. The prospects for the Higgs boson searches at ATLAS are presented, including trigger efficiencies and data-driven methods to estimate the backgrounds using control samples in data. With 10/fb of integrated luminosity, one would expect to discover a Standard Model Higgs boson with ATLAS detector in Higgs boson mass range 135 < m_H < 190 GeV. If the Higgs boson does not exist, we will extend and confirm the exclusion produced by the Tevatron Higgs boson search result, which has ruled out the Higgs boson mass range of 160 < m_H < 170 GeV at 95% confidence level. If Higgs boson would be discovered, ATLAS could measure its mass with a precision of about 2 and 7 GeV for Higgs boson mass around 160 GeV and 130 GeV, respectively.
17081750
String Field Theory and Tachyon Dynamics
In this thesis we present some works done during my doctoral studies. These results focus on two directions. The first one is motivated by tachyon dynamics in open string theory. We calculate the stress tensors for the p-adic string model and for the pure tachyonic sector of open string field theory (OSFT). We give the energy density of lump solutions and attempt to evaluate the evolution of the pressure in rolling tachyon solutions. We discuss the relevance of the pressure calculation for the identification of the large time solution with a gas of closed strings. In the second direction, we give some results in closed string field theory (CSFT). We considered marginal deformations in CSFT. The marginal parameter, called a, is that associated with the dimension-zero primary operator cWcX&X. We use this marginal operator to test the quartic structure of CSFT and the feasibility of level expansion. We check the vanishing of the effective potential for a. In the level expansion the quartic terms generated by the cubic interactions must be cancelled by the elementary quartic interaction of four marginal operators. We confirm this prediction, thus giving evidence that the sign, normalization, and region of integration Vo, 4 for the quartic vertex are all correct. This is the first calculation of an elementary quartic amplitude for which there is an expectation that can be checked. We also extend the calculation to the case of the four marginal operators associated with two space coordinates. We then try to search a critical point of the tachyon potential in CSFT. We include the tachyon, the dilaton, and massive fields in the computation. Some evidence is found for the existence of a closed string tachyon vacuum. It seems that this critical point becomes more shallow when higher level contributions are considered. We also relate fields in the sigma model and those in CSFT. Moreover, large dilaton deformations are studied numerically. Finally, we use the low-energy effective field equations that couple gravity, the dilaton, and the bulk closed string tachyon to study the end result of the physical decay process associated with the instability of closed string tachyon. We establish that whenever the tachyon induces the rolling process, the Einstein metric undergoes collapse while the dilaton rolls to strong coupling. Some more general potentials and the possible cosmological application are discussed. Thesis Supervisor: Barton Zwiebach Title: Professor of Physics
15148506
Baryon Spectroscopy at Beijing Electron Positron Collider
Baryons are the basic building blocks of our world. If we cut any piece of object smaller and smaller,we will ﬁnally reach the nucleons, i.e., the lightest baryons, and we cannot cut them smaller anyfurther. So without mention any theory, we know that the study of baryon structure is at theforefront of exploring microscopic structure of matter. From theoretical point of view, since baryonsrepresent the simplest system in which the three colors of QCD neutralize into colorless objectsand the essential non-Abelian character of QCD is manifest, understanding the baryon structure isabsolutely necessary before we claim that we really understand QCD.Spectroscopy has long proved to be a powerful tool for exploring internal structures and basicinteractions of microscopic world. Ninety years ago detailed studies of atomic spectroscopy resultedin the great discovery of Niels Bohr’s atomic quantum theory [1]. Forty to sixty years later, stilldetailed studies of nuclear spectroscopy resulted in Nobel Prize winning discoveries of nuclear shellmodel [2] and collective motion model [3] by Aage Bohr et al. Comparing with the atomic andnuclear spectroscopy at those times, our present baryon spectroscopy is still in its infancy [4].Many fundamental issues in baryon spectroscopy are still not well understood [5]. The possibilityof new, as yet unappreciated, symmetries could be addressed with accumulation of more data.The new symmetries may not have obvious relation with QCD, just like nuclear shell model andcollective motion model.Joining the new eﬀort on studying the excited nucleons, N
119289762
Quantum gravity effects on compact star cores
Abstract Using the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equation and the equation of state of zero temperature ultra-relativistic Fermi gas based on generalized uncertainty principle (GUP), the quantum gravitational effects on the cores of compact stars are discussed. Our results show that 2 m ( r ) / r varies with r. Quantum gravity plays an important role in the region r ∼ 10 3 r 0 , where r 0 ∼ β 0 l p , l p is the Planck length and β 0 is a dimensionless parameter accounting for quantum gravity effects. Furthermore, near the center of compact stars, we find that the metric components are g t t ∼ r 4 and g r r = [ 1 − r 2 / ( 6 r 0 2 ) ] − 1 . All these effects are different from those obtained from classical gravity. These results can be applied to neutron stars or denser ones like quark stars. The observed masses of neutron stars ( ⩽ 2 M ⊙ ) indicate that β 0 can not exceed 1037, not as good as the upper bound β 0 10 34 from simple electroweak consideration. This means that incorporating either quantum gravity effects or nuclear interactions, one obtains almost the same mass limits of neutron stars.
10348258
Studies of boosted decision trees for MiniBooNE particle identification
Boosted decision trees are applied to particle identification in the MiniBooNE experiment operated at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) for neutrino oscillations. Numerous attempts are made to tune the boosted decision trees, to compare performance of various boosting algorithms, and to select input variables for optimal performance.