7032725
Matrix theory and Feynman diagrams
We briefly review the computation of graviton and antisymmetric tensor scattering amplitudes in Matrix Theory from a diagramatic S-Matrix point of view.
16066542
Spinors on manifolds with boundary: APS index theorems with torsion
Index theorems for the Dirac operator allow one to study spinors on manifolds with boundary and torsion. We analyse the modifications of the boundary Chern-Simons correction and APS η invariant in the presence of torsion. The bulk contribution must also be modified and is computed using a supersymmetric quantum mechanics representation. Here we find agreement with existing results which employed heat kernel and Pauli-Villars techniques. Nonetheless, this computation also provides a stringent check of the Feynman rules of de Boer et al. for the computation of quantum mechanical path integrals. Our results can be verified via a duality relation between manifolds admitting a Killing-Yano tensor and manifolds with torsion. As an explicit example, we compute the indices of Taub-NUT and its dual constructed using this method and find agreement for any finite radius to the boundary. We also suggest a resolution to the problematic appearance of the Nieh-Yan invariant multiplied by the regulator (mass) 2 in computations of the chiral gravitational anomaly coupled to torsion.
118704552
Massive higher spins from BRST and tractors
Abstract We obtain the higher spin tractor equations of motion conjectured by Gover et al. from a BRST approach and use those methods to prove that they describe massive, partially massless and massless higher spins in conformally flat backgrounds. The tractor description makes invariance under local choices of unit systems manifest. In this approach, physical models are described by conformal, rather than (pseudo-)Riemannian geometry. In particular masses become geometric quantities, namely the weights of tractor fields. Massive models can therefore be handled in a unified and simple manner mimicking the gauge principle usually employed for massless models. From a holographic viewpoint, these models describe both the bulk and boundary theories in terms of conformal geometry. This is an important advance, because tying the boundary conformal structure to that of the bulk theory gives greater control over a bulk–boundary correspondence.
119103201
A continuous Wick rotation for spinor fields and supersymmetry in Euclidean space
We obtain a continuous Wick rotation for Dirac, Majorana and Weyl spinors $\psi \to \exp ({1\over 2} \theta \gamma^4 \gamma^5)\psi$ which interpolates between Minkowski and Euclidean field theories.
408242
Tractors, mass, and Weyl invariance
Abstract Deser and Nepomechie established a relationship between masslessness and rigid conformal invariance by coupling to a background metric and demanding local Weyl invariance, a method which applies neither to massive theories nor theories which rely upon gauge invariances for masslessness. We extend this method to describe massive and gauge invariant theories using Weyl invariance. The key idea is to introduce a new scalar field which is constant when evaluated at the scale corresponding to the metric of physical interest. This technique relies on being able to efficiently construct Weyl invariant theories. This is achieved using tractor calculus—a mathematical machinery designed for the study of conformal geometry. From a physics standpoint, this amounts to arranging fields in multiplets with respect to the conformal group but with novel Weyl transformation laws. Our approach gives a mechanism for generating masses from Weyl weights. Breitenlohner–Freedman stability bounds for Anti-de Sitter theories arise naturally as do direct derivations of the novel Weyl invariant theories given by Deser and Nepomechie. In constant curvature spaces, partially massless theories—which rely on the interplay between mass and gauge invariance—are also generated by our method. Another simple consequence is conformal invariance of the maximal depth partially massless theories. Detailed examples for spins s ⩽ 2 are given including tractor and component actions, on-shell and off-shell approaches and gauge invariances. For all spins s ⩾ 2 we give tractor equations of motion unifying massive, massless, and partially massless theories.
15701670
D = 11 SUGRA as the low energy effective action of matrix theory: three form scattering
We employ the LSZ reduction formula for matrix theory introduced in our earlier work to compute the t-pole S-matrix for three form--three form scattering. The result agrees completely with tree level D = 11 SUGRA. Taken together with previous results on graviton-graviton scattering this shows that matrix theory indeed reproduces the bosonic sector of the D = 11 SUGRA action including the Chern-Simons term. Furthermore we provide a detailed account of our framework along with the technology to compute any matrix theory one-loop t-pole scattering amplitude at vanishing p− exchange.
119317491
Is Quantum Gravity a Chern{Simons Theory?
We propose a model of quantum gravity in arbitrary dimensions dened in terms of the BV quantization of a supersymmetric, innite dimensional matrix model. This gives an (AKSZ-type) Chern{Simons theory with gauge algebra the space of observables of a quantum mechanical Hilbert spaceH. The model is motivated by previous attempts to formulate gravity in terms of non-commutative, phase space, eld theories as well as the Feerman{ Graham curved analog of Dirac spaces for conformally invariant wave equations. The eld
11049353
Covariant constraints for generic massive gravity and analysis of its characteristics
We perform a covariant constraint analysis of massive gravity valid for its entire parameter space, demonstrating that the model generically propagates 5 degrees of freedom; this is also verified by a new and streamlined Hamiltonian description. The constraint’s covariant expression permits computation of the model’s caustics. Although new features such as the dynamical Riemann tensor appear in the characteristic matrix, the model still exhibits the pathologies uncovered in earlier work: superluminality and likely acausalities.