118615477
AGT on the S-duality wall
Three-dimensional gauge theory T [G] arises on a domain wall between four-dimensional $ \mathcal{N} = 4 $ SYM theories with the gauge groups G and its S-dual GL. We argue that the $ \mathcal{N} = {2^*} $ mass deformation of the bulk theory induces a mass-deformation of the theory T[G] on the wall. The partition functions of the theory T[SU(2)] and its mass-deformation on the three-sphere are shown to coincide with the transformation coefficient of Liouville one-point conformal block on torus under the S-duality.
118415614
On instantons as Kaluza-Klein modes of M5-branes
A bstractInstantons and W-bosons in 5d maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory arise from a circle compactification of the 6d (2,0) theory as Kaluza-Klein modes and winding self-dual strings, respectively. We study an index which counts BPS instantons with electric charges in Coulomb and symmetric phases. We first prove the existence of unique threshold bound state of (noncommutative) U(1) instantons for any instanton number, and also show that charged instantons in the Coulomb phase correctly give the degeneracy of SU(2) self-dual strings. By studying SU(N) self-dual strings in the Coulomb phase, we find novel momentum-carrying degrees on the worldsheet. The total number of these degrees equals the anomaly coefficient of SU(N) (2,0) theory. We finally show that our index can be used to study the symmetric phase of this theory, and provide an interpretation as the superconformal index of the sigma model on instanton moduli space.
17654907
= 5, 6 superconformal Chern-Simons theories and M2-branes on orbifolds
We explore further our recent generalization of the = 4 superconformal Chern-Simons theories of Gaiotto and Witten. We find and construct explicitly theories of enhanced = 5 or 6 supersymmetry, especially = 5, Sp(2M) ? O(N) and = 6, Sp(2M) ? O(2) theories. The U(M) ? U(N) theory coincides with the = 6 theory of Aharony, Bergman, Jafferis and Maldacena (ABJM). We argue that the = 5 theory with Sp(2N) ? O(2N) gauge group can be understood as an orientifolding of the ABJM model with U(2N) ? U(2N) gauge group. We briefly discuss the Type IIB brane construction of the = 5 theory and the geometry of the M-theory orbifold.
119318002
Quantization of integrable systems and a 2d/4d duality
We present a new duality between the F-terms of supersymmetric field theories defined in two-and four-dimensions respectively. The duality relates $ \mathcal{N} = 2 $ super-symmetric gauge theories in four dimensions, deformed by an Ω-background in one plane, to $ \mathcal{N} = \left( {2,2} \right) $ gauged linear σ-models in two dimensions. On the four dimensional side, our main example is $ \mathcal{N} = 2 $ SQCD with gauge group G = SU(L) and NF = 2 L fundamental flavours. Using ideas of Nekrasov and Shatashvili, we argue that the Coulomb branch of this theory provides a quantization of the classical Heisenberg SL(2) spin chain. Agreement with the standard quantization via the Algebraic Bethe Ansatz implies the existence of an isomorphism between the chiral ring of the 4 d theory and that of a certain two-dimensional theory. The latter can be understood as the worldvolume theory on a surface operator/vortex string probing the Higgs branch of the same 4 d theory. We check the proposed duality by explicit calculation at low orders in the instanton expansion. One striking consequence is that the Seiberg-Witten solution of the 4 d theory is captured by a one-loop computation in two dimensions. The duality also has interesting connections with the AGT conjecture, matrix models and topological string theory where it corresponds to a refined version of the geometric transition.
119190806
1/2-BPS Wilson loops and vortices in ABJM model
We explore the low-energy dynamics of 1/2-BPS heavy particles coupled to the ABJM model via the Higgsing of M2-branes, with focus on physical understanding of the recently discovered 1/2-BPS Wilson loop operators. The low-energy theory of 1/2-BPS heavy particles turns out to have the U(N|N) supergauge symmetry, which explains the novel structure of the 1/2-BPS Wilson loop operator as a holonomy of a U(N|N) superconnection. We show that the supersymmetric transformation of the Wilson loop operator can be identified as a fermionic supergauge transformation, which leads to their invariance under half of the supersymmetry. We also argue that 1/2-BPS Wilson loop operators appear as 1/2-BPS vortices with vorticity 1/k. Such a vortex can be naturally interpreted as a membrane wrapping the $$ {\mathbb{Z}_t} $$ cycle once, or type IIA fundamental string.
119104224
A study of Wall-Crossing: flavored kinks in D = 2 QED
We study spectrum of D = 2 $$\mathcal {N} $$ = (2, 2) QED with N + 1 massive charged chiral multiplets, with care given to precise supermultiplet countings. In the infrared the theory flows to ℂℙN model with twisted masses, where we construct generic flavored kink solitons for the large mass regime, and study their quantum degeneracies. These kinks are qualitatively different and far more numerous than those of small mass regime, with features reminiscent of multi-pronged (p, q) string web, complete with the wall-crossing behavior. It has been also conjectured that spectrum of this theory is equivalent to the hypermultiplet spectrum of a certain D = 4 Seiberg-Witten theory. We find that the correspondence actually extends beyond hypermultiplets in D = 4, and that many of the relevant indices match. However, a D = 2 BPS state is typically mapped to several different kind of dyons whose individual supermultiplets are rather complicated; the match of index comes about only after summing over indices of these different dyons. We note general wall-crossing behavior of flavored BPS kink states, and compare it to those of D = 4 dyons.
3104882
Can proper motions of dark-matter subhalos be detected?
One of the goals of NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (formerly GLAST) will be the detection of gamma rays from dark-matter annihilation in the Galactic halo. Theoretical arguments suggest that dark matter may be bound into subhalos with masses as small as 10^-4–10^2M⊕. If so, it may be possible to detect individual subhalos as point sources in the Fermi Telescope. It has further been argued that some of these point sources may exhibit proper motions. Here we show that upper limits to the diffuse gamma-ray background constrain the number of subhalos close enough to exhibit proper motions to be less than one.
118483089
Holographic description of large N gauge theory
Abstract Based on the earlier work [S.-S. Lee, Nucl. Rev. B 832 (2010) 567], we derive a holographic dual for the D -dimensional U ( N ) lattice gauge theory from a first principle construction. The resulting theory is a lattice field theory of closed loops, dubbed as lattice loop field theory which is defined on a ( D + 1 ) -dimensional space. The lattice loop field theory is well defined non-perturbatively, and it becomes weakly coupled and local in the large N limit with a large ʼt Hooft coupling.
119519436
A dual gravity study of the (2+1)D compact U(1) gauge theory coupled with strongly interacting matter fields
Abstract We consider the D2-brane probe action in the gravity background dual to N coincident D p -branes by treating the separation between the D2- and D p -branes as a non-dynamical parameter for p = 2 , 4 , 6 . The gauge coupling, the core size of a non-BPS instanton and the mass gap of the compact U ( 1 ) gauge theory in the D2-brane are determined as a function of the separation in the type IIA gravity region. The results are interpreted in terms of the ( 2 + 1 ) D U ( 1 ) gauge theory coupled with the matter fields which are also strongly coupled with the ( p + 1 ) D SU ( N ) gauge field. It is shown that strong coupling of the matter fields to the SU ( N ) gauge field can drastically modify their screening of the U ( 1 ) gauge field. The non-perturbative dependence of the U ( 1 ) gauge coupling on the energy scale is obtained.
41299039
Observation of higher-order snake resonances in polarized proton acceleration in RHIC.
Higher-order and coupled snake resonances were observed during the 2002 polarized proton run in RHIC. Strong depolarization was observed when the fractional part of the vertical betatron tune approached 1/4, and when the fractional part of the horizontal tune approached 3/14. Because of the closed orbit error, each snake resonance splits into two. From the width of the observed snake resonances, we can derive the strength of the imperfection spin resonance. Our results appear consistent with the measured closed orbit error.
56330047
Potential alternate beam source for proton therapy
Studies have been carried out to determine the suitability of the IUCF Cooler Injector Synchrotron (CIS) as a potential replacement or supplement to the Indiana University Cyclotron as a source of proton beams for the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute (MPRI). The primary modification to the synchrotron would be the development of a slow extraction system. An achromatic beam line connecting CIS and the MPRI beam trunk line has been designed and could use magnets from the recently decommissioned Cooler ring at IUCF. In addition to providing redundancy, this project would increase the proton energy to 240 MeV and could provide higher resolution beams to the radiation effects target stations.