12239452
Lower bound on the propagation speed of gravity from gravitational Cherenkov radiation
Recently, interesting 4-D Lorentz violating models have been proposed, in which all particles have a common maximum velocity c, but gravity propagates (in the preferred frame) with a different maximum velocity cg≠c. We show that the case cg < c is very tightly constrained by the observation of the highest energy cosmic rays. Assuming a galactic origin for the cosmic rays gives a conservative bound of c−cg <2 × 10−15c; if the cosmic rays have an extragalactic origin the bound is orders of magnitude tighter, of order c−cg < 2 × 10−19c.
10799212
Classical field dynamics of the electroweak phase transition
We investigate the thermodynamics and dynamics of the electroweak phase transition by modeling the infrared physics with classical Yang-Mills Higgs theory. We discuss the accuracy of this approach and conclude that, for quantities whose determination is dominated by the infrared, the classical method should be correct up to parametrically suppressed [i.e., O({alpha})] corrections. For a Higgs self-coupling which at the tree level corresponds to m{sub H}{approx_equal}50 GeV, we determine the jump in the order parameter to be {delta}{phi}=1.5gT, the surface tension to be {sigma}=0.07g{sup 4}T{sup 3}, and the friction coefficient on the moving bubble wall due to infrared bosons to be {eta}{equivalent_to}P/v{sub w}=0.03{plus_minus}0.004g{sup 6}T{sup 4}. We also investigate the response of the Chern-Simons number to a spatially uniform chemical potential and find that it falls off a short distance inside the bubble wall, both in equilibrium and below the equilibrium temperature. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
119279378
Bjorken flow, plasma instabilities, and thermalization
A bstractAt asymptotically high energies, thermalization in heavy ion collisions can be described via weak-coupling QCD. We present a complete treatment of how thermalization proceeds, at the parametric weak-coupling level. We show that plasma instabilities dominate the dynamics, from immediately after the collision until well after the plasma becomes nearly in equilibrium. Initially they drive the system close to isotropy, but Bjorken expansion and increasing diluteness makes the system again become more anisotropic. At time $ \tau \sim {\alpha^{{\frac{{ - 12}}{5}}}}Q_s^{{ - 1}} $ the dynamics become dominated by a nearly-thermal bath; and at time $ \tau \sim {\alpha^{{\frac{{ - 5}}{2}}}}Q_s^{{ - 1}} $ the bath comes to dominate the energy density, completing thermalization. After this time there is a nearly isotropic and thermal Quark-Gluon Plasma.
18843095
Classical sphaleron rate on fine lattices
We measure the sphaleron rate for hot, classical Yang-Mills theory on the lattice, in order to study its dependence on lattice spacing. By using a topological definition of Chern-Simons number and going to extremely fine lattices [up to $\ensuremath{\beta}=32,$ or lattice spacing ${a=1/(8g}^{2}T)]$ we demonstrate nontrivial scaling. The topological susceptibility, converted to physical units, falls with lattice spacing on fine lattices in a way which is consistent with linear dependence on a (the Arnold-Son-Yaffe scaling relation) and is difficult to reconcile with a nonzero continuum limit. We also explain some unusual behavior of the rate in small volumes, reported by Ambj\o{}rn and Krasnitz.
15482372
How to calculate the bubble nucleation rate in first order transitions non-perturbatively
We present a new method for calculating the bubble nucleation rate in first order phase transitions non-perturbatively on the lattice. The method takes into account all fluctuations and the full dynamical pre-factor. We also present results from applying it to the cubic anisotropy model, which has a radiatively induced, strongly first order phase transition.
119023526
The phantom menaced: Constraints on low-energy effective ghosts
It has been suggested that a scalar field with negative kinetic energy, or ``ghost,'' could be the source of the observed late-time cosmological acceleration. Naively, such theories should be ruled out by the catastrophic quantum instability of the vacuum. We derive phenomenological bounds on the Lorentz-violating ultraviolet cutoff $\ensuremath{\Lambda}$ which must apply to low-energy effective theories of ghosts, in order to keep the instability at unobservable levels. Assuming only that ghosts interact at least gravitationally, we show that $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\ensuremath{\lesssim}3\mathrm{MeV}$ for consistency with the cosmic gamma ray background. We also show that theories of ghosts with a Lorentz-conserving cutoff are completely excluded.
18035984
Holographic Action for the Self-Dual Field
We revisit the construction of self-dual field theory in 4l+2 dimensions using Chern-Simons theory in 4l+3 dimensions, building on the work of Witten. Careful quantization of the Chern-Simons theory reveals all the topological subtleties associated with the self-dual partition function, including the generalization of the choice of spin structure needed to define the theory. We write the partition function for arbitrary torsion background charge, and in the presence of sources. We show how this approach leads to the formulation of an action principle for the self-dual field.
11641629
Integration over the u plane in Donaldson theory
We analyze the u-plane contribution to Donaldson invariants of a fourmanifold X. For b2 (X) > 1, this contribution vanishes, but for b + 2 = 1, the Donaldson invariants must be written as the sum of a u-plane integral and an SW contribution. The u-plane integrals are quite intricate, but can be analyzed in great detail and even calculated. By analyzing the u-plane integrals, the relation of Donaldson theory to N = 2 supersymmetric YangMills theory can be described much more fully, the relation of Donaldson invariants to SW theory can be generalized to four-manifolds not of simple type, and interesting formulas can be obtained for the class numbers of imaginary quadratic fields. We also show how the results generalize to extensions of Donaldson theory obtained by including hypermultiplet matter fields. September 19, 1997
17793625
Non-abelian tensor-multiplet anomalies
We use the anomaly cancellation of the M-theory fivebrane to derive the R-symmetry anomalies of the AN (0,2) tensor-multiplet theories. This result leads to a simple derivation of black hole entropy in d = 4, = 2 compactifications of M-theory. We also show how the formalism of normal bundle anomaly cancellation clarifies the Kaluza-Klein origin of Chern-Simons terms in gauged supergravity theories. The results imply the existence of interesting 1/N corrections in the AdS/CFT correspondence.
14579879
Exact Gravitational Threshold Correction in the FHSV Model
We consider the automorphic forms which govern the gravitational threshold correction F1 in models of heterotic/IIA duality with N = 2 supersymmetry in four dimensions. In particular we derive the full nonperturbative formula for F1 for the dual pair originally considered by Ferrara, Harvey, Strominger and Vafa (FHSV). The answer involves an interesting automorphic product constructed by Borcherds which is associated to the “fake Monster Lie superalgebra.” As an application of this result we rederive a result of Jorgenson & Todorov on determinants of ∂̄ operators on K3 surfaces.
121922438
Modular Forms and Two Loop String Physics
Abstract The two-loop path integral for the closed bosonic string is given by a genus-two modular form: the product of the even theta functions. Thus the two-loop vacuum amplitude, scattering amplitudes, and the one-loop free energy may be expressed simply in terms of theta functions.