14069651
A class of topological actions
We review definitions of generalized parallel transports in terms of Cheeger-Simons differential characters. Integration formulae are given in terms of Deligne-Beilinson cohomology classes. These representations of parallel transport can be extended to situations involving distributions as is appropriate in the context of quantized fields.
15486552
Comments on the links between SU(3) modular invariants, simple factors in the Jacobian of Fermat curves, and rational triangular billiards
We examine the proposal made recently that the su(3) modular invariant partition functions could be related to the geometry of the complex Fermat curves. Although a number of coincidences and similarities emerge between them and certain algebraic curves related to triangular billiards, their meaning remains obscure. In an attempt to go beyond the su(3) case, we show that any rational conformal field theory determines canonically a Riemann surface. Comment: 56 pages, 4 eps figures, LaTeX, uses epsf
115160247
Another derivation of the geometrical KPZ relations
We give a physicist's derivation of the geometrical (in the spirit of Duplantier–Sheffield) KPZ relations, via heat kernel methods. It gives a covariant way to define neighborhoods of fractals in 2D quantum gravity, and shows that these relations are in the realm of conformal field theory.
173517385
A Short Introduction to Critical Interfaces in 2D
These notes are meant as a gentle introduction to the concepts of Loewner chains, local growth, Stochastic Loewner Evolutions (SLE) and their relationships to Conformal Field Theories (CFT). These concepts have played an important role in physics and mathematics during the recent years. The first section describes two discrete examples, the exploration process and loop-erased random walks. It can be read almost without any prerequisites. The aim is to show that even for curves defined purely in geometrical terms, it is useful to have a statistical mechanics viewpoint where the measure on curves is derived from a measure on local degrees of freedom of some model. A third model, diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) is also introduced. The second section introduces Loewner chains and their relevance for the description of growth processes. A prerequisite is a minimal knowledge of complex analysis. The third section contains the derivation of the relevance of SLE in the description of interfaces when two properties, conformal invariance and the domain Markov property, are assumed/proved. The prerequisites are some knowledge of complex analysis and probability theory. The last section outlines the relation with Conformal Field Theory. This relation is via martingales and singular vectors. Again, the reader is assumed to have some basic knowledge of complex analysis and probability theory, and some familiarity with CFT. The discussion is informal. There is little or no claim at originality. We try to give some intuition based on explicit examples.
119148126
Scasimir Operator, Scentre and Representations of Uq(osp(1|2))
A bosonic operator of Uq(osp(1|2)) that anticommutes with the fermionic generators appears to be useful to describe the relations in the centre of Uq(osp(1|2)) for q a root of unity (in the unrestricted specialisation). As in the classical case, it also simplifies the classification of finite dimensional irreducible representations.
5911478
Phase transition with the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless singularity in the Ising model on a growing network.
We consider the ferromagnetic Ising model on a highly inhomogeneous network created by a growth process. We find that the phase transition in this system is characterized by the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless singularity, although critical fluctuations are absent and the mean-field description is exact. Below this infinite order transition, the magnetization behaves as exp((-const/square root of(Tc-T)). We show that the critical point separates the phase with the power-law distribution of the linear response to a local field and the phase where this distribution rapidly decreases. We suggest that this phase transition occurs in a wide range of cooperative models with a strong infinite-range inhomogeneity.
119289443
Flavor physics in the Randall-Sundrum model: II. Tree-level weak-interaction processes
A comprehensive analysis of tree-level weak interaction processes at low energy is presented for the Randall-Sundrum (RS) model with SU(2)L × U(1)Y bulk gauge symmetry and brane-localized Higgs sector. The complete form of the effective weak Hamiltonian is obtained, which results from tree-level exchange of Kaluza-Klein (KK) gluons and photons, the W± and Z0 bosons and their KK excitations, as well as the Higgs boson. Exact expressions are used for the bulk profiles of the various fields, and for the exchange of entire towers of KK gauge-boson states. A detailed phenomenological analysis is performed for potential new-physics effects in neutral-meson mixing and in rare decays of kaons and B mesons, including both inclusive and exclusive processes. We find that while the predictions for ∆F = 2 observables are rather model-independent, ∆F = 1 processes depend sensitively on the exact realizations of the electroweak gauge and the fermionic sector. In this context, we emphasize that the localization of the right-handed top quark in the extra dimension plays a crucial role in the case of rare Z0-mediated decays, as it determines the relative size of left- to right-handed couplings. We also extend earlier studies of quark flavor-changing neutral currents by examining observables which up to now attracted little attention. These include $$ D - \overline D $$ mixing, B → τντ, B → Xs(K*) l+l-, ϵ′K/ϵK, $$ \overline B \to \pi \overline K $$, $$ {\overline B^0} \to \phi {K_S} $$, $$ {\overline B^0} \to \eta '{K_S} $$, and B+ → π+π0.
118498826
Soft collinear effective theory for heavy WIMP annihilation
A bstractIn a large class of models for Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), the WIMP mass M lies far above the weak scale mW . This work identifies universal Sudakov-type logarithms ∼ α log2(2 M/mW ) that spoil the naive convergence of perturbation theory for annihilation processes. An effective field theory (EFT) framework is presented, allowing the systematic resummation of these logarithms. Another impact of the large separation of scales is that a long-distance wavefunction distortion from electroweak boson exchange leads to observable modifications of the cross section. Careful accounting of momentum regions in the EFT allows the rigorous disentanglement of this so-called Sommerfeld enhancement from the short-distance hard annihilation process. The WIMP is described as a heavy-particle field, while the electroweak gauge bosons are treated as soft and collinear fields. Hard matching coefficients are computed at renormalization scale μ ∼ 2 M , then evolved down to μ ∼ mW , where electroweak symmetry breaking is incorporated and the matching onto the relevant quantum mechanical Hamiltonian is performed. The example of an SU(2)W triplet scalar dark matter candidate annihilating to line photons is used for concreteness, allowing the numerical exploration of the impact of next-to-leading order corrections and log resummation. For M ≃ 3 TeV, the resummed Sommerfeld enhanced cross section is reduced by a factor of ∼ 3 with respect to the treelevel fixed order result.
122260318
Direct dark matter search with CRESST and EURECA
Abstract The current status of the direct Dark Matter experiments CRESST (Cryogenic Rare Event Search with Superconducting Thermometers) and the planned EURECA (European Underground Rare Event Calorimeter Array) is presented. Both experiments are aimed at the direct detection of WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles), potential candidates for the Dark Matter in the universe. New design developments of the cryogenic detectors operated at mK temperatures are investigated to optimize detector performance and to simplify mass production. Thus, CRESST is also providing a basis for the EURECA project, aimed at a ton of cryogenic detectors with a multi-material target.
110822912
Monolithic systems design for the Silicon Electromagnetic Calorimetry Collaboration
A series of monolithic bipolar charge-sensitive preamplifiers and a companion monolithic 50-ns CMOS shaping amplifier have been designed, fabricated, and characterized for use with silicon calorimeters. The preamplifier topologies evaluated were current-mode, folded cascode, and differential. These three topologies were fabricated in the Harris Semiconductor VHF process and were characterized for noise, transient response, power dissipation and radiation hardness. Versions of each preamplifier have been designed to operate over a range of detector pad capacitance from 20-500 pF. The CMOS shaping amplifier specifications and test results are presented with emphasis on the system integration requirements for beam tests. >
117460354
Results of the CRESST commissioning Run 2007
G. Angloher, M. Bauer, I. Bavykina, A. Bento, A. Brown, C. Bucci,C. Ciemniak, C. Coppi, G. Deuter, F. von Feilitzsch, D. Hauff, S. Henry, P. Huff, J. Imber, S. Ingleby, C. Isaila, J. Jochum, M. Kiefer, M. Kimmerle, H. Kraus, J.-C. Lanfranchi, R. F. Lang, B. Majorovits, M. Malek, R. McGowan, V. B. Mikhailik, E. Pantic, F. Petricca, S. Pfister, W. Potzel, F. Pröbst, W. Rau, S. Roth, K. Rottler, C. Sailer, K. Schäffner, J. Schmaler, S. Scholl, W. Seidel, L. Stodolsky, A. J. B. Tolhurst, I. Usherov, W. Westphal Max-Planck-Institut für Physik, Föhringer Ring 6, D-80805 München, Germany Physik-Department E15, Technische Universität München, D-85747 Garching, Germany Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RH, United Kingdom Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany INFN, Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, I-67010 Assergi, Italy now at: Max-Planck-Institut für Physik, Föhringer Ring 6, D-80805 München, Germany on leave from: Departamento de Fisica, Universidade de Coimbra, P3004 516 Coimbra, Portugal now at: Department of Physics, Queen’s University,Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada Deceased