119242941
Wall-crossing in coupled 2d-4d systems
A bstractWe introduce a new wall-crossing formula which combines and generalizes the Cecotti-Vafa and Kontsevich-Soibelman formulas for supersymmetric 2d and 4d systems respectively. This 2d-4d wall-crossing formula governs the wall-crossing of BPS states in an $ \mathcal{N}=2 $ supersymmetric 4d gauge theory coupled to a supersymmetric surface defect. When the theory and defect are compactified on a circle, we get a 3d theory with a supersymmetric line operator, corresponding to a hyperholomorphic connection on a vector bundle over a hyperkähler space. The 2d-4d wall-crossing formula can be interpreted as a smoothness condition for this hyperholomorphic connection. We explain how the 2d-4d BPS spectrum can be determined for 4d theories of class $ \mathcal{S} $, that is, for those theories obtained by compactifying the six-dimensional (0, 2) theory with a partial topological twist on a punctured Riemann surface C. For such theories there are canonical surface defects. We illustrate with several examples in the case of A1 theories of class $ \mathcal{S} $. Finally, we indicate how our results can be used to produce solutions to the A1 Hitchin equations on the Riemann surface C.
118337669
Symmetries of the Bosonic String S-Matrix
The bracket operation on mutually local BRST classes may be combined with Lorentz invariance and analyticity to write an infinite set of finite difference relations on string scattering amplitudes. When combined with some simple physical criteria these relations uniquely determine the genus zero string $S$-matrix for $N\leq 26$-particle scattering in $\IR^{25,1}$ in terms of a single parameter, $\kappa$, the string coupling. We propose that the high-energy limit of the relations are the Ward identities for the high-energy symmetries of string theory.
14205277
Melvin Models and Diophantine Approximation
Melvin models with irrational twist parameter provide an interesting example of conformal field theories with non-compact target space, and localized states which are arbitrarily close to being delocalized. We study the torus partition sum of these models, focusing on the properties of the regularized dimension of the space of localized states. We show that its behavior is related to interesting arithmetic properties of the twist parameter γ, such as the Lyapunov exponent. Moreover, for γ in a set of measure one the regularized dimension is in fact not a well-defined number but must be considered as a random variable in a probability distribution.
124306496
The M theory three form and E(8) gauge theory
122595912
Anomalies in Nonlinear $\sigma$ Models
Certain nonlinear sigma models with fermions suffer from an anomaly similar to the one in non-Abelian gauge theory. We exhibit this anomaly using both perturbative and global methods. The affected theories are ill defined and hence unsuitable for describing low-energy dynamics. They include certain supersymmetric models in four space-time dimensions.
15868022
Donaldson Invariants for Non-Simply Connected Manifolds
Abstract:We study Coulomb branch (“u-plane”) integrals for supersymmetric SU(2),SO(3) Yang–Mills theory on 4-manifolds X of b1(X)>0, b2+(X)= 1. Using wall-crossing arguments we derive expressions for the Donaldson invariants for manifolds with b1(X)>0, b2+(X)>0. Explicit expressions for , where Fg is a Riemann surface of genus g are obtained using Kronecker's double series identity. The result might be useful in future studies of quantum cohomology.
14682292
Comment on and erratum to ``Pressure of hot QCD at large Nf''
We repeat and correct the recent calculation of the thermodynamic potential of hot QCD in the limit of large number Nf of fermions. The new result for the thermal pressure turns out to agree significantly better with results obtained from perturbation theory at small coupling. For large coupling, a nonmonotonic behaviour is reproduced, but the pressure of the strongly coupled theory does not exceed the free pressure as long as the Landau pole ambiguity remains negligible numerically.
119208046
Composite magnetic dark matter and the 130 GeV line
We propose an economical model to explain the apparent 130 GeV gamma ray peak, found in the Fermi/LAT data, in terms of dark matter annihilation through a dipole moment interaction. The annihilating dark matter particles represent a subdominant component, with mass density 7-17% of the total DM density; and they only annihilate into gamma gamma, gamma Z, and ZZ, through a magnetic (or electric) dipole moment. Annihilation into other standard model particles is suppressed, due to a mass splitting in the magnetic dipole case, or to p-wave scattering in the electric dipole case. In either case, the observed signal requires a dipole moment of strength mu ~ 2/TeV. We argue that composite models are the preferred means of generating such a large dipole moment, and that the magnetic case is more natural than the electric one. We present a simple model involving a scalar and fermionic techniquark of a confining SU(2) gauge symmetry. We point out some generic challenges for getting such a model to work. The new physics leading to a sufficiently large dipole moment is below the TeV scale, indicating that the magnetic moment is not a valid effective operator for LHC physics, and that production of the strongly interacting constituents, followed by techni-hadronization, is a more likely signature than monophoton events. In particular, 4-photon events from the decays of bound state pairs are predicted.
16615457
Classical Approach to Electroweak Dynamics
I discuss the applicability of classical techniques to the study of the dynamics of infrared, bosonic fields at the electroweak phase transition. I present the lattice as a natural means of cutting off hard, nonclassical modes, and discuss the problem of integrating out the excluded modes perturbatively. I then apply the classical lattice technique to study the dynamics of the phase interface (bubble wall) and the generation of Chern-Simons number in each phase and on the bubble wall.
14338184
The Sphaleron Rate: Bodeker's Leading Log
Bodeker has recently shown that the high temperature sphaleron rate, which measures baryon number violation in the hot standard model, receives logarithmic corrections to its leading parametric behavior; Γ=κ′[log(mD/g2T)+O(1)](g2T2/mD2)αW5T4. After discussing the physical origin of these corrections, I compute the leading log coefficient numerically: κ′=10.8±0.7. The log is fairly small relative to the O(1) “correction;” so non-logarithmic contributions dominate at realistic values of the coupling.
118922289
Shear Viscosity in Weakly Coupled N=4 Super Yang-Mills Theory Compared to QCD
We compute the shear viscosity of weakly coupled N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. Our result for {eta}/s, the viscosity to entropy-density ratio, is many times smaller than the corresponding weak-coupling result in QCD. This suggests that {eta}/s of QCD near the transition point is several times larger than the viscosity bound, {eta}/s{>=}1/4{pi}.