14412974
Families of N=2 strings
In a given 4d spacetime bakcground, one can often construct not one but a family of distinct N = 2 string theories. This is due to the multiple ways an N = 2 superconformal algebra can be embedded in a given worldsheet theory. We formulate the principle of obtaining different physical theories by gauging different embeddings of the same symmetry algebra in the same "pre-theory." We then apply it to the N = 2 strings and formulate the recipe for finding the associated parameter spaces of gauging. Flat and curved target spaces of both (4,0) and (2,2) signatures are considered. We broadly divide the gauging choices into two classes, denoted by α and β, and show them to be related by T-duality. The distinction between them is formulated topologically and hinges on some unique properties of 4d manifolds. We determine what their parameter spaces of gauging are under certain simplicity ansatz for generic flat spaces (4 and its toroidal compactifications) as well as some curved spaces. We briefly discuss the spectra of D-branes for both α and β families.
17461222
The principle of least action and the geometric basis of D-branes
We analyze thoroughly the boundary conditions allowed in classical non-linear sigma models and derive from first principle the corresponding geometric objects, i.e. D-branes. In addition to giving classical D-branes an intrinsic and geometric foundation, D-branes in nontrivial H flux and D-branes embedded within D-branes are precisely defined. A well known topological condition on D-branes is replaced.
10041169
Conformal invariance on orbifolds and excitations of singularity
We study conformal field theory on two-dimensional orbifolds and show this to be an effective way to analyze physical effects of geometric singularities with angular deficits. They are closely related to boundaries and cross caps. Representative classes of singularities can be described exactly using generalizations of boundary states. From this we compute correlation functions and derive the spectra of excitations localized at the singularities.
43434280
Matrix Description of Intersecting M5 Branes
Novel 3+1 dimensional N = 2 superconformal field theories (with tensionless BPS string solitons) are believed to arise when two sets of M5 branes intersect over a 3+1 dimensional hyperplane. We derive a DLCQ description of these theories as supersymmetric quantum mechanics on the Higgs branch of suitable 4d N = 1 supersymmetric gauge theories. Our formulation allows us to determine the scaling dimensions of certain chiral primary operators in the conformal field theories. We also discuss general criteria for quantum mechanical DLCQ descriptions of supersymmetric field theories (and the resulting multiplicities and scaling dimensions of chiral primary operators).
119528597
Branes and mirror symmetry in N = 2 supersymmetric gauge theories in three dimensions
We use brane configurations and SL(2, Z) symmetry of the type IIB string to construct mirror N = 2 supersymmetric gauge theories in three dimensions. The mirror map exchanges Higgs and Coulomb branches, Fayet-Iliopoulos and mass parameters and U(1)R symmetries. Some quantities that are determined at the quantum level in one theory are determined at the classical level of the mirror. One such example is the complex structure of the Coulomb branch of one theory, which is determined quantum mechanically. It is mapped to the complex structure of the Higgs branch of the mirror theory, which is determined classically. We study the generation of N = 2 superpotentials by open D-string instantons in the brane configurations.
5633727
Anomalies, Branes, and Currents
Abstract When a D-brane wraps around a cycle of a curved manifold, the twisting of its normal bundle can induce chiral asymmetry in its world-volume theory. We obtain the general form of the resulting anomalies for D-branes and their intersections. They are not cancelled among themselves, and the standard inflow mechanism does not apply at first sight because of their apparent lack of factorizability and the apparent vanishing of the corresponding inflow. We show, however, that after taking into consideration the effects of the non-trivial topology of the normal bundles, the anomalies can be transformed into factorized forms and precisely cancelled by finite inflow from the Chern-Simons actions for the D-branes as long as the latter are well defined. We then consider examples in type 11 compactifications where the twisting of the normal bundles occurs and calculate the changes in the induced Ramond-Ramond charges on the D-branes.
119264215
A model of nuclear recoil scintillation efficiency in noble liquids
Abstract Scintillation efficiency of low-energy nuclear recoils in noble liquids plays a crucial role in interpreting results from some direct searches for weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter. However, the cause of a reduced scintillation efficiency relative to electronic recoils in noble liquids remains unclear at the moment. We attribute such a reduction of scintillation efficiency to two major mechanisms: (1) energy loss and (2) scintillation quenching. The former is commonly described by Lindhard’s theory and the latter by Birk’s saturation law. We propose to combine these two to explain the observed reduction of scintillation yield for nuclear recoils in noble liquids. Birk’s constants kB for argon, neon and xenon determined from experimental data are used to predict noble liquid scintillator’s response to low-energy nuclear recoils and low-energy electrons. We find that energy loss due to nuclear stopping power that contributes little to ionization and excitation is the dominant reduction mechanism in scintillation efficiency for nuclear recoils, but that significant additional quenching results from the nonlinear response of scintillation to the ionization density.
110904443
Configurable electronics with low noise and 14-bit dynamic range for photodiode-based photon detectors
Abstract We describe the principles and measured performance of custom configurable 32-channel shaper/digitizer Front End Electronics (FEE) cards with 14-bit dynamic range for gain-adjustable photon detectors. The electronics has been designed for the PHOS calorimeter of ALICE with avalanche photodiode (APD) readout operated at −25 °C ambient temperature and a signal shaping time of 1 μs. The electronics has also been adopted by the EMCal detector of ALICE with the same APD readout, but operated at an ambient temperature of +20 °C and with a shaping time of 100 ns. The CR-RC2 signal shapers on the FEE cards are implemented in discrete logic on a 10-layer board with two shaper sections for each input channel. The two shaper sections with gain ratio of 16:1 are digitized by 10-bit ADCs and provide an effective dynamic range of 14 bits. Gain adjustment for each individual APD is available through 32 bias voltage control registers of 10-bit range. The fixed gains and shaping times of the pole-zero compensated shapers are defined prior to FEE production by the values of a few R and C components. For trigger purposes, “fast OR” outputs with 12-bit dynamic range are available. FPGA based slave logic, combined with a USB processor supports a variety of remote control and monitoring features, including APD gain calibration. The measurements presented here for APDs at −25 °C ambient temperature and 1 μs shaping time achieve an average RMS noise level of 0.25 ADC counts or 290 electrons.The linearity over the dynamic range is better than 1%, as is the uniformity of shaping time and gain over 32 channels. Due to the excellent correspondence of the output pulse shape with offline fit, a differential timing resolution of less than 1.5 ns between channels has been achieved at ca. 2 GeV, i.e. at 1.5% of the dynamic range of PHOS.
120878684
Important observables from the BRAHMS experiment
We present the important observables from the BRAHMS experiment for establishing the properties of the hot and dense strongly interacting QCD matter with respect to its formation, evolution and its effects on high p Tparticle production.
121970317
Charged particle identification with PHOS and central tracking of ALICE
The ALICE Photon Spectrometer (PHOS) has been designed to measure the photon spectrum produced in pp and AA collisions at LHC over a broad transverse momentum range from 0.5–100 GeV/c. We present a study on the matching of charged tracks, detected by the ALICE central tracking detectors, with clusters of hit PHOS elements. Matching efficiency and contamination due to false matches have been deduced for charged pions, muons and electrons. The study indicates also that material from other detectors in front of PHOS disturbs the photon detection.
108585326
Trigger electronics for the Alice PHOS detector
Abstract The Photon Spectrometer of ALICE consists of 5 identical modules of 56×64 PWO crystals with a total of 100° azimuthal coverage of the barrel. The electronics required for implementing both the L0 trigger for high luminosity p–p physics and the L1 trigger for high p T Pb+Pb physics has been studied. A full integration of the trigger logic into the detector's enclosure is based on analog transmission of fast trigger sums between stacks of front-end boards and trigger-router units. The latter contain 112 digitizer channels of 10 bit, which are mapped into a single FPGA per trigger unit, covering areas of 24×16 crystals. The running modes allow for Level-0 trigger at 800 ns and Level-1 at 6200 ns trigger latencies. The design and status of the PHOS trigger electronics are outlined.