119502389
D-branes in topological membranes
Abstract It is shown how two-dimensional states corresponding to D-branes arise in orbifolds of topologically massive gauge and gravity theories. Brane vertex operators naturally appear in induced worldsheet actions when the three-dimensional gauge theory is minimally coupled to external charged matter and the orbifold relations are carefully taken into account. Boundary states corresponding to D-branes are given by vacuum wavefunctionals of the gauge theory in the presence of the matter, and their various constraints, such as the Cardy condition, are shown to arise through compatibility relations between the orbifold charges and bulk gauge invariance. We show that with a further conformally-invariant coupling to a dynamical massless scalar field theory in three dimensions, the brane tension is naturally set by the bulk mass scales and arises through dynamical mechanisms. As an auxilliary result, we show how to describe string descendent states in the three-dimensional theory through the construction of gauge-invariant excited wavefunctionals.
18433177
Electro-Magnetic Space-Time Duality for 2+1 D Stationary Classical Solutions
We extend a space-time duality suggested by Kogan for 2+1-dimensional static classical solutions of Einstein Maxwell Chern-Simons theories to stationary rotating space-times. We also extend the original duality to other possible dualities of the same kind that constitute a close duality web. In 3+1-dimensions these dualities are only possible for systems which exhibit non-projected cylindrical symmetry and are not related to the usual electromagnetic duality of Maxwell equations. Generalization to $N$-form theories in higher dimensional space-times is briefly addressed.
118869835
Heterotic, Open and Unoriented String Theories from Topological Membrane
In this work are consider several topics in the Topological Membrane (TM) approach to string theory. The string dynamics is generated from the bulk physics, namely from the 3D Topologically Massive Gauge Theory (TMGT) and Topologically Massive Gravity (TMG). Both (equivalent) path integral and canonical methods of quantizing TMGT are studied. It is shown that Narain constraints on toroidal compactification (integer, even, self-dual momentum lattice) have a natural interpretation in purely three dimensional terms. The Heterotic string and the block structure of c=1 RCFT are derived from the point of view of three dimensional field theory. Open and unoriented strings in TM(GT) theory are also studied through orbifolds of the bulk 3D space. This is achieved by gauging discrete symmetries of the theory. Open and unoriented strings can be obtained from all possible realizations of C, P and T symmetries. The important role of C symmetry to distinguish between Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions is discussed in detail. Future directions of research in this field are also suggested and discussed.
6355453
Rotating Electric Classical Solutions of 2+1 D U(1) Einstein Maxwell Chern-Simons
We study electric stationary radial symmetric classical solutions of the U(1) Einstein Maxwell Chern-Simons theory coupled to a gravitational massless scalar field with a cosmological constant in 2+1 dimensions. Generic aspects of the theory are discussed at an introductory level. We study solutions for both negative sign (standard) and positive sign (ghost) of the gauge sector concluding that although the expressions for the solutions are the same, the constants as well as the physics change significantly. It is found a rotating electric point particle. For the standard sign and specific values of the parameters corresponding to solutions with positive mass the singularity is dressed (in the sense that itself constitutes an horizon). The space-time curvatures can be both positive or negative depending on the dominance of the scalar or topologically massive matter. The Chern-Simons term is responsible for interesting features, besides only allowing for rotating solutions, it imposes restrictive bounds on the cosmological constant $\Lambda$ such that it belongs to a positive interval and is switch on and off by the topological mass $m^2$. Furthermore the charge, angular momentum and mass of the particle solution are expressed uniquely as functions of the ratio between the cosmological constant and the topological mass squared $x=\Lambda/m^2$. The main drawback of our particle solution is that the mass is divergent. Our background is a rotating flat space without angular deficit. We briefly discuss parity and time-inversion violation by the Chern-Simons term which is explicit in the solutions obtained, their angular momentum only depends on the relative sign between the Chern-Simons term and the Maxwell term. Trivial solutions are briefly studied holding non-singular extended configurations.
119098673
Pseudo-Photon Radiative Corrections in Non-Regular Backgrounds
Extended $U_e(1)\times U_g(1)$ electromagnetism containing both a photon and a pseudo-photon is introduced at variational level and is justified by the violation of the Bianchi identities in conceptual systems, either in the presence of magnetic monopoles or non-regular external fields, not being accounted by the standard Maxwell action. It is shown that in the perturbative quantum field theory regimes there are observable consequences both for the magnetic momenta and second order vacuum polarization radiative corrections in the presence of non-regular strong electromagnetic fields (e.g. rotating magnetic fields).
119410476
Why Randall-Sundrum Scenarious are not Compatible with an Orbifolded Fifth Dimension
We show the (already known) fact that Randall-Sundrum scenarious although compatible with a ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$ orbifold symmetry cannot hold regularity of the fields at the orbifold planes in the absence of boundary actions and respective jumps of the fields. This makes the models mathematical inconsistence and invalidate the inclusion of such models in a higher dimensional theory such as string theory. For completeness we point out some directions already in the literature and in progress.
119390135
Scale of homogeneity of the universe from WMAP
We review the physics of the Grishchuk-Zel'dovich effect which describes the impact of large amplitude, superhorizon gravitational field fluctuations on the cosmic microwave background anisotropy power spectrum. Using the latest determination of the spectrum by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe satellite, we infer a lower limit on the present length scale of such fluctuations of $3.9\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{3}$ times the cosmological particle horizon (at the 95% confidence level).
119264670
Ultralight axions: degeneracies with massive neutrinos and forecasts for future cosmological observations
A generic prediction of string theory is the existence of many axion fields. It has recently been argued that many of these fields should be light and, like the well known QCD axion, lead to observable cosmological consequences. In this paper we study in detail the effect of the so-called string axiverse on large scale structure, focusing on the morphology and evolution of density perturbations, anisotropies in the cosmic microwave background and weak gravitational lensing of distant galaxies. We quantify specific effects that will arise from the presence of the axionic fields and highlight possible degeneracies that may arise in the presence of massive neutrinos. We take particular care understanding the different physical effects and scales that come into play. We then forecast how the string axiverse may be constrained and show that with a combination of different observations, it should be possible to detect a fraction of ultralight axions to dark matter of a few percent.
18094761
Vacuum Stability in two-Higgs doublet models
In this work we review the status of tree-level vacuum stability in general two-Higgs doublet models. We also discuss the problem of Normal minima in some classes of potentials. In some of these potentials, Normal minima can coexist leading to potentially dangerous physic scenarios as, for instance, a two step spontaneous symmetry breaking.
119362729
Cosmology of a universe with spontaneously broken Lorentz symmetry
A self-consistent effective field theory of modified gravity has recently been proposed with spontaneous breaking of local Lorentz invariance. The symmetry is broken by a vector field with the wrong-sign mass term and it has been shown to have additional graviton modes and modified dispersion relations. In this paper we study the evolution of a homogeneous and isotropic universe in the presence of such a vector field with a minimum lying along the timelike direction. A plethora of different regimes is identified, such as accelerated expansion, loitering, collapse, and tracking.
9420614
The Trispectrum of the 4 Year COBE DMR Data
We propose an estimator for the trispectrum of a scalar random field on a sphere, discuss its geometrical and statistical properties, and outline its implementation. By estimating the trispectrum of the 4 yr COBE Differential Microwave Radiometer experiment data (in HEALPix pixelization), we find new evidence of a non-Gaussian signal associated with a known systematic effect. We find that by removing data from the sky maps for those periods of time perturbed by this effect, the amplitudes of the trispectrum coefficients become completely consistent with predictions for a Gaussian sky. These results reinforce the importance of statistical methods based in harmonic space for quantifying non-Gaussianity.