Multiplicative anomaly and zeta factorization

Some aspects of the multiplicative anomaly of zeta determinants are investigated. A rather simple approach is adopted and, in particular, the question of zeta function factorization, together with its possible relation with the multiplicative anomaly issue is discussed. We look primordially into the zeta functions instead of the determinants themselves, as was done in previous work. That provides a supplementary view, regarding the appearance of the multiplicative anomaly. Finally, we briefly discuss determinants of zeta functions that are not in the pseudodifferential operator framework.Comment: 20 pages, AIP styl

An Extension of the Chowla-Selberg Formula Useful in Quantizing with the Wheeler-De Witt Equation

The two-dimensional inhomogeneous zeta-function series (with homogeneous part of the most general Epstein type): \sum_{m,n \in \mbox{\bf Z}} (am^2+bmn+cn^2+q)^{-s}, is analytically continued in the variable $s$ by using zeta-function techniques. A simple formula is obtained, which extends the Chowla-Selberg formula to inhomogeneous Epstein zeta-functions. The new expression is then applied to solve the problem of computing the determinant of the basic differential operator that appears in an attempt at quantizing gravity by using the Wheeler-De Witt equation in 2+1 dimensional spacetime with the torus topology.Comment: 14 pages (small typo errors corrected and 2page improvement of physical applications), LaTeX file, UB-ECM-PF 94/

Complex fermion mass term, regularization and CP violation

It is well known that the CP violating theta term of QCD can be converted to a phase in the quark mass term. However, a theory with a complex mass term for quarks can be regularized so as not to violate CP, for example through a zeta function. The contradiction is resolved through the recognition of a dependence on the regularization or measure. The appropriate choice of regularization is discussed and implications for the strong CP problem are pointed out.Comment: REVTeX, 4 page

Multidimensional extension of the generalized Chowla-Selberg formula

After recalling the precise existence conditions of the zeta function of a pseudodifferential operator, and the concept of reflection formula, an exponentially convergent expression for the analytic continuation of a multidimensional inhomogeneous Epstein-type zeta function of the general form \zeta_{A,\vec{b},q} (s) = \sum_{\vec{n}\in Z^p (\vec{n}^T A \vec{n} +\vec{b}^T \vec{n}+q)^{-s}, with $A$ the $p\times p$ matrix of a quadratic form, $\vec{b}$ a $p$ vector and $q$ a constant, is obtained. It is valid on the whole complex $s$-plane, is exponentially convergent and provides the residua at the poles explicitly. It reduces to the famous formula of Chowla and Selberg in the particular case $p=2$, $\vec{b}= \vec{0}$, $q=0$. Some variations of the formula and physical applications are considered.Comment: LaTeX, 15 pages, no figure

Casimir effect in rugby-ball type flux compactifications

As a continuation of the work in \cite{mns}, we discuss the Casimir effect for a massless bulk scalar field in a 4D toy model of a 6D warped flux compactification model,to stabilize the volume modulus. The one-loop effective potential for the volume modulus has a form similar to the Coleman-Weinberg potential. The stability of the volume modulus against quantum corrections is related to an appropriate heat kernel coefficient. However, to make any physical predictions after volume stabilization, knowledge of the derivative of the zeta function, $\zeta'(0)$ (in a conformally related spacetime) is also required. By adding up the exact mass spectrum using zeta function regularization, we present a revised analysis of the effective potential. Finally, we discuss some physical implications, especially concerning the degree of the hierarchy between the fundamental energy scales on the branes. For a larger degree of warping our new results are very similar to the previous ones \cite{mns} and imply a larger hierarchy. In the non-warped (rugby-ball) limit the ratio tends to converge to the same value, independently of the bulk dilaton coupling.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in PR

On two complementary approaches aiming at the definition of the determinant of an elliptic partial differential operator

We bring together two apparently disconnected lines of research (of mathematical and of physical nature, respectively) which aim at the definition, through the corresponding zeta function, of the determinant of a differential operator possessing, in general, a complex spectrum. It is shown explicitly how the two lines have in fact converged to a meeting point at which the precise mathematical conditions for the definition of the zeta function and the associated determinant are easy to understand from the considerations coming up from the physical approach, which proceeds by stepwise generalization starting from the most simple cases of physical interest. An explicit formula that establishes the bridge between the two approaches is obtained.Comment: LaTeX file, 9 pages, no figure