Twenty-five years of two-dimensional rational conformal field theory

In this article we try to give a condensed panoramic view of the development of two-dimensional rational conformal field theory in the last twenty-five years.Comment: A review for the 50th anniversary of the Journal of Mathematical Physics. Some references added, typos correcte

Mathematical surfaces models between art and reality

In this paper, I want to document the history of the mathematical surfaces models used for the didactics of pure and applied “High Mathematics” and as art pieces. These models were built between the second half of nineteenth century and the 1930s. I want here also to underline several important links that put in correspondence conception and construction of models with scholars, cultural institutes, specific views of research and didactical studies in mathematical sciences and with the world of the figurative arts furthermore. At the same time the singular beauty of form and colour which the models possessed, aroused the admiration of those entirely ignorant of their mathematical attraction

Four-dimensional String Compactifications with D-Branes, Orientifolds and Fluxes

This review article provides a pedagogical introduction into various classes of chiral string compactifications to four dimensions with D-branes and fluxes. The main concern is to provide all necessary technical tools to explicitly construct four-dimensional orientifold vacua, with the final aim to come as close as possible to the supersymmetric Standard Model. Furthermore, we outline the available methods to derive the resulting four-dimensional effective action. Finally, we summarize recent attempts to address the string vacuum problem via the statistical approach to D-brane models.Comment: 331 pages, 7 figures, review prepared for Physics Reports, please send constructive comments to: [email protected], v2: refs added, v3: final version to appear in Phys. Rep

The microscopic dynamics of quantum space as a group field theory

We provide a rather extended introduction to the group field theory approach to quantum gravity, and the main ideas behind it. We present in some detail the GFT quantization of 3d Riemannian gravity, and discuss briefly the current status of the 4-dimensional extensions of this construction. We also briefly report on recent results obtained in this approach and related open issues, concerning both the mathematical definition of GFT models, and possible avenues towards extracting interesting physics from them.Comment: 60 pages. Extensively revised version of the contribution to "Foundations of Space and Time: Reflections on Quantum Gravity", edited by G. Ellis, J. Murugan, A. Weltman, published by Cambridge University Pres

Hadron models and related New Energy issues

The present book covers a wide-range of issues from alternative hadron models to their likely implications in New Energy research, including alternative interpretation of lowenergy reaction (coldfusion) phenomena. The authors explored some new approaches to describe novel phenomena in particle physics. M Pitkanen introduces his nuclear string hypothesis derived from his Topological Geometrodynamics theory, while E. Goldfain discusses a number of nonlinear dynamics methods, including bifurcation, pattern formation (complex GinzburgLandau equation) to describe elementary particle masses. Fu Yuhua discusses a plausible method for prediction of phenomena related to New Energy development. F. Smarandache discusses his unmatter hypothesis, and A. Yefremov et al. discuss Yang-Mills field from Quaternion Space Geometry. Diego Rapoport discusses theoretical link between Torsion fields and Hadronic Mechanic. A.H. Phillips discusses semiconductor nanodevices, while V. and A. Boju discuss Digital Discrete and Combinatorial methods and their likely implications in New Energy research. Pavel Pintr et al. describe planetary orbit distance from modified Schrödinger equation, and M. Pereira discusses his new Hypergeometrical description of Standard Model of elementary particles. The present volume will be suitable for researchers interested in New Energy issues, in particular their link with alternative hadron models and interpretation

New Physics at the LHC. A Les Houches Report: Physics at TeV Colliders 2009 - New Physics Working Group

We present a collection of signatures for physics beyond the standard model that need to be explored at the LHC. First, are presented various tools developed to measure new particle masses in scenarios where all decays include an unobservable particle. Second, various aspects of supersymmetric models are discussed. Third, some signatures of models of strong electroweak symmetry are discussed. In the fourth part, a special attention is devoted to high mass resonances, as the ones appearing in models with warped extra dimensions. Finally, prospects for models with a hidden sector/valley are presented. Our report, which includes brief experimental and theoretical reviews as well as original results, summarizes the activities of the "New Physics" working group for the "Physics at TeV Colliders" workshop (Les Houches, France, 8-26 June, 2009).Comment: 189 page

Pattern Recognition

Pattern recognition is a very wide research field. It involves factors as diverse as sensors, feature extraction, pattern classification, decision fusion, applications and others. The signals processed are commonly one, two or three dimensional, the processing is done in real- time or takes hours and days, some systems look for one narrow object class, others search huge databases for entries with at least a small amount of similarity. No single person can claim expertise across the whole field, which develops rapidly, updates its paradigms and comprehends several philosophical approaches. This book reflects this diversity by presenting a selection of recent developments within the area of pattern recognition and related fields. It covers theoretical advances in classification and feature extraction as well as application-oriented works. Authors of these 25 works present and advocate recent achievements of their research related to the field of pattern recognition