974 research outputs found
Backlund Transformations, D-Branes, and Fluxes in Minimal Type 0 Strings
We study the Type 0A string theory in the (2,4k) superconformal minimal model
backgrounds, focusing on the fully non-perturbative string equations which
define the partition function of the model. The equations admit a parameter,
Gamma, which in the spacetime interpretation controls the number of background
D-branes, or R-R flux units, depending upon which weak coupling regime is
taken. We study the properties of the string equations (often focusing on the
(2,4) model in particular) and their physical solutions. The solutions are the
potential for an associated Schrodinger problem whose wavefunction is that of
an extended D-brane probe. We perform a numerical study of the spectrum of this
system for varying Gamma and establish that when Gamma is a positive integer
the equations' solutions have special properties consistent with the spacetime
interpretation. We also show that a natural solution-generating transformation
(that changes Gamma by an integer) is the Backlund transformation of the KdV
hierarchy specialized to (scale invariant) solitons at zero velocity. Our
results suggest that the localized D-branes of the minimal string theories are
directly related to the solitons of the KdV hierarchy. Further, we observe an
interesting transition when Gamma=-1.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure
Gaussian solitary waves and compactons in Fermi-Pasta-Ulam lattices with Hertzian potentials
We consider a class of fully-nonlinear Fermi-Pasta-Ulam (FPU) lattices,
consisting of a chain of particles coupled by fractional power nonlinearities
of order . This class of systems incorporates a classical Hertzian
model describing acoustic wave propagation in chains of touching beads in the
absence of precompression. We analyze the propagation of localized waves when
is close to unity. Solutions varying slowly in space and time are
searched with an appropriate scaling, and two asymptotic models of the chain of
particles are derived consistently. The first one is a logarithmic KdV
equation, and possesses linearly orbitally stable Gaussian solitary wave
solutions. The second model consists of a generalized KdV equation with
H\"older-continuous fractional power nonlinearity and admits compacton
solutions, i.e. solitary waves with compact support. When , we numerically establish the asymptotically Gaussian shape of exact FPU
solitary waves with near-sonic speed, and analytically check the pointwise
convergence of compactons towards the limiting Gaussian profile
Stable Non--Perturbative Minimal Models Coupled to 2D Quantum Gravity
A generalisation of the non--perturbatively stable solutions of string
equations which respect the KdV flows, obtained recently for the
conformal minimal models coupled to two--dimensional quantum gravity, is
presented for the models. These string equations are the most general
string equations compatible with the --th generalised KdV flows. They
exhibit a close relationship with the bi-hamiltonian structure in these
hierarchies. The Ising model is studied as a particular example, for which a
real non-singular numerical solution to the string susceptibility is presented.Comment: (35 pp; two figures not included; plain TEX
Modulational Instability in Equations of KdV Type
It is a matter of experience that nonlinear waves in dispersive media,
propagating primarily in one direction, may appear periodic in small space and
time scales, but their characteristics --- amplitude, phase, wave number, etc.
--- slowly vary in large space and time scales. In the 1970's, Whitham
developed an asymptotic (WKB) method to study the effects of small
"modulations" on nonlinear periodic wave trains. Since then, there has been a
great deal of work aiming at rigorously justifying the predictions from
Whitham's formal theory. We discuss recent advances in the mathematical
understanding of the dynamics, in particular, the instability of slowly
modulated wave trains for nonlinear dispersive equations of KdV type.Comment: 40 pages. To appear in upcoming title in Lecture Notes in Physic
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