On the space of quantum fields in massive two-dimensional theories

For a large class of integrable quantum field theories we show that the S-matrix determines a space of fields which decomposes into subspaces labeled, besides the charge and spin indices, by an integer k. For scalar fields k is non-negative and is naturally identified as an off-critical extension of the conformal level. To each particle we associate an operator acting in the space of fields whose eigenvectors are primary (k=0) fields of the massive theory. We discuss how the existing results for models as different as Z_n, sine-Gordon or Ising with magnetic field fit into this classification.Comment: 17 page

Stationary D=4D=4 Black Holes in Supergravity: The Issue of Real Nilpotent Orbits

The complete classification of the nilpotent orbits of ${\rm SO}(2,2)^2$ in the representation ${\bf (2,2,2,2)}$, achieved in \cite{Dietrich:2016ojx}, is applied to the study of multi-center, asymptotically flat, extremal black hole solutions to the STU model. These real orbits provide an intrinsic characterization of regular single-center solutions, which is invariant with respect to the action of the global symmetry group ${\rm SO}(4,4)$, underlying the stationary solutions of the model, and provide stringent regularity constraints on multi-centered solutions. The known \emph{almost-BPS} and \emph{composite non-BPS} solutions are revisited in this setting. We systematically provide, for the relevant ${\rm SO}(2,2)^2$-nilpotent orbits of the global Noether charge matrix, regular representatives thereof. This analysis unveils a composition law of the orbits according to which those containing regular multi-centered solutions can be obtained as combinations of specific single-center orbits defining the constituent black holes. Some of the ${\rm SO}(2,2)^2$-orbits of the total Noether charge matrix are characterized as "intrinsically singular" in that they cannot contain any regular solution.Comment: 104 pages, LaTeX source and 29 figure

Holography of charged dilatonic black branes at finite temperature

We investigate bulk and holographic features of finite-temperature black brane solutions of 4D anti-de Sitter Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton-gravity (EMDG). We construct, numerically, black branes endowed with non trivial scalar hairs for broad classes of EMDG. We consider both exponential and power-law forms for the coupling functions, as well as several charge configurations: purely electric, purely magnetic and dyonic solutions. At finite temperature the field theory holographically dual to these black brane solutions has a rich and interesting phenomenology reminiscent of electron motion in metals: phase transitions triggered by nonvanishing VEV of scalar operators, non-monotonic behavior of the electric conductivities as function of the frequency and of the temperature, Hall effect and sharp synchrotron resonances of the conductivity in presence of a magnetic field. Conversely, in the zero temperature limit the conductivities for these models show a universal behavior. The optical conductivity has a power-law behavior as a function of the frequency, whereas the DC conductivity is suppressed at small temperatures.Comment: 29 pages 14 figures, typos corrected, reference adde

Stationary Black Holes: Uniqueness and Beyond

The spectrum of known black-hole solutions to the stationary Einstein equations has been steadily increasing, sometimes in unexpected ways. In particular, it has turned out that not all black-hole-equilibrium configurations are characterized by their mass, angular momentum and global charges. Moreover, the high degree of symmetry displayed by vacuum and electro-vacuum black-hole spacetimes ceases to exist in self-gravitating non-linear field theories. This text aims to review some developments in the subject and to discuss them in light of the uniqueness theorem for the Einstein-Maxwell system.Comment: Major update of the original version by Markus Heusler from 1998. Piotr T. Chru\'sciel and Jo\~ao Lopes Costa succeeded to this review's authorship. Significantly restructured and updated all sections; changes are too numerous to be usefully described here. The number of references increased from 186 to 32

Can type II Semi-local cosmic strings form?

We present the simplest possible model for a semi-local string defect in which a U(1) gauged subgroup of an otherwise global SU(2) is broken to produce local cosmic strings endowed with current-carrying properties. Restricting attention to type II vortices for which the non current-carrying state is unstable, we show that a condensate must form microscopically and macroscopically evolve towards a chiral configuration. It has been suggested that such configurations could potentially exist in a stable state, thereby inducing large cosmological consequences based on equilibrium angular momentum supported loop configurations (vortons). Here we show that the current itself induces a macroscopic (longitudinal) instability: we conclude that type II semi-local cosmic strings cannot form in a cosmological context.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure