Flavordynamics with Conformal Matter and Gauge Theories on Compact Hyperbolic Manifolds in Extra Dimensions

We outline a toy model in which a unique mechanism may trigger a dynamical chain resulting in key low-energy regularities. The starting points are a negative cosmological term in the bulk and conformally invariant nongravity sector. These elements ensure compactification of the extra dimensional space on a compact hyperbolic manifold (with the negative and constant scalar curvature). The overall geometry is then M_4 x B_n. The negative curvature on B_n triggers the formation of the four-dimensional defect which provides in turn a dynamical localization of ordinary particles. It also leads, simultaneously, to a spontaneous breaking of gauge symmetry through a Higgs mechanism. Masses of the fermions, gauge bosons and scalars all derive from the curvature of the internal manifold such that the Higgs boson is generally heavier than the gauge bosons. The factorizable geometry M_4 x B_n and flatness of M_4 require fine-tuning.Comment: 16 pp, added references and a figure with improvements in text; journal versio

Sensorimotor coordination and metastability in a situated HKB model

Oscillatory phenomena are ubiquitous in nature and have become particularly relevant for the study of brain and behaviour. One of the simplest, yet explanatorily powerful, models of oscillatory Coordination Dynamics is the Haken–Kelso–Bunz (HKB) model. The metastable regime described by the HKB equation has been hypothesised to be the signature of brain oscillatory dynamics underlying sensorimotor coordination. Despite evidence supporting such a hypothesis, to our knowledge, there are still very few models (if any) where the HKB equation generates spatially situated behaviour and, at the same time, has its dynamics modulated by the behaviour it generates (by means of the sensory feedback resulting from body movement). This work presents a computational model where the HKB equation controls an agent performing a simple gradient climbing task and shows (i) how different metastable dynamical patterns in the HKB equation are generated and sustained by the continuous interaction between the agent and its environment; and (ii) how the emergence of functional metastable patterns in the HKB equation – i.e. patterns that generate gradient climbing behaviour – depends not only on the structure of the agent's sensory input but also on the coordinated coupling of the agent's motor–sensory dynamics. This work contributes to Kelso's theoretical framework and also to the understanding of neural oscillations and sensorimotor coordination

Flux Compactifications on Calabi-Yau Threefolds

The presence of RR and NS three-form fluxes in type IIB string compactification on a Calabi-Yau orientifold gives rise to a nontrivial superpotential W for the dilaton and complex structure moduli. This superpotential is computable in terms of the period integrals of the Calabi-Yau manifold. In this paper, we present explicit examples of both supersymmetric and nonsupersymmetric solutions to the resulting 4d N=1 supersymmetric no-scale supergravity, including some nonsupersymmetric solutions with relatively small values of W. Our examples arise on orientifolds of the hypersurfaces in $WP^{4}_{1,1,1,1,4}$ and $WP^{4}_{1,1,2,2,6}$. They serve as explicit illustrations of several of the ingredients which have played a role in the recent proposals for constructing de Sitter vacua of string theory.Comment: 30 pages, harvmac big; refs and minor comments adde

Exploration and stabilization of Ras1 mating zone: A mechanism with positive and negative feedbacks.

In mating fission yeast cells, sensing and response to extracellular pheromone concentrations occurs through an exploratory Cdc42 patch that stochastically samples the cell cortex before stabilizing towards a mating partner. Active Ras1 (Ras1-GTP), an upstream regulator of Cdc42, and Gap1, the GTPase-activating protein for Ras1, localize at the patch. We developed a reaction-diffusion model of Ras1 patch appearance and disappearance with a positive feedback by a Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factor (GEF) and Gap1 inhibition. The model is based on new estimates of Ras1-GDP, Ras1-GTP and Gap1 diffusion coefficients and rates of cytoplasmic exchange studied by FRAP. The model reproduces exploratory patch behavior and lack of Ras1 patch in cells lacking Gap1. Transition to a stable patch can occur by change of Gap1 rates constants or local increase of the positive feedback rate constants. The model predicts that the patch size and number of patches depend on the strength of positive and negative feedbacks. Measurements of Ras1 patch size and number in cells overexpressing the Ras1 GEF or Gap1 are consistent with the model

Breaking Electroweak Symmetry Strongly

The problem of electroweak symmetry breaking is reviewed with discussion of future relevant experimentation at LHC and $e^+e^-$ linear colliders. The possibility of strong electroweak symmetry breaking is examined in more detail, using the BESS (Breaking Electroweak Symmetry Strongly) model as a basis for the discussion. The formal constructions are briefly presented and the possible expectations at future colliders are summarized.Comment: 20 pages, LaTeX, UGVA-DPT 1994/04-846. To appear in the Memorial Volume for Professor Robert Marshak, edited by E.C.G. Sudarshan, World Scientific Publishing Compan

Hindered Coulomb explosion of embedded Na clusters -- stopping, shape dynamics and energy transport

We investigate the dynamical evolution of a Na$_8$ cluster embedded in Ar matrices of various sizes from N=30 to 1048. The system is excited by an intense short laser pulse leading to high ionization stages. We analyze the subsequent highly non-linear motion of cluster and Ar environment in terms of trajectories, shapes, and energy flow. The most prominent effects are: temporary stabilization of high charge states for several ps, sudden stopping of the Coulomb explosion of the embedded Na$_8$ clusters associated with an extremely fast energy transfer to the Ar matrix, fast distribution of energy throughout the Ar layers by a sound wave. Other ionic-atomic transfer and relaxation processes proceed at slower scale of few ps. The electron cloud is almost thermally decoupled from ions and thermalizes far beyond the ps scale.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted in Euro. Phys. J.

Lectures on Higgs Boson Physics in the Standard Model and Beyond

These lectures focus on the structure of various Higgs boson theories. Topics in the first lectures include: mass generation in chiral theories, spontaneous symmetry breaking, neutrino masses, perturbative unitarity, vacuum stability, vacuum alignment, flavor changing neutral current solutions with multiple Higgs doublets, analysis of type I theory with Z2 symmetry, and rephasing symmetries. After an Essay on the Hierarchy Problem, additional topics are covered that more directly relate to naturalness of the electroweak theory. Emphasis is on their connection to Higgs boson physics. Topics in these later lectures include: supersymmetry, supersymmetric Higgs sector in the Runge basis, leading-order radiative corrections of supersymmetric light Higgs boson mass, theories of extra dimensions, and radion mixing with the Higgs boson in warped extra dimensions. And finally, one lecture is devoted to Higgs boson connections to the hidden sector.Comment: 71 pages, Delivered at Cambridge University and University of Liverpool, British Universities Summer School (BUSSTEPP 2008 & 2009

Accessing directly the properties of fundamental scalars in the confinement and Higgs phase

The properties of elementary particles are encoded in their respective propagators and interaction vertices. For a SU(2) gauge theory coupled to a doublet of fundamental complex scalars these propagators are determined in both the Higgs phase and the confinement phase and compared to the Yang-Mills case, using lattice gauge theory. Since the propagators are gauge-dependent, this is done in the Landau limit of 't Hooft gauge, permitting to also determine the ghost propagator. It is found that neither the gauge boson nor the scalar differ qualitatively in the different cases. In particular, the gauge boson acquires a screening mass, and the scalar's screening mass is larger than the renormalized mass. Only the ghost propagator shows a significant change. Furthermore, indications are found that the consequences of the residual non-perturbative gauge freedom due to Gribov copies could be different in the confinement and the Higgs phase.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, 1 table; v2: one minor error corrected; v3: one appendix on systematic uncertainties added and some minor changes, version to appear in EPJ