Twisting to Abelian BF/Chern-Simons Theories

Starting from a $D=3$, $N=4$ supersymmetric theory for matter fields, a twist with a Grassmann parity change is defined which maps the theory into a gauge fixed, abelian $BF$ theory on curved 3-manifolds. After adding surface terms to this theory, the twist is seen to map the resulting supersymmetric action to two uncoupled copies of the gauge fixed Chern-Simons action. In addition, we give a map which takes the $BF$ and Chern-Simons theories into Donaldson-Witten TQFT's. A similar construction, but with $N=2$ supersymmetry, is given in two dimensions.Comment: 19 pages, CTP #2237, LaTe

On the action of the complete Brans-Dicke theory

Recently the most general completion of Brans-Dicke theory was appeared with energy exchanged between the scalar field and ordinary matter, given that the equation of motion for the scalar field keeps the simple wave form of Brans-Dicke. This class of theories contain undetermined functions, but there exist only three theories which are unambiguously determined from consistency. Here, for the first such theory, it is found the action of the vacuum theory which arises as the limit of the full matter theory. A symmetry transformation of this vacuum action in the Jordan frame is found which consists of a conformal transformation of the metric together with a redefinition of the scalar field. Since the general family of vacuum theories is parametrized by an arbitrary function of the scalar field, the action of this family is also found. As for the full matter theory it is only found the action of the system when the matter Lagrangian vanishes on-shell, as for example for pressureless dust. Due to the interaction, this matter Lagrangian is non-minimally coupled either in the Jordan or the Einstein frame.Comment: To appear in EPJC; minor change

Getting to Outcomes: A User's Guide to a Revised Indicators Framework for Education Organizing

Research for Action (RFA) has been among those engaged in education organizing research and has drawn on its previous efforts–as well as the knowledge built by community organizing groups and other researchers–to create this User's Guide. The Indicators Framework can serve as a tool to help education organizing groups engage in self-reflection and evaluation of their efforts. Communities for Public Education Reform (CPER) commissioned RFA to update its theory of change, developed in partnership with CPER in 2002. The theory of change explains how education organizing works to strengthen communities and improve schools. Accompanying this theory of change was a set of indicators that could be used to assess the outcomes of the organizing process. This updated Indicators Framework reflects the adaptations education organizing groups are making in response to the new education realities, and to over a decade of experience working to change schools in low-income neighborhoods

A renormalisation group derivation of the overlap formulation

Starting from the continuum Dirac operator, I construct a renormalisation group blocking which transforms the continuum action into a lattice action, and I specifically consider the Wilson and overlap formalisms. For Wilson fermions the inverse blocking is non-local and thus invalid. However, I proceed to demonstrate that it is possible to construct a valid, local, blocking which, though dependent on the lattice spacing, generates the lattice overlap fermion action from the continuum action. Using this renormalisation group blocking for overlap fermions, I derive the Ginsparg-Wilson equations and the lattice chiral symmetry. I suggest how the construction of a lattice chiral gauge theory could follow naturally from this approach.Comment: v4: 39 pages, some very minor change