Unconditionally saturated Banach space with the scalar-plus-compact property

We construct a Bourgain-Delbaen $\mathscr{L}_\infty$-space $\mathfrak{X}_{Kus}$ with strongly heterogenous structure: any bounded operator on $\mathfrak{X}_{Kus}$ is a compact perturbation of a multiple of the identity, whereas the space $\mathfrak{X}_{Kus}$ is saturated with unconditional basic sequences.Comment: The result about tightness removed,notation clarified and corrected, clarifying comments added, Journal of Functional Analysis, 201

Hereditarily indecomposable, separable L_\infty spaces with \ell_1 dual having few operators, but not very few operators

Given a natural number $k \geq 2$, we construct a hereditarily indecomposable, $\mathscr{L}_{\infty}$ space, $X_k$ with dual isomorphic to $\ell_1$. We exhibit a non-compact, strictly singular operator $S$ on $X_k$, with the property that $S^k = 0$ and $S^j (0 \leq j \leq k-1)$ is not a compact perturbation of any linear combination of $S^l, l \neq j$. Moreover, every bounded linear operator on this space has the form $\sum_{i=0}^{k-1} \lambda_i S^i +K$ where the $\lambda_i$ are scalars and $K$ is compact. In particular, this construction answers a question of Argyros and Haydon ("A hereditarily indecomposable space that solves the scalar-plus-compact problem")

Ricci Curvature, Minimal Volumes, and Seiberg-Witten Theory

We derive new, sharp lower bounds for certain curvature functionals on the space of Riemannian metrics of a smooth compact 4-manifold with a non-trivial Seiberg-Witten invariant. These allow one, for example, to exactly compute the infimum of the L2-norm of Ricci curvature for all complex surfaces of general type. We are also able to show that the standard metric on any complex hyperbolic 4-manifold minimizes volume among all metrics satisfying a point-wise lower bound on sectional curvature plus suitable multiples of the scalar curvature. These estimates also imply new non-existence results for Einstein metrics.Comment: 41 pages, LaTeX2

Integral representations combining ladders and crossed-ladders

We use the worldline formalism to derive integral representations for three classes of amplitudes in scalar field theory: (i) the scalar propagator exchanging N momenta with a scalar background field (ii) the "half-ladder" with N rungs in x - space (iii) the four-point ladder with N rungs in x - space as well as in (off-shell) momentum space. In each case we give a compact expression combining the N! Feynman diagrams contributing to the amplitude. As our main application, we reconsider the well-known case of two massive scalars interacting through the exchange of a massless scalar. Applying asymptotic estimates and a saddle-point approximation to the N-rung ladder plus crossed ladder diagrams, we derive a semi-analytic approximation formula for the lowest bound state mass in this model.Comment: 39 pages, 10 pdf figure

Influence of f(R)f(R) Models on the Existence of Anisotropic Self-Gravitating Systems

This paper aims to explore some realistic configurations of anisotropic spherical structures in the background of metric $f(R)$ gravity, where $R$ is the Ricci scalar. The solutions obtained by Krori and Barua are used to examine the nature of particular compact stars with three different modified gravity models. The behavior of material variables is analyzed through plots and the physical viability of compact stars is investigated through energy conditions. We also discuss the behavior of different forces, equation of state parameter, measure of anisotropy and Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation in the modeling of stellar structures. The comparison from our graphical representations may provide evidences for the realistic and viable $f(R)$ gravity models at both theoretical and astrophysical scale.Comment: 23 pages, 13 figures, version accepted for publication in European Physical Journal

Aspects of Quadratic Gravity

We discuss quadratic gravity where terms quadratic in the curvature tensor are included in the action. After reviewing the corresponding field equations, we analyze in detail the physical propagating modes in some specific backgrounds. First we confirm that the pure $R^2$ theory is indeed ghost free. Then we point out that for flat backgrounds the pure $R^2$ theory propagates only a scalar massless mode and no spin-two tensor mode. However, the latter emerges either by expanding the theory around curved backgrounds like de Sitter or anti-de Sitter, or by changing the long-distance dynamics by introducing the standard Einstein term. In both cases, the theory is modified in the infrared and a propagating graviton is recovered. Hence we recognize a subtle interplay between the UV and IR properties of higher order gravity. We also calculate the corresponding Newton's law for general quadratic curvature theories. Finally, we discuss how quadratic actions may be obtained from a fundamental theory like string- or M-theory. We demonstrate that string theory on non-compact $CY_3$ manifolds, like a line bundle over $\mathbb{CP}^2$, may indeed lead to gravity dynamics determined by a higher curvature action.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures, revised version contains additional references plus corrected typo