Two-dimensional gauge theories of the symmetric group S(n) and branched n-coverings of Riemann surfaces in the large-n limit

Branched n-coverings of Riemann surfaces are described by a 2d lattice gauge theory of the symmetric group S(n) defined on a cell discretization of the surface. We study the theory in the large-n limit, and we find a rich phase diagram with first and second order transition lines. The various phases are characterized by different connectivity properties of the covering surface. We point out some interesting connections with the theory of random walks on group manifolds and with random graph theory.Comment: Talk presented at the "Light-cone physics: particles and strings", Trento, Italy, September 200

A Spinning Anti-de Sitter Wormhole

We construct a 2+1 dimensional spacetime of constant curvature whose spatial topology is that of a torus with one asymptotic region attached. It is also a black hole whose event horizon spins with respect to infinity. An observer entering the hole necessarily ends up at a "singularity"; there are no inner horizons. In the construction we take the quotient of 2+1 dimensional anti-de Sitter space by a discrete group Gamma. A key part of the analysis proceeds by studying the action of Gamma on the boundary of the spacetime.Comment: Latex, 28 pages, 7 postscript figures included in text, a Latex file without figures can be found at http://vanosf.physto.se/~stefan/spinning.html Replaced with journal version, minor change