Some considerations about NS5 and LST Hawking radiation

We have studied the Hawking radiation corresponding to the NS5 and Little String Theory (LST) black hole models using two semi-classical methods: the complex path method and a gravitational anomaly. After summarizing some known concepts about the thermodynamics of these theories, we have computed the emission rates for the two black hole models. The temperature calculated from, e.g. the well-known surface gravity expression, is shown to be identical to that obtained from both the computation of the gravitational anomaly and the complex path method. Moreover, the two semi-classical methods show that NS5 exhibits non-thermal behavior that contrasts with the thermal behavior of LST. We remark that energy conservation is the key factor leading to a non-thermal profile for NS5. In contrast, LST keeps a thermal profile even when energy conservation is considered because temperature in this model does not depend on energy.Comment: 18 pages, acknowledgments included, some concepts clarified, typos corrected, journal reference include

String Cosmology: Concepts and Consequences

After recalling a few basic concepts from cosmology and string theory, I will discuss the main ideas/assumptions underlying string cosmology and show how these lead to a two-parameter family of ``minimal" models. I will then explain how to compute, in terms of those parameters, the spectrum of scalar, tensor and electromagnetic perturbations, point at their ($T$ and $S$-type) duality symmetries, and mention their most relevant physical consequences.Comment: 21p, latex, epsf, 3 figures in uuencoded fil

Formal deformations, contractions and moduli spaces of Lie algebras

Jump deformations and contractions of Lie algebras are inverse concepts, but the approaches to their computations are quite different. In this paper, we contrast the two approaches, showing how to compute jump deformations from the miniversal deformation of a Lie algebra, and thus arrive at the contractions. We also compute contractions directly. We use the moduli spaces of real 3-dimensional and complex 3 and 4-dimensional Lie algebras as models for explaining a deformation theory approach to computation of contractions.Comment: 27 page

The non-unique Universe

The purpose of this paper is to elucidate, by means of concepts and theorems drawn from mathematical logic, the conditions under which the existence of a multiverse is a logical necessity in mathematical physics, and the implications of Godel's incompleteness theorem for theories of everything. Three conclusions are obtained in the final section: (i) the theory of the structure of our universe might be an undecidable theory, and this constitutes a potential epistemological limit for mathematical physics, but because such a theory must be complete, there is no ontological barrier to the existence of a final theory of everything; (ii) in terms of mathematical logic, there are two different types of multiverse: classes of non-isomorphic but elementarily equivalent models, and classes of model which are both non-isomorphic and elementarily inequivalent; (iii) for a hypothetical theory of everything to have only one possible model, and to thereby negate the possible existence of a multiverse, that theory must be such that it admits only a finite model

Marshallian vs. Walrasian Stability in an Experimental Market

The experiments discussed below are an attempt to examine concepts of stability as found in economic textbooks. Two concepts of stability, which stem from two different concepts of market adjustment, seem to have dominated thinking. Whilst these two concepts are typically called Walras stability and Marshall stability, some controversy exists over the extent to which these two models represent their respective thinking. No doubt the current formal statements of the theories reflect an evolution of the ideas through the work of many theorists. The terminology is retained for convenience. Regardless of their origins, these two concepts lead to competing hypotheses about the conditions under which market instability will be observed so the subject is a natural one for experimental investigation. Furthermore, since this is the first experimental examination of the stability of equilibria, the strategy is to inquire about stability in the context of these two classical models and to avoid the temptation to attempt to extend them or integrate them with more modern theory. The old models have not been checked. They seem to be an appropriate place to start

Rational Trust Modeling

Trust models are widely used in various computer science disciplines. The main purpose of a trust model is to continuously measure trustworthiness of a set of entities based on their behaviors. In this article, the novel notion of "rational trust modeling" is introduced by bridging trust management and game theory. Note that trust models/reputation systems have been used in game theory (e.g., repeated games) for a long time, however, game theory has not been utilized in the process of trust model construction; this is where the novelty of our approach comes from. In our proposed setting, the designer of a trust model assumes that the players who intend to utilize the model are rational/selfish, i.e., they decide to become trustworthy or untrustworthy based on the utility that they can gain. In other words, the players are incentivized (or penalized) by the model itself to act properly. The problem of trust management can be then approached by game theoretical analyses and solution concepts such as Nash equilibrium. Although rationality might be built-in in some existing trust models, we intend to formalize the notion of rational trust modeling from the designer's perspective. This approach will result in two fascinating outcomes. First of all, the designer of a trust model can incentivise trustworthiness in the first place by incorporating proper parameters into the trust function, which can be later utilized among selfish players in strategic trust-based interactions (e.g., e-commerce scenarios). Furthermore, using a rational trust model, we can prevent many well-known attacks on trust models. These two prominent properties also help us to predict behavior of the players in subsequent steps by game theoretical analyses

Random Matrices and Chaos in Nuclear Physics

The authors review the evidence for the applicability of random--matrix theory to nuclear spectra. In analogy to systems with few degrees of freedom, one speaks of chaos (more accurately: quantum chaos) in nuclei whenever random--matrix predictions are fulfilled. An introduction into the basic concepts of random--matrix theory is followed by a survey over the extant experimental information on spectral fluctuations, including a discussion of the violation of a symmetry or invariance property. Chaos in nuclear models is discussed for the spherical shell model, for the deformed shell model, and for the interacting boson model. Evidence for chaos also comes from random--matrix ensembles patterned after the shell model such as the embedded two--body ensemble, the two--body random ensemble, and the constrained ensembles. All this evidence points to the fact that chaos is a generic property of nuclear spectra, except for the ground--state regions of strongly deformed nuclei.Comment: 54 pages, 28 figure

String Cosmology: Basic Ideas and General Results

After recalling a few basic concepts from cosmology and string theory, I will outline the main ideas/assumptions underlying (our own group's approach to) string cosmology and show how these lead to the definition of a two-parameter family of ``minimal" models. I will then briefly explain how to compute, in terms of those parameters, the spectrum of scalar, tensor and electromagnetic perturbations, and mention their most relevant physical consequences. More details on the latter part of this talk can be found in Maurizio Gasperini's contribution to these proceedings.Comment: Latex file + 3 figures. Talk presented at the 3rd Colloque Cosmologie, Paris, 7-9 June 9