RG Fixed Points in Supergravity Duals of 4-d Field Theory and Asymptotically AdS Spaces

Recently, it has been conjectured that supergravity solutions with two asymptotically AdS regions describe the RG flow of a 4-d field theory from a UV fixed point to an interacting IR fixed point. In this paper we lend support to this conjecture by showing that, in the UV (IR) limit, the two-point function of a minimally-coupled scalar field depends only on the UV (IR) region of the metric, asymptotic to AdS_5. This result is consistent with the interpretation of the radial coordinate of Anti de Sitter space as an energy scale, and it may provide an analog of the Callan-Symanzik equation for supergravity duals of strongly coupled field theories

Holographic zero sound at finite temperature

We use gauge-gravity duality to study the temperature dependence of the zero sound mode and the fundamental matter diffusion mode in the strongly coupled {\cal N}=4 SU(N_c) supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory with N_f {\cal N}=2 hypermultiplets in the N_c>>1, N_c>>N_f limit, which is holographically realized via the D3/D7 brane system. In the high density limit \mu>>T, three regimes can be identified in the behavior of these modes, analogous to the collisionless quantum, collisionless thermal and hydrodynamic regimes of a Landau Fermi-liquid. The transitions between the three regimes are characterized by the parameters T/\mu and (T/\mu)^2 respectively, and in each of these regimes the modes have a distinctively different temperature and momentum dependence. The collisionless-hydrodynamic transition occurs when the zero sound poles of the density-density correlator in the complex frequency plane collide on the imaginary axis to produce a hydrodynamic diffusion pole. We observe that the properties characteristic of a Landau Fermi-liquid zero sound mode are present in the D3/D7 system despite the atypical T^6/\mu^3 temperature scaling of the specific heat and an apparent lack of a directly identifiable Fermi surface.Comment: 35 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables, 3 animation

The polarization tensor of neutral gluons in external fields at high temperature

The one-loop polarization operator of neutral gluons in the background constant Abelian isotopic, $H_{3}$, and hypercharge, $H_{8}$, chromomagnetic fields combined with $A_0$ electrostatic potential at high temperature is calculated. The case when $A_0=0$ is investigated separately. The proper time method is applied. It is found that neutral gluons do not acquire magnetic masses in the background fields, in contrast to the charged ones. The application of the results are discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figur

Non-transversality of the gluon polarization tensor in a chromomagnetic background

We investigate the question about the transversality of the gluon polarization tensor in a homogeneous chromomagnetic background field. We re-derive the non transversality known from a pure one loop calculation using the Slavnov-Taylor identities. In addition we generalize the procedure to arbitrary gauge fixing parameter $\xi$ and calculate the $\xi$-dependent part of the polarization tensor.Comment: subm. to TM

Complete High Temperature Expansions for One-Loop Finite Temperature Effects

We develop exact, simple closed form expressions for partition functions associated with relativistic bosons and fermions in odd spatial dimensions. These expressions, valid at high temperature, include the effects of a non-trivial Polyakov loop and generalize well-known high temperature expansions. The key technical point is the proof of a set of Bessel function identities which resum low temperature expansions into high temperature expansions. The complete expressions for these partition functions can be used to obtain one-loop finite temperature contributions to effective potentials, and thus free energies and pressures.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX, no figures. To be published in Phys. Rev D. v2 has revised introduction and conclusions, plus a few typographical errors are corrected; v3 corrects one typ

Hydrodynamics at RHIC -- how well does it work, where and how does it break down?

I review the successes and limitations of the ideal fluid dynamic model in describing hadron emission spectra from Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC).Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Invited talk presented at Strange Quark Matter 2004 (Cape Town, Sep. 15-20, 2004). Proceedings to appear in Journal of Physics

Ring diagrams and electroweak phase transition in a magnetic field

Electroweak phase transition in a magnetic field is investigated within the one-loop and ring diagram contributions to the effective potential in the minimal Standard Model. All fundamental fermions and bosons are included with their actual values of masses and the Higgs boson mass is considered in the range $75 GeV \leq m_H \leq 115 GeV$. The effective potential is real at sufficiently high temperature. The important role of fermions and $W$-bosons in symmetry behaviour is observed. It is found that the phase transition for the field strengths $10^{23} - 10^{24}$G is of first order but the baryogenesis condition is not satisfied. The comparison with the hypermagnetic field case is done.Comment: 16 pages, Latex, changed for a mistake in the numerical par

A note on conductivity and charge diffusion in holographic flavour systems

We analyze the charge diffusion and conductivity in a Dp/Dq holographic setup that is dual to a supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in p+1 dimensions with N_f<< N_c flavour degrees of freedom at finite temperature and nonvanishing U(1) baryon number chemical potential. We provide a new derivation of the results that generalize the membrane paradigm to the present context. We perform a numerical analysis in the particular case of the D3/D7 flavor system. The results obtained support the validity of the Einstein relation at finite chemical potential.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, v2 with minor correction

Free Energy of an SU(2) Model of (2+1)-dimensional QCD in the Constant Condensate Background

Gluon and quark contributions to the thermodynamic potential (free energy) of a (2+1)-dimensional QCD model at finite temperature in the background of a constant homogeneous chromomagnetic field H combined with A_0 condensate are calculated. The role of the tachyonic mode in the gluon energy spectrum is discussed. A possibility of the free energy global minimum generation at nonzero values of H and A_0 condensates is investigated.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 14 pages, 6 eps figures, some miscalculations were correcte