Integrated Lax Formalism for PCM

By solving the first-order algebraic field equations which arise in the dual formulation of the D=2 principal chiral model (PCM) we construct an integrated Lax formalism built explicitly on the dual fields of the model rather than the currents. The Lagrangian of the dual scalar field theory is also constructed. Furthermore we present the first-order PDE system for an exponential parametrization of the solutions and discuss the Frobenious integrability of this system.Comment: 24 page

The non-abelian D-brane effective action through order α′4\alpha'{}^4

Requiring the existence of certain BPS solutions to the equations of motion, we determine the bosonic part of the non-abelian D-brane effective action through order $\alpha'{}^4$. We also propose an economic organizational principle for the effective action.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, JHEP styl

Maximum Path Information and Fokker-Planck Equation

We present in this paper a rigorous method to derive the nonlinear Fokker-Planck (FP) equation of anomalous diffusion directly from a generalization of the principle of least action of Maupertuis proposed by Wang for smooth or quasi-smooth irregular dynamics evolving in Markovian process. The FP equation obtained may take two different but equivalent forms. It was also found that the diffusion constant may depend on both q (the index of Tsallis entropy) and the time t.Comment: 7 page

On semistable principal bundles over a complex projective manifold, II

Let (X, \omega) be a compact connected Kaehler manifold of complex dimension d and E_G a holomorphic principal G-bundle on X, where G is a connected reductive linear algebraic group defined over C. Let Z (G) denote the center of G. We prove that the following three statements are equivalent: (1) There is a parabolic subgroup P of G and a holomorphic reduction of the structure group of E_G to P (say, E_P) such that the bundle obtained by extending the structure group of E_P to L(P)/Z(G) (where L(P) is the Levi quotient of P) admits a flat connection; (2) The adjoint vector bundle ad(E_G) is numerically flat; (3) The principal G-bundle E_G is pseudostable, and the degree of the charateristic class c_2(ad(E_G) is zero.Comment: 15 page

Derivative corrections to the Born-Infeld action through beta-function calculations in N=2 boundary superspace

We calculate the beta-functions for an open string sigma-model in the presence of a U(1) background. Passing to N=2 boundary superspace, in which the background is fully characterized by a scalar potential, significantly facilitates the calculation. Performing the calculation through three loops yields the equations of motion up to five derivatives on the fieldstrengths, which upon integration gives the bosonic sector of the effective action for a single D-brane in trivial bulk background fields through four derivatives and to all orders in alpha'. Finally, the present calculation shows that demanding ultra-violet finiteness of the non-linear sigma-model can be reformulated as the requirement that the background is a deformed stable holomorphic U(1) bundle.Comment: 25 pages, numerous figure

Yang-Mills theory over surfaces and the Atiyah-Segal theorem

In this paper we explain how Morse theory for the Yang-Mills functional can be used to prove an analogue, for surface groups, of the Atiyah-Segal theorem. Classically, the Atiyah-Segal theorem relates the representation ring R(\Gamma) of a compact Lie group $\Gamma$ to the complex K-theory of the classifying space $B\Gamma$. For infinite discrete groups, it is necessary to take into account deformations of representations, and with this in mind we replace the representation ring by Carlsson's deformation $K$--theory spectrum \K (\Gamma) (the homotopy-theoretical analogue of $R(\Gamma)$). Our main theorem provides an isomorphism in homotopy \K_*(\pi_1 \Sigma)\isom K^{-*}(\Sigma) for all compact, aspherical surfaces $\Sigma$ and all $*>0$. Combining this result with work of Tyler Lawson, we obtain homotopy theoretical information about the stable moduli space of flat unitary connections over surfaces.Comment: 43 pages. Changes in v4: improved results in Section 7, simplified arguments in the Appendix, various minor revision

Vector Bundle Moduli and Small Instanton Transitions

We give the general presciption for calculating the moduli of irreducible, stable SU(n) holomorphic vector bundles with positive spectral covers over elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau threefolds. Explicit results are presented for Hirzebruch base surfaces B=F_r. The transition moduli that are produced by chirality changing small instanton phase transitions are defined and specifically enumerated. The origin of these moduli, as the deformations of the spectral cover restricted to the ``lift'' of the horizontal curve of the M5-brane, is discussed. We present an alternative description of the transition moduli as the sections of rank n holomorphic vector bundles over the M5-brane curve and give explicit examples. Vector bundle moduli appear as gauge singlet scalar fields in the effective low-energy actions of heterotic superstrings and heterotic M-theory.Comment: 52 pages, LATEX, corrected typo

Fluid/solid transition in a hard-core system

We prove that a system of particles in the plane, interacting only with a certain hard-core constraint, undergoes a fluid/solid phase transition

Vector Bundle Moduli Superpotentials in Heterotic Superstrings and M-Theory

The non-perturbative superpotential generated by a heterotic superstring wrapped once around a genus-zero holomorphic curve is proportional to the Pfaffian involving the determinant of a Dirac operator on this curve. We show that the space of zero modes of this Dirac operator is the kernel of a linear mapping that is dependent on the associated vector bundle moduli. By explicitly computing the determinant of this map, one can deduce whether or not the dimension of the space of zero modes vanishes. It is shown that this information is sufficient to completely determine the Pfaffian and, hence, the non-perturbative superpotential as explicit holomorphic functions of the vector bundle moduli. This method is illustrated by a number of non-trivial examples.Comment: 81 pages, LaTeX, corrected typo

Average ground-state energy of finite Fermi systems

Semiclassical theories like the Thomas-Fermi and Wigner-Kirkwood methods give a good description of the smooth average part of the total energy of a Fermi gas in some external potential when the chemical potential is varied. However, in systems with a fixed number of particles N, these methods overbind the actual average of the quantum energy as N is varied. We describe a theory that accounts for this effect. Numerical illustrations are discussed for fermions trapped in a harmonic oscillator potential and in a hard wall cavity, and for self-consistent calculations of atomic nuclei. In the latter case, the influence of deformations on the average behavior of the energy is also considered.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure