Two-Field Born-Infeld with Diverse Dualities

We elaborate on how to build, in a systematic fashion, two-field Abelian extensions of the Born-Infeld Lagrangian. These models realize the non-trivial duality groups that are allowed in this case, namely U(2), SU(2) and U(1)xU(1). For each class, we also construct an explicit example. They all involve an overall square root and reduce to the Born-Infeld model if the two fields are identified, but differ in quartic and higher interactions. The U(1)xU(1) and SU(2) examples recover some recent results obtained with different techniques, and we show that the U(1)xU(1) model admits an N=1 supersymmetric completion. The U(2) example includes some unusual terms that are not analytic at the origin of field space.Comment: 30 pages. Final version with reference added, typo corrected and comment added in the Conclusions. To appear in a special Nucl. Phys. B issue dedicated to the memory of Raymond Stor

Doubly Self-Dual Actions in Various Dimensions

The self-duality of the N=1 supersymmetric Born--Infeld action implies a double self-duality of the tensor multiplet square-root action when the scalar and the antisymmetric tensor are interchanged via Poincare' duality. We show how this phenomenon extends to D space-time dimensions for non-linear actions involving pairs of forms of rank p and D-p-2. As a byproduct, we construct a new two-field generalization of the Born-Infeld action whose equations of motion are invariant under a U(1) duality. In these systems, the introduction of Green-Schwarz terms results in explicit non-linear mass-like terms for dual massive pairs.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX. References added, duality group of eq. (4.16) changed to SU(2). Final version to appear in JHE

Attractors and first order formalism in five dimensions revisited

The attractor mechanism in five dimensional Einstein-Maxwell Chern-Simons theory is studied. The expression of the five dimensional rotating black object potential depending on Taub-NUT, electric and magnetic charges as well as on all the scalar and gauge fields, is investigated. The first order formalism in d=5 is constructed and analyzed. We derive a general expression defining the fake superpotential which is valid for all charge configurations. An explicit expression for the fake superpotential is constructed, for all very special geometries, in the case of vanishing Taub-NUT charge. We carry out an analogous construction in the very special geometries corresponding to $t^3$ and $stu$ models, for the most general charge configurations. The attractor flows and horizon values of all fields are given.Comment: 33 pages, PACS numbers: 04.65.+e, 04.50.Gh, 04.70.Bw, 04.70.Dy, keywords: five dimensional supergravity, black objects, entropy, attractor flows, first order formalism, fake superpotential. Several typos corrected; one reference added; section 6 (conclusions) expande

Supermembrane in D=5: component action

Based on the connection between partial breaking of global supersymmetry, coset approach, which realized the given pattern of supersymmetry breaking, and the Nambu-Goto actions for the extended objects, we have constructed on-shell component action for N=1, D=5 supermembrane and its dual cousins. We demonstrate that the proper choice of the components and the use of the covariant (with respect to broken supersymmetry) derivatives drastically simplify the action: it can be represented as a sum of four terms each having an explicit geometric meaning.Comment: 14 pages, PACS: 11.30.Pb, 12.60.J

Generalized Born--Infeld Actions and Projective Cubic Curves

We investigate $U(1)^{\,n}$ supersymmetric Born-Infeld Lagrangians with a second non-linearly realized supersymmetry. The resulting non-linear structure is more complex than the square root present in the standard Born-Infeld action, and nonetheless the quadratic constraints determining these models can be solved exactly in all cases containing three vector multiplets. The corresponding models are classified by cubic holomorphic prepotentials. Their symmetry structures are associated to projective cubic varieties.Comment: 17 pages, LaTeX, 1 eps figure. Comments added and misprints corrected. Final version to appear in Fortschritte der Physik - Progress of Physic

Noncommutative Coulombic Monopole

We have constructed the appropriate Hamiltonian of the noncommutative coulombic monopole (i.e. the noncommutative hydrogen atom with a monopole). The energy levels of this system have been calculated, discussed and compared with the noncommutative hydrogen atom ones. The main emphasis is put on the ground state. In addition, the Stark effect for the noncommutative coulombic monopole has been studied.Comment: 5 pages, PACS numbers: 03.65.-w, 14.80.Hv, 02.40.Gh, 32.60.+

stu Black Holes Unveiled

The general solutions of the radial attractor flow equations for extremal black holes, both for non-BPS with non-vanishing central charge Z and for Z=0, are obtained for the so-called stu model, the minimal rank-3 N=2 symmetric supergravity in d=4 space-time dimensions. Comparisons with previous results, as well as the fake supergravity (first order) formalism and an analysis of the BPS bound all along the non-BPS attractor flows and of the marginal stability of corresponding D-brane configurations, are given.Comment: 1+40 pages; v2: various typos fixed; v3: improved version, with the BPS bound for ADM mass obtained for all non-BPS configurations, both with non-vanishing and vanishing central charg