Gauging of Geometric Actions and Integrable Hierarchies of KP Type

This work consist of two interrelated parts. First, we derive massive gauge-invariant generalizations of geometric actions on coadjoint orbits of arbitrary (infinite-dimensional) groups $G$ with central extensions, with gauge group $H$ being certain (infinite-dimensional) subgroup of $G$. We show that there exist generalized ``zero-curvature'' representation of the pertinent equations of motion on the coadjoint orbit. Second, in the special case of $G$ being Kac-Moody group the equations of motion of the underlying gauged WZNW geometric action are identified as additional-symmetry flows of generalized Drinfeld-Sokolov integrable hierarchies based on the loop algebra {\hat \cG}. For {\hat \cG} = {\hat {SL}}(M+R) the latter hiearchies are equivalent to a class of constrained (reduced) KP hierarchies called {\sl cKP}_{R,M}, which contain as special cases a series of well-known integrable systems (mKdV, AKNS, Fordy-Kulish, Yajima-Oikawa etc.). We describe in some detail the loop algebras of additional (non-isospectral) symmetries of {\sl cKP}_{R,M} hierarchies. Apart from gauged WZNW models, certain higher-dimensional nonlinear systems such as Davey-Stewartson and $N$-wave resonant systems are also identified as additional symmetry flows of {\sl cKP}_{R,M} hierarchies. Along the way we exhibit explicitly the interrelation between the Sato pseudo-differential operator formulation and the algebraic (generalized) Drinfeld-Sokolov formulation of {\sl cKP}_{R,M} hierarchies. Also we present the explicit derivation of the general Darboux-B\"acklund solutions of {\sl cKP}_{R,M} preserving their additional (non-isospectral) symmetries, which for R=1 contain among themselves solutions to the gauged $SL(M+1)/U(1)\times SL(M)$ WZNW field equations.Comment: LaTeX209, 47 page

The AdS(5)xS(5) Semi-Symmetric Space Sine-Gordon Theory

The generalized symmetric space sine-Gordon theories are a series of 1+1-integrable field theories that are classically equivalent to superstrings on symmetric space spacetimes F/G. They are formulated in terms of a semi-symmetric space as a gauged WZW model with fermions and a potential term to deform it away from the conformal fixed point. We consider in particular the case of PSU(2,2|4)/Sp(2,2)xSp(4) which corresponds to AdS(5)xS(5). We argue that the infinite tower of conserved charges of these theories includes an exotic N=(8,8) supersymmetry that is realized in a mildy non-local way at the Lagrangian level. The supersymmetry is associated to a double central extension of the superalgebra psu(2|2)+psu(2|2) and includes a non-trivial R symmetry algebra corresponding to global gauge transformations, as well as 2-dimensional spacetime translations. We then explicitly construct soliton solutions and show that they carry an internal moduli superspace CP(2|1)xCP(2|1) with both bosonic and Grassmann collective coordinates. We show how to semi-classical quantize the solitons by writing an effective quantum mechanical system on the moduli space which takes the form of a co-adjoint orbit of SU(2|2)xSU(2|2). The spectrum consists of a tower of massive states in the short, or atypical, symmetric representations, just as the giant magnon states of the string world sheet theory, although here the tower is truncated.Comment: 39 pages, references adde

On the Moduli Space of SU(3) Seiberg-Witten Theory with Matter

We present a qualitative model of the Coulomb branch of the moduli space of low-energy effective N=2 SQCD with gauge group SU(3) and up to five flavours of massive matter. Overall, away from double cores, we find a situation broadly similar to the case with no matter, but with additional complexity due to the proliferation of extra BPS states. We also include a revised version of the pure SU(3) model which can accommodate just the orthodox weak coupling spectrum.Comment: 32 pages, 25 figures, uses JHEP.cls, added references, deleted joke

Phase Transitions of Orientifold Gauge Theories at Large N in Finite Volume

In this paper we consider the phase structure of ``orientifold'' gauge theories--obtained from unitary supersymmetric gauge theories by replacing adjoint Majorana fermions by Dirac fermions in the symmetric or anti-symmetric representations--in finite volume S^3 x S^1. If the radius of the S^3 is small the calculations can be performed at weak coupling for any value of the S^1 radius. We demonstrate that there is a confinement/de-confining type of phase transition even when the fermions have periodic (non-thermal) boundary conditions around S^1. At small radius of S^1, the theory is in a phase where charge conjugation and large non-periodic gauge transformation are spontaneously broken. But for large radius of S^1 the phase preseves these symmetries just as in the related supersymmetric theory.Comment: 12 page

Topology change in commuting saddles of thermal N=4 SYM theory

We study the large N saddle points of weakly coupled N=4 super Yang-Mills theory on S^1 x S^3 that are described by a commuting matrix model for the seven scalar fields {A_0, \Phi_J}. We show that at temperatures below the Hagedorn/`deconfinement' transition the joint eigenvalue distribution is S^1 x S^5. At high temperatures T >> 1/R_{S^3}, the eigenvalues form an ellipsoid with topology S^6. We show how the deconfinement transition realises the topology change S^1 x S^5 --> S^6. Furthermore, we find compelling evidence that when the temperature is increased to T = 1/(\sqrt\lambda R_{S^3}) the saddle with S^6 topology changes continuously to one with S^5 topology in a new second order quantum phase transition occurring in these saddles.Comment: 1+40 pages, 6 figures. v2: Title changed. Status of commuting saddles clarified: New high T phase transition claimed in the commuting sector only, not in the full theor

Causality, renormalizability and ultra-high energy gravitational scattering

The amplitude A(s,t) for ultra-high energy scattering can be found in the leading eikonal approximation by considering propagation in an Aichelburg-Sexl gravitational shockwave background. Loop corrections in the QFT describing the scattered particles are encoded for energies below the Planck scale in an effective action which in general exhibits causality violation and Shapiro time advances. In this paper, we use Penrose limit techniques to calculate the full energy dependence of the scattering phase shift Theta_scat(hat_s},, where the single variable hat_s = Gs/m^2 b^(d-2) contains both the CM energy s and impact parameter b, for a range of scalar QFTs in d dimensions with different renormalizability properties. We evaluate the high-energy limit of Theta_scat(hat_s) and show in detail how causality is related to the existence of a well-defined UV completion. Similarities with graviton scattering and the corresponding resolution of causality violation in the effective action by string theory are briefly discussed.Comment: 23 page

Quantum integrability of sigma models on AII and CII symmetric spaces

Exact massive S-matrices for two dimensional sigma models on symmetric spaces SU(2N)/Sp(N) and Sp(2P)/Sp(P)*Sp(P) are conjectured. They are checked by comparison of perturbative and non perturbative TBA calculations of free energy in a strong external field. We find the mass spectrum of the models and calculate their exact mass gap.Comment: 11 p., minor correction

Bound States of the q-Deformed AdS5 x S5 Superstring S-matrix

The investigation of the q deformation of the S-matrix for excitations on the string world sheet in AdS5 x S5 is continued. We argue that due to the lack of Lorentz invariance the situation is more subtle than in a relativistic theory in that the nature of bound states depends on their momentum. At low enough momentum |p|<E the bound states transform in the anti-symmetric representation of the super-algebra symmetry and become the solitons of the Pohlmeyer reduced theory in the relativistic limit. At a critical momentum |p|=E they become marginally unstable, and at higher momenta the stable bound states are in the symmetric representation and become the familiar magnons in the string limit as q->1. This subtlety fixes a problem involving the consistency of crossing symmetry with the relativistic limit found in earlier work. With mirror kinematics, obtained after a double Wick rotation, the bound state structure is simpler and there are no marginally unstable bound states.Comment: 25 page

Classical and Quantum Solitons in the Symmetric Space Sine-Gordon Theories

We construct the soliton solutions in the symmetric space sine-Gordon theories. The latter are a series of integrable field theories in 1+1-dimensions which are associated to a symmetric space F/G, and are related via the Pohlmeyer reduction to theories of strings moving on symmetric spaces. We show that the solitons are kinks that carry an internal moduli space that can be identified with a particular co-adjoint orbit of the unbroken subgroup H of G. Classically the solitons come in a continuous spectrum which encompasses the perturbative fluctuations of the theory as the kink charge becomes small. We show that the solitons can be quantized by allowing the collective coordinates to be time-dependent to yield a form of quantum mechanics on the co-adjoint orbit. The quantum states correspond to symmetric tensor representations of the symmetry group H and have the interpretation of a fuzzy geometric version of the co-adjoint orbit. The quantized finite tower of soliton states includes the perturbative modes at the base.Comment: 53 pages, additional comments and small errors corrected, final journal versio