D3-branes dynamics and black holes

Using the D3-brane as the fundamental tool, we adress two aspects of D-branes physics. The first regards the interaction between two electromagnetic dual D-branes in 10 dimensions. In particular, we give a meaning to {\it both} even and odd spin structure contributions, the latter being non vanishing for non zero relative velocity $v$ (and encoding the Lorentz-like contribution). The second aspect regards the D-brane/black holes correspondence. We show how the 4 dimensional configuration corresponding to a {\it single} D3-brane wrapped on the orbifold T^6/Z_3 represents a regular Reissner-Nordstrom solution of d=4 N=2 supergravityComment: 8 pages, latex, 1 eps figure. Talk presented by M. Bertolini at the conference "Quantum aspects of gauge theories, supergravity and unification" in Corfu`; to appear in the proceeding

Closed string exchanges on C2/Z2C^2/Z_2 in a background B-field

In an earlier work it was shown that the IR singularities arising in the nonplanar one loop two point function of a noncommutative ${\cal N}=2$ gauge theory can be reproduced exactly from the massless closed string exchanges. The noncommutative gauge theory is realised on a fractional $D_3$ brane localised at the fixed point of the $C^2/Z_2$ orbifold. In this paper we identify the contributions from each of the closed string modes. The sum of these adds upto the nonplanar two-point function.Comment: 27 page

Supersymmetric predictions for the inclusive b→sγb\to s\gamma decay

We study the penguin induced transition $b\to s\ \gamma$ in the minimal N=1 supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model with radiative breaking of the electroweak group. We include the effects of one-loop corrections to the Higgs potential and scalar masses. We show that the present upper and lower experimental limits on the inclusive decay sharply constrain the parameter space of the model in a wide range of $\tan\beta$ values. The implications of the recently advocated relation $|B|\ge 2$ for the bilinear SUSY soft breaking parameter in grand unified theories are also analyzed.Comment: 23 pages + 12 figures (hardcopies available on request), LATEX, SISSA 40/94/E

Regular R-R and NS-NS BPS black holes

We show in a precise group theoretical fashion how the generating solution of regular BPS black holes of N=8 supergravity, which is known to be a solution also of a simpler N=2 STU model truncation, can be characterized as NS-NS or R-R charged according to the way the corresponding STU model is embedded in the original N=8 theory. Of particular interest is the class of embeddings which yield regular BPS black hole solutions carrying only R-R charge and whose microscopic description can possibly be given in terms of bound states of D-branes only. The microscopic interpretation of the bosonic fields in this class of STU models relies on the solvable Lie algebra (SLA) method. In the present article we improve this mathematical technique in order to provide two distinct descriptions for type IIA and type IIB theories and an algebraic characterization of S*T--dual embeddings within the N=8,d=4 theory. This analysis will be applied to the particular example of a four parameter (dilatonic) solution of which both the full macroscopic and microscopic descriptions will be worked out.Comment: latex, 30 pages. Final version to appear on Int.J.Mod.Phy

Direct CP Violation in B->phi K_s and New Physics

In the presence of large New Physics contributions to loop-induced b->s transitions, sizable direct CP violation in B-> phi K decays is expected on general grounds. We compute explicitly CP-violating effects using QCD factorization and find that, even in the restricted case in which New Physics has the same penguin structure as the Standard Model, the rate asymmetry can be of order one. We briefly discuss a more general scenario and comment on the inclusion of power-suppressed corrections to factorization.Comment: 3 page

On the vacuum of the minimal nonsupersymmetric SO(10) unification

We study a class of nonsupersymmetric SO(10) grand unified scenarios where the first stage of the symmetry breaking is driven by the vacuum expectation values of the 45-dimensional adjoint representation. Three decade old results claim that such a Higgs setting may lead exclusively to the flipped SU(5) x U(1) intermediate stage. We show that this conclusion is actually an artifact of the tree level potential. The study of the accidental global symmetries emerging in various limits of the scalar potential offers a simple understanding of the tree level result and a rationale for the drastic impact of quantum corrections. We scrutinize in detail the simplest and paradigmatic case of the 45_{H} + 16_{H} Higgs sector triggering the breaking of SO(10) to the standard electroweak model. We show that the minimization of the one-loop effective potential allows for intermediate SU(4)_C x SU(2)_L x U(1)_R and SU(3)_c x SU(2)_L x SU(2)_R x U(1)_{B-L} symmetric stages as well. These are the options favoured by gauge unification. Our results, that apply whenever the SO(10) breaking is triggered by , open the path for hunting the simplest realistic scenario of nonsupersymmetric SO(10) grand unification.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figure. Refs added. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Exclusive B→PVB \to PV Decays and CP Violation in the General two-Higgs-doublet Model

We calculate all the branching ratios and direct CP violations of $B \to PV$ decays in a most general two-Higgs-doublet model with spontaneous CP violation. As the model has rich CP-violating sources, it is shown that the new physics effects to direct CP violations and branching ratios in some channels can be significant when adopting the generalized factorization approach to evaluate the hadronic matrix elements, which provides good signals for probing new physics beyond the SM in the future B experiments.Comment: 21 page

Quark-Squark Alignment Revisited

We re-examine the possibility that the solution to the supersymmetric flavor problem is related to small mixing angles in gaugino couplings induced by approximate horizontal Abelian symmetries. We prove that, for a large class of models, there is a single viable structure for the down quark mass matrix with four holomorphic zeros. Consequently, we are able to obtain both lower and upper bounds on the supersymmetric mixing angles and predict the contributions to various flavor changing neutral current processes. We find that the most likely signals for alignment are $\Delta m_D$ close to the present bound, significant CP violation in $D^0-\bar{D^0}$ mixing, and shifts of order a few percent in various CP asymmetries in $B^0$ and $B_s$ decays. In contrast, the modifications to radiative B decays, to $\epsilon^\prime/\epsilon$ and to $K\to\pi\nu\bar\nu$ decays are small. We further investigate a new class of alignment models, where supersymmetric contributions to flavor changing processes are suppressed by both alignment and RGE-induced degeneracy.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure

On supersymmetry breaking vacua from D-branes at orientifold singularities

We present a large class of models of D-branes at (orientifold) Calabi-Yau sin- gularities which enjoy dynamical supersymmetry breaking at low energy, by means of either the SU(5) or 3\u20132 supersymmetry breaking models. Once embedded in a warped throat or, equivalently, in a large N theory, all models display an instability along a Coulomb branch direction towards supersymmetry preserving vacua. Interestingly, the nature of the run- away mechanism is model-independent and has a precise geometrical interpretation. This naturally suggests the properties a Calabi-Yau singularity should have in order for such instability not to occur

Familial hypercholesterolemia: The Italian Atherosclerosis Society Network (LIPIGEN)

Primary dyslipidemias are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal levels of circulating lipoproteins. Among them, familial hypercholesterolemia is the most common lipid disorder that predisposes for premature cardiovascular disease. We set up an Italian nationwide network aimed at facilitating the clinical and genetic diagnosis of genetic dyslipidemias named LIPIGEN (LIpid TransPort Disorders Italian GEnetic Network)