The modular S-matrix as order parameter for topological phase transitions

We study topological phase transitions in discrete gauge theories in two spatial dimensions induced by the formation of a Bose condensate. We analyse a general class of euclidean lattice actions for these theories which contain one coupling constant for each conjugacy class of the gauge group. To probe the phase structure we use a complete set of open and closed anyonic string operators. The open strings allow one to determine the particle content of the condensate, whereas the closed strings enable us to determine the matrix elements of the modular $S$-matrix, also in the broken phase. From the measured broken $S$-matrix we may read off the sectors that split or get identified in the broken phase, as well as the sectors that are confined. In this sense the modular $S$-matrix can be employed as a matrix valued non-local order parameter from which the low-energy effective theories that occur in different regions of parameter space can be fully determined. To verify our predictions we studied a non-abelian anyon model based on the quaternion group $H=\bar{D_2}$ of order eight by Monte Carlo simulation. We probe part of the phase diagram for the pure gauge theory and find a variety of phases with magnetic condensates leading to various forms of (partial) confinement in complete agreement with the algebraic breaking analysis. Also the order of various transitions is established.Comment: 37 page

Fourier transform and the Verlinde formula for the quantum double of a finite group

A Fourier transform S is defined for the quantum double D(G) of a finite group G. Acting on characters of D(G), S and the central ribbon element of D(G) generate a unitary matrix representation of the group SL(2,Z). The characters form a ring over the integers under both the algebra multiplication and its dual, with the latter encoding the fusion rules of D(G). The Fourier transform relates the two ring structures. We use this to give a particularly short proof of the Verlinde formula for the fusion coefficients.Comment: 15 pages, small errors corrected and references added, version to appear in Journal of Physics

Vortices on Higher Genus Surfaces

We consider the topological interactions of vortices on general surfaces. If the genus of the surface is greater than zero, the handles can carry magnetic flux. The classical state of the vortices and the handles can be described by a mapping from the fundamental group to the unbroken gauge group. The allowed configurations must satisfy a relation induced by the fundamental group. Upon quantization, the handles can carry ``Cheshire charge.'' The motion of the vortices can be described by the braid group of the surface. How the motion of the vortices affects the state is analyzed in detail.Comment: 28 pages with 10 figures; uses phyzzx and psfig; Caltech preprint CALT-68-187

The Primary Spin-4 Casimir Operators in the Holographic SO(N) Coset Minimal Models

Starting from SO(N) current algebra, we construct two lowest primary higher spin-4 Casimir operators which are quartic in spin-1 fields. For N is odd, one of them corresponds to the current in the WB_{\frac{N-1}{2}} minimal model. For N is even, the other corresponds to the current in the WD_{\frac{N}{2}} minimal model. These primary higher spin currents, the generators of wedge subalgebra, are obtained from the operator product expansion of fermionic (or bosonic) primary spin-N/2 field with itself in each minimal model respectively. We obtain, indirectly, the three-point functions with two real scalars, in the large N 't Hooft limit, for all values of the 't Hooft coupling which should be dual to the three-point functions in the higher spin AdS_3 gravity with matter.Comment: 65 pages; present the main results only and to appear in JHEP where one can see the Appendi

Hourly resolved cloud modification factors in the ultraviolet

Cloud impacts on the transfer of ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the atmosphere can be assessed by using a cloud modification factor (CMF). CMF, which is based on total global solar irradiation (SOL<sub>CMF</sub>), has proved to be a solid basis to derive CMFs for the UV radiation (UV<sub>CMF</sub>). This is an advantage, because total global irradiance, the basis for SOL<sub>CMF</sub>, is frequently measured and forecasted by numerical weather prediction systems and includes all relevant effects for radiation transmission, such as cloud optical depth, different cloud layers, multiple reflection, as well as the distinct difference as to whether the solar disc is obscured by clouds or not. In the UV range clouds decrease the irradiance to a lesser extent than in the visible and infrared spectral range. Thus the relationship between CMFs for solar radiation and for UV-radiation is not straight forward, but will depend on whether, for example, the solar zenith angle (SZA) and wavelength band or action spectrum in the UV have been taken into consideration. Den Outer et al. provide a UV<sub>CMF</sub> algorithm on a daily basis, which accounts for these influences. It requires as input a daily SOL<sub>CMF</sub> and the SZA at noon. The calculation of SOL<sub>CMF</sub> uses the clear-sky algorithm of the European Solar Radiation Atlas to account for varying turbidity impacts. The algorithm's capability to derive hourly UV<sub>CMFs</sub> based on the SZA at the corresponding hour and its worldwide applicability is validated for erythemal UV using observational data retrieved from the databases of the COST-Action 726 on "Long-term changes and climatology of UV radiation over Europe" and the USDA UV-B Monitoring Program. The clear-sky part of the models has proved to be of good quality. Accumulated to daily doses it forms a tight cluster of points to the highest measured daily sums. All sky model performances for hourly resolution are shown to be comparable in accuracy with the well performing daily models of the COST-726 model intercomparison

The Operator Product Expansion of the Lowest Higher Spin Current at Finite N

For the N=2 Kazama-Suzuki(KS) model on CP^3, the lowest higher spin current with spins (2, 5/2, 5/2,3) is obtained from the generalized GKO coset construction. By computing the operator product expansion of this current and itself, the next higher spin current with spins (3, 7/2, 7/2, 4) is also derived. This is a realization of the N=2 W_{N+1} algebra with N=3 in the supersymmetric WZW model. By incorporating the self-coupling constant of lowest higher spin current which is known for the general (N,k), we present the complete nonlinear operator product expansion of the lowest higher spin current with spins (2, 5/2, 5/2, 3) in the N=2 KS model on CP^N space. This should coincide with the asymptotic symmetry of the higher spin AdS_3 supergravity at the quantum level. The large (N,k) 't Hooft limit and the corresponding classical nonlinear algebra are also discussed.Comment: 62 pages; the footnotes added, some redundant appendices removed, the presentations in the whole paper improved and to appear in JHE

The Coset Spin-4 Casimir Operator and Its Three-Point Functions with Scalars

We find the GKO coset construction of the dimension 4 Casimir operator that contains the quartic WZW currents contracted with completely symmetric SU(N) invariant tensors of ranks 4, 3, and 2. The requirements, that the operator product expansion with the diagonal current is regular and it should be primary under the coset Virasoro generator of dimension 2, fix all the coefficients in spin-4 current, up to two unknown coefficients. The operator product expansion of coset primary spin-3 field with itself fixes them completely. We compute the three-point functions with scalars for all values of the 't Hooft coupling in the large N limit. At fixed 't Hooft coupling, these three-point functions are dual to that found by Chang and Yin recently in the undeformed AdS_3 bulk theory (higher spin gravity with matter).Comment: 65 pages; the ambiguity for the two coefficient functions is clarified and the abstract, the introduction, the subsection 3.4 and the conclusion are improved and to appear in JHE

Strings from N=2N=2 Gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten Models

We present an algebraic approach to string theory. An embedding of $sl(2|1)$ in a super Lie algebra together with a grading on the Lie algebra determines a nilpotent subalgebra of the super Lie algebra. Chirally gauging this subalgebra in the corresponding Wess-Zumino-Witten model, breaks the affine symmetry of the Wess-Zumino-Witten model to some extension of the $N=2$ superconformal algebra. The extension is completely determined by the $sl(2|1)$ embedding. The realization of the superconformal algebra is determined by the grading. For a particular choice of grading, one obtains in this way, after twisting, the BRST structure of a string theory. We classify all embeddings of $sl(2|1)$ into Lie super algebras and give a detailed account of the branching of the adjoint representation. This provides an exhaustive classification and characterization of both all extended $N=2$ superconformal algebras and all string theories which can be obtained in this way.Comment: 50 pages, LaTe

The Large N 't Hooft Limit of Kazama-Suzuki Model

We consider N=2 Kazama-Suzuki model on CP^N=SU(N+1)/SU(N)xU(1). It is known that the N=2 current algebra for the supersymmetric WZW model, at level k, is a nonlinear algebra. The N=2 W_3 algebra corresponding to N=2 was recovered from the generalized GKO coset construction previously. For N=4, we construct one of the higher spin currents, in N=2 W_5 algebra, with spins (2, 5/2, 5/2, 3). The self-coupling constant in the operator product expansion of this current and itself depends on N as well as k explicitly. We also observe a new higher spin primary current of spins (3, 7/2, 7/2, 4). From the behaviors of N=2, 4 cases, we expect the operator product expansion of the lowest higher spin current and itself in N=2 W_{N+1} algebra. By taking the large (N, k) limit on the various operator product expansions in components, we reproduce, at the linear order, the corresponding operator product expansions in N=2 classical W_{\infty}^{cl}[\lambda] algebra which is the asymptotic symmetry of the higher spin AdS_3 supergravity found recently.Comment: 44 pages; the two typos in the first paragraph of page 23 corrected and to appear in JHE