9,575 research outputs found
Embedding the Pentagon
The Pentagon Model is an explicit supersymmetric extension of the Standard
Model, which involves a new strongly-interacting SU(5) gauge theory at
TeV-scale energies. We show that the Pentagon can be embedded into an SU(5) x
SU(5) x SU(5) gauge group at the GUT scale. The doublet-triplet splitting
problem, and proton decay compatible with experimental bounds, can be
successfully addressed in this context. The simplest approach fails to provide
masses for the lighter two generations of quarks and leptons; however, this
problem can be solved by the addition of a pair of antisymmetric tensor fields
and an axion.Comment: 39 page
Supersymmetry, the Cosmological Constant and a Theory of Quantum Gravity in Our Universe
There are many theories of quantum gravity, depending on asymptotic boundary
conditions, and the amount of supersymmetry. The cosmological constant is one
of the fundamental parameters that characterize different theories. If it is
positive, supersymmetry must be broken. A heuristic calculation shows that a
cosmological constant of the observed size predicts superpartners in the TeV
range. This mechanism for SUSY breaking also puts important constraints on low
energy particle physics models. This essay was submitted to the Gravity
Research Foundation Competition and is based on a longer article, which will be
submitted in the near future
Vertex Operators in 2K Dimensions
A formula is proposed which expresses free fermion fields in 2K dimensions in
terms of the Cartan currents of the free fermion current algebra. This leads,
in an obvious manner, to a vertex operator construction of nonabelian free
fermion current algebras in arbitrary even dimension. It is conjectured that
these ideas may generalize to a wide class of conformal field theories.Comment: Minor change in notation. Change in references
CPT and Other Symmetries in String/M Theory
We initiate a search for non-perturbative consistency conditions in M theory.
Some non-perturbative conditions are already known in Type I theories; we
review these and search for others. We focus principally on possible anomalies
in discrete symmetries. It is generally believed that discrete symmetries in
string theories are gauge symmetries, so anomalies would provide evidence for
inconsistencies. Using the orbifold cosmic string construction, we give some
evidence that the symmetries we study are gauged. We then search for anomalies
in discrete symmetries in a variety of models, both with and without
supersymmetry. In symmetric orbifold models we extend previous searches, and
show in a variety of examples that all anomalies may be canceled by a
Green-Schwarz mechanism. We explore some asymmetric orbifold constructions and
again find that all anomalies may be canceled this way. Then we turn to Type
IIB orientifold models where it is known that even perturbative anomalies are
non-universal. In the examples we study, by combining geometric discrete
symmetries with continuous gauge symmetries, one may define non-anomalous
discrete symmetries already in perturbation theory; in other cases, the
anomalies are universal. Finally, we turn to the question of CPT conservation
in string/M theory. It is well known that CPT is conserved in all string
perturbation expansions; here in a number of examples for which a
non-perturbative formulation is available we provide evidence that it is
conserved exactly.Comment: 52 pages.1 paragraph added in introduction to clarify assumption
Is There A String Theory Landscape
We examine recent claims of a large set of flux compactification solutions of
string theory. We conclude that the arguments for AdS solutions are plausible.
The analysis of meta-stable dS solutions inevitably leads to situations where
long distance effective field theory breaks down. We then examine whether these
solutions are likely to lead to a description of the real world. We conclude
that one must invoke a strong version of the anthropic principle. We explain
why it is likely that this leads to a prediction of low energy supersymmetry
breaking, but that many features of anthropically selected flux
compactifications are likely to disagree with experiment.Comment: 39 pages, Latex, ``Terminology surrounding the anthropic principle
revised to conform with accepted usage. More history of the anthropic
principle included. Various references added.
A note on Gauge Theories Coupled to Gravity
We analyze the bound on gauge couplings , suggested by
Arkani-Hamed et.al. We show this bound can be derived from simple
semi-classical considerations and holds in spacetime dimensions greater than or
equal to four. Non abelian gauge symmetries seem to satisfy the bound in a
trivial manner. We comment on the case of discrete symmetries and close by
performing some checks for the bound in higher dimensions in the context of
string theory.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, Late
4d Conformal Field Theories and Strings on Orbifolds
We propose correspondences between 4d quantum field theories with N=2,1,0
(super)conformal invariance and Type IIB string theory on various orbifolds. We
argue using the spacetime string theory, and check using the beta functions
(exactly for N=2,1 and so far at 1-loop for the gauge couplings in the N=0
case), that these theories have conformal fixed lines. The latter case
potentially gives well-defined non-supersymmetric vacua of string theory, with
a mechanism for making the curvature and cosmological constant small at
nontrivial string coupling. We suggest a correspondence between
nonsupersymmetric conformal fixed lines and nonsupersymmetric string vacua with
vanishing vacuum energy.Comment: 11 pages, harvmac big. Reference adde
Model validation for a noninvasive arterial stenosis detection problem
Copyright @ 2013 American Institute of Mathematical SciencesA current thrust in medical research is the development of a non-invasive method for detection, localization, and characterization of an arterial stenosis (a blockage or partial blockage in an artery). A method has been proposed to detect shear waves in the chest cavity which have been generated by disturbances in the blood flow resulting from a stenosis. In order to develop this methodology further, we use both one-dimensional pressure and shear wave experimental data from novel acoustic phantoms to validate corresponding viscoelastic mathematical models, which were developed in a concept paper [8] and refined herein. We estimate model parameters which give a good fit (in a sense to be precisely defined) to the experimental data, and use asymptotic error theory to provide confidence intervals for parameter estimates. Finally, since a robust error model is necessary for accurate parameter estimates and confidence analysis, we include a comparison of absolute and relative models for measurement error.The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Deopartment of Education and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Combined State and Parameter Estimation for a Static Model of the Maypole (Hoop-Column) Antenna Suface
Parameter and state estimation techniques are discussed for an elliptic system arising in a developmental model for the antenna surface of the Maypole Hoop/Column antenna. A computational algorithm based on spline approximations for the state and elastic parameters is given and numerical results obtained using this algorithm are summarized
On the Possibility of Large Axion Decay Constants
The decay constant of the QCD axion is required by observation to be small
compared to the Planck scale. In theories of "natural inflation," and certain
proposed anthropic solutions of the cosmological constant problem, it would be
interesting to obtain a large decay constant for axion-like fields from
microscopic physics. String theory is the only context in which one can
sensibly address this question. Here we survey a number of periodic fields in
string theory in a variety of string vacua. In some examples, the decay
constant can be parameterically larger than the Planck scale but the effective
action then contains appreciable harmonics of order . As a result,
these fields are no better inflaton candidates than Planck scale axions.Comment: 17 pages, no figures, minor change mad
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