123 research outputs found
Some Relations between Twisted K-theory and E8 Gauge Theory
Recently, Diaconescu, Moore and Witten provided a nontrivial link between
K-theory and M-theory, by deriving the partition function of the Ramond-Ramond
fields of Type IIA string theory from an E8 gauge theory in eleven dimensions.
We give some relations between twisted K-theory and M-theory by adapting the
method of Diaconescu-Moore-Witten and Moore-Saulina. In particular, we
construct the twisted K-theory torus which defines the partition function, and
also discuss the problem from the E8 loop group picture, in which the
Dixmier-Douady class is the Neveu-Schwarz field. In the process of doing this,
we encounter some mathematics that is new to the physics literature. In
particular, the eta differential form, which is the generalization of the eta
invariant, arises naturally in this context. We conclude with several open
problems in mathematics and string theory.Comment: 23 pages, latex2e, corrected minor errors and typos in published
versio
AQFT from n-functorial QFT
There are essentially two different approaches to the axiomatization of
quantum field theory (QFT): algebraic QFT, going back to Haag and Kastler, and
functorial QFT, going back to Atiyah and Segal. More recently, based on ideas
by Baez and Dolan, the latter is being refined to "extended" functorial QFT by
Freed, Hopkins, Lurie and others. The first approach uses local nets of
operator algebras which assign to each patch an algebra "of observables", the
latter uses n-functors which assign to each patch a "propagator of states".
In this note we present an observation about how these two axiom systems are
naturally related: we demonstrate under mild assumptions that every
2-dimensional extended Minkowskian QFT 2-functor ("parallel surface transport")
naturally yields a local net. This is obtained by postcomposing the propagation
2-functor with an operation that mimics the passage from the Schroedinger
picture to the Heisenberg picture in quantum mechanics.
The argument has a straightforward generalization to general
pseudo-Riemannian structure and higher dimensions.Comment: 39 pages; further examples added: Hopf spin chains and asymptotic
inclusion of subfactors; references adde
Gerbes, M5-Brane Anomalies and E_8 Gauge Theory
Abelian gerbes and twisted bundles describe the topology of the NS-NS 3-form
gauge field strength H. We review how they have been usefully applied to study
and resolve global anomalies in open string theory. Abelian 2-gerbes and
twisted nonabelian gerbes describe the topology of the 4-form field strength G
of M-theory. We show that twisted nonabelian gerbes are relevant in the study
and resolution of global anomalies of multiple coinciding M5-branes. Global
anomalies for one M5-brane have been studied by Witten and by Diaconescu, Freed
and Moore. The structure and the differential geometry of twisted nonabelian
gerbes (i.e. modules for 2-gerbes) is defined and studied. The nonabelian
2-form gauge potential living on multiple coinciding M5-branes arises as
curving (curvature) of twisted nonabelian gerbes. The nonabelian group is in
general , the central extension of the E_8 loop group. The
twist is in general necessary to cancel global anomalies due to the
nontriviality of the 11-dimensional 4-form G field strength and due to the
possible torsion present in the cycles the M5-branes wrap. Our description of
M5-branes global anomalies leads to the D4-branes one upon compactification of
M-theory to Type IIA theory.Comment: 19 page
Type IIA Moduli Stabilization
We demonstrate that flux compactifications of type IIA string theory can
classically stabilize all geometric moduli. For a particular orientifold
background, we explicitly construct an infinite family of supersymmetric vacua
with all moduli stabilized at arbitrarily large volume, weak coupling, and
small negative cosmological constant. We obtain these solutions from both
ten-dimensional and four-dimensional perspectives. For more general
backgrounds, we study the equations for supersymmetric vacua coming from the
effective superpotential and show that all geometric moduli can be stabilized
by fluxes. We comment on the resulting picture of statistics on the landscape
of vacua.Comment: 48 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX. v2: references added. v3: minor comments
& references adde
Representations of Conformal Nets, Universal C*-Algebras and K-Theory
We study the representation theory of a conformal net A on the circle from a
K-theoretical point of view using its universal C*-algebra C*(A). We prove that
if A satisfies the split property then, for every representation \pi of A with
finite statistical dimension, \pi(C*(A)) is weakly closed and hence a finite
direct sum of type I_\infty factors. We define the more manageable locally
normal universal C*-algebra C*_ln(A) as the quotient of C*(A) by its largest
ideal vanishing in all locally normal representations and we investigate its
structure. In particular, if A is completely rational with n sectors, then
C*_ln(A) is a direct sum of n type I_\infty factors. Its ideal K_A of compact
operators has nontrivial K-theory, and we prove that the DHR endomorphisms of
C*(A) with finite statistical dimension act on K_A, giving rise to an action of
the fusion semiring of DHR sectors on K_0(K_A)$. Moreover, we show that this
action corresponds to the regular representation of the associated fusion
algebra.Comment: v2: we added some comments in the introduction and new references.
v3: new authors' addresses, minor corrections. To appear in Commun. Math.
Phys. v4: minor corrections, updated reference
Erasmus Language students in a British University – a case study
Students’ assessment of their academic experience is actively sought by Higher Education institutions, as evidenced in the National Student Survey introduced in 2005. Erasmus students, despite their growing numbers, tend to be excluded from these satisfaction surveys, even though they, too, are primary customers of a University. This study aims to present results from bespoke questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with a sample of Erasmus students studying languages in a British University. These methods allow us insight into the experience of these students and their assessment as a primary customer, with a focus on language learning and teaching, university facilities and student support. It investigates to what extent these factors influence their levels of satisfaction and what costs of adaptation if any, they encounter. Although excellent levels of satisfaction were found, some costs affect their experience. They relate to difficulties in adapting to a learning methodology based on a low number of hours and independent learning and to a guidance and support system seen as too stifling. The results portray this cohort’s British University as a well-equipped and well-meaning but ultimately overbearing institution, which may indicate that minimising costs can eliminate some sources of dissatisfaction
Search for Gravitational Waves Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi and Swift during the LIGO-Virgo Run O3b
We search for gravitational-wave signals associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Fermi and Swift satellites during the second half of the third observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo (2019 November 1 15:00 UTC-2020 March 27 17:00 UTC). We conduct two independent searches: A generic gravitational-wave transients search to analyze 86 GRBs and an analysis to target binary mergers with at least one neutron star as short GRB progenitors for 17 events. We find no significant evidence for gravitational-wave signals associated with any of these GRBs. A weighted binomial test of the combined results finds no evidence for subthreshold gravitational-wave signals associated with this GRB ensemble either. We use several source types and signal morphologies during the searches, resulting in lower bounds on the estimated distance to each GRB. Finally, we constrain the population of low-luminosity short GRBs using results from the first to the third observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. The resulting population is in accordance with the local binary neutron star merger rate. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society
Narrowband Searches for Continuous and Long-duration Transient Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars in the LIGO-Virgo Third Observing Run
Isolated neutron stars that are asymmetric with respect to their spin axis are possible sources of detectable continuous gravitational waves. This paper presents a fully coherent search for such signals from eighteen pulsars in data from LIGO and Virgo's third observing run (O3). For known pulsars, efficient and sensitive matched-filter searches can be carried out if one assumes the gravitational radiation is phase-locked to the electromagnetic emission. In the search presented here, we relax this assumption and allow both the frequency and the time derivative of the frequency of the gravitational waves to vary in a small range around those inferred from electromagnetic observations. We find no evidence for continuous gravitational waves, and set upper limits on the strain amplitude for each target. These limits are more constraining for seven of the targets than the spin-down limit defined by ascribing all rotational energy loss to gravitational radiation. In an additional search, we look in O3 data for long-duration (hours-months) transient gravitational waves in the aftermath of pulsar glitches for six targets with a total of nine glitches. We report two marginal outliers from this search, but find no clear evidence for such emission either. The resulting duration-dependent strain upper limits do not surpass indirect energy constraints for any of these targets. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society
Drying colloidal systems: laboratory models for a wide range of applications
The drying of complex fluids provides a powerful insight into phenomena that take place on time and length scales not normally accessible. An important feature of complex fluids, colloidal dispersions and polymer solutions is their high sensitivity to weak external actions. Thus, the drying of complex fluids involves a large number of physical and chemical processes. The scope of this review is the capacity to tune such systems to reproduce and explore specific properties in a physics laboratory. A wide variety of systems are presented, ranging from functional coatings, food science, cosmetology, medical diagnostics and forensics to geophysics and art
Search for gravitational-wave transients associated with magnetar bursts in advanced LIGO and advanced Virgo data from the third observing run
Gravitational waves are expected to be produced from neutron star oscillations associated with magnetar giant f lares and short bursts. We present the results of a search for short-duration (milliseconds to seconds) and longduration (∼100 s) transient gravitational waves from 13 magnetar short bursts observed during Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo, and KAGRA’s third observation run. These 13 bursts come from two magnetars, SGR1935 +2154 and SwiftJ1818.0−1607. We also include three other electromagnetic burst events detected by FermiGBM which were identified as likely coming from one or more magnetars, but they have no association with a known magnetar. No magnetar giant flares were detected during the analysis period. We find no evidence of gravitational waves associated with any of these 16 bursts. We place upper limits on the rms of the integrated incident gravitational-wave strain that reach 3.6 × 10−²³ Hz at 100 Hz for the short-duration search and 1.1 ×10−²² Hz at 450 Hz for the long-duration search. For a ringdown signal at 1590 Hz targeted by the short-duration search the limit is set to 2.3 × 10−²² Hz. Using the estimated distance to each magnetar, we derive upper limits upper limits on the emitted gravitational-wave energy of 1.5 × 1044 erg (1.0 × 1044 erg) for SGR 1935+2154 and 9.4 × 10^43 erg (1.3 × 1044 erg) for Swift J1818.0−1607, for the short-duration (long-duration) search. Assuming isotropic emission of electromagnetic radiation of the burst fluences, we constrain the ratio of gravitational-wave energy to electromagnetic energy for bursts from SGR 1935+2154 with the available fluence information. The lowest of these ratios is 4.5 × 103
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