137 research outputs found
M-theory and Characteristic Classes
In this note we show that the Chern-Simons and the one-loop terms in the
M-theory action can be written in terms of new characters involving the
M-theory four-form and the string classes. This sheds a new light on the
topological structure behind M-theory and suggests the construction of a theory
of `higher' characteristic classes.Comment: 8 pages. Error in gravitational term fixed; minor corrections;
reference and acknowledgement adde
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
AdS and pp-wave D-particle superalgebras
We derive anticommutators of supercharges with a brane charge for a
D-particle in AdS(2) x S(2) and pp-wave backgrounds. A coset GL(2|2)/(GL(1))^4
and its Penrose limit are used with the supermatrix-valued coordinates for the
AdS and the pp-wave spaces respectively. The brane charges have position
dependence, and can be absorbed into bosonic generators by shift of momenta
which results in closure of the superalgebras.Comment: 15 page
AdS_3 OM theory and the self-dual string or Membranes ending on the Five-brane
We describe properties of the M-theory five-brane containing coincident
self-dual strings on its worldvolume. This is the five-brane description of Q
membranes ending on the five-brane. In particular, we consider a Maldacena-like
low energy limit in the six-dimensional worldvolume which yields a near
`horizon' description of the self-dual string using light open membranes, i.e.
OM theory, in an AdS_3 x S^3 geometry.Comment: 13 pages, latex, v2: corrected open membrane metric prefactor + typo
Quantum key distribution without alternative measurements
Entanglement swapping between Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) pairs can be used
to generate the same sequence of random bits in two remote places. A quantum
key distribution protocol based on this idea is described. The scheme exhibits
the following features. (a) It does not require that Alice and Bob choose
between alternative measurements, therefore improving the rate of generated
bits by transmitted qubit. (b) It allows Alice and Bob to generate a key of
arbitrary length using a single quantum system (three EPR pairs), instead of a
long sequence of them. (c) Detecting Eve requires the comparison of fewer bits.
(d) Entanglement is an essential ingredient. The scheme assumes reliable
measurements of the Bell operator.Comment: REVTeX, 5 pages, 2 figures. Published version with some comment
Branes on Generalized Calibrated Submanifolds
We extend previous results on generalized calibrations to describe
supersymmetric branes in supergravity backgrounds with diverse fields turned
on, and provide several new classes of examples. As an important application,
we show that supersymmetric D-branes in compactifications with field strength
fluxes, and on SU(3)-structure spaces, wrap generalized calibrated
submanifolds, defined by simple conditions in terms of the underlying globally
defined, but non-closed, 2- and 3-forms. We provide examples where the
geometric moduli of D-branes (for instance D7-branes in 3-form flux
configurations) are lifted by the generalized calibration condition. In
addition, we describe supersymmetric D6-branes on generalized calibrated
3-submanifolds of half-flat manifolds, which provide the mirror of B-type
D-branes in IIB CY compactifications with 3-form fluxes. Supersymmetric sets of
such D-branes carrying no homology charges are mirror to supersymmetric sets of
D-branes which are homologically non-trivial, but trivial in K-theory. As an
additional application, we describe models with chiral gauge sectors, realized
in terms of generalized calibrated brane box configurations of NS- and
D5-branes, which are supersymmetric but carry no charges, so that no
orientifold planes are required in the compactification.Comment: 40 pages, 3 figures, references adde
Quantum Distribution of Gaussian Keys with Squeezed States
A continuous key distribution scheme is proposed that relies on a pair of
canonically conjugate quantum variables. It allows two remote parties to share
a secret Gaussian key by encoding it into one of the two quadrature components
of a single-mode electromagnetic field. The resulting quantum cryptographic
information vs disturbance tradeoff is investigated for an individual attack
based on the optimal continuous cloning machine. It is shown that the
information gained by the eavesdropper then simply equals the information lost
by the receiver.Comment: 5 pages, RevTe
Free Abelian 2-Form Gauge Theory: BRST Approach
We discuss various symmetry properties of the Lagrangian density of a four (3
+ 1)-dimensional (4D) free Abelian 2-form gauge theory within the framework of
Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) formalism. The present free Abelian gauge
theory is endowed with a Curci-Ferrari type condition which happens to be a key
signature of the 4D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory. In fact, it is due to the
above condition that the nilpotent BRST and anti-BRST symmetries of the theory
are found to be absolutely anticommuting in nature. For our present 2-form
gauge theory, we discuss the BRST, anti-BRST, ghost and discrete symmetry
properties of the Lagrangian densities and derive the corresponding conserved
charges. The algebraic structure, obeyed by the above conserved charges, is
deduced and the constraint analysis is performed with the help of the
physicality criteria where the conserved and nilpotent (anti-)BRST charges play
completely independent roles. These physicality conditions lead to the
derivation of the above Curci-Ferrari type restriction, within the framework of
BRST formalism, from the constraint analysis.Comment: LaTeX file, 21 pages, journal referenc
CMB Imprints of a Pre-Inflationary Climbing Phase
We discuss the implications for cosmic microwave background (CMB)
observables, of a class of pre-inflationary dynamics suggested by string models
where SUSY is broken due to the presence of D-branes and orientifolds
preserving incompatible portions of it. In these models the would-be inflaton
is forced to emerge from the initial singularity climbing up a mild exponential
potential, until it bounces against a steep exponential potential of "brane
SUSY breaking" scenarios, and as a result the ensuing descent gives rise to an
inflationary epoch that begins when the system is still well off its eventual
attractor. If a pre-inflationary climbing phase of this type had occurred
within 6-7 e-folds of the horizon exit for the largest observable wavelengths,
displacement off the attractor and initial-state effects would conspire to
suppress power in the primordial scalar spectrum, enhancing it in the tensor
spectrum and typically superposing oscillations on both. We investigate these
imprints on CMB observables over a range of parameters, examine their
statistical significance, and provide a semi-analytic rationale for our
results. It is tempting to ascribe at least part of the large-angle anomalies
in the CMB to pre-inflationary dynamics of this type.Comment: 38 pages, LaTeX, 11 eps figures, references added, matches version to
appear in JCA
Absolutely anticommuting (anti-)BRST symmetry transformations for topologically massive Abelian gauge theory
We demonstrate the existence of the nilpotent and absolutely anticommuting
Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) and anti-BRST symmetry transformations for the
four (3 + 1)-dimensional (4D) topologically massive Abelian U(1) gauge theory
that is described by the coupled Lagrangian densities (which incorporate the
celebrated (B \wedge F) term). The absolute anticommutativity of the (anti-)
BRST symmetry transformations is ensured by the existence of a Curci-Ferrari
type restriction that emerges from the superfield formalism as well as from the
equations of motion that are derived from the above coupled Lagrangian
densities. We show the invariance of the action from the point of view of the
symmetry considerations as well as superfield formulation. We discuss,
furthermore, the topological term within the framework of superfield formalism
and provide the geometrical meaning of its invariance under the (anti-) BRST
symmetry transformations.Comment: LaTeX file, 22 pages, journal versio
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