Lagrangians with electric and magnetic charges of N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories

General Lagrangians are constructed for N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories in four space-time dimensions involving gauge groups with (non-abelian) electric and magnetic charges. The charges induce a scalar potential, which, when the charges are regarded as spurionic quantities, is invariant under electric/magnetic duality. The resulting theories are especially relevant for supergravity, but details of the extension to local supersymmetry will be discussed elsewhere. The results include the coupling to hypermultiplets. Without the latter, it is demonstrated how an off-shell representation can be constructed based on vector and tensor supermultiplets.Comment: 34 pages, LaTe

Generalized gaugings and the field-antifield formalism

We discuss the algebra of general gauge theories that are described by the embedding tensor formalism. We compare the gauge transformations dependent and independent of an invariant action, and argue that the generic transformations lead to an infinitely reducible algebra. We connect the embedding tensor formalism to the field-antifield (or Batalin-Vilkovisky) formalism, which is the most general formulation known for general gauge theories and their quantization. The structure equations of the embedding tensor formalism are included in the master equation of the field-antifield formalism.Comment: 42 pages; v2: some clarifications and 1 reference added; version to be published in JHE

Critical Ising model and spanning trees partition functions

We prove that the squared partition function of the two-dimensional critical Ising model defined on a finite, isoradial graph $G=(V,E)$, is equal to $2^{|V|}$ times the partition function of spanning trees of the graph $\bar{G}$, where $\bar{G}$ is the graph $G$ extended along the boundary; edges of $G$ are assigned Kenyon's [Ken02] critical weights, and boundary edges of $\bar{G}$ have specific weights. The proof is an explicit construction, providing a new relation on the level of configurations between two classical, critical models of statistical mechanics.Comment: 38 pages, 26 figure

One-count memory circuit prevents machine mode interaction

One-count memory logic circuit used with electromechanical counter-printer machines operates in either count or print mode. The circuit advances the counter when the machine is in the count mode and provides storage for the count pulse when the machine is in the print mode

The four powers of design: A value model in design management

This analysis proposes a framework to bridge the gap between the world of designers and the world of managers. Illuminating her thesis with examples from Steelcase, Decathlon, and other companies, Brigitte Borja de Mozota parallels design's ability to differentiate, integrate, transform, and contribute to the enterprise and bottom-line results with a corporate focus on markets, processes, talent, and finances

Design and competitive edge: A model for design management excellence in European SME's

This article suggests to use the conceptual model of Michael Porter Value Chain in order to integrate all the variables that explain the mechanism of value creation through design. The results of the study of 33 European SMES participating in the European Design Prize explain the role of design in the management of innovation, identify the variables that characterize design management and classify them according to the value chain concept. The main result of this research was the typology of design management strategy. Three clusters emerged through the analysis and the managerial value of design was demonstrated