566 research outputs found
Non-perturbative studies of N=2 conformal quiver gauge theories
We study N=2 super-conformal field theories in four dimensions that
correspond to mass-deformed linear quivers with n gauge groups and
(bi-)fundamental matter. We describe them using Seiberg-Witten curves obtained
from an M-theory construction and via the AGT correspondence. We take
particular care in obtaining the detailed relation between the parameters
appearing in these descriptions and the physical quantities of the quiver gauge
theories. This precise map allows us to efficiently reconstruct the
non-perturbative prepotential that encodes the effective IR properties of these
theories. We give explicit expressions in the cases n=1,2, also in the presence
of an Omega-background in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili limit. All our results are
successfully checked against those of the direct microscopic evaluation of the
prepotential a la Nekrasov using localization methods.Comment: 56 pages, 7 figures, PdfLaTeX. v2: a few references added, version to
appear on Fortschritte der Physi
Modular and duality properties of surface operators in N=2* gauge theories
We calculate the instanton partition function of the four-dimensional N=2*
SU(N) gauge theory in the presence of a generic surface operator, using
equivariant localization. By analyzing the constraints that arise from
S-duality, we show that the effective twisted superpotential, which governs the
infrared dynamics of the two-dimensional theory on the surface operator,
satisfies a modular anomaly equation. Exploiting the localization results, we
solve this equation in terms of elliptic and quasi-modular forms which resum
all non-perturbative corrections. We also show that our results, derived for
monodromy defects in the four-dimensional theory, match the effective twisted
superpotential describing the infrared properties of certain two-dimensional
sigma models coupled either to pure N=2 or to N=2* gauge theories.Comment: 51 pages, v3: references added, typos fixed, footnote added, some
small changes in the text, appendix B streamlined. Matches the published
versio
Surface operators in 5d gauge theories and duality relations
We study half-BPS surface operators in 5d N=1 gauge theories compactified on
a circle. Using localization methods and the twisted chiral ring relations of
coupled 3d/5d quiver gauge theories, we calculate the twisted chiral
superpotential that governs the infrared properties of these surface operators.
We make a detailed analysis of the localization integrand, and by comparing
with the results from the twisted chiral ring equations obtain constraints on
the 3d and 5d Chern-Simons levels so that the instanton partition function does
not depend on the choice of integration contour. For these values of the
Chern-Simons couplings, we comment on how the distinct quiver theories that
realize the same surface operator are related to each other by Aharony-Seiberg
dualities.Comment: 39 pages. v2: A few sentences rephrased, references added, and typos
corrected. Matches version published in JHE
'ACCORD' e-Platform: Development and evaluation of an innovative multicultural training for school professionals
The study aims at describing the development, application and evaluation of ACCORD, an innovative e-platform offering a free-accessible tailored multicultural training for school professionals through the application of current ICT research (e-learning, mobility, internet, artificial intelligence). The eplatform provided school professionals with a dedicated Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) and a Serious Game (SG), embedded within it, useful to enhance and (self-)evaluate their intercultural competences and negotiation abilities. Technological, Psychological, and Pedagogical models and approaches underpinned the methodology driving the creation of the e-platform contents. Following a pilot test, the edited version of the e-platform (including the SG, learning materials, lessons, questionnaires) was widely diffused in different languages (English, German, Italian, Flemish, Spanish). Pre- and post-training questionnaires were used to assess the learning experience and the efficacy of the training. Findings provided evidence supporting the learning effectiveness of ACCORD training. The experience with the e-platform has been positively rated by the users concerning both the technological and educational aspects. Overall, the study provided an overview on the creation, implementation and evaluation of a novel multicultural training tool, which has been proven to effectively foster the enhancement of intercultural and interethnic competencies of professionals working in the European educational contexts
CP--odd Correlation in the Decay of Neutral Higgs Boson into , , or
We investigate the possibility of detecting CP--odd angular correlations in
the various decay modes of the neutral Higgs boson including the modes of a
pair, a pair, or a heavy quark pair. It is a natural way to probe
the CP character of the Higgs boson once it is identified. Final state
interactions (i.e. the absorptive decay amplitude) is not required in such
correlations. As an illustrative example we take the fundamental source of the
CP nonconservation to be in the Yukawa couplings of the Higgs boson to the
heavy fermions. A similar correlation in the process is
also proposed. Our analysis of these correlations will be useful for
experiments in future colliders such as LEP II, SSC, LHC or NLC.Comment: 16 pages, plus 8 postscript graphs not posted befor
Modular anomaly equations and S-duality in N=2 conformal SQCD
We use localization techniques to study the non-perturbative properties of an N = 2 superconformal gauge theory with gauge group SU(3) and six fundamental flavours. The instanton corrections to the prepotential, the dual periods and the period matrix are calculated in a locus of special vacua possessing a ℤ 3 symmetry. In a semiclassical expansion, we show that these observables are constrained by S-duality via a modular anomaly equation which takes the form of a recursion relation. The solutions of the recursion relation are quasi-modular functions of Γ 1 (3), which is a subgroup of the S -duality group and is also a congruence subgroup of SL(2 , ℤ )
Role of post mortem CT (PMCT) in high energy traumatic deaths
Background. Post Mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) is being increasingly implemented in forensic field and could be an adjuvant to classic autopsies. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of complementation of conventional autopsy in trauma victims with PMCT. Materials and methods. A total of 21 subjects, who had sustained various types of blunt high-energy trauma, were selected from the casuistry of the Section of Legal Medicine at University of Pisa: before autopsy, a PMCT examination (Toshiba Aquilion 16 CT scanner) was performed, and after the acquisition of the raw images, MPR and VR reconstructions were performed with dedicated software. Results. PMCT is more sensitive than conventional autopsy in detecting skeletal injuries, whilst autopsy constitutes the method of choice for the detection of thoracic and abdominal visceral injuries. Conclusion. PMCT should be considered a useful tool in addition to conventional autopsy in evaluating trauma victims: it detects further bone fractures in body parts difficult to investigate during autopsy (i.e. posterior regions), facilitating the pathologist in the reconstruction of events and in determining the cause of death
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