A 2D integrable axion model and Target space duality

A review is given on the recently proposed two dimensional axion model (O(3) sigma-model with a dynamical Hopf-term) and the T-duality relating it to the SU(2)xU(1) symmetric anisotropic sigma-model. Strong evidence is presented for the correctness of the proposed S-matrix for both models comparing perturbative and Thermodynamical Bethe Ansatz calculations for different types of free energies. This also provides a very stringent test of the validity of T-duality transformation at the quantum level. The quantum non-integrability of the O(3) sigma-model with a non-dynamical Hopf-term, in contradistinction to the axion model, is illustrated by calculating the 2-->3 particle production amplitude to lowest order.Comment: LateX, 21 pages, 1 figure. Improved version of a talk delivered at the Johns Hopkins workshop `Non-perturbative QFT Methods and their Applications', Budapest, 200

Classification of Static, Spherically Symmetric Solutions of the Einstein-Yang-Mills Theory with Positive Cosmological Constant

We give a complete classification of all static, spherically symmetric solutions of the SU(2) Einstein-Yang-Mills theory with a positive cosmological constant. Our classification proceeds in two steps. We first extend solutions of the radial field equations to their maximal interval of existence. In a second step we determine the Carter-Penrose diagrams of all 4-dimensional space-times constructible from such radial pieces. Based on numerical studies we sketch a complete phase space picture of all solutions with a regular origin.Comment: 49 pages, 19 figures, submitted to Commun. Math. Phy

Spatially Compact Solutions and Stabilization in Einstein-Yang-Mills-Higgs Theories

New solutions to the static, spherically symmetric Einstein-Yang-Mills-Higgs equations with the Higgs field in the triplet resp. doublet representation are presented. They form continuous families parametrized by $\alpha=M_W/M_Pl$ ($M_W$ resp. $M_Pl$ denoting the W-boson resp. the Planck mass). The corresponding spacetimes are regular and have spatially compact sections. A particularly interesting class with the Yang-Mills amplitude being nodeless is exhibited and is shown to be linearly stable with respect to spherically symmetric perturbations. For some solutions with nodes of the Yang-Mills amplitude a new stabilization phenomenon is found, according to which their unstable modes disappear as $\alpha$ increases (for the triplet) or decreases (for the doublet).Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Non-Abelian Vortices with a Twist

Non-Abelian flux-tube (string) solutions carrying global currents are found in the bosonic sector of 4-dimensional N=2 super-symmetric gauge theories. The specific model considered here posseses U(2)local x SU(2)global symmetry, with two scalar doublets in the fundamental representation of SU(2). We construct string solutions that are stationary and translationally symmetric along the x3 direction, and they are characterized by a matrix phase between the two doublets, referred to as "twist". Consequently, twisted strings have nonzero (global) charge, momentum, and in some cases even angular momentum per unit length. The planar cross section of a twisted string corresponds to a rotationally symmetric, charged non-Abelian vortex, satisfying 1st order Bogomolny-type equations and 2nd order Gauss-constraints. Interestingly, depending on the nature of the matrix phase, some of these solutions even break rotational symmetry in R3. Although twisted vortices have higher energy than the untwisted ones, they are expected to be linearly stable since one can maintain their charge (or twist) fixed with respect to small perturbations.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Stability Analysis of Superconducting Electroweak Vortices

We carry out a detailed stability analysis of the superconducting vortex solutions in the Weinberg-Salam theory described in Nucl.Phys. B826 (2010) 174. These vortices are characterized by constant electric current $I$ and electric charge density $I_0$, for ${I}\to 0$ they reduce to Z strings. We consider the generic field fluctuations around the vortex and apply the functional Jacobi criterion to detect the negative modes in the fluctuation operator spectrum. We find such modes and determine their dispersion relation, they turn out to be of two different types, according to their spatial behavior. There are non-periodic in space negative modes, which can contribute to the instability of infinitely long vortices, but they can be eliminated by imposing the periodic boundary conditions along the vortex. There are also periodic negative modes, but their wavelength is always larger than a certain minimal value, so that they cannot be accommodated by the short vortex segments. However, even for the latter there remains one negative mode responsible for the homogeneous expansion instability. This mode may probably be eliminated when the vortex segment is bent into a loop. This suggests that small vortex loops balanced against contraction by the centrifugal force could perhaps be stable.Comment: 42 pages, 11 figure

Quantum mechanics of an electron in a homogeneous magnetic field and a singular magnetic flux tube

The eigenvalue problem of the Hamiltonian of an electron confined to a plane and subjected to a perpendicular time-independent magnetic field which is the sum of a homogeneous field and an additional field contributed by a singular flux tube, i.e. of zero width, is investigated. Since both a direct approach based on distribution-valued operators and a limit process starting from a non-singular flux tube, i.e. of finite size, fail, an alternative method is applied leading to consistent results. An essential feature is quantum mechanical supersymmetry at g=2 which imposes, by proper representation, the correct choice of "boundary conditions". The corresponding representation of the Hilbert space in coordinate space differs from the usual space of square-integrable 2-spinors, entailing other unusual properties. The analysis is extended to $g\ne 2$ so that supersymmetry is explicitly broken. Finally, the singular Aharonov-Bohm system with the same amount of singular flux is analysed by making use of the fact that the Hilbert space must be the same.Comment: 23 pages, LaTeX, minor change

The asymptotic dynamics of three-dimensional Einstein gravity with a negative cosmological constant

Liouville theory is shown to describe the asymptotic dynamics of three-dimensional Einstein gravity with a negative cosmological constant. This is because (i) Chern-Simons theory with a gauge group $SL(2,R) \times SL(2,R)$ on a space-time with a cylindrical boundary is equivalent to the non-chiral $SL(2,R)$ WZW model; and (ii) the anti-de Sitter boundary conditions implement the constraints that reduce the WZW model to the Liouville theory.Comment: 10 pages in LaTeX, LaTeX problem fixe

Superconducting non-Abelian vortices in Weinberg-Salam theory -- electroweak thunderbolts

We present a detailed analysis of classical solutions in the bosonic sector of the electroweak theory which describe vortices carrying a constant electric current ${\cal I}$. These vortices exist for any value of the Higgs boson mass and for any weak mixing angle, and in the zero current limit they reduce to Z strings. Their current is produced by the condensate of vector W bosons and typically it can attain billions of Amperes. For large ${\cal I}$ the vortices show a compact condensate core of size $\sim 1/{\cal I}$, embedded into a region of size $\sim{\cal I}$ where the electroweak gauge symmetry is completely restored, followed by a transition zone where the Higgs field interpolates between the symmetric and broken phases. Outside this zone the fields are the same as for the ordinary electric wire. An asymptotic approximation of the large ${\cal I}$ solutions suggests that the current can be {arbitrarily} large, due to the scale invariance of the vector boson condensate. Finite vortex segments whose length grows with ${\cal I}$ seem to be perturbatively stable. This suggests that they can transfer electric charge between different regions of space, similarly to thunderbolts. It is also possible that they can form loops stabilized by the centrifugal force -- electroweak vortons.Comment: 83 pages, 25 figure

Fixed points of quantum gravity in extra dimensions

We study quantum gravity in more than four dimensions with renormalisation group methods. We find a non-trivial ultraviolet fixed point in the Einstein-Hilbert action. The fixed point connects with the perturbative infrared domain through finite renormalisation group trajectories. We show that our results for fixed points and related scaling exponents are stable. If this picture persists at higher order, quantum gravity in the metric field is asymptotically safe. We discuss signatures of the gravitational fixed point in models with low-scale gravity and compact extra dimensions.Comment: Wording sharpened, refs added, to appear in PL