247 research outputs found
Consistent deformations method applied to a topological coupling of antisymmetric gauge fields in D=3
In this work we use the method of consistent deformations of the master
equation by Barnich and Henneaux in order to prove that an abelian topological
coupling between a zero and a two form fields in D=3 has no nonabelian
generalization. We conclude that a topologically massive model involving the
Kalb-Ramond two-form field does not admit a nonabelian generalization. The
introduction of a connection-type one form field keeps the previous result.Comment: 8 pages. To appear in Physics Letters
Anomalies, Anomalous U(1)'s and generalized Chern-Simons terms
A detailed analysis of anomalous U(1)'s and their effective couplings is
performed both in field theory and string theory. It is motivated by the
possible relevance of such couplings in particle physics, as well as a
potential signal distinguishing string theory from other UV options. The most
general anomaly related effective action is analyzed and parameterized. It
contains Stuckelberg, axionic and Chern-Simons-like couplings. It is shown that
such couplings are generically non-trivial in orientifold string vacua and are
not in general fixed by anomalies. A similar analysis in quantum field theories
provides similar couplings. The trilinear gauge boson couplings are also
calculated and their phenomenological relevance is advocated. We do not find
qualitative differences between string and field theory in this sector.Comment: 52 pages, 2 eps figures, LaTeX, feynmf & youngtab packages (v2 -
Minor corrections, references added
Holography and Defect Conformal Field Theories
We develop both the gravity and field theory sides of the Karch-Randall
conjecture that the near-horizon description of a certain D5-D3 brane
configuration in string theory, realized as AdS_5 x S^5 bisected by an AdS_4 x
S^2 "brane", is dual to N=4 Super Yang-Mills theory in R^4 coupled to an R^3
defect. We propose a complete Lagrangian for the field theory dual, a novel
"defect superconformal field theory" wherein a subset of the fields of N=4 SYM
interacts with a d=3 SU(N) fundamental hypermultiplet on the defect preserving
conformal invariance and 8 supercharges. The Kaluza-Klein reduction of wrapped
D5 modes on AdS_4 x S^2 leads to towers of short representations of OSp(4|4),
and we construct the map to a set of dual gauge-invariant defect operators O_3
possessing integer conformal dimensions. Gravity calculations of and
are given. Spacetime and N-dependence matches expectations from dCFT,
while the behavior as functions of lambda = g^2 N at strong and weak coupling
is generically different. We comment on a class of correlators for which a
non-renormalization theorem may still exist. Partial evidence for the
conformality of the quantum theory is given, including a complete argument for
the special case of a U(1) gauge group. Some weak coupling arguments which
illuminate the duality are presented.Comment: 47 pages, LaTeX, 2 figures, feynmf. v2: fixed minor errors, added
references. v3: fixed more typo
On the equivalence between Implicit Regularization and Constrained Differential Renormalization
Constrained Differential Renormalization (CDR) and the constrained version of
Implicit Regularization (IR) are two regularization independent techniques that
do not rely on dimensional continuation of the space-time. These two methods
which have rather distinct basis have been successfully applied to several
calculations which show that they can be trusted as practical, symmetry
invariant frameworks (gauge and supersymmetry included) in perturbative
computations even beyond one-loop order.
In this paper, we show the equivalence between these two methods at one-loop
order. We show that the configuration space rules of CDR can be mapped into the
momentum space procedures of Implicit Regularization, the major principle
behind this equivalence being the extension of the properties of regular
distributions to the regularized ones.Comment: 16 page
Defect Conformal Field Theory and Locally Localized Gravity
Gravity may be "locally localized" over a wide range of length scales on a
d-dimensional anti-de Sitter (AdS) brane living inside AdS_{d+1}. In this paper
we examine this phenomenon from the point of view of the holographic dual
"defect conformal field theory". The mode expansion of bulk fields on the
gravity side is shown to be precisely dual to the "boundary operator product
expansion" of operators as they approach the defect. From the field theory
point of view, the condition for localization is that a "reduced operator"
appearing in this expansion acquires negative anomalous dimension. In
particular, a very light localized graviton exists when a mode arising from the
reduction of the ambient stress-energy tensor to the defect has conformal
dimension Delta ~ d-1. The part of the stress tensor containing the defect
dynamics has dimension Delta = d-1 in the free theory, but we argue that it
acquires an anomalous dimension in the interacting theory, and hence does not
participate in localization in the regime of small backreaction of the brane.
We demonstrate that such an anomalous dimension is consistent with the
conservation of the full stress-energy tensor. Finally, we analyze how to
compute the anomalous dimensions of reduced operators from gravity at leading
order in the interactions with the brane.Comment: 38 pages, LaTeX, 5 figures. v2: typos fixe
Fivebranes and 4-manifolds
We describe rules for building 2d theories labeled by 4-manifolds. Using the
proposed dictionary between building blocks of 4-manifolds and 2d N=(0,2)
theories, we obtain a number of results, which include new 3d N=2 theories
T[M_3] associated with rational homology spheres and new results for
Vafa-Witten partition functions on 4-manifolds. In particular, we point out
that the gluing measure for the latter is precisely the superconformal index of
2d (0,2) vector multiplet and relate the basic building blocks with coset
branching functions. We also offer a new look at the fusion of defect lines /
walls, and a physical interpretation of the 4d and 3d Kirby calculus as
dualities of 2d N=(0,2) theories and 3d N=2 theories, respectivelyComment: 81 pages, 18 figures. v2: misprints corrected, clarifications and
references added. v3: additions and corrections about lens space theory,
4-manifold gluing, smooth structure
Witten's Vertex Made Simple
The infinite matrices in Witten's vertex are easy to diagonalize. It just
requires some SL(2,R) lore plus a Watson-Sommerfeld transformation. We
calculate the eigenvalues of all Neumann matrices for all scale dimensions s,
both for matter and ghosts, including fractional s which we use to regulate the
difficult s=0 limit. We find that s=1 eigenfunctions just acquire a p term, and
x gets replaced by the midpoint position.Comment: 24 pages, 2 figures, RevTeX style, typos correcte
Conformal Field Theories Near a Boundary in General Dimensions
The implications of restricted conformal invariance under conformal
transformations preserving a plane boundary are discussed for general
dimensions . Calculations of the universal function of a conformal invariant
which appears in the two point function of scalar operators in
conformally invariant theories with a plane boundary are undertaken to first
order in the \vep=4-d expansion for the the operator in
theory. The form for the associated functions of for the two point
functions for the basic field and the auxiliary field
in the the limit of the non linear sigma model for any
in the range are also rederived. These results are obtained by
integrating the two point functions over planes parallel to the boundary,
defining a restricted two point function which may be obtained more simply.
Assuming conformal invariance this transformation can be inverted to recover
the full two point function. Consistency of the results is checked by
considering the limit and also by analysis of the operator product
expansions for and . Using this method
the form of the two point function for the energy momentum tensor in the
conformal model with a plane boundary is also found. General results for
the sum of the contributions of all derivative operators appearing in the
operator product expansion, and also in a corresponding boundary operator
expansion, to the two point functions are also derived making essential use of
conformal invariance.Comment: Plain TeX file, 52 pages, with 1 postscript figur
Electric/magnetic duality for chiral gauge theories with anomaly cancellation
We show that 4D gauge theories with Green-Schwarz anomaly cancellation and
possible generalized Chern-Simons terms admit a formulation that is manifestly
covariant with respect to electric/magnetic duality transformations. This
generalizes previous work on the symplectically covariant formulation of
anomaly-free gauge theories as they typically occur in extended supergravity,
and now also includes general theories with (pseudo-)anomalous gauge
interactions as they may occur in global or local N=1 supersymmetry. This
generalization is achieved by relaxing the linear constraint on the embedding
tensor so as to allow for a symmetric 3-tensor related to electric and/or
magnetic quantum anomalies in these theories. Apart from electric and magnetic
gauge fields, the resulting Lagrangians also feature two-form fields and can
accommodate various unusual duality frames as they often appear, e.g., in
string compactifications with background fluxes.Comment: 37 pages; v2: typos corrected and 1 reference adde
Equations of Motion for Massive Spin 2 Field Coupled to Gravity
We investigate the problems of consistency and causality for the equations of
motion describing massive spin two field in external gravitational and massless
scalar dilaton fields in arbitrary spacetime dimension. From the field
theoretical point of view we consider a general classical action with
non-minimal couplings and find gravitational and dilaton background on which
this action describes a theory consistent with the flat space limit. In the
case of pure gravitational background all field components propagate causally.
We show also that the massive spin two field can be consistently described in
arbitrary background by means of the lagrangian representing an infinite series
in the inverse mass. Within string theory we obtain equations of motion for the
massive spin two field coupled to gravity from the requirement of quantum Weyl
invariance of the corresponding two dimensional sigma-model. In the lowest
order in we demonstrate that these effective equations of motion
coincide with consistent equations derived in field theory.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX file, journal versio
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