65 research outputs found
String Tensions and Three Dimensional Confining Gauge Theories
In the context of gauge/gravity duality, we try to understand better the
proposed duality between the fractional D2-brane supergravity solutions of
(Nucl. Phys. B 606 (2001) 18, hep-th/0101096) and a confining 2+1 dimensional
gauge theory. Based on the similarities between this fractional D2-brane
solution and D3-brane supergravity solutions with more firmly established gauge
theory duals, we conjecture that a confining q-string in the 2+1 dimensional
gauge theory is dual to a wrapped D4-brane. In particular, the D4-brane looks
like a string in the gauge theory directions but wraps a S**3 in S**4 in the
transverse geometry. For one of the supergravity solutions, we find a near
quadratic scaling law for the tension: . Based on the tension,
we conjecture that the gauge theory dual is SU(N) far in the infrared. We also
conjecture that a quadratic or near quadratic scaling is a generic feature of
confining 2+1 dimensional SU(N) gauge theories.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figure
New Complete Non-compact Spin(7) Manifolds
We construct new explicit metrics on complete non-compact Riemannian
8-manifolds with holonomy Spin(7). One manifold, which we denote by A_8, is
topologically R^8 and another, which we denote by B_8, is the bundle of chiral
spinors over . Unlike the previously-known complete non-compact metric of
Spin(7) holonomy, which was also defined on the bundle of chiral spinors over
S^4, our new metrics are asymptotically locally conical (ALC): near infinity
they approach a circle bundle with fibres of constant length over a cone whose
base is the squashed Einstein metric on CP^3. We construct the
covariantly-constant spinor and calibrating 4-form. We also obtain an
L^2-normalisable harmonic 4-form for the A_8 manifold, and two such 4-forms (of
opposite dualities) for the B_8 manifold. We use the metrics to construct new
supersymmetric brane solutions in M-theory and string theory. In particular, we
construct resolved fractional M2-branes involving the use of the L^2 harmonic
4-forms, and show that for each manifold there is a supersymmetric example. An
intriguing feature of the new A_8 and B_8 Spin(7) metrics is that they are
actually the same local solution, with the two different complete manifolds
corresponding to taking the radial coordinate to be either positive or
negative. We make a comparison with the Taub-NUT and Taub-BOLT metrics, which
by contrast do not have special holonomy. In an appendix we construct the
general solution of our first-order equations for Spin(7) holonomy, and obtain
further regular metrics that are complete on manifolds B^+_8 and B^-_8 similar
to B_8.Comment: Latex, 29 pages. Appendix obtaining general solution of first-order
equations and additional complete Spin(7) manifolds adde
Purifying and Reversible Physical Processes
Starting from the observation that reversible processes cannot increase the
purity of any input state, we study deterministic physical processes, which map
a set of states to a set of pure states. Such a process must map any state to
the same pure output, if purity is demanded for the input set of all states.
But otherwise, when the input set is restricted, it is possible to find
non-trivial purifying processes. For the most restricted case of only two input
states, we completely characterize the output of any such map. We furthermore
consider maps, which combine the property of purity and reversibility on a set
of states, and we derive necessary and sufficient conditions on sets, which
permit such processes.Comment: 5 pages, no figures, v2: only minimal change
Supersymmetric Non-singular Fractional D2-branes and NS-NS 2-branes
We obtain regular deformed D2-brane solutions with fractional D2-branes
arising as wrapped D4-branes. The space transverse to the D2-brane is a
complete Ricci-flat 7-manifold of G_2 holonomy, which is asymptotically conical
with principal orbits that are topologically CP^3 or the flag manifold
SU(3)/(U(1) x U(1)). We obtain the solution by first constructing an L^2
normalisable harmonic 3-form. We also review a previously-obtained regular
deformed D2-brane whose transverse space is a different 7-manifold of G_2
holonomy, with principal orbits that are topologically S^3 x S^3. This
describes D2-branes with fractional NS-NS 2-branes coming from the wrapping of
5-branes, which is supported by a non-normalisable harmonic 3-form on the
7-manifold. We prove that both types of solutions are supersymmetric,
preserving 1/16 of the maximal supersymmetry and hence that they are dual to
{\cal N}=1 three-dimensional gauge theories. In each case, the spectrum for
minimally-coupled scalars is discrete, indicating confinement in the infrared
region of the dual gauge theories. We examine resolutions of other branes, and
obtain necessary conditions for their regularity. The resolution of many of
these seems to lie beyond supergravity. In the process of studying these
questions, we construct new explicit examples of complete Ricci-flat metrics.Comment: Latex, 30 page
Families of IIB duals for nonrelativistic CFTs
We show that the recent string theory embedding of a spacetime with
nonrelativistic Schrodinger symmetry can be generalised to a twenty one
dimensional family of solutions with that symmetry. Our solutions include IIB
backgrounds with no three form flux turned on, and arise as near horizon limits
of branewave spacetimes. We show that there is a hypersurface in the space of
these theories where an instability appears in the gravitational description,
indicating a phase transition in the nonrelativistic field theory dual. We also
present simple embeddings of duals for nonrelativistic critical points where
the dynamical critical exponent can take many values z \neq 2.Comment: 1+25 pages. References adde
Axions In String Theory
In the context of string theory, axions appear to provide the most plausible
solution of the strong CP problem. However, as has been known for a long time,
in many string-based models, the axion coupling parameter F_a is several orders
of magnitude higher than the standard cosmological bounds. We re-examine this
problem in a variety of models, showing that F_a is close to the GUT scale or
above in many models that have GUT-like phenomenology, as well as some that do
not. On the other hand, in some models with Standard Model gauge fields
supported on vanishing cycles, it is possible for F_a to be well below the GUT
scale.Comment: 62 pages, v2; references, acknowledgements and minor corrections
adde
Warped AdS_3 Black Holes
Three dimensional topologically massive gravity (TMG) with a negative
cosmological constant -\ell^{-2} and positive Newton constant G admits an AdS_3
vacuum solution for any value of the graviton mass \mu. These are all known to
be perturbatively unstable except at the recently explored chiral point
\mu\ell=1. However we show herein that for every value of \mu\ell< 3 there are
two other (potentially stable) vacuum solutions given by SL(2,R)x
U(1)-invariant warped AdS_3 geometries, with a timelike or spacelike U(1)
isometry.
Critical behavior occurs at \mu\ell=3, where the warping transitions from a
stretching to a squashing, and there are a pair of warped solutions with a null
U(1) isometry. For \mu\ell>3, there are known warped black hole solutions which
are asymptotic to warped AdS_3. We show that these black holes are discrete
quotients of warped AdS_3 just as BTZ black holes are discrete quotients of
ordinary AdS_3. Moreover new solutions of this type, relevant to any theory
with warped AdS_3 solutions, are exhibited. Finally we note that the black hole
thermodynamics is consistent with the hypothesis that, for \mu\ell>3, the
warped AdS_3 ground state of TMG is holographically dual to a 2D boundary CFT
with central charges c_R={15(\mu\ell)^2+81\over G\mu((\mu\ell)^2+27)} and
c_L={12 \mu\ell^2\over G((\mu\ell)^2+27)}.Comment: 29 page
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