The superstring Hagedorn temperature in a pp-wave background

The thermodynamics of type IIB superstring theory in the maximally supersymmetric plane wave background is studied. We compute the thermodynamic partition function for non-interacting strings exactly and the result differs slightly from previous computations. We clarify some of the issues related to the Hagedorn temperature in the limits of small and large constant RR 5-form. We study the thermodynamic behavior of strings in the case of $AdS_3 \times S^3 \times T^4$ geometries in the presence of NS-NS and RR 3-form backgrounds. We also comment on the relationship of string thermodynamics and the thermodynamic behavior of the sector of Yang-Mills theory which is the holographic dual of the string theory.Comment: 22 pages, JHEP style, minor misprints corrected, some comments adde

New Penrose Limits and AdS/CFT

We find a new Penrose limit of AdS_5 x S^5 giving the maximally supersymmetric pp-wave background with two explicit space-like isometries. This is an important missing piece in studying the AdS/CFT correspondence in certain subsectors. In particular whereas the Penrose limit giving one space-like isometry is useful for the SU(2) sector of N=4 SYM, this new Penrose limit is instead useful for studying the SU(2|3) and SU(1,2|3) sectors. In addition to the new Penrose limit of AdS_5 x S^5 we also find a new Penrose limit of AdS_4 x CP^3.Comment: 30 page

Dyonic Giant Magnons in CP^3: Strings and Curves at Finite J

This paper studies giant magnons in AdS_4 x CP^3 using both the string sigma-model and the algebraic curve. We complete the dictionary of solutions by finding the dyonic generalisation of the CP^1 string solution, which matches the `small' giant magnon in the algebraic curve, and by pointing out that the solution recently constructed by the dressing method is the `big' giant magnon. We then use the curve to compute finite-J corrections to all cases, which for the non-dyonic cases always match the AFZ result. For the dyonic RP^3 magnon we recover the S^5 answer, but for the `small' and `big' giant magnons we obtain new corrections.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. v2 adds note on breather solution, and minor clarification

Supergravity and IOSp(3,1|4) gauge theory

A new formulation of simple D=4 supergravity in terms of the geometry of superspace is presented. The formulation is derived from the gauge theory of the inhomogeneous orthosymplectic group IOSp(3,1|4) on a (4,4)-dimensional base supermanifold by imposing constraints and taking a limit. Both the constraints and the limiting procedure have a clear {\it a priori} physical motivation, arising from the relationship between IOSp(3,1|4) and the super Poincar\'{e} group. The construction has similarities with the space-time formulation of Newtonian gravity.Comment: 17 pages. Expanded version. To appear in Class. Quantum Gra

Wilson loops in four-dimensional quantum gravity

A Wilson loop is defined, in 4-D pure Einstein gravity, as the trace of the holonomy of the Christoffel connection or of the spin connection, and its invariance under the symmetry transformations of the action is showed (diffeomorphisms and local Lorentz transformations). We then compute the loop perturbatively, both on a flat background and in the presence of an external source; we also allow some modifications in the form of the action, and test the action of ``stabilized'' gravity. A geometrical analysis of the results in terms of the gauge group of the euclidean theory, $SO(4)$, leads us to the conclusion that the correspondent statistical system does not develope any configuration with localized curvature at low temperature. This ``non-local'' behavior of the quantized gravitational field strongly contrasts with that of usual gauge fields. Our results also provide an explanation for the absence of any invariant correlation of the curvature in the same approximation.Comment: 19 pages, LaTex, report CTP #2225, June 199

Higher dimensional gravity invariant under the Poincare group

It is shown that the Stelle-West Grignani-Nardelli-formalism allows, both when odd dimensions and when even dimensions are considered, constructing actions for higher dimensional gravity invariant under local Lorentz rotations and under local Poincar\`{e} translations. It is also proved that such actions have the same coefficients as those obtained by Troncoso and Zanelli in ref. Class. Quantum Grav. 17 (2000) 4451.Comment: 7 pages, Latex, accepted in Phys. Rev.

DLCQ String Spectrum from N=2{\cal N}=2 SYM Theory

We study non planar corrections to the spectrum of operators in the ${\mathcal N}=2$ supersymmetric Yang Mills theory which are dual to string states in the maximally supersymmetric pp-wave background with a {\em compact} light-cone direction. The existence of a positive definite discrete light-cone momentum greatly simplifies the operator mixing problem. We give some examples where the contribution of all orders in non-planar diagrams can be found analytically. On the string theory side this corresponds to finding the spectrum of a string state to all orders in string loop corrections.Comment: 35 pages, no figure

Effect of Different Carbon and Nitrogen Inputs on Soil Chemical and Biochemical Properties in Maize-Based Forage Systems in Northern Italy

In agroecosystems, manure application and straw return affect carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling and affect soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient supply and losses to the environment. We examined effects of different organic sources on crop production, N uptake and surplus and SOM in maize systems