Superconformal spaces and implications for superstrings

We clarify some properties of projective superspace by using a manifestly superconformal notation. In particular, we analyze the N=2 scalar multiplet in detail, including its action, and the propagator and its super-Schwinger parameters. The internal symmetry is taken to be noncompact (after Wick rotation), allowing boundary conditions that preserve it off shell. Generalization to N=4 suggests the coset superspace PSU(2,2|4)/OSp(4|4) for the AdS/CFT superstring.Comment: 19 pages, no figures; v2: fixed sign, added note & reference; v3: added note & references, version to appear in Physical Review

Supersymmetric sigma models and the 't Hooft instantons

Witten's linear sigma model for ADHM instantons possesses a natural $(0,4)$ supersymmetry. We study generalizations of the infrared limit of the model that are invariant under $(4,4)$ supersymmetry. In the case of four space-time dimensions a background with a conformally flat metric and torsion is required. The geometry is specified by a single real scalar function satisfying Laplace's equation. It gives rise to 't Hooft instantons for the gauge group $SU(2)$, instead of the general ADHM instantons for an $SO(n)$ gauge group in the case $(0,4)$.Comment: 11 pages, Latex fil

Covariant Harmonic Supergraphity for N = 2 Super Yang--Mills Theories

We review the background field method for general N = 2 super Yang-Mills theories formulated in the N = 2 harmonic superspace. The covariant harmonic supergraph technique is then applied to rigorously prove the N=2 non-renormalization theorem as well as to compute the holomorphic low-energy action for the N = 2 SU(2) pure super Yang-Mills theory and the leading non-holomorphic low-energy correction for N = 4 SU(2) super Yang-Mills theory.Comment: 17 pages, LAMUPHYS LaTeX, no figures; based on talks given by I. Buchbinder and S. Kuzenko at the International Seminar ``Supersymmetries and Quantum Symmetries'', July 1997, Dubna; to be published in the proceeding

Nonlinear absorption of surface acoustic waves by composite fermions

Absorption of surface acoustic waves by a two-dimensional electron gas in a perpendicular magnetic field is considered. The structure of such system at the filling factor $\nu$ close to 1/2 can be understood as a gas of {\em composite fermions}. It is shown that the absorption at $\nu =1/2$ can be strongly nonlinear, while small deviation form 1/2 will restore the linear absorption. Study of nonlinear absorption allows one to determine the force acting upon the composite fermions from the acoustic wave at turning points of their trajectories.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Europhysics letter

Constrained superpotentials in harmonic gauge theories with 8 supercharges

We consider D-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories with 8 supercharges (D<6,$~\mathcal{N}=8$) in the framework of harmonic superspaces. The effective Abelian low-energy action for D=5 contains the free and Chern-Simons terms. Effective $\mathcal{N}=8$ superfield actions for D<4 can be written in terms of the superpotentials satisfying the superfield constraints and (6-D)-dimensional Laplace equations. The role of alternative harmonic structures is discussed.Comment: LATEX file, 9 pages, version published in Teor. Mat. Fi

Conformally coupled supermultiplets in four and five dimensions

We obtain by superfield methods the exceptional representations of the OSp(2N/4,R) and SU(2,2/1) superalgebras which extend to supersingletons of SU(2,2/2N) and F(4), respectively. These representations describe superconformally coupled multiplets and appear in three- and four-dimensional superconformal field theories which are holographic descriptions of certain anti-de Sitter supergravities

Observation and analysis of Fano-like lineshapes in the Raman spectra of molecules adsorbed at metal interfaces

Surface enhanced Raman spectra from molecules (bipyridyl ethylene) adsorbed on gold dumbells are observed to become increasingly asymmetric (Fano-like) at higher incident light intensity. The electronic temperature (inferred from the anti-Stokes (AS) electronic Raman signal increases at the same time while no vibrational AS scattering is seen. These observations are analyzed by assuming that the molecule-metal coupling contains an intensity dependent contribution (resulting from light-induced charge transfer transitions as well as renormalization of the molecule metal tunneling barrier). We find that interference between vibrational and electronic inelastic scattering routes is possible in the presence of strong enough electron-vibrational coupling and can in principle lead to the observed Fano-like feature in the Raman scattering profile. However the best fit to the observed results, including the dependence on incident light intensity and the associated thermal response is obtained from a model that disregards this coupling and accounts for the structure of the continuous electronic component of the Raman scattering signal. The temperatures inferred from the Raman signal are argued to be only of qualitative value.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figure

Non-Gaussian dephasing in flux qubits due to 1/f-noise

Recent experiments by F. Yoshihara et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 167001 (2006)] and by K. Kakuyanagi et al. (cond-mat/0609564) provided information on decoherence of the echo signal in Josephson-junction flux qubits at various bias conditions. These results were interpreted assuming a Gaussian model for the decoherence due to 1/f noise. Here we revisit this problem on the basis of the exactly solvable spin-fluctuator model reproducing detailed properties of the 1/f noise interacting with a qubit. We consider the time dependence of the echo signal and conclude that the results based on the Gaussian assumption need essential reconsideration.Comment: Improved fitting parameters, new figur

A note on the perturbative properties of BPS operators

We discuss the perturbative behavior of the 1/2 BPS operators in N=2 SCFT on the example of two very similar quadrilinear composite operators made out of hypermultiplets. An explicit one-loop computation shows that one of them is protected while the other acquires an anomalous dimension. Although both operators are superconformal primaries in the free case, the quantum corrections make the latter become a 1/2 BPS descendant of the Konishi multiplet, while the former remains primary. The comparative study of these two operators at higher orders may be helpful in understanding the quantum properties of the Konishi multiplet