1,733 research outputs found
Conformal anomaly of Wilson surface observables - a field theoretical computation
We make an exact field theoretical computation of the conformal anomaly for
two-dimensional submanifold observables. By including a scalar field in the
definition for the Wilson surface, as appropriate for a spontaneously broken
A_1 theory, we get a conformal anomaly which is such that N times it is equal
to the anomaly that was computed in hep-th/9901021 in the large N limit and
which relied on the AdS-CFT correspondence. We also show how the spherical
surface observable can be expressed as a conformal anomaly.Comment: 18 pages, V3: an `i' dropped in the Wilson surface, overall
normalization and misprints corrected, V4: overall normalization factor
corrected, references adde
Deconstructing graviphoton from mass-deformed ABJM
Mass-deformed ABJM theory has a maximally supersymmetric fuzzy two-sphere
vacuum solution where the scalar fields are proportional to the TGRVV matrices.
We construct these matrices using Schwinger oscillators. This shows that the
ABJM gauge group that corresponds to the fuzzy two-sphere geometry is
. We deconstruct the graviphoton term in the D4 brane
theory. The normalization of this term is fixed by topological reasons. This
gives us the correct normalization of the deconstructed U(1) gauge field and
fixes the Yang -Mills coupling constant to the value which corresponds to M5
brane compactified on \mb{R}^ {1,2} \times S^3/{\mb{Z}_k}. The graviphoton
term also enable us to show that the zero mode contributions to the partition
functions for the D4 and the M5 brane agree.Comment: 26 page
Ergodic and non-ergodic clustering of inertial particles
We compute the fractal dimension of clusters of inertial particles in mixing
flows at finite values of Kubo (Ku) and Stokes (St) numbers, by a new series
expansion in Ku. At small St, the theory includes clustering by Maxey's
non-ergodic 'centrifuge' effect. In the limit of St to infinity and Ku to zero
(so that Ku^2 St remains finite) it explains clustering in terms of ergodic
'multiplicative amplification'. In this limit, the theory is consistent with
the asymptotic perturbation series in [Duncan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95
(2005) 240602]. The new theory allows to analyse how the two clustering
mechanisms compete at finite values of St and Ku. For particles suspended in
two-dimensional random Gaussian incompressible flows, the theory yields
excellent results for Ku < 0.2 for arbitrary values of St; the ergodic
mechanism is found to contribute significantly unless St is very small. For
higher values of Ku the new series is likely to require resummation. But
numerical simulations show that for Ku ~ St ~ 1 too, ergodic 'multiplicative
amplification' makes a substantial contribution to the observed clustering.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
(2,0) theory on circle fibrations
We consider (2,0) theory on a manifold M_6 that is a fibration of a spatial
S^1 over some five-dimensional base manifold M_5. Initially, we study the free
(2,0) tensor multiplet which can be described in terms of classical equations
of motion in six dimensions. Given a metric on M_6 the low energy effective
theory obtained through dimensional reduction on the circle is a Maxwell theory
on M_5. The parameters describing the local geometry of the fibration are
interpreted respectively as the metric on M_5, a non-dynamical U(1) gauge field
and the coupling strength of the resulting low energy Maxwell theory. We derive
the general form of the action of the Maxwell theory by integrating the reduced
equations of motion, and consider the symmetries of this theory originating
from the superconformal symmetry in six dimensions. Subsequently, we consider a
non-abelian generalization of the Maxwell theory on M_5. Completing the theory
with Yukawa and phi^4 terms, and suitably modifying the supersymmetry
transformations, we obtain a supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory which includes
terms related to the geometry of the fibration.Comment: 24 pages, v2 References added, typos correcte
Assessing solvent effects on the singlet excited state lifetime of uracil derivatives: a femtosecond fluorescence upconversion study in alcohols and D2O
The excited state lifetimes of uracil, thymine and 5-fluorouracil have been measured using femtosecond UV fluorescence upconversion in various protic and aprotic polar solvents. The fastest decays are observed in acetonitrile and the slowest in aqueous solution while those observed in alcohols are intermediate. No direct correlation with macroscopic solvent parameters such as polarity or viscosity is found, but hydrogen bonding is one key factor affecting the fluorescence decay. It is proposed that the solvent modulates the relative energy of two close-lying electronically excited states, the bright Î Î and the dark nÎ states. This relative energy gap controls the non-radiative relaxation of the Î Î state through a conical intersection close to the Frank-Condon region competing with the ultrafast internal conversion to the ground state. In addition, an inverse isotope effect is observed in D2O where the decays are faster than in H2O
Singlet excited state dynamics of uracil and thymine derivatives: A femtosecond fluorescence upconversion study in acetonitrile
The excited state properties of uracil, thymine and four analogous uracil compounds have been studied in acetonitrile by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. The excited state lifetimes were measured using femtosecond UV fluorescence upconversion. The excited state lifetimes of uracil and its 1- and 3-methyl substituted derivatives are well described by one ultrafast (6100 fs) component. Five substituted compounds show a more complex behavior, exhibiting longer excited state lifetimes and bi-exponential fluorescence decays. These longer decays are substantially faster in acetonitrile than in aqueous solution showing that the excited state deactivation mechanism is in part governed by the solvent
Lumikot : Fast Auroral Transients During the Growth Phase of Substorms
The development of a magnetospheric substorm may be classified into three phases: growth, expansion, and recovery. The growth phase is important as it includes processes that lead to the expansion. In a recent growth-phase study, a type of fast discrete auroral transient phenomena-referred to as Lumikot-were observed. The Lumikot are several kilometers across and move in the high-energy precipitation region, parallel to the main growth-phase arc, with both east-west and west-east directions of travel during the same event. Their apparent transverse movement and quasi-stable intensity make them distinct from cooccurring optical pulsating aurorae. Comparison to other studies show that they occur in the cosmic noise absorption region and it is likely that the Lumikot are colocated with high-energy particle populations on the boundary between the outer radiation belt and the plasmasheet.Peer reviewe
Constraining Maximally Supersymmetric Membrane Actions
We study the recent construction of maximally supersymmetric field theory
Lagrangians in three spacetime dimensions that are based on algebras with a
triple product. Assuming that the algebra has a positive definite metric
compatible with the triple product, we prove that the only non-trivial examples
are either the well known case based on a four dimensional algebra or direct
sums thereof.Comment: 11 pages, very minor changes. Reference added. Version to be
published in JHE
Didactical use of a remote lab: a qualitative reflection of a teacher
This work describes the teacher reflections about a didactical
implementation using a remote laboratory and their impact on his
practice. These reflections are analyzed from three different
perspectives: how the literature review influenced the design of
the didactical implementation (namely the first); how his
reflection upon his practice influenced its modifications; how his
research activity impacted and affected his teaching practices in
the subsequent implementations and guided the modifications
made. The remote lab was introduced in a Physics Course in an
Engineering degree and was intended to be a learning space where
students had the opportunity to practice before the lab class,
supporting the development of experimental competences,
fundamental in an engineer profile. After the first implementation
in 2016/17 academic year it has undergone two subsequent
editions with adjustments and modifications.
Some features previously reported in literature such as: teacherâs
experience with VISIR, the importance of an introductory activity
and defining VISIR tasks objectives, were corroborated by the
teacher during his practice and research. Others, such as the
difficulty some students have in understanding the difference
between simulation and remote labs appeared directly from his
practice and were pursued in his research in order to deeply
understand its implications
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