211 research outputs found
String theory and the Kauffman polynomial
We propose a new, precise integrality conjecture for the colored Kauffman
polynomial of knots and links inspired by large N dualities and the structure
of topological string theory on orientifolds. According to this conjecture, the
natural knot invariant in an unoriented theory involves both the colored
Kauffman polynomial and the colored HOMFLY polynomial for composite
representations, i.e. it involves the full HOMFLY skein of the annulus. The
conjecture sheds new light on the relationship between the Kauffman and the
HOMFLY polynomials, and it implies for example Rudolph's theorem. We provide
various non-trivial tests of the conjecture and we sketch the string theory
arguments that lead to it.Comment: 36 pages, many figures; references and examples added, typos
corrected, final version to appear in CM
Chern-Simons Invariants of Torus Links
We compute the vacuum expectation values of torus knot operators in
Chern-Simons theory, and we obtain explicit formulae for all classical gauge
groups and for arbitrary representations. We reproduce a known formula for the
HOMFLY invariants of torus links and we obtain an analogous formula for
Kauffman invariants. We also derive a formula for cable knots. We use our
results to test a recently proposed conjecture that relates HOMFLY and Kauffman
invariants.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures; v2: minor changes, version submitted to AHP. The
final publication is available at
http://www.springerlink.com/content/a2614232873l76h6
Torus knots and mirror symmetry
We propose a spectral curve describing torus knots and links in the B-model.
In particular, the application of the topological recursion to this curve
generates all their colored HOMFLY invariants. The curve is obtained by
exploiting the full Sl(2, Z) symmetry of the spectral curve of the resolved
conifold, and should be regarded as the mirror of the topological D-brane
associated to torus knots in the large N Gopakumar-Vafa duality. Moreover, we
derive the curve as the large N limit of the matrix model computing torus knot
invariants.Comment: 30 pages + appendix, 3 figure
Instanton counting, Macdonald function and the moduli space of D-branes
We argue the connection of Nekrasov's partition function in the \Omega
background and the moduli space of D-branes, suggested by the idea of geometric
engineering and Gopakumar-Vafa invariants. In the instanton expansion of N=2
SU(2) Yang-Mills theory the Nakrasov's partition function with equivariant
parameters \epsilon_1, \epsilon_2 of toric action on C^2 factorizes correctly
as the character of SU(2)_L \times SU(2)_R spin representation. We show that up
to two instantons the spin contents are consistent with the Lefschetz action on
the moduli space of D2-branes on (local) F_0. We also present an attempt at
constructing a refined topological vertex in terms of the Macdonald function.
The refined topological vertex with two parameters of T^2 action allows us to
obtain the generating functions of equivariant \chi_y and elliptic genera of
the Hilbert scheme of n points on C^2 by the method of topological vertex.Comment: 33 pages, 2 figures, (v2) minor changes, references added, (v3)
Comments and more references adde
Cognitive endpoints for therapy development for neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidoses: Results of a consensus procedure
The design and conduct of clinical studies to evaluate the effects of novel therapies on central nervous system manifestations in children with neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidoses is challenging. Owing to the rarity of these disorders, multinational studies are often needed to recruit enough patients to provide meaningful data and statistical power. This can make the consistent collection of reliable data across study sites difficult. To address these challenges, an International MPS Consensus Conference for Cognitive Endpoints was convened to discuss approaches for evaluating cognitive and adaptive function in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses. The goal was to develop a consensus on best practice for the design and conduct of clinical studies investigating novel therapies for these conditions, with particular focus on the most appropriate outcome measures for cognitive function and adaptive behavior. The outcomes from the consensus panel discussion are reported here
Physics of Solar Prominences: I - Spectral Diagnostics and Non-LTE Modelling
This review paper outlines background information and covers recent advances
made via the analysis of spectra and images of prominence plasma and the
increased sophistication of non-LTE (ie when there is a departure from Local
Thermodynamic Equilibrium) radiative transfer models. We first describe the
spectral inversion techniques that have been used to infer the plasma
parameters important for the general properties of the prominence plasma in
both its cool core and the hotter prominence-corona transition region. We also
review studies devoted to the observation of bulk motions of the prominence
plasma and to the determination of prominence mass. However, a simple inversion
of spectroscopic data usually fails when the lines become optically thick at
certain wavelengths. Therefore, complex non-LTE models become necessary. We
thus present the basics of non-LTE radiative transfer theory and the associated
multi-level radiative transfer problems. The main results of one- and
two-dimensional models of the prominences and their fine-structures are
presented. We then discuss the energy balance in various prominence models.
Finally, we outline the outstanding observational and theoretical questions,
and the directions for future progress in our understanding of solar
prominences.Comment: 96 pages, 37 figures, Space Science Reviews. Some figures may have a
better resolution in the published version. New version reflects minor
changes brought after proof editin
The HERMES Spectrometer
The HERMES experiment is collecting data on inclusive and semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering of polarised positrons from polarised targets of Il, D, and He-3. These data give information on the spin structure of the nucleon. This paper describes the forward angle spectrometer built for this purpose. The spectrometer includes numerous tracking chambers (micro-strip gas chambers, drift and proportional chambers) in front of and behind a 1.3 T.m magnetic field, as well as an extensive set of detectors for particle identification (a lead-glass calorimeter, a pre-shower detector, a transition radiation detector, and a threshold Cherenkov detector). Two of the main features of the spectrometer are its good acceptance and identification of both positrons and hadrons, in particular pions. These characteristics, together with the purity of the targets, are allowing HERMES to make unique contributions to the understanding of how the spins of the quarks contribute to the spin of the nucleon. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved
Measurement of the CP-Violating Asymmetry Amplitude sin2
We present results on time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in neutral B decays to several CP eigenstates. The measurements use a data sample of about 88 million Y(4S) --> B Bbar decays collected between 1999 and 2002 with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B Factory at SLAC. We study events in which one neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in a final state containing a charmonium meson and the other B meson is determined to be either a B0 or B0bar from its decay products. The amplitude of the CP-violating asymmetry, which in the Standard Model is proportional to sin2beta, is derived from the decay-time distributions in such events. We measure sin2beta = 0.741 +/- 0.067 (stat) +/- 0.033 (syst) and |lambda| = 0.948 +/- 0.051 (stat) +/- 0.017 (syst). The magnitude of lambda is consistent with unity, in agreement with the Standard Model expectation of no direct CP violation in these modes
A search for the decay
We search for the rare flavor-changing neutral-current decay in a data sample of 82 fb collected with the {\sl BABAR}
detector at the PEP-II B-factory. Signal events are selected by examining the
properties of the system recoiling against either a reconstructed hadronic or
semileptonic charged-B decay. Using these two independent samples we obtain a
combined limit of
at the 90% confidence level. In addition, by selecting for pions rather than
kaons, we obtain a limit of using only the hadronic B reconstruction method.Comment: 7 pages, 8 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
High-reflectivity broadband distributed Bragg reflector lattice matched to ZnTe
We report on the realization of a high quality distributed Bragg reflector
with both high and low refractive index layers lattice matched to ZnTe. Our
structure is grown by molecular beam epitaxy and is based on binary compounds
only. The high refractive index layer is made of ZnTe, while the low index
material is made of a short period triple superlattice containing MgSe, MgTe,
and ZnTe. The high refractive index step of Delta_n=0.5 in the structure
results in a broad stopband and the reflectivity coefficient exceeding 99% for
only 15 Bragg pairs.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
- …