Generalized Lifshitz-Kosevich scaling at quantum criticality from the holographic correspondence

We characterize quantum oscillations in the magnetic susceptibility of a quantum critical non-Fermi liquid. The computation is performed in a strongly interacting regime using the nonperturbative holographic correspondence. The temperature dependence of the amplitude of the oscillations is shown to depend on a critical exponent nu. For general nu the temperature scaling is distinct from the textbook Lifshitz-Kosevich formula. At the `marginal' value nu = 1/2, the Lifshitz-Kosevich formula is recovered despite strong interactions. As a by-product of our analysis we present a formalism for computing the amplitude of quantum oscillations for general fermionic theories very efficiently.Comment: 18 pages, pdftex, 1 figure. v2: figure and few comments adde

On Central Charges and Hamiltonians for 0-brane dynamics

We consider general properties of central charges of zero branes and associated duality invariants, in view of their double role, on the bulk and on the world volume (quantum-mechanical) theory. A detailed study of the BPS condition for the mass spectrum arising from toroidal compactifications is given for 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 BPS states in any dimensions. As a byproduct, we retreive the U-duality invariant conditions on the charge (zero mode) spectrum and the orbit classification of BPS states preserving different fractions of supersymmetry. The BPS condition for 0-branes in theories with 16 supersymmetries in any dimension is also discussed.Comment: 23 pages, latex fil

Veertig jaar epidemiologie aan de Erasmus Universiteit 1969-2009

Waarschijnlijk telt geen land ter wereld per hoofd van de bevolking zoveel epidemiologen als Nederland. De Nederlandse Vereniging van Epidemiologen is een van de grootste in Europa. Elke maand verschijnen in de beste internationale wetenschappelijke tijdschriften resultaten van Nederlands epidemiologisch onderzoek. En het zijn artikelen die ertoe doen. In de top 25 van meest geciteerde Nederlands onderzoekers zijn er alleen al zes gelieerd aan het ERGO-onderzoek: een cohort van inmiddels ruim 15.000 Rotterdammers dat nu al bijna 20 jaar loopt. Om kort te gaan: epidemiologie is hot in Holland. Deze bundel bevat afscheidsredes en oraties uit de afgelopen veertig jaar, Tot slot bevat dit boek een opsomming van promovendi die vanuit de afdeling Epidemiologie hun proefschrift verdedigden aan de Erasmus Universiteit, en van alle medewerkers, oud-medewerkers en gasten met een formele aanstelling bij de afdeling Epidemiologie

An M-theory solution generating technique and SL(2,R)

In this paper we generalize the O(p+1,p+1) solution generating technique (this is a method used to deform Dp-branes by turning on a NS-NS B-field) to M-theory, in order to be able to deform M5-brane supergravity solutions directly in eleven dimensions, by turning on a non zero three form A. We find that deforming the M5-brane, in some cases, corresponds to performing certain SL(2,R) transformations of the Kahler structure parameter for the three-torus, on which the M5-brane has been compactified. We show that this new M-theory solution generating technique can be reduced to the O(p+1,p+1) solution generating technique with p=4. Further, we find that it implies that the open membrane metric and generalized noncommutativity parameter are manifestly deformation independent for electric and light-like deformations. We also generalize the O(p+1,p+1) method to the type IIA/B NS5-brane in order to be able to deform NS5-branes with RR three and two forms, respectively. In the type IIA case we use the newly obtained solution generating technique and deformation independence to derive a covariant expression for an open D2-brane coupling, relevant for OD2-theory.Comment: 24 pages, Latex. v2:Sections 3.2 and 3.3 improved. v3:Some clarifications added. Version published in JHE

AKSZ-BV Formalism and Courant Algebroid-induced Topological Field Theories

We give a detailed exposition of the Alexandrov-Kontsevich-Schwarz- Zaboronsky superfield formalism using the language of graded manifolds. As a main illustarting example, to every Courant algebroid structure we associate canonically a three-dimensional topological sigma-model. Using the AKSZ formalism, we construct the Batalin-Vilkovisky master action for the model.Comment: 13 pages, based on lectures at Rencontres mathematiques de Glanon 200

De Sitter Horizons & Holographic Liquids

We explore asymptotically AdS$_2$ solutions of a particular two-dimensional dilaton-gravity theory. In the deep interior, these solutions flow to the cosmological horizon of dS$_2$. We calculate various matter perturbations at the linearised and non-linear level. We consider both Euclidean and Lorentzian perturbations. The results can be used to characterise the features of a putative dual quantum mechanics. The chaotic nature of the de Sitter horizon is assessed through the soft mode action at the AdS$_2$ boundary, as well as the behaviour of shockwave type solutions.Comment: 37 pages, 7 figures; v2: minor corrections; v3: updated references, new Penrose diagram and minor comments added to match published version; v4: Acknowledgement adde