BPS Solitons in M5-Brane Worldvolume Theory with Constant Three-Form Field

We study BPS solutions for a self-dual string and a neutral string in M5-brane worldvolume theory with constant three-form field. We further generalize such solitons to superpose with a calibrated surface. We also study a traveling wave on a calibrated surface in the constant three-form field background.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, minor correction, added referenc

Einstein-Weyl structures corresponding to diagonal K\"ahler Bianchi IX metrics

We analyse in a systematic way the four dimensionnal Einstein-Weyl spaces equipped with a diagonal K\"ahler Bianchi IX metric. In particular, we show that the subclass of Einstein-Weyl structures with a constant conformal scalar curvature is the one with a conformally scalar flat - but not necessarily scalar flat - metric ; we exhibit its 3-parameter distance and Weyl one-form. This extends previous analysis of Pedersen, Swann and Madsen , limited to the scalar flat, antiself-dual case. We also check that, in agreement with a theorem of Derdzinski, the most general conformally Einstein metric in the family of biaxial K\"ahler Bianchi IX metrics is an extremal metric of Calabi, conformal to Carter's metric, thanks to Chave and Valent's results.Comment: 15 pages, Latex file, minor modifications, to be published in Class. Quant. Gra

Lorentz harmonics and superfield action. D=10, N=1 superstring

We propose a new version of the superfield action for a closed D=10, N=1 superstring where the Lorentz harmonics are used as auxiliary superfields. The incorporation of Lorentz harmonics into the superfield action makes possible to obtain superfield constraints of the induced worldsheet supergravity as equations of motion. Moreover, it becomes evident that a so-called 'Wess-Zumino part' of the superfield action is basically a Lagrangian form of the generalized action principle. We propose to use the second Noether theorem to handle the essential terms in the transformation lows of hidden gauge symmetries, which remove dynamical degrees of freedom from the Lagrange multiplier superfield.Comment: 23 pages, latex, no figures. V.2, minor corrections, a reference adde

Radiation reaction and renormalization in classical electrodynamics of point particle in any dimension

The effective equations of motion for a point charged particle taking account of radiation reaction are considered in various space-time dimensions. The divergencies steaming from the pointness of the particle are studied and the effective renormalization procedure is proposed encompassing uniformly the cases of all even dimensions. It is shown that in any dimension the classical electrodynamics is a renormalizable theory if not multiplicatively beyond d=4. For the cases of three and six dimensions the covariant analogs of the Lorentz-Dirac equation are explicitly derived.Comment: minor changes in concluding section, misprints corrected, LaTeX2e, 15 page

Characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in rat neocortical neurons in vitro

1. The characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (l-IPSPs) which are evoked in rat frontal neocortical neurons by local electrical stimulation were investigated with intracellular recordings from anin vitro slice preparation. 2. Stimulation with suprathreshold intensities evoked l-IPSPs with typical durations of 600–900 msec at resting membrane potential. Conductance increases of 15–60% were measured at the peak amplitude of l-IPSPs (150–250 msec poststimulus). 3. The duration of the conductance increases during l-IPSPs displayed a significant voltage dependence, decreasing as the membrance potential was depolarized and increasing with hyperpolarization. 4. The reversal potential of l-IPSPs is significantly altered by reductions in the extracellular potassium concentration. Therefore it is concluded that l-IPSPs in rat neocortical neurons are generated by the activation of a potassium conductance. 5. l-IPSPs exhibit stimulation fatigue. Stimulation with a frequency of 1 Hz produces a complete fatigue of the conductance increases during l-IPSPs after approximately 20 consecutive stimuli. Recovery from this fatigue requires minutes. 6. l-IPSPs are not blocked by bicuculline but are blocked by baclofen

Holonomy groups and W-symmetries

Irreducible sigma models, i.e. those for which the partition function does not factorise, are defined on Riemannian spaces with irreducible holonomy groups. These special geometries are characterised by the existence of covariantly constant forms which in turn give rise to symmetries of the supersymmetric sigma model actions. The Poisson bracket algebra of the corresponding currents is a W-algebra. Extended supersymmetries arise as special cases.Comment: pages 2

Conformal and Superconformal Mechanics

We investigate the conformal and superconformal properties of a non-relativistic spinning particle propagating in a curved background coupled to a magnetic field and with a scalar potential. We derive the conditions on the couplings for a large class of such systems which are necessary in order their actions admit conformal and superconformal symmetry. We find that some of these conditions can be encoded in the conformal and holomorphic geometry of the background. Several new examples of conformal and superconformal models are also given.Comment: 46 pages, Phyzzx.te

(Super)twistors and (super)strings

The Lagrangian formulation of the D=4 bosonic string and superstring in terms of the (super)twistors is considered. The (super)twistor form of the equations of motion is derived and the kappa-symmetry transformation for the supertwistors is given. It is shown that the covariant kappa-symmetry gauge fixation results in the action quadratic in the (super)twistor variables.Comment: LaTeX, 17 page

D=3, N=8 conformal supergravity and the Dragon window

We give a superspace description of D=3, N=8 supergravity. The formulation is off-shell in the sense that the equations of motion are not implied by the superspace constraints (but an action principle is not given). The multiplet structure is unconventional, which we connect to the existence of a "Dragon window", that is modules occurring in the supercurvature but not in the supertorsion. According to Dragon's theorem this cannot happen above three dimensions. We clarify the relevance of this window for going on the conformal shell, and discuss some aspects of coupling to conformal matter.Comment: plain tex, 24 pp v2: minor change

BPS States on M5-brane in Large C-field Background

We extensively study BPS solutions of the low energy effective theory of M5-brane in large C-field background. This provides us an opportunity to explore the interactions turned on by C-field background through the Nambu-Poisson structure. The BPS states considered in this paper include the M-waves, the self-dual string (M2 ending on M5), tilted M5-brane, holomorphic embedding of M5-brane and the intersection of two M5-branes along a 3-brane.Comment: 25 pages, reference adde