Superfield quantization of general gauge theories

A superfield version on superspace $(x^\mu,\theta^a)$ is proposed for the $Sp(2)$-- covariant Lagrangian quantization of general gauge theories. The BRST- and antiBRST- transformations are realized on superfields as supertranslations in the $\theta^a$-- directions. A new (geometric) interpretation of the Ward identities in the quantum gauge theory is given.Comment: 15 pages, Latex, no figure

Compactifications with S-Duality Twists

We consider generalised Scherk Schwarz reductions of supergravity and superstring theories with twists by electromagnetic dualities that are symmetries of the equations of motion but not of the action, such as the S-duality of D=4, N=4 super-Yang-Mills coupled to supergravity. The reduction cannot be done on the action itself, but must be done either on the field equations or on a duality invariant form of the action, such as one in the doubled formalism in which potentials are introduced for both electric and magnetic fields. The resulting theory in odd-dimensions has massive form fields satisfying a self-duality condition $dA \sim m*A$. We construct such theories in D=3,5,7.Comment: Latex, 26 pages. References adde

Duality Twists, Orbifolds, and Fluxes

We investigate compactifications with duality twists and their relation to orbifolds and compactifications with fluxes. Inequivalent compactifications are classified by conjugacy classes of the U-duality group and result in gauged supergravities in lower dimensions with nontrivial Scherk-Schwarz potentials on the moduli space. For certain twists, this mechanism is equivalent to introducing internal fluxes but is more general and can be used to stabilize some of the moduli. We show that the potential has stable minima with zero energy precisely at the fixed points of the twist group. In string theory, when the twist belongs to the T-duality group, the theory at the minimum has an exact CFT description as an orbifold. We also discuss more general twists by nonperturbative U-duality transformations.Comment: 30 pages, harvmac, references and brief comments on gauged supergravity adde

A probabilistic assessment of the rapidity of PETM onset

Single-foraminifera measurements of the PETM carbon isotope excursion from Maud Rise have been interpreted as indicating geologically instantaneous carbon release. Here, the authors explain these records using an Earth system model and a sediment-mixing model and extract the likely PETM onset duration

Large-N supersymmetric beta-functions

We present calculations of the leading and O(1/N) terms in a large-N expansion of the \beta-functions for various supersymmetric theories: a Wess-Zumino model, supersymmetric QED and a non-abelian supersymmetric gauge theory. In all cases N is the number of a class of the chiral superfields in the theory.Comment: 9 pages, tex, five figures. Uses harvmac and epsf. Revised to include a discussion of higher loop DRED ambiguities. Some references added, and notation clarifie

Domain Walls in Massive Supergravities

We show how toroidally-compactified eleven-dimensional supergravity can be consistently truncated to yield a variety of maximally-supersymmetric ``massive'' supergravities in spacetime dimensions $D\le 8$. The mass terms arise as a consequence of making a more general ansatz than that in usual Kaluza-Klein dimensional reduction, in which one or more axions are given an additional linear dependence on one of the compactification coordinates. The lower-dimensional theories are nevertheless consistent truncations of eleven-dimensional supergravity. Owing to the fact that the generalised reduction commutes neither with U-duality nor with ordinary dimensional reduction, many different massive theories can result. The simplest examples arise when just a single axion has the additional linear coordinate dependence. We find five inequivalent such theories in D=7, and 71 inequivalent ones in D=4. The massive theories admit no maximally-symmetric vacuum solution, but they do admit $(D-2)$-brane solutions, i.e. domain walls, which preserve half the supersymmetry. We present examples of these solutions, and their oxidations to D=11. Some of the latter are new solutions of D=11 supergravity.Comment: latex, 32 papes, no figures, further comments and references adde

Domain Walls of D=8 Gauged Supergravities and their D=11 Origin

Performing a Scherk-Schwarz dimensional reduction of D=11 supergravity on a three-dimensional group manifold we construct five D=8 gauged maximal supergravities whose gauge groups are the three-dimensional (non-)compact subgroups of SL(3,R). These cases include the Salam-Sezgin SO(3) gauged supergravity. We construct the most general half-supersymmetric domain wall solutions to these five gauged supergravities. The generic form is a triple domain wall solution whose truncations lead to double and single domain wall solutions. We find that one of the single domain wall solutions has zero potential but nonzero superpotential. Upon uplifting to 11 dimensions each domain wall becomes a purely gravitational 1/2 BPS solution. The corresponding metric has a 7+4 split with a Minkowski 7-metric and a 4-metric that corresponds to a gravitational instanton. These instantons generalize the SO(3) metric of Belinsky, Gibbons, Page and Pope (which includes the Eguchi-Hanson metric) to the other Bianchi types of class A.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figure, minor changes, references adde

The Gaugings of Maximal D=6 Supergravity

We construct the most general gaugings of the maximal D=6 supergravity. The theory is (2,2) supersymmetric, and possesses an on-shell SO(5,5) duality symmetry which plays a key role in determining its couplings. The field content includes 16 vector fields that carry a chiral spinor representation of the duality group. We utilize the embedding tensor method which determines the appropriate combinations of these vectors that participate in gauging of a suitable subgroup of SO(5,5). The construction also introduces the magnetic duals of the 5 two-form potentials and 16 vector fields.Comment: 34 pages, latex, reference added, typo's corrected and minor improvements mad

How to Create an Innovation Accelerator

Too many policy failures are fundamentally failures of knowledge. This has become particularly apparent during the recent financial and economic crisis, which is questioning the validity of mainstream scholarly paradigms. We propose to pursue a multi-disciplinary approach and to establish new institutional settings which remove or reduce obstacles impeding efficient knowledge creation. We provided suggestions on (i) how to modernize and improve the academic publication system, and (ii) how to support scientific coordination, communication, and co-creation in large-scale multi-disciplinary projects. Both constitute important elements of what we envision to be a novel ICT infrastructure called "Innovation Accelerator" or "Knowledge Accelerator".Comment: 32 pages, Visioneer White Paper, see http://www.visioneer.ethz.c

Double-Scaling Limit of Heterotic Bundles and Dynamical Deformation in CFT

We consider heterotic string theory on Eguchi-Hanson space, as a local model of a resolved A_1 singularity in a six-dimensional flux compactification, with an Abelian gauge bundle turned on and non-zero torsion. We show that in a suitable double scaling limit, that isolates the physics near the non-vanishing two-cycle, a worldsheet conformal field theory description can be found. It contains a heterotic coset whose target space is conformal to Eguchi-Hanson. Starting from the blow-down limit of the singularity, it can be viewed as a dynamical deformation of the near-horizon fivebrane background. We analyze in detail the spectrum of the theory in particular examples, as well as the important role of worldsheet non-perturbative effects.Comment: 45 pages, no figures; ver2: typos corrected, references added, an extra tadpole-free model covere