129 research outputs found
Backreacted T-folds and non-geometric regions in configuration space
We provide the backreaction of the T-fold doubly T-dual to a background with
NSNS three-form flux on a three-torus. We extend the backreacted T-fold to
include cases with a flux localized in one out of three directions. We analyze
the resulting monodromy domain walls and vortices. In these backgrounds, we
give an analysis of the action of T-duality on observables like charges and
Wilson surfaces. We analyze arguments for the existence of regions in the
configuration space of second quantized string theory that cannot be reduced to
geometry. Finally, by allowing for space-dependent moduli, we find a
supergravity solution which is a T-fold with hyperbolic monodromies.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figures; v2: minor changes, reference adde
Generalized Kahler geometry and gerbes
We introduce and study the notion of a biholomorphic gerbe with connection.
The biholomorphic gerbe provides a natural geometrical framework for
generalized Kahler geometry in a manner analogous to the way a holomorphic line
bundle is related to Kahler geometry. The relation between the gerbe and the
generalized Kahler potential is discussed.Comment: 28 page
Why Does Inflation Start at the Top of the Hill?
We show why the universe started in an unstable de Sitter state. The quantum
origin of our universe implies one must take a `top down' approach to the
problem of initial conditions in cosmology, in which the histories that
contribute to the path integral, depend on the observable being measured. Using
the no boundary proposal to specify the class of histories, we study the
quantum cosmological origin of an inflationary universe in theories like trace
anomaly driven inflation in which the effective potential has a local maximum.
We find that an expanding universe is most likely to emerge in an unstable de
Sitter state, by semiclassical tunneling via a Hawking-Moss instanton. Since
the top down view is forced upon us by the quantum nature of the universe, we
argue that the approach developed here should still apply when the framework of
quantum cosmology will be based on M-Theory.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figur
T-duality, Generalized Geometry and Non-Geometric Backgrounds
We discuss the action of O(d,d), and in particular T-duality, in the context
of generalized geometry, focusing on the description of so-called non-geometric
backgrounds. We derive local expressions for the pure spinors descibing the
generalized geometry dual to an SU(3) structure background, and show that the
equations for N=1 vacua are invariant under T-duality. We also propose a local
generalized geometrical definition of the charges f, H, Q and R appearing in
effective four-dimensional theories, using the Courant bracket. We then address
certain global aspects, in particular whether the local non-geometric charges
can be gauged away in, for instance, backgrounds admitting a torus action, as
well as the structure of generalized parallelizable backgrounds.Comment: 33 page
Equations of Motion for Massive Spin 2 Field Coupled to Gravity
We investigate the problems of consistency and causality for the equations of
motion describing massive spin two field in external gravitational and massless
scalar dilaton fields in arbitrary spacetime dimension. From the field
theoretical point of view we consider a general classical action with
non-minimal couplings and find gravitational and dilaton background on which
this action describes a theory consistent with the flat space limit. In the
case of pure gravitational background all field components propagate causally.
We show also that the massive spin two field can be consistently described in
arbitrary background by means of the lagrangian representing an infinite series
in the inverse mass. Within string theory we obtain equations of motion for the
massive spin two field coupled to gravity from the requirement of quantum Weyl
invariance of the corresponding two dimensional sigma-model. In the lowest
order in we demonstrate that these effective equations of motion
coincide with consistent equations derived in field theory.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX file, journal versio
Topology, Entropy and Witten Index of Dilaton Black Holes
We have found that for extreme dilaton black holes an inner boundary must be
introduced in addition to the outer boundary to give an integer value to the
Euler number. The resulting manifolds have (if one identifies imaginary time)
topology and Euler number in contrast to
the non-extreme case with . The entropy of extreme dilaton black
holes is already known to be zero. We include a review of some recent ideas due
to Hawking on the Reissner-Nordstr\"om case. By regarding all extreme black
holes as having an inner boundary, we conclude that the entropy of {\sl all}
extreme black holes, including black holes, vanishes. We discuss the
relevance of this to the vanishing of quantum corrections and the idea that the
functional integral for extreme holes gives a Witten Index. We have studied
also the topology of ``moduli space'' of multi black holes. The quantum
mechanics on black hole moduli spaces is expected to be supersymmetric despite
the fact that they are not HyperK\"ahler since the corresponding geometry has
torsion unlike the BPS monopole case. Finally, we describe the possibility of
extreme black hole fission for states with an energy gap. The energy released,
as a proportion of the initial rest mass, during the decay of an
electro-magnetic black hole is 300 times greater than that released by the
fission of an nucleus.Comment: 51 pages, 4 figures, LaTeX. Considerably extended version. New
sections include discussion of the Witten index, topology of the moduli
space, black hole sigma model, and black hole fission with huge energy
releas
Electronic structure of fluorides: general trends for ground and excited state properties
The electronic structure of fluorite crystals are studied by means of density
functional theory within the local density approximation for the exchange
correlation energy. The ground-state electronic properties, which have been
calculated for the cubic structures ,, , ,
, -, using a plane waves expansion of the wave
functions, show good comparison with existing experimental data and previous
theoretical results. The electronic density of states at the gap region for all
the compounds and their energy-band structure have been calculated and compared
with the existing data in the literature. General trends for the ground-state
parameters, the electronic energy-bands and transition energies for all the
fluorides considered are given and discussed in details. Moreover, for the
first time results for have been presented
Flux Backgrounds in 2D String Theory
We study RR flux backgrounds in two dimensional type 0 string theories. In
particular, we study the relation between the 0A matrix model and the extremal
black hole in two dimensions. Using T-duality we find a dual flux background in
type 0B theory and propose its matrix model description. When the Fermi level
is set to zero this system remains weakly coupled and exhibits a larger
symmetry related to the structure of flux vacua. Finally, we construct a two
dimensional type IIB background as an orbifold of the 0B background.Comment: Harvmac, 40 pages, 6 figs, minor changes, references adde
Seeing through the String Landscape - a String Hunter's Companion in Particle Physics and Cosmology
In this article we will overview several aspects of the string landscape,
namely intersecting D-brane models and their statistics, possible model
independent LHC signatures of intersecting brane models, flux compactification,
moduli stabilization in type II compactifications, domain wall solutions and
brane inflation.Comment: 94 pages, Review paper invited and accepted for publication by JHEP,
revised version contains several new references and other minor modification
Hepatitis B care cascade among people with HIV/HBV coinfection in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design, 2012-2016
A care cascade is a critical tool for evaluating delivery of care for chronic infections across sequential stages, starting with diagnosis and ending with viral suppression. However, there have been few data describing the hepatitis B virus (HBV) care cascade among people living with HIV infection who have HBV coinfection. We conducted a cross-sectional study among people living with HIV and HBV coinfection receiving care between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016 within 13 United States and Canadian clinical cohorts contributing data to the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD). We evaluated each of the steps in this cascade, including: 1) laboratory-confirmed HBV infection, 2) tenofovir-based or entecavir-based HBV therapy prescribed, 3) HBV DNA measured during treatment, and 4) viral suppression achieved via undetectable HBV DNA. Among 3,953 persons with laboratory-confirmed HBV (median age, 50 years; 6.5% female; 43.8% were Black; 7.1% were Hispanic), 3,592 (90.9%; 95% confidence interval, 90.0-91.8%) were prescribed tenofovir-based antiretroviral therapy or entecavir along with their antiretroviral therapy regimen, 2,281 (57.7%; 95% confidence interval, 56.2-59.2%) had HBV DNA measured while on therapy, and 1,624 (41.1%; 95% confidence interval, 39.5-42.6) achieved an undetectable HBV DNA during HBV treatment. Our study identified significant gaps in measurement of HBV DNA and suppression of HBV viremia among people living with HIV and HBV coinfection in the United States and Canada. Periodic evaluation of the HBV care cascade among persons with HIV/HBV will be critical to monitoring success in completion of each step
- …