Growth index of matter perturbations in the light of Dark Energy Survey

We study how the cosmological constraints from growth data are improved by including the measurements of bias from Dark Energy Survey (DES). In particular, we utilize the biasing properties of the DES Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) and the growth data provided by the various galaxy surveys in order to constrain the growth index ($\gamma$) of the linear matter perturbations. Considering a constant growth index we can put tight constraints, up to $\sim 10\%$ accuracy, on $\gamma$. Specifically, using the priors of the Dark Energy Survey and implementing a joint likelihood procedure between theoretical expectations and data we find that the best fit value is in between $\gamma=0.64\pm 0.075$ and $0.65\pm 0.063$. On the other hand utilizing the Planck priors we obtain $\gamma=0.680\pm 0.089$ and $0.690\pm 0.071$. This shows a small but non-zero deviation from General Relativity ($\gamma_{\rm GR}\approx 6/11$), nevertheless the confidence level is in the range $\sim 1.3-2\sigma$. Moreover, we find that the estimated mass of the dark-matter halo in which LRGs survive lies in the interval $\sim 6.2 \times 10^{12} h^{-1} M_{\odot}$ and $1.2 \times 10^{13} h^{-1} M_{\odot}$, for the different bias models. Finally, allowing $\gamma$ to evolve with redshift [Taylor expansion: $\gamma(z)=\gamma_{0}+\gamma_{1}z/(1+z)$] we find that the $(\gamma_{0},\gamma_{1})$ parameter solution space accommodates the GR prediction at $\sim 1.7-2.9\sigma$ levels.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, discussion added, to appear in European Physical Journal C (EPJC

Non-Linear Sigma Model and asymptotic freedom at the Lifshitz point

We construct the general O(N)-symmetric non-linear sigma model in 2+1 spacetime dimensions at the Lifshitz point with dynamical critical exponent z=2. For a particular choice of the free parameters, the model is asymptotically free with the beta function coinciding to the one for the conventional sigma model in 1+1 dimensions. In this case, the model admits also a simple description in terms of adjoint currents.Comment: 23 pages, 2 figure

The Ising Model on a Quenched Ensemble of c = -5 Gravity Graphs

We study with Monte Carlo methods an ensemble of c=-5 gravity graphs, generated by coupling a conformal field theory with central charge c=-5 to two-dimensional quantum gravity. We measure the fractal properties of the ensemble, such as the string susceptibility exponent gamma_s and the intrinsic fractal dimensions d_H. We find gamma_s = -1.5(1) and d_H = 3.36(4), in reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions. In addition, we study the critical behavior of an Ising model on a quenched ensemble of the c=-5 graphs and show that it agrees, within numerical accuracy, with theoretical predictions for the critical behavior of an Ising model coupled dynamically to two-dimensional quantum gravity, provided the total central charge of the matter sector is c=-5. From this we conjecture that the critical behavior of the Ising model is determined solely by the average fractal properties of the graphs, the coupling to the geometry not playing an important role.Comment: 23 pages, Latex, 7 figure

Unitary One Matrix Models: String Equations and Flows

We review the Symmetric Unitary One Matrix Models. In particular we discuss the string equation in the operator formalism, the mKdV flows and the Virasoro Constraints. We focus on the \t-function formalism for the flows and we describe its connection to the (big cell of the) Sato Grassmannian \Gr via the Plucker embedding of \Gr into a fermionic Fock space. Then the space of solutions to the string equation is an explicitly computable subspace of \Gr\times\Gr which is invariant under the flows.Comment: 20 pages (Invited talk delivered by M. J. Bowick at the Vth Regional Conference on Mathematical Physics, Edirne Turkey: December 15-22, 1991.

Abelian gauge fields coupled to simplicial quantum gravity

We study the coupling of Abelian gauge theories to four-dimensional simplicial quantum gravity. The gauge fields live on dual links. This is the correct formulation if we want to compare the effect of gauge fields on geometry with similar effects studied so far for scalar fields. It shows that gauge fields couple equally weakly to geometry as scalar fields, and it offers an understanding of the relation between measure factors and Abelian gauge fields observed so-far.Comment: 20 page

The Area Law in Matrix Models for Large N QCD Strings

We study the question whether matrix models obtained in the zero volume limit of 4d Yang-Mills theories can describe large N QCD strings. The matrix model we use is a variant of the Eguchi-Kawai model in terms of Hermitian matrices, but without any twists or quenching. This model was originally proposed as a toy model of the IIB matrix model. In contrast to common expectations, we do observe the area law for Wilson loops in a significant range of scale of the loop area. Numerical simulations show that this range is stable as N increases up to 768, which strongly suggests that it persists in the large N limit. Hence the equivalence to QCD strings may hold for length scales inside a finite regime.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Singularities of the Partition Function for the Ising Model Coupled to 2d Quantum Gravity

We study the zeros in the complex plane of the partition function for the Ising model coupled to 2d quantum gravity for complex magnetic field and real temperature, and for complex temperature and real magnetic field, respectively. We compute the zeros by using the exact solution coming from a two matrix model and by Monte Carlo simulations of Ising spins on dynamical triangulations. We present evidence that the zeros form simple one-dimensional curves in the complex plane, and that the critical behaviour of the system is governed by the scaling of the distribution of the singularities near the critical point. Despite the small size of the systems studied, we can obtain a reasonable estimate of the (known) critical exponents.Comment: 22 pages, LaTeX2e, 10 figures, added discussion on antiferromagnetic transition and reference

The Concept of Time in 2D Quantum Gravity

We show that the ``time'' t_s defined via spin clusters in the Ising model coupled to 2d gravity leads to a fractal dimension d_h(s) = 6 of space-time at the critical point, as advocated by Ishibashi and Kawai. In the unmagnetized phase, however, this definition of Hausdorff dimension breaks down. Numerical measurements are consistent with these results. The same definition leads to d_h(s)=16 at the critical point when applied to flat space. The fractal dimension d_h(s) is in disagreement with both analytical prediction and numerical determination of the fractal dimension d_h(g), which is based on the use of the geodesic distance t_g as ``proper time''. There seems to be no simple relation of the kind t_s = t_g^{d_h(g)/d_h(s)}, as expected by dimensional reasons.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, 2 ps-figure

The Flat Phase of Crystalline Membranes

We present the results of a high-statistics Monte Carlo simulation of a phantom crystalline (fixed-connectivity) membrane with free boundary. We verify the existence of a flat phase by examining lattices of size up to $128^2$. The Hamiltonian of the model is the sum of a simple spring pair potential, with no hard-core repulsion, and bending energy. The only free parameter is the the bending rigidity $\kappa$. In-plane elastic constants are not explicitly introduced. We obtain the remarkable result that this simple model dynamically generates the elastic constants required to stabilise the flat phase. We present measurements of the size (Flory) exponent $\nu$ and the roughness exponent $\zeta$. We also determine the critical exponents $\eta$ and $\eta_u$ describing the scale dependence of the bending rigidity ($\kappa(q) \sim q^{-\eta}$) and the induced elastic constants ($\lambda(q) \sim \mu(q) \sim q^{\eta_u}$). At bending rigidity $\kappa = 1.1$, we find $\nu = 0.95(5)$ (Hausdorff dimension $d_H = 2/\nu = 2.1(1)$), $\zeta = 0.64(2)$ and $\eta_u = 0.50(1)$. These results are consistent with the scaling relation $\zeta = (2+\eta_u)/4$. The additional scaling relation $\eta = 2(1-\zeta)$ implies $\eta = 0.72(4)$. A direct measurement of $\eta$ from the power-law decay of the normal-normal correlation function yields $\eta \approx 0.6$ on the $128^2$ lattice.Comment: Latex, 31 Pages with 14 figures. Improved introduction, appendix A and discussion of numerical methods. Some references added. Revised version to appear in J. Phys.