6,959 research outputs found
Unitarity of noncommutative field theories from string theory
We improve the study of the lack of perturbative unitarity of noncommutative
space-time quantum field theories derived from open string theory in electric
backgrounds, enforcing the universality of the mechanism by which a tachyonic
branch cut appears when the Seiberg-Witten limit freezes the string in an
unstable vacuum. The main example is realized in the context of the on-shell
four-tachyon amplitude of the bosonic string, and the dependence of the
phenomenon on the brane-worldvolume dimension is analysed. We discuss the
possibility of a proof in superstring theory, and finally mention the NCOS
limit in this framework.Comment: 8 pages, no figures. Work done in collaboration with A. Bassetto and
R. Valandro (Padua Univ.). Submitted for the proceedings of the conference
"Spacetime and Fundamental Interactions: Quantum Aspects. A conference to
honour A.P.Balachandran's 65th birthday", Vietri, 26-31 May 200
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Experimental evidence on promotion of electric and improved biomass cookstoves.
Improved cookstoves (ICS) can deliver "triple wins" by improving household health, local environments, and global climate. Yet their potential is in doubt because of low and slow diffusion, likely because of constraints imposed by differences in culture, geography, institutions, and missing markets. We offer insights about this challenge based on a multiyear, multiphase study with nearly 1,000 households in the Indian Himalayas. In phase I, we combined desk reviews, simulations, and focus groups to diagnose barriers to ICS adoption. In phase II, we implemented a set of pilots to simulate a mature market and designed an intervention that upgraded the supply chain (combining marketing and home delivery), provided rebates and financing to lower income and liquidity constraints, and allowed households a choice among ICS. In phase III, we used findings from these pilots to implement a field experiment to rigorously test whether this combination of upgraded supply and demand promotion stimulates adoption. The experiment showed that, compared with zero purchase in control villages, over half of intervention households bought an ICS, although demand was highly price-sensitive. Demand was at least twice as high for electric stoves relative to biomass ICS. Even among households that received a negligible price discount, the upgraded supply chain alone induced a 28 percentage-point increase in ICS ownership. Although the bundled intervention is resource-intensive, the full costs are lower than the social benefits of ICS promotion. Our findings suggest that market analysis, robust supply chains, and price discounts are critical for ICS diffusion
Bell's inequalities in the tomographic representation
The tomographic approach to quantum mechanics is revisited as a direct tool
to investigate violation of Bell-like inequalities. Since quantum tomograms are
well defined probability distributions, the tomographic approach is emphasized
to be the most natural one to compare the predictions of classical and quantum
theory. Examples of inequalities for two qubits an two qutrits are considered
in the tomographic probability representation of spin states.Comment: 11 pages, comments and references adde
Particle Physics from Almost Commutative Spacetimes
Our aim in this review article is to present the applications of Connes'
noncommutative geometry to elementary particle physics. Whereas the existing
literature is mostly focused on a mathematical audience, in this article we
introduce the ideas and concepts from noncommutative geometry using physicists'
terminology, gearing towards the predictions that can be derived from the
noncommutative description. Focusing on a light package of noncommutative
geometry (so-called 'almost commutative manifolds'), we shall introduce in
steps: electrodynamics, the electroweak model, culminating in the full Standard
Model. We hope that our approach helps in understanding the role noncommutative
geometry could play in describing particle physics models, eventually unifying
them with Einstein's (geometrical) theory of gravity.Comment: 104 pages, 5 figures, version 2 (minor changes and some additional
references
Bell's theorem without inequalities and without probabilities for two observers
A proof of Bell's theorem using two maximally entangled states of two qubits
is presented. It exhibits a similar logical structure to Hardy's argument of
``nonlocality without inequalities''. However, it works for 100% of the runs of
a certain experiment. Therefore, it can also be viewed as a
Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-like proof involving only two spacelike separated
regions.Comment: REVTeX, 4 page
Optical Activity From Extra Dimension
Optical activity, like Faraday effect, is a rotation of the plane of
polarization of propagating light in a medium and can be attributed to
different sources with distinct signatures. In this note we discuss the effect
of optical activity {\it{in vacuum}} due to Kaluza-Klein scalar field ,
in the presence of an external electro-magnetic field. The astrophysical
implication of this effect is indicated. We also point out the possibility of
observing the same in laboratory conditions.Comment: Four Page
The Raychaudhuri equations: a brief review
We present a brief review on the Raychaudhuri equations. Beginning with a
summary of the essential features of the original article by Raychaudhuri and
subsequent work of numerous authors, we move on to a discussion of the
equations in the context of alternate non--Riemannian spacetimes as well as
other theories of gravity, with a special mention on the equations in
spacetimes with torsion (Einstein--Cartan--Sciama--Kibble theory). Finally, we
give an overview of some recent applications of these equations in General
Relativity, Quantum Field Theory, String Theory and the theory of relativisitic
membranes. We conclude with a summary and provide our own perspectives on
directions of future research.Comment: 35 pages, two figures, to appear in the special issue of Pramana
dedicated to the memory of A. K. Raychaudhur
Null Strings in Schwarzschild Spacetime
The null string equations of motion and constraints in the Schwarzschild
spacetime are given. The solutions are those of the null geodesics of General
Relativity appended by a null string constraint in which the "constants of
motion" depend on the world-sheet spatial coordinate. Because of the extended
nature of a string, the physical interpretation of the solutions is completely
different from the point particle case. In particular, a null string is
generally not propagating in a plane through the origin, although each of its
individual points is. Some special solutions are obtained and their physical
interpretation is given. Especially, the solution for a null string with a
constant radial coordinate moving vertically from the south pole to the
north pole around the photon sphere, is presented. A general discussion of
classical null/tensile strings as compared to massless/massive particles is
given. For instance, tensile circular solutions with a constant radial
coordinate do not exist at all. The results are discussed in relation to
the previous literature on the subject.Comment: 16 pages, REVTEX, no figure
Symmetry, Gravity and Noncommutativity
We review some aspects of the implementation of spacetime symmetries in
noncommutative field theories, emphasizing their origin in string theory and
how they may be used to construct theories of gravitation. The geometry of
canonical noncommutative gauge transformations is analysed in detail and it is
shown how noncommutative Yang-Mills theory can be related to a gravity theory.
The construction of twisted spacetime symmetries and their role in constructing
a noncommutative extension of general relativity is described. We also analyse
certain generic features of noncommutative gauge theories on D-branes in curved
spaces, treating several explicit examples of superstring backgrounds.Comment: 52 pages; Invited review article to be published in Classical and
Quantum Gravity; v2: references adde
Cosmic optical activity in the spacetime of a scalar-tensor screwed cosmic string
Measurements of radio emission from distant galaxies and quasars verify that
the polarization vectors of these radiations are not randomly oriented as
naturally expected. This peculiar phenomenon suggests that the spacetime
intervening between the source and observer may be exhibiting some sort of
optical activity, the origin of which is not known. In the present paper we
provide a plausible explanation to this phenomenon by investigating the r\^ole
played by a Chern-Simons-like term in the background of an ordinary or
superconducting screwed cosmic string in a scalar-tensor gravity. We discuss
the possibility that the excess in polarization of the light from
radio-galaxies and quasars can be understood as if the electromagnetic waves
emitted by these cosmic objects interact with a scalar-tensor screwed cosmic
string through a Chern-Simons coupling. We use current astronomical data to
constrain possible values for the coupling constant of this theory, and show
that it turns out to be: eV, which is two orders of
magnitude larger than in string-inspired theories.Comment: Revised version, to appear in Phys. Rev.
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