Spectral Flow and Feigin-Fuks Parameter Space of N=4 Superconformal Algebras

The parameter space of the Feigin-Fuks representations of the N=4 SU(2)$_k$ superconformal algebras is studied from the viewpoint of the specral flow. The $\eta$ phase of the spectral flow is nicely incorporated through twisted fermions and the spectral flow resulting from the inner automorphism of the N=4 superconformal algebras is explicitly shown to be operating as identiy relations among the generators. Conditions for the unitary representations are also investigated in our Feigin-Fuks parameter space.Comment: LaTeX file, 21 pages, 1 figure(ps file

The Possibility of “Bundling” in PPP as a New Business Model for Japanese Civil Engineering Consulting Firms - From a Case Study of a Bundled PPP Project in the Philippines

Many Japanese civil engineering consulting firms have faced a challenging business environment for the last twenty years following the decrease in the public works budget. To counteract this decline, many of them have tried to expand into new businesses; one such business is entering into PPP projects in Asia. However, there have only been a few successful cases. In this study, therefore, a successful PPP project in the Philippines is raised as a case, where one such consulting firm has been involved in. Through this study, two factors for the success were identified; one is that the involvement in the PPP/PFI in Japan, similar to the Asian PPP in the nature of business, can help to some extent, and the other is that starting with small scale projects can work to mitigate risk, while using a method of “Bundling”. The idea of bundling several projects together could overcome such negative aspects arising with the work on small-sized projects, from the viewpoint of private sector’s participation in the projects. Furthermore, using the Bundling could add another revenue source as a “Platformer”. It is thus ensured that this study can contribute to their successful expansion into new business opportunities

Theory of Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling and Dissipation in High-Tc Josephson Junctions

We have investigated macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in in-plane high-Tc superconductor Josephson junctions and the influence of the nodal-quasiparticle and the zero energy bound states (ZES) on MQT. We have shown that the presence of the ZES at the interface between the insulator and the superconductor leads to strong Ohmic quasiparticle dissipation. Therefore, the MQT rate is noticeably suppressed in comparison with the c-axis junctions in which ZES are completely absent.Comment: 4 pages. 1 figur