Renormalization of the Planck mass for type II superstrings on symmetric orbifolds

We compute the one-loop renormalization of the Planck mass for type II string theories compactified to four dimensions on symmetric orbifolds that preserve ${\cal N}=2$ supersymmetry. Depending on the orbifold, the effect can be as large as to compete with the standard tree-level value.Comment: 9 pages, reference added, counting of supersymmetries correcte

Schwinger terms in gravitation in two dimensions as a consequence of the gravitational anomaly

We compute the Schwinger term in the gravitational constraints in two dimensions, starting from the path integral in Hamiltonian form and the Einstein anomaly.Comment: 8 pages, Latex, additional reference

Localized gravity in non-compact superstring models

We discuss a string-theory-derived mechanism for localized gravity, which produces a deviation from Newton's law of gravitation at cosmological distances. This mechanism can be realized for general non-compact Calabi-Yau manifolds, orbifolds and orientifolds. After discussing the cross-over scale and the thickness in these models we show that the localized higher derivative terms can be safely neglected at observable distances. We conclude by some observations on the massless open string spectrum for the orientifold models.Comment: 12 Pages. Based on some unpublished work presented at Quarks-2004, Pushkinskie Gory, Russia, May 24-3

Constructing Time Machines

The existence of time machines, understood as spacetime constructions exhibiting physically realised closed timelike curves (CTCs), would raise fundamental problems with causality and challenge our current understanding of classical and quantum theories of gravity. In this paper, we investigate three proposals for time machines which share some common features: cosmic strings in relative motion, where the conical spacetime appears to allow CTCs; colliding gravitational shock waves, which in Aichelburg-Sexl coordinates imply discontinuous geodesics; and the superluminal propagation of light in gravitational radiation metrics in a modified electrodynamics featuring violations of the strong equivalence principle. While we show that ultimately none of these constructions creates a working time machine, their study illustrates the subtle levels at which causal self-consistency imposes itself, and we consider what intuition can be drawn from these examples for future theories.Comment: 36 pages, 14 figures, TeX with harvmac; Review article prepared for Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Effect of charged partons on black hole production at the Large Hadron Collider

The cross section for black hole production in hadron colliders is calculated using a factorization hypothesis in which the parton-level process is integrated over the parton density functions of the protons. The mass, spin, charge, colour, and finite size of the partons are usually ignored. We examine the effects of parton electric charge on black hole production using the trapped-surface approach of general relativity. Accounting for electric charge of the partons could reduce the black hole cross section by one to four orders of magnitude at the Large Hadron Collider. The cross section results are sensitive to the Standard Model brane thickness. Lower limits on the amount of energy trapped behind the event horizon in the collision of charged particles are also calculated.Comment: corrected typo in figure 1b; added some clarification in 3 places; 21 pages, 9 figures, JHEP3 forma

Black Hole Cross Section at the Large Hadron Collider

Black hole production at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was first discussed in 1999. Since then, much work has been performed in predicting the black hole cross section. In light of the start up of the LHC, it is now timely to review the state of these calculations. We review the uncertainties in estimating the black hole cross section in higher dimensions. One would like to make this estimate as precise as possible since the predicted values, or lower limits, obtain for the fundamental Planck scale and number of extra dimensions from experiments will depend directly on the accuracy of the cross section. Based on the current knowledge of the cross section, we give a range of lower limits on the fundamental Planck scale that could be obtained at LHC energies.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figures, LaTeX; added references, corrected typos, expanded discussio

Head-on collision of ultrarelativistic charges

We consider the head-on collision of two opposite-charged point particles moving at the speed of light. Starting from the field of a single charge we derive in a first step the field generated by uniformly accelerated charge in the limit of infinite acceleration. From this we then calculate explicitly the burst of radiation emitted from the head-on collision of two charges and discuss its distributional structure. The motivation for our investigation comes from the corresponding gravitational situation where the head-on collision of two ultrarelativistic particles (black holes) has recently aroused renewed interest.Comment: 4 figures, uses the AMSmat

Black Hole Production at the Large Hadron Collider

Black hole production at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is an interesting consequence of TeV-scale gravity models. The predicted values, or lower limits, for the fundamental Planck scale and number of extra dimensions will depend directly on the accuracy of the black hole production cross-section. We give a range of lower limits on the fundamental Planck scale that could be obtained at LHC energies. In addition, we examine the effects of parton electric charge on black hole production using the trapped-surface approach of general relativity. Accounting for electric charge of the partons could reduce the black hole cross-section by one to four orders of magnitude at the LHC.Comment: CTP Symposium on Supersymmetry at LHC: Theoretical and Experimental Perspectives at the British University in Egypt 11-14 March 200