87 research outputs found
Type IIB Flux Vacua from M-theory via F-theory
We study in detail some aspects of duality between type IIB and M-theory. We
focus on the duality between type IIB string theory on K3 x T^2/Z_2 orientifold
and M-theory on K3 x K3, in the F-theory limit. We give the explicit map
between the fields and in particular between the moduli of compactification,
studying their behavior under the F-theory limit. Turning on fluxes generates a
potential for the moduli both in type IIB and in M-theory. We verify that the
type IIB analysis gives the same results of the F-theory analysis. In
particular, we check that the two potentials match.Comment: 24 pages; reference correcte
What does inflation really predict?
If the inflaton potential has multiple minima, as may be expected in, e.g.,
the string theory "landscape", inflation predicts a probability distribution
for the cosmological parameters describing spatial curvature (Omega_tot), dark
energy (rho_Lambda, w, etc.), the primordial density fluctuations (Omega_tot,
dark energy (rho_Lambda, w, etc.). We compute this multivariate probability
distribution for various classes of single-field slow-roll models, exploring
its dependence on the characteristic inflationary energy scales, the shape of
the potential V and and the choice of measure underlying the calculation. We
find that unless the characteristic scale Delta-phi on which V varies happens
to be near the Planck scale, the only aspect of V that matters observationally
is the statistical distribution of its peaks and troughs. For all energy scales
and plausible measures considered, we obtain the predictions Omega_tot ~
1+-0.00001, w=-1 and rho_Lambda in the observed ballpark but uncomfortably
high. The high energy limit predicts n_s ~ 0.96, dn_s/dlnk ~ -0.0006, r ~ 0.15
and n_t ~ -0.02, consistent with observational data and indistinguishable from
eternal phi^2-inflation. The low-energy limit predicts 5 parameters but prefers
larger Q and redder n_s than observed. We discuss the coolness problem, the
smoothness problem and the pothole paradox, which severely limit the viable
class of models and measures. Our findings bode well for detecting an
inflationary gravitational wave signature with future CMB polarization
experiments, with the arguably best-motivated single-field models favoring the
detectable level r ~ 0.03. (Abridged)Comment: Replaced to match accepted JCAP version. Improved discussion,
references. 42 pages, 17 fig
Explicit de Sitter Flux Vacua for Global String Models with Chiral Matter
We address the open question of performing an explicit stabilisation of all
closed string moduli (including dilaton, complex structure and Kaehler moduli)
in fluxed type IIB Calabi-Yau compactifications with chiral matter. Using toric
geometry we construct Calabi-Yau manifolds with del Pezzo singularities.
D-branes located at such singularities can support the Standard Model gauge
group and matter content. In order to control complex structure moduli
stabilisation we consider Calabi-Yau manifolds which exhibit a discrete
symmetry that reduces the effective number of complex structure moduli. We
calculate the corresponding periods in the symplectic basis of invariant
three-cycles and find explicit flux vacua for concrete examples. We compute the
values of the flux superpotential and the string coupling at these vacua.
Starting from these explicit complex structure solutions, we obtain AdS and dS
minima where the Kaehler moduli are stabilised by a mixture of D-terms,
non-perturbative and perturbative alpha'-corrections as in the LARGE Volume
Scenario. In the considered example the visible sector lives at a dP_6
singularity which can be higgsed to the phenomenologically interesting class of
models at the dP_3 singularity.Comment: 49 pages, 5 figures; v2: references adde
D3/D7 Branes at Singularities: Constraints from Global Embedding and Moduli Stabilisation
In the framework of type IIB string compactifications on Calabi-Yau
orientifolds we describe how to construct consistent global embeddings of
models with fractional D3-branes and connected `flavour' D7-branes at del Pezzo
singularities with moduli stabilisation. Our results are applied to build an
explicit compact example with a left-right symmetric model at a dP_0
singularity which features three families of chiral matter and gauge coupling
unification at the intermediate scale. We show how to stabilise the moduli
obtaining a controlled de Sitter minimum and spontaneous supersymmetry
breaking. We find an interesting non-trivial dynamical relation between the
requirement of TeV-scale soft terms and the correct phenomenological values of
the unified gauge coupling and unification scale.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figures. v2: published version in JHEP, corrections in
section 2.2, Appendix A added for better illustration, typos correcte
Bond strength durability of a resin composite on a reinforced ceramic using various repair systems
OBJECTIVES: This study compared the durability of repair bond strength of a resin composite to a reinforced ceramic after three repair systems. METHODS: Alumina-reinforced feldspathic ceramic blocks (Vitadur-alpha) (N=30) were randomly divided into three groups according to the repair method: PR-Porcelain Repair Kit (Bisco) [etching with 9.5% hydrofluoric acid+silanization+adhesive]; CJ-CoJet Repair Kit (3M ESPE) [(chairside silica coating with 30microm SiO(2)+silanization (ESPE)-Sil)+adhesive (Visio-Bond)]; CL-Clearfil Repair Kit [diamond surface roughening, etching with 40% H(3)PO(4)+Clearfil Porcelain Bond Activator+Clearfil SE Bond)]. Resin composite was photo-polymerized on each conditioned ceramic block. Non-trimmed beam specimens were produced for the microtensile bond strength (microTBS) tests. In order to study the hydrolytic durability of the repair methods, the beam specimens obtained from each block were randomly assigned to two conditions. Half of the specimens were tested either immediately after beam production (Dry) or after long-term water storage (37 degrees C, 150 days) followed by thermocyling (12,000 cycles, 5-55 degrees C) in a universal testing machine (1mm/min). Failure types were analyzed under an optical microscope and SEM. RESULTS: microTBS results were significantly affected by the repair method (p=0.0001) and the aging conditions (p=0.0001) (two-way ANOVA, Tukey's test). In dry testing conditions, PR method showed significantly higher (p<0.001) repair bond strength (19.8+/-3.8MPa) than those of CJ and CL (12.4+/-4.7 and 9.9+/-2.9, respectively). After long-term water storage and thermocycling, CJ revealed significantly higher results (14.5+/-3.1MPa) than those of PR (12.1+/-2.6MPa) (p<0.01) and CL (4.2+/-2.1MPa) (p<0.001). In all groups when tested in dry conditions, cohesive failure in the composite accompanied with adhesive failure at the interface (mixed failures), was frequently observed (76%, 80%, 65% for PR, CJ and CL, respectively). After aging conditions, while the specimens treated with PR and CJ presented primarily mixed failure types (52% and 87%, respectively), CL group presented mainly complete adhesive failures at the interface (70%). SIGNIFICANCE: Hydrolytic stability of the repair method based on silica coating and silanization was superior to the other repair strategies for the ceramic tested
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