Partition functions and elliptic genera from supergravity

We develop the spacetime aspects of the computation of partition functions for string/M-theory on AdS(3) xM. Subleading corrections to the semi-classical result are included systematically, laying the groundwork for comparison with CFT partition functions via the AdS(3)/CFT(2) correspondence. This leads to a better understanding of the "Farey tail" expansion of Dijkgraaf et. al. from the point of view of bulk physics. Besides clarifying various issues, we also extend the analysis to the N=2 setting with higher derivative effects included.Comment: 34 page

Ergodic Transport Theory, periodic maximizing probabilities and the twist condition

The present paper is a follow up of another one by A. O. Lopes, E. Oliveira and P. Thieullen which analyze ergodic transport problems. Our main focus will a more precise analysis of case where the maximizing probability is unique and is also a periodic orbit. Consider the shift T acting on the Bernoulli space \Sigma={1, 2, 3,.., d}^\mathbb{N} $and$A:\Sigma \to \mathbb{R} a Holder potential. Denote m(A)=max_{\nu is an invariant probability for T} \int A(x) \; d\nu(x) and, \mu_{\infty,A}, any probability which attains the maximum value. We assume this probability is unique (a generic property). We denote \T the bilateral shift. For a given potential Holder A:\Sigma \to \mathbb{R}, we say that a Holder continuous function W: \hat{\Sigma} \to \mathbb{R} is a involution kernel for A, if there is a Holder function A^*:\Sigma \to \mathbb{R}, such that, A^*(w)= A\circ \T^{-1}(w,x)+ W \circ \T^{-1}(w,x) - W(w,x). We say that A^* is a dual potential of A. It is true that m(A)=m(A^*). We denote by V the calibrated subaction for A, and, V^* the one for A^*. We denote by I^* the deviation function for the family of Gibbs states for \beta A, when \beta \to \infty. For each x we get one (more than one) w_x such attains the supremum above. That is, solutions of V(x) = W(w_x,x) - V^* (w_x)- I^*(w_x). A pair of the form (x,w_x) is called an optimal pair. If \T is the shift acting on (x,w) \in {1, 2, 3,.., d}^\mathbb{Z}, then, the image by \T^{-1} of an optimal pair is also an optimal pair. Theorem - Generically, in the set of Holder potentials A that satisfy (i) the twist condition, (ii) uniqueness of maximizing probability which is supported in a periodic orbit, the set of possible optimal w_x, when x covers the all range of possible elements x in \in \Sigma, is finite

Entropy Maximization in the Presence of Higher-Curvature Interactions

Within the context of the entropic principle, we consider the entropy of supersymmetric black holes in N=2 supergravity theories in four dimensions with higher-curvature interactions, and we discuss its maximization at points in moduli space at which an excess of hypermultiplets becomes massless. We find that the gravitational coupling function F^(1) enhances the maximization at these points in moduli space. In principle, this enhancement may be modified by the contribution from higher F^(g)-couplings. We show that this is indeed the case for the resolved conifold by resorting to the non-perturbative expression for the topological free energy.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, AMS-LaTe

The Digitized Second Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (DPOSS) II: Photometric Calibration

We present the photometric calibration technique for the Digitized Second Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (DPOSS), used to create seamless catalogs of calibrated objects over large sky areas. After applying a correction for telescope vignetting, the extensive plate overlap regions are used to transform sets of plates onto a common instrumental photometric system. Photometric transformations to the Gunn gri system for each plate, for stars and galaxies, are derived using these contiguous stitched areas and an extensive CCD imaging library obtained for this purpose. We discuss the resulting photometric accuracy, survey depth, and possible systematic errors.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures. Accepted to AJ. Some figures shrunk or missing to limit file size; the full paper is available at http://www.sdss.jhu.edu/~rrg/science/papers/photometrypaper.ps.g