94 research outputs found
Comments on Supergravity Description of S-branes
This is a note on the coupled supergravity-tachyon matter system, which has
been earlier proposed as a candidate for the effective space-time description
of S-branes. In particular, we study an ansatz with the maximal
ISO(p+1)xSO(8-p,1) symmetry, for general brane dimensionality p and homogeneous
brane distribution in transverse space \rho_\perp. A simple application of
singularity theorems shows that (for p \le 7) the most general solution with
these symmetries is always singular. (This invalidates a recent claim in the
literature.) We include a few general comments about the possibility of
describing the decay of unstable D-branes in purely gravitational terms.Comment: 19 pages, refs adde
Non-Standard Intersections of S-Branes in D=11 Supergravity
We construct new intersecting S-brane solutions in 11-dimensional
supergravity which do not have supersymmetric analogs. They are obtained by
letting brane charges to be proportional to each other. Solutions fall into two
categories with respect to whether there is a non-diagonal term to be cancelled
in the field equations or not. In each case we show that they can be
constructed by using a simple set of rules which is similar to the harmonic
function rule of the usual static p-branes. Furthermore, we study an
intersection where the Chern-Simons term makes a non-zero contribution to the
field equations. We show that this configuration has a singularity like other
S-branes.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures;v2 Section 2.2 is improved with new examples,
references added;v3 typos correcte
Effect of bulk inversion asymmetry on the Datta-Das transistor
A model of the Datta-Das spin field-effect transistor is presented which, in
addition to the Rashba interaction, takes into account the influence of bulk
inversion asymmetry of zinc-blende semiconductors. In the presence of bulk
inversion asymmetry, the conductance is found to depend significantly on the
crystallographic orientation of the channel. We determine the channel direction
optimal for the observation of the Datta-Das effect in GaAs and InAs-based
devices.Comment: 4 pages, Revtex4, 4 EPS figure
The Final Fate of the Rolling Tachyon
We propose an alternative interpretation of the boundary state for the
rolling tachyon, which may depict the time evolution of unstable D-branes in
string theory. Splitting the string variable in the temporal direction into the
classical part, which we may call "time" and the quantum one, we observe the
time dependent behaviour of the boundary. Using the fermion representation of
the rolling tachyon boundary state, we show that the boundary state correctly
describes the time-dependent decay process of the unstable D-brane into a
S-brane at the classical level.Comment: 9 pages, revte
Hadean geodynamics inferred from time-varying 142Nd/144Nd in the early Earth rock record
Tracking the secular evolution of 142Nd/144Nd anomalies is important towards
understanding the crust-mantle dynamics in the early Earth. Excessive scatter in
the published data, however, precludes identifying the fine structure of
142Nd/144Nd evolution as the expected variability is on the order of few parts per
million. We report ultra-high precision 142Nd/144Nd data for Eoarchean and
Palaeoarchean rocks from the Isua Supracrustal Belt (SW Greenland) that show
a well-resolved 142Nd/144Nd temporal variability suggesting progressive convective
homogenisation of the Hadean Isua depleted mantle. This temporally
decreasing 142Nd/144Nd signal provides a direct measure of early mantle dynamics,
defining a stirring timescale of <250 Myr consistent with vigorous convective
stirring in the early mantle. The 142Nd/144Nd evolution suggests protracted crustal
residence times of ~1000-2000 Myr, inconsistent with modern-style plate tectonics
in the Archean. In contrast, a stagnant-lid regime punctuated by episodes of mantle overturns accounts for the long life-time
estimated here for the Hadean proto-crust
S-Brane Thermodynamics
The description of string-theoretic s-branes at g_s=0 as exact worldsheet
CFTs with a (lambda cosh X^0) or (lambda e^(X^0)) boundary interaction is
considered. Due to the imaginary-time periodicity of the interaction under X^0
-> X^0 + 2 pi i, these configurations have intriguing similarities to black
hole or de Sitter geometries. For example, the open string pair production as
seen by an Unruh detector is thermal at temperature T = 1/4 pi. It is shown
that, despite the rapid time dependence of the s-brane, there exists an exactly
thermal mixed state of open strings. The corresponding boundary state is
constructed for both the bosonic and superstring cases. This state defines a
long-distance Euclidean effective field theory whose light modes are confined
to the s-brane. At the critical value of the coupling lambda=1/2, the boundary
interaction simply generates an SU(2) rotation by pi from Neumman to Dirichlet
boundary conditions. The lambda=1/2 s-brane reduces to an array of sD-branes
(D-branes with a transverse time dimension) on the imaginary time axis. The
long range force between a (bosonic) sD-brane and an ordinary D-brane is shown
from the annulus diagram to be 11/12 times the force between two D-branes. The
linearized time-dependent RR field F=dC produced by an sD-brane in superstring
theory is explicitly computed and found to carry a half unit of s-charge
Q_s=\int_S *F=1/2, where S is any transverse spacelike slice.Comment: 42 page
SD-brane gravity fields and rolling tachyons
S(pacelike)D-branes are objects arising naturally in string theory when
Dirichlet boundary conditions are imposed on the time direction. SD-brane
physics is inherently time-dependent. Previous investigations of gravity fields
of SD-branes have yielded undesirable naked spacelike singularities. We set up
the problem of coupling the most relevant open-string tachyonic mode to
massless closed-string modes in the bulk, with backreaction and Ramond-Ramond
fields included. We find solutions numerically in a self-consistent
approximation; our solutions are naturally asymptotically flat and
time-reversal asymmetric. We find completely nonsingular evolution; in
particular, the dilaton and curvature are well-behaved for all time. The
essential mechanism for spacetime singularity resolution is the inclusion of
full backreaction between the bulk fields and the rolling tachyon. Our analysis
is not the final word on the story, because we have to make some significant
approximations, most notably homogeneity of the tachyon on the unstable branes.
Nonetheless, we provide significant progress in plugging a gaping hole in prior
understanding of the gravity fields of SD-branes.Comment: References added. Analysis for much broader range of solutions
presented. Conclusions unchanged. Time-reversal symmetric examples ruled out,
new examples are provide
Time Evolution via S-branes
Using S(pacelike)-branes defined through rolling tachyon solutions, we show
how the dynamical formation of D(irichlet)-branes and strings in tachyon
condensation can be understood. Specifically we present solutions of S-brane
actions illustrating the classical confinement of electric and magnetic flux
into fundamental strings and D-branes. The role of S-branes in string theory is
further clarified and their RR charges are discussed. In addition, by examining
``boosted'' S-branes, we find what appears to be a surprising dual S-brane
description of strings and D-branes, which also indicates that the critical
electric field can be considered as a self-dual point in string theory. We also
introduce new tachyonic S-branes as Euclidean counterparts to non-BPS branes.Comment: 62 pages, 10 figures. v2 references adde
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