40 research outputs found
The Exchange of Orientifold Two-Planes in M-theory
We propose an M-theory lift picture of the exchange among type IIA
orientifold two-planes. This consists in wrapping a M5-brane on a three-cycle
in the transverse space of the M-theory orientifold plane OM2. A flux
quantization condition for the three-form self-dual field strength, on the
worldvolume of the M5-brane is computed. This condition establishes the value
which explains the relative charge between two different OM2-planes. Also, we
find that the exchange of the four types of orientifold two-planes in string
theory, has a common picture in M-theory. Moreover, we find that the assignment
of the extra charge is fixed by cohomology and by the flux quantization of the
field strength G in M-theory. We conclude that cohomology is sufficient to
describe some orientifold properties in M-theory, that at string theory level,
only K-theory is able to explain.Comment: 23+1 pages, 6 figures. v2: typos corrected, references adde
The Gaugino Code
Gauginos might play a crucial role in the search for supersymmetry at the
Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Mass predictions for gauginos are rather robust
and often related to the values of the gauge couplings. We analyse the ratios
of gaugino masses in the LHC energy range for various schemes of supersymmetry
breakdown and mediation. Three distinct mass patterns emerge.Comment: 42 pages, Latex; a discussion of deflected anomaly mediation added,
references adde
On general flux backgrounds with localized sources
We derive new consistency conditions for string compactifications with
generic fluxes (RR, NSNS, geometrical) and localized sources (D-branes,
NS-branes, KK-monopoles). The constraints are all related by string dualities
and share a common origin in M-theory. We also find new sources of
instabilities. We discuss the importance of these conditions for the
consistency of the effective action and for the study of interpolating
solutions between vacua.Comment: 29 pages, 2 figures, v2: published versio
Dirichlet Branes on Orientifolds
We consider the classification of BPS and non-BPS D-branes in orientifold
models. In particular we construct all stable BPS and non-BPS D-branes in the
Gimon-Polchinski (GP) and Dabholkar-Park-Blum-Zaffaroni (DPBZ) orientifolds and
determine their stability regions in moduli space as well as decay products. We
find several kinds of integrally and torsion charged non-BPS D-branes. Certain
of these are found to have projective representations of the orientifold
GSO group on the Chan-Paton factors. It is found that the GP
orientifold is not described by equivariant orthogonal K-theory as may have
been at first expected. Instead a twisted version of this K-theory is expected
to be relevant.Comment: 33 pages, LaTeX, 5 figures. v2 typos corrected, references included,
(4,s)-branes re-examine
Axions and the Strong CP Problem
Current upper bounds of the neutron electric dipole moment constrain the
physically observable quantum chromodynamic (QCD) vacuum angle . Since QCD explains vast experimental data from the 100 MeV
scale to the TeV scale, it is better to explain this smallness of
in the QCD framework, which is the strong \Ca\Pa problem. Now,
there exist two plausible solutions to this problem, one of which leads to the
existence of the very light axion. The axion decay constant window, $10^9\
{\gev}\lesssim F_a\lesssim 10^{12} \gev{\cal O}(1)\theta_1F_a\gtrsim 10^{12}\theta_1<{\cal O}(1)$,
axions may constitute a significant fraction of dark matter of the universe.
The supersymmetrized axion solution of the strong \Ca\Pa problem introduces its
superpartner the axino which might have affected the universe evolution
significantly. Here, we review the very light axion (theory,
supersymmetrization, and models) with the most recent particle, astrophysical
and cosmological data, and present prospects for its discovery.Comment: 47 pages with 32 figure
String theoretic QCD axion with stabilized saxion and the pattern of supersymmetry breaking
String theoretic axion is a prime candidate for the QCD axion solving the
strong CP problem. For a successful realization of the QCD axion in string
theory, one needs to stabilize moduli including the scalar partner (saxion) of
the QCD axion, while keeping the QCD axion unfixed until the low energy QCD
instanton effects are turned on. We note that a simple generalization of KKLT
moduli stabilization provides such set-up realizing the axion solution to the
strong CP problem. Although some details of moduli stabilization are different
from the original KKLT scenario, this set-up leads to the mirage mediation
pattern of soft SUSY breaking terms as in the KKLT case, preserving flavor and
CP as a consequence of approximate scaling and axionic shift symmetries. The
set-up also gives an interesting pattern of moduli masses which might avoid the
cosmological moduli, gravitino and axion problems.Comment: JHEP style, 21 pages, 3 figures; typos correcte
Sparticle Spectrum of Large Volume Compactification
We examine the large volume compactification of Type IIB string theory or its
F theory limit and the associated supersymmetry breakdown and soft terms. It is
crucial to incorporate the loop-induced moduli mixing, originating from
radiative corrections to the Kahler potential. We show that in the presence of
moduli mixing, soft scalar masses generically receive a D-term contribution of
the order of the gravitino mass m_{3/2} when the visible sector cycle is
stabilized by the D-term potential of an anomalous U(1) gauge symmetry, while
the moduli-mediated gaugino masses and A-parameters tend to be of the order of
m_{3/2}/8pi^2. It is noticed also that a too large moduli mixing can
destabilize the large volume solution by making it a saddle point.Comment: 29 page
Anomalous U(1) Mediation in Large Volume Compactification
We study the general effects of anomalous U(1)_A gauge symmetry on soft
supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking terms in large volume scenario, where the MSSM
sector is localized on a small cycle whose volume is stabilized by the D-term
potential of the U(1)_A. Since it obtains SUSY breaking mass regardless of the
detailed form of K\"ahler potential, the U(1)_A vector superfield acts as a
messenger mediating the SUSY breaking in the moduli sector to the MSSM sector.
Then, through the loops of U(1)_A vector superfield, there arise soft masses of
the order of m_{3/2}^2/8\pi^2 for scalar mass squares, m_{3/2}/(8\pi^2)^2 for
gaugino masses, and m_{3/2}/8\pi^2 for A-paramteres. In addition, the massive
U(1)_A vector superfield can have non-zero F and D-components through the
moduli mixing in the K\"ahler potential, and this can result in larger soft
masses depending upon the details of the moduli mixing. For instance, in the
presence of one-loop induced moduli mixing between the visible sector modulus
and the large volume modulus, the U(1)_A D-term provides soft scalar mass
squares of the order of m_{3/2}^2. However, if the visible sector modulus is
mixed only with small cycle moduli, its effect on soft terms depends on how to
stabilize the small cycle moduli.Comment: 28pages, no fi
Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development
Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was <1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified