Nonabelian Fields in Exact String Solutions

Within the framework of "anomalously gauged" Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) models, we construct solutions which include nonabelian fields. Both compact and noncompact groups are discussed. In the case of compact groups, as an example of background containing nonabelian fields, we discuss conformal theory on the $SO(4)/SO(3)$ coset, which is the natural generalization of the 2D monopole theory corresponding to the $SO(3)/SO(2)$ coset. In noncompact case, we consider examples with $SO(2,1)/SO(1,1)$ and $SO(3,2)/SO(3,1)$ cosets.Comment: 15 pages, Late

Rapid Thermalization in Field Theory from Gravitational Collapse

Motivated by the duality with thermalization in field theory, we study gravitational collapse of a minimally coupled massless scalar field in Einstein gravity with a negative cosmological constant. We investigate the system numerically and establish that for small values of the initial amplitude of the scalar field there is no black hole formation, rather, the scalar field performs an oscillatory motion typical of geodesics in AdS. For large enough values of the amplitude of the scalar field we find black hole formation which we detect numerically as the emergence of an apparent horizon. Using the time of formation as an estimate for thermalization in the field theory we conclude that thermalization occurs very rapidly, close to the causal bound for a very wide range of black hole masses. We further study the thermalization time in more detail as a function of the amplitude and the width of the initial Gaussian scalar field profile and detect a rather mild structure.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. v2: References added, improved most grids by a factor of 8, main results unchanged. v3 PRD versio

Low-Temperature Glassy Response of Ultrathin Manganite Films to Electric and Magnetic Fields

The glassy response of thin films of La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 to external magnetic and gated electrostatic fields in a field-effect geometry has been studied at low temperatures. A hierarchical response with irreversible memory effects, non-ergodic time evolution, aging and annealing behavior of the resistance suggest that the dynamics are governed by strain relaxation for both electronic and magnetic perturbations. Cross-coupling of charge, spin, and strain have been exploited to tune the coercivity of an ultrathin manganite film by electrostatic gating.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Tensions and Luscher Terms for (2+1)-dimensional k-strings from Holographic Models

The leading term for the energy of a bound state of k-quarks and k-antiquarks is proportional to its separation L. These k-string configurations have a Luscher term associated with their quantum fluctuations which is typically a 1/L correction to the energy. We review the status of tensions and Luscher terms in the context of lattice gauge theory, Hamiltonian methods, and gauge/gravity correspondence. Furthermore we explore how different representations of the k-string manifest themselves in the gauge/gravity duality. We calculate the Luscher term for a strongly coupled SU(N) gauge theory in (2+1) dimensions using the gauge/gravity correspondence. Namely, we compute one-loop corrections to a probe D4-brane embedded in the Cvetic, Gibbons, Lu, and Pope supergravity background. We investigate quantum fluctuations of both the bosonic and the fermionic sectors.Comment: 39 pages, reference added, same version to be published in JHE

Black Holes in Cascading Theories: Confinement/Deconfinement Transition and other Thermal Properties

We present numerical evidence for a transition between the Klebanov-Strassler background and a solution describing a black hole in the class of cascading solutions in the chirally restored phase. We also present a number of properties of this solution, including the running of the coupling constant, the viscosity to entropy ratio and the drag force on a quark moving in this background.Comment: 34 pages, 7 figures. Version to be published by JHE

On Penrose Limits and Gauge Theories

We discuss various Penrose limits of conformal and nonconformal backgrounds. In AdS_5 x T^{1,1}, for a particular choice of the angular coordinate in T^{1,1} the resulting Penrose limit coincides with the similar limit for AdS_5 x S^5. In this case an identification of a subset of field theory operators with the string zero modes creation operators is possible. For another limit we obtain a light-cone string action that resembles a particle in a magnetic field. We also consider three different types of backgrounds that are dual to nonconformal field theories: The Schwarzschild black hole in AdS_5, D3-branes on the small resolution of the conifold and the Klebanov-Tseytlin background. We find that in all three cases the introduction of nonconformality renders a theory that is no longer exactly solvable and that the form of the deformation is universal. The corresponding world sheet theory in the light-cone gauge has a \tau=x^+ dependent mass term.Comment: 17pp, late

Holographic Entanglement Entropy at Finite Temperature

Using a holographic proposal for the entanglement entropy we study its behavior in various supergravity backgrounds. We are particularly interested in the possibility of using the entanglement entropy as way to detect transitions induced by the presence horizons. We consider several geometries with horizons: the black hole in $AdS_3$, nonextremal Dp-branes, dyonic black holes asymptotically to $AdS_4$ and also Schwarzschild black holes in global $AdS_p$ coordinates. Generically, we find that the entanglement entropy does not exhibit a transition, that is, one of the two possible configurations always dominates.Comment: v3: 31 pp, ten figures, modified to match version accepted by IJMP

Electrostatic Tuning of the Superconductor-Insulator Transition in Two Dimensions

Superconductivity has been induced in insulating ultra-thin films of amorphous bismuth using the electric field effect. The screening of electron-electron interaction was found to increase with electron concentration in a manner correlated with the tendency towards superconductivity. This does not preclude an increase in the density of states being important in the development of superconductivity. The superconductor-insulator transition appears to belong to the universality class of the three dimensional XY model.Comment: Four pages, three figures. Revised slightly to reflect referees' comment

A new paradigm in respiratory hygiene: modulating respiratory secretions to contain cough bioaerosol without affecting mucus clearance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several strategies and devices have been designed to protect health care providers from acquiring transmissible respiratory diseases while providing care. In modulating the physical characteristics of the respiratory secretions to minimize the aerosolization that facilitates transmission of airborne diseases, a fundamental premise is that the prototype drugs have no adverse effect on the first line of respiratory defense, clearance of mucus by ciliary action.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To assess and demonstrate the primary mechanism of our mucomodulators (XLs), we have built our evidence moving from basic laboratory studies to an <it>ex-vivo </it>model and then to an <it>in-vivo </it>large animal model. We exposed anesthetized dogs without hypersecretion to different dose concentrations of aerosolized XL "B", XL "D" and XL "S". We assessed: cardio-respiratory pattern, tracheal mucus clearance, airway patency, and mucus viscoelastic changes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exposure of frog palate mucus to XLs did not affect the clearance of mucus by ciliary action. Dogs maintained normal cardio-respiratory pattern with XL administration. Tracheal mucociliary clearance in anesthetized dogs indicated a sustained 40% mean increase. Tracheal mucus showed increased filance, and there was no mucus retention in the airways.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The <it>ex-vivo </it>frog palate and the <it>in-vivo </it>mammalian models used in this study, appear to be appropriate and complement each other to better assess the effects that our mucomodulators exert on the mucociliary clearance defence mechanism. The physiological function of the mucociliary apparatus was not negatively affected in any of the two epithelial models. Airway mucus crosslinked by mucomodulators is better cleared from an intact airway and normally functioning respiratory system, either due to enhanced interaction with cilia or airflow-dependent mechanisms. Data obtained in this study allow us to assure that we have complied with the fundamental requirement criteria established in the initial phase of developing the concept of mucomodulation: Can we modulate the physical characteristics of the respiratory secretions to reduce aerosolization without affecting normal mucociliary clearance function, or even better improving it?</p