TOPOLOGICAL OBJECTS AND CONFINEMENT ON THE LATTICE

First we discuss various topological objects (monopoles, ``minopoles'' and ``hybrids'') which may be important for the confinement mechanism in various abelian projections. The second topic is the string between quark and antiquark. The standard quantum string with the Nambu-Goto action exists only in D=26. If we start from the field theory, in which the string excitations exist, and change the variables in the path integral to the string variables, then the Jacobian appears. This Jacobian generates the correction to the Nambu-Goto action. For this effective action the conformal anomaly cancels in D=4. Thus we get the quantum string theory in D=4.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX, 2 uuencoded tar-compressed postscript figures, needs psfig.tex; talk given by Polikarpov M.I. at International RCNP Workshop on Color Confinement and Hadrons (Confinement 95), March 22--24, 1995, RCNP, Osaka, Japan. (Revision: problems in figures fixed

Beta decay and other processes in strong electromagnetic fields

We consider effects of the fields of strong electromagnetic waves on various characteristics of quantum processes. After a qualitative discussion of the effects of external fields on the energy spectra and angular distributions of the final-state particles as well as on the total probabilities of the processes (such as decay rates and total cross sections), we present a simple method of calculating the total probabilities of processes with production of non-relativistic charged particles. Using nuclear beta-decay as an example, we study the weak and strong field limits, as well as the field-induced beta-decay of nuclei stable in the absence of the external fields, both in the tunneling and multi-photon regimes. We also consider the possibility of accelerating forbidden nuclear beta-decays by lifting the forbiddeness due to the interaction of the parent or daughter nuclei with the field of a strong electromagnetic wave. It is shown that for currently attainable electromagnetic fields all effects on total beta-decay rates are unobservably small.Comment: LaTeX, 30 pages, 2 figures. Invited contribution to the special issue of Yadernaya Fizika dedicated to the centennial anniversary of birthday of A.B. Migdal. V2: references adde

Chizhov and Petcov Reply

We have found in [1] new conditions for a total neutrino conversion in the case of neutrino oscillations taking place in a medium, consisting of n = 2 (or 3) alternating layers with constant densities $N_1$ and $N_2$. It is claimed in [4] that our results are particular case of enhancement of neutrino oscillations, which was suggested earlier by other authors and was widely discussed in the literature. We refute these claims, confirming the novelty of our results.Comment: 2 pages, LATEX; concise (essentially 1 page) and somewhat modified version of Ref. SISSA 5/2000/EP (hep-ph/0003110); reply on the ``Comment on New Conditions for a Total Neutrino Conversion in a Medium'', Phys. Rev. Lett. 85 (2000) 3978; published as ``Chizhov and Petcov Reply'' in Phys. Rev. Lett. 85 (2000) 397

A continuum model for current distribution in Rutherford cables

An analysis of eddy currents induced in flat Rutherford-type cables by external time dependent magnetic fields has been performed. The induced currents generate in turn a secondary magnetic field which has a longitudinal periodicity (periodic pattern). The dependence of the amplitude of the pattern on the history of the cable excitation has been investigated. The study has been carried out with two different models for the simulation of current distribution in Rutherford cables, namely a network model, based on a lumped parameters circuit and a "continuum" model, based on a distributed parameters circuit. We show the results of simulations of the current distribution in the inner cable of a short LHC dipole model in different powering conditions and compare them to experimental data. (12 refs)

Floquet theory of neutrino oscillations in the earth

We review the Floquet theory of linear differential equations with periodic coefficients and discuss its applications to neutrino oscillations in matter of periodically varying density. In particular, we consider parametric resonance in neutrino oscillations which can occur in such media, and discuss implications for oscillations of neutrinos traversing the earth and passing through the earth's core.Comment: LaTeX, 28 pages, 8 eps figures. Contribution to the special issue of Yad. Fiz. dedicated to the memory of A.B. Migda

Exotic smooth structures on 4-manifolds with zero signature

For every integer $k\geq 2$, we construct infinite families of mutually nondiffeomorphic irreducible smooth structures on the topological $4$-manifolds $(2k-1)(S^2\times S^2)$ and (2k-1)(\CP#\CPb), the connected sums of $2k-1$ copies of $S^2\times S^2$ and \CP#\CPb.Comment: 6 page

De Sitter space and perpetuum mobile

We give general arguments that any interacting non--conformal {\it classical} field theory in de Sitter space leads to the possibility of constructing a perpetuum mobile. The arguments are based on the observation that massive free falling particles can radiate other massive particles on the classical level as seen by the free falling observer. The intensity of the radiation process is non-zero even for particles with any finite mass, i.e. with a wavelength which is within the causal domain. Hence, we conclude that either de Sitter space can not exist eternally or that one can build a perpetuum mobile.Comment: 11 pages revtex, no figures. Added discussion to strengthen conclusio

Isometry invariance of exact correlation functions in various charts of Minkowski and de Sitter spaces

We consider quantum field theory with selfinteractions in various patches of Minkowski and de Sitter space-times. Namely, in Minkowski space-time we consider separately right (left) Rindler wedge, past wedge and future wedge. In de Sitter space-time we consider expanding Poincare patch, static patch, contracting Poincare patch and global de Sitter itself. In all cases we restrict our considerations to the isometry invariant states leading to maximally analytic propagators. We prove that loop corrections in right (left) Rindler wedge, in the past wedge (of Minkowski space-time), in the static patch and in the expanding Poincare patch (of de Sitter space-time) respect the corresponding isometries of the corresponding symmetric space-times. All these facts are related to the causality and analyticity properties of the propagators for the states that we consider. At the same time in the future wedge, in the contracting Poincare patch and in global de Sitter space-time infrared effects violate the isometries.Comment: 35 pages, 6 figures Additional references and minor clarifications added; version accepted to PR