A black hole hologram in de Sitter space

In this paper we show that the entropy of de Sitter space with a black hole in arbitrary dimension can be understood using a modified Cardy-Verlinde entropy formula. We also comment on the observer dependence of the de Sitter entropy.Comment: 13 pages. Final version accepted for publication in JHEP. Added references and improved presentatio

Static, non-SUSY pp-branes in diverse dimensions

We give explicit constructions of static, non-supersymmetric $p$-brane (for $p \leq d-4$, where $d$ is the space-time dimensionality and including $p=-1$ or D-instanton) solutions of type II supergravities in diverse dimensions. A subclass of these are the static counterpart of the time dependent solutions obtained in [hep-th/0309202]. Depending on the forms of the non-extremality function $G(r)$ defined in the text, we discuss various possible solutions and their region of validity. We show how one class of these solutions interpolate between the $p$-brane--anti $p$-brane solutions and the usual BPS $p$-brane solutions in $d=10$, while the other class, although have BPS limits, do not have such an interpretation. We point out how the time dependent solutions mentioned above can be obtained by a Wick rotation of one class of these static solutions. We also discuss another type of solutions which might seem non-supersymmetric, but we show by a coordinate transformation that they are nothing but the near horizon limits of the various BPS $p$-branes already known.Comment: 29 pages, typos corrected, references adde

Didactic Software for Autistic Children

In this paper we describe the aims and requirements of a project devoted to designing and developing Open Source didactic Software (SW) for children in the autism disorder spectrum, conforming to the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) learning technique. In this context, participatory design with therapists and child?s parents is necessary to ensure a usable product that responds to these children?s special needs and respects education principles and constraints of the ABA methodology

Twisted K-Theory from Monodromies

RR fluxes representing different cohomology classes may correspond to the same twisted K-theory class. We argue that such fluxes are related by monodromies, generalizing and sometimes T-dual to the familiar monodromies of a D7-brane. A generalized theta angle is also transformed, but changes by a multiple of 2pi. As an application, NS5-brane monodromies modify the twisted K-theory classification of fluxes. Furthermore, in the noncompact case K-theory does not distinguish flux configurations in which dG is nontrivial in compactly supported cohomology. Such fluxes are realized as the decay products of unstable D-branes that wrapped nontrivial cycles. This is interpreted using the E8 bundle formalism.Comment: 24 Pages, 6 eps figure

Warped Phenomenology of Higher-Derivative Gravity

We examine the phenomenological implications at colliders for the existence of higher-derivative gravity terms as extensions to the Randall-Sundrum model. Such terms are expected to arise on rather general grounds, e.g., from string theory. In 5-d, if we demand that the theory be unitary and ghost free, these new contributions to the bulk action are uniquely of the Gauss-Bonnet form. We demonstrate that the usual expectations for the production cross section and detailed properties of graviton Kaluza-Klein resonances and TeV-scale black holes can be substantially altered by existence of these additional contributions. It is shown that measurements at future colliders will be highly sensitive to the presence of such terms.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figure

Brane/flux annihilation transitions and nonperturbative moduli stabilization

By extending the calculation of Kahler moduli stabilization to account for an embiggened antibrane, we reevaluate brane/flux annihilation in a warped throat with one stabilized Kahler modulus. We find that depending on the relative size of various fluxes three things can occur: the decay process proceeds unhindered, the anti-D3-branes are forbidden to decay classically, or the entire space decompactifies. Additionally, we show that the Kahler modulus receives a contribution from the collective 3-brane tension. This allows for a significant change in compactified volume during the transition and possibly mitigates some fine tuning otherwise required to achieve large volume.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figures, LaTeX. v2: references adde

Interacting Open Wilson Lines in Noncommutative Field Theories

In noncommutative field theories, it was known that one-loop effective action describes propagation of non-interacting open Wilson lines, obeying the flying dipole's relation. We show that two-loop effective action describes cubic interaction among `closed string' states created by open Wilson lines. Taking d-dimensional noncommutative [\Phi^3] theory as the simplest setup, we compute nonplanar contribution at low-energy and large noncommutativity limit. We find that the contribution is expressible in a remarkably simple cubic interaction involving scalar open Wilson lines only and nothing else. We show that the interaction is purely geometrical and noncommutative in nature, depending only on sizes of each open Wilson line.Comment: v1: 27 pages, Latex, 7 .eps figures v2: minor wording change + reference adde

Light cluster production in intermediate energy heavy-ion collisions induced by neutron-rich nuclei

The coalescence model based on nucleon distribution functions from an isospin-dependent transport model is used to study the production of light clusters such as deuteron, triton, and $^{3}$He from heavy-ion collisions induced by neutron-rich nuclei at intermediate energies. It is found that the emission time of light clusters depends on their masses. For clusters with the same momentum per nucleon, heavier ones are emitted earlier. Both the yield and energy spectrum of light clusters are sensitive to the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy, with more light clusters produced in the case of a stiff symmetry energy. On the other hand, effects due to the stiffness of the isoscalar part of nuclear equation of state and the medium dependence of nucleon-nucleon cross sections on light cluster production are unimportant. We have also studied the correlation functions of clusters, and they are affected by the density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy as well, with the stiff symmetry energy giving a stronger anti-correlation of light clusters, particularly for those with large kinetic energies. Dependence of light cluster production on the centrality and incident energy of heavy ion collisions as well as the mass of the reaction system is also investigated.Comment: Revised version, typos corrected and discussions added, 14 pages, 15 figures, 1 table, REVTeX4.

Superfield T-duality rules

A geometric treatment of T-duality as an operation which acts on differential forms in superspace allows us to derive the complete set of T-duality transformation rules which relate the superfield potentials of D=10 type IIA supergravity with those of type IIB supergravity including Ramond-Ramond superfield potentials and fermionic supervielbeins. We show that these rules are consistent with the superspace supergravity constraints.Comment: 24 pages, latex, no figures. V2 misprints corrected. V3. One reference ([30]) and a comment on it ('Notice added') on p. 19 adde

Energy Loss of Gluons, Baryons and k-Quarks in an N=4 SYM Plasma

We consider different types of external color sources that move through a strongly-coupled thermal N=4 super-Yang-Mills plasma, and calculate, via the AdS/CFT correspondence, the dissipative force (or equivalently, the rate of energy loss) they experience. A bound state of k quarks in the totally antisymmetric representation is found to feel a force with a nontrivial k-dependence. Our result for k=1 (or k=N-1) agrees at large N with the one obtained recently by Herzog et al. and Gubser, but contains in addition an infinite series of 1/N corrections. The baryon (k=N) is seen to experience no drag. Finally, a heavy gluon is found to be subject to a force which at large N is twice as large as the one experienced by a heavy quark, in accordance with gauge theory expectations.Comment: Latex 2e, 24 pages, 1 eps figure; v2: slightly amplified discussion on the relation between the drag force and the tension of a spatial Wilson loop; v3: minor changes, version to appear in JHE