Dualities, Twists, and Gauge Theories with Non-Constant Non-Commutativity

We study the world volume theory of D3-branes wrapping the Melvin universe supported by background NSNS B-field. In the appropriate decoupling limit, the open string dynamics is that of non-commutative guage field theory with non-constant non-commutativity. We identify this model as a simple Melvin twist of flat D3 branes. Along similar lines, one recognizes the model of Hashimoto and Sethi as being the Melvin null twist, and the model of Dolan and Nappi as being the null Melvin twist, of the flat D3-brane. This construction therefore offers a unified perspective on most of the known explicit constructions of non-commutative gauge theories as a decoupled theory of D-branes in a B-field background. We also describe the world volume theory on the D3-brane in Melvin universe which is decaying via the nucleation of monopole anti-monopole pair.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figure, References added, typo correcte

Melvin Twists of global AdS_5 \times S_5 and their Non-Commutative Field Theory Dual

We consider the Melvin Twist of AdS_5 \times S_5 under U(1) \times U(1) isometry of the boundary S_3 of the global AdS_5 geometry and identify its field theory dual. We also study the thermodynamics of the Melvin deformed theory.Comment: 17 pages, references adde

Cylindrically-Symmetric Solutions in Conformal Gravity

Cylindrically-symmetric solutions in Conformal Gravity are investigated and several new solutions are presented and discussed. Among them, a family of vacuum solutions, generalizations of the Melvin solution and cosmic strings of the Abelian Higgs model. The Melvin-like solutions have finite energy per unit length, while the string-like solutions do not.Comment: 22 pages, revised version, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Ultrarelativistic black hole in an external electromagnetic field and gravitational waves in the Melvin universe

We investigate the ultrarelativistic boost of a Schwarzschild black hole immersed in an external electromagnetic field, described by an exact solution of the Einstein-Maxwell equations found by Ernst (the ``Schwarzschild-Melvin'' metric). Following the classical method of Aichelburg and Sexl, the gravitational field generated by a black hole moving ``with the speed of light'' and the transformed electromagnetic field are determined. The corresponding exact solution describes an impulsive gravitational wave propagating in the static, cylindrically symmetric, electrovac universe of Melvin, and for a vanishing electromagnetic field it reduces to the well known Aichelburg-Sexl pp-wave. In the boosting process, the original Petrov type I of the Schwarzschild-Melvin solution simplifies to the type II on the impulse, and to the type D elsewhere. The geometry of the wave front is studied, in particular its non-constant Gauss curvature. In addition, a more general class of impulsive waves in the Melvin universe is constructed by means of a six-dimensional embedding formalism adapted to the background. A coordinate system is also presented in which all the impulsive metrics take a continuous form. Finally, it is shown that these solutions are a limiting case of a family of exact gravitational waves with an arbitrary profile. This family is identified with a solution previously found by Garfinkle and Melvin. We thus complement their analysis, in particular demonstrating that such spacetimes are of type II and belong to the Kundt class.Comment: 11 pages, REVTeX

Melvin solution with a dilaton potential

We find new Melvin-like solutions in Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton gravity with a Liouville-type dilaton potential. The properties of the corresponding solution in Freedman-Schwarz gauged supergravity model are extensively studied. We show that this configuration is regular and geodesically complete but do not preserve any supersymmetry. An exact solution describing travelling waves in this Melvin-type background is also presented.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, no figure