Variational formulation of Eisenhart's unified theory

Eisenhart's classical unified field theory is based on a non-Riemannian affine connection related to the covariant derivative of the electromagnetic field tensor. The sourceless field equations of this theory arise from vanishing of the torsion trace and the symmetrized Ricci tensor. We formulate Eisenhart's theory from the metric-affine variational principle. In this formulation, a Lagrange multiplier constraining the torsion becomes the source for the Maxwell equations.Comment: 7 pages; published versio

New results for the missing quantum numbers labeling the quadrupole and octupole boson basis

The many $2^k$-pole boson states, $|N_kv_k\alpha_k I_kM_k>$ with $k=2,3$, realize the irreducible representation (IR) for the group reduction chains $SU(2k+1)\supset R_{2k+1}\supset R_3\supset R_2$. They have been analytically studied and widely used for the description of nuclear systems. However, no analytical expression for the degeneracy $d_v(I)$ of the $R_{2k+1}$'s IR, determined by the reduction $R_{2k+1}\supset R_3$, is available. Thus, the number of distinct values taken by $\alpha_k$ has been so far obtained by solving some complex equations. Here we derive analytical expressions for the degeneracy $d_v(I)$ characterizing the octupole and quadrupole boson states, respectively. The merit of this work consists of the fact that it completes the analytical expressions for the $2^k$-pole boson basis.Comment: 10page

Classical predictability and coarse-grained evolution of the quantum baker's map

We investigate how classical predictability of the coarse-grained evolution of the quantum baker's map depends on the character of the coarse-graining. Our analysis extends earlier work by Brun and Hartle [Phys. Rev. D 60, 123503 (1999)] to the case of a chaotic map. To quantify predictability, we compare the rate of entropy increase for a family of coarse-grainings in the decoherent histories formalism. We find that the rate of entropy increase is dominated by the number of scales characterising the coarse-graining.Comment: 28 pages, 1 figur

Compactifications of conformal gravity

We study conformal theories of gravity, i.e. those whose action is invariant under the local transformation g_{\mu\nu} -> \omega^2 (x) g_{\mu\nu}. As is well known, in order to obtain Einstein gravity in 4D it is necessary to introduce a scalar compensator with a VEV that spontaneously breaks the conformal invariance and generates the Planck mass. We show that the compactification of extra dimensions in a higher dimensional conformal theory of gravity also yields Einstein gravity in lower dimensions, without the need to introduce the scalar compensator. It is the field associated with the size of the extra dimensions (the radion) who takes the role of the scalar compensator in 4D. The radion has in this case no physical excitations since they are gauged away in the Einstein frame for the metric. In these models the stabilization of the size of the extra dimensions is therefore automatic.Comment: 13 page

Weyl’s gauge argument

The standard U(1) “gauge principle” or “gauge argument” produces an exact potential A=dλ and a vanishing field F=ddλ=0. Weyl has his own gauge argument, which is sketchy, archaic and hard to follow; but at least it produces an inexact potential A and a nonvanishing field F=dA≠0. I attempt a reconstruction

Local Conformal Symmetry in Physics and Cosmology

We show how to lift a generic non-scale-invariant action in Einstein frame into a locally conformally invariant (or Weyl-invariant) theory and present a new general form for Lagrangians consistent with Weyl symmetry. Advantages of such a conformally invariant formulation of particle physics and gravity include the possibility of constructing geodesically complete cosmologies. We present a conformal-invariant version of the standard model coupled to gravity, and show how Weyl symmetry may be used to obtain unprecedented analytic control over its cosmological solutions. Within this new framework, generic Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmologies are geodesically complete through a series of big crunch-big bang transitions. We discuss a new scenario of cosmic evolution driven by the Higgs field in a “minimal” conformal standard model, in which there is no new physics beyond the standard model at low energies, and the current Higgs vacuum is metastable as indicated by the latest LHC data

Inflation with a Weyl term, or ghosts at work

In order to assess the role of ghosts in cosmology, we study the evolution of linear cosmological perturbations during inflation when a Weyl term is added to the action. Our main result is that vector perturbations can no longer be ignored and that scalar modes diverge in the newtonian gauge but remain bounded in the comoving slicing.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Matrix Gravity and Massive Colored Gravitons

We formulate a theory of gravity with a matrix-valued complex vierbein based on the SL(2N,C)xSL(2N,C) gauge symmetry. The theory is metric independent, and before symmetry breaking all fields are massless. The symmetry is broken spontaneously and all gravitons corresponding to the broken generators acquire masses. If the symmetry is broken to SL(2,C) then the spectrum would correspond to one massless graviton coupled to $2N^2 -1$ massive gravitons. A novel feature is the way the fields corresponding to non-compact generators acquire kinetic energies with correct signs. Equally surprising is the way Yang-Mills gauge fields acquire their correct kinetic energies through the coupling to the non-dynamical antisymmetric components of the vierbeins.Comment: One reference adde

Topology of the three-qubit space of entanglement types

The three-qubit space of entanglement types is the orbit space of the local unitary action on the space of three-qubit pure states, and hence describes the types of entanglement that a system of three qubits can achieve. We show that this orbit space is homeomorphic to a certain subspace of R^6, which we describe completely. We give a topologically based classification of three-qubit entanglement types, and we argue that the nontrivial topology of the three-qubit space of entanglement types forbids the existence of standard states with the convenient properties of two-qubit standard states.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, v2 adds a referenc

Edge effects in graphene nanostructures: I. From multiple reflection expansion to density of states

We study the influence of different edge types on the electronic density of states of graphene nanostructures. To this end we develop an exact expansion for the single particle Green's function of ballistic graphene structures in terms of multiple reflections from the system boundary, that allows for a natural treatment of edge effects. We first apply this formalism to calculate the average density of states of graphene billiards. While the leading term in the corresponding Weyl expansion is proportional to the billiard area, we find that the contribution that usually scales with the total length of the system boundary differs significantly from what one finds in semiconductor-based, Schr\"odinger type billiards: The latter term vanishes for armchair and infinite mass edges and is proportional to the zigzag edge length, highlighting the prominent role of zigzag edges in graphene. We then compute analytical expressions for the density of states oscillations and energy levels within a trajectory based semiclassical approach. We derive a Dirac version of Gutzwiller's trace formula for classically chaotic graphene billiards and further obtain semiclassical trace formulae for the density of states oscillations in regular graphene cavities. We find that edge dependent interference of pseudospins in graphene crucially affects the quantum spectrum.Comment: to be published in Phys. Rev.