170 research outputs found
Mock Modular Mathieu Moonshine Modules
We construct super vertex operator algebras which lead to modules for
moonshine relations connecting the four smaller sporadic simple Mathieu groups
with distinguished mock modular forms. Starting with an orbifold of a free
fermion theory, any subgroup of Co_0 that fixes a 3-dimensional subspace of its
unique non-trivial 24-dimensional representation commutes with a certain N=4
superconformal algebra. Similarly, any subgroup of Co_0 that fixes a
2-dimensional subspace of the 24-dimensional representation commutes with a
certain N=2 superconformal algebra. Through the decomposition of the
corresponding twined partition functions into characters of the N=4 (resp. N=2)
superconformal algebra, we arrive at mock modular forms which coincide with the
graded characters of an infinite-dimensional Z-graded module for the
corresponding group. The Mathieu groups are singled out amongst various other
possibilities by the moonshine property: requiring the corresponding weak
Jacobi forms to have certain asymptotic behaviour near cusps. Our constructions
constitute the first examples of explicitly realized modules underlying
moonshine phenomena relating mock modular forms to sporadic simple groups.
Modules for other groups, including the sporadic groups of McLaughlin and
Higman--Sims, are also discussed.Comment: 94 pages, including 56 pages of tables; v2: updated references and
minor revisions to abstract, introduction and sections 8 and
Mathieu Moonshine and N=2 String Compactifications
There is a `Mathieu moonshine' relating the elliptic genus of K3 to the
sporadic group M_{24}. Here, we give evidence that this moonshine extends to
part of the web of dualities connecting heterotic strings compactified on K3
\times T^2 to type IIA strings compactified on Calabi-Yau threefolds. We
demonstrate that dimensions of M_{24} representations govern the new
supersymmetric index of the heterotic compactifications, and appear in the
Gromov--Witten invariants of the dual Calabi-Yau threefolds, which are elliptic
fibrations over the Hirzebruch surfaces F_n.Comment: 28 pages; v2: minor changes, published versio
Towards a Realistic Type IIA T^6/Z_4 Orientifold Model with Background Fluxes, Part 1: Moduli Stabilization
We apply the methods of DeWolfe et al. [hep-th/0505160] to a T^6/Z_4
orientifold model. This is the first step in an attempt to build a
phenomenologically interesting meta-stable de Sitter model with small
cosmological constant and standard model gauge groups.Comment: 1+30 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX, v2: minor corrections, stability
analysis of b_a moduli added, refs added, version accepted for publication in
JHE
D-Terms from Generalized NS-NS Fluxes in Type II
Orientifolds of type II string theory admit a certain set of generalized
NS-NS fluxes, including not only the three-form field strength H, but also
metric and non-geometric fluxes, which are related to H by T-duality. We
describe in general how these fluxes appear as parameters of an effective N=1
supergravity theory in four dimensions, and in particular how certain
generalized NS-NS fluxes can act as charges for R-R axions, leading to D-term
contributions to the effective scalar potential. We illustrate these phenomena
in type IIB with the example of a certain orientifold of T^6/Z_4.Comment: 31+1 pages, uses utarticle.cls; v2: references adde
The problematic backreaction of SUSY-breaking branes
In this paper we investigate the localisation of SUSY-breaking branes which,
in the smeared approximation, support specific non-BPS vacua. We show, for a
wide class of boundary conditions, that there is no flux vacuum when the branes
are described by a genuine delta-function. Even more, we find that the smeared
solution is the unique solution with a regular brane profile. Our setup
consists of a non-BPS AdS_7 solution in massive IIA supergravity with smeared
anti-D6-branes and fluxes T-dual to ISD fluxes in IIB supergravity.Comment: 27 pages, Latex2e, 5 figure
The neural basis of video gaming
Video game playing is a frequent recreational activity. Previous studies have reported an involvement of dopamine-related ventral striatum. However, structural brain correlates of video game playing have not been investigated. On magnetic resonance imaging scans of 154 14-year-olds, we computed voxel-based morphometry to explore differences between frequent and infrequent video game players. Moreover, we assessed the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task during functional magnetic resonance imaging and the Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT). We found higher left striatal grey matter volume when comparing frequent against infrequent video game players that was negatively correlated with deliberation time in CGT. Within the same region, we found an activity difference in MID task: frequent compared with infrequent video game players showed enhanced activity during feedback of loss compared with no loss. This activity was likewise negatively correlated with deliberation time. The association of video game playing with higher left ventral striatum volume could reflect altered reward processing and represent adaptive neural plasticity
Toroidal Orientifolds in IIA with General NS-NS Fluxes
Type IIA toroidal orientifolds offer a promising toolkit for model builders,
especially when one includes not only the usual fluxes from NS-NS and R-R field
strengths, but also fluxes that are T-dual to the NS-NS three-form flux. These
new ingredients are known as metric fluxes and non-geometric fluxes, and can
help stabilize moduli or can lead to other new features. In this paper we study
two approaches to these constructions, by effective field theory or by toroidal
fibers twisted over a toroidal base. Each approach leads us to important
observations, in particular the presence of D-terms in the four-dimensional
effective potential in some cases, and a more subtle treatment of the
quantization of the general NS-NS fluxes. Though our methods are general, we
illustrate each approach on the example of an orientifold of T^6/Z_4.Comment: 59 pages, references adde
New Supergravity Backgrounds Dual to N=1 SQCD-like Theories with N_f=2N_c
We present new supergravity backgrounds generated by N_c D5-branes, wrapping
the S^2 of the resolved conifold, in the presence of N_f = 2 N_c smeared flavor
D5-branes. The smearing allows us to take their backreaction on the geometry
into account. We discuss the consistency, stability, and supersymmetry of these
types of setups. We find near horizon geometries that we expect to be
supergravity duals of SQCD-like theories with N_f= 2N_c. From these backgrounds
we numerically extract rectangular Wilson loops and beta functions of the dual
field theory for the regime where our approximations are valid.Comment: 22+24 pages, 17 figures, Figure 12 replace
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