Normal bundles to Laufer rational curves in local Calabi-Yau threefolds

We prove a conjecture by F. Ferrari. Let X be the total space of a nonlinear deformation of a rank 2 holomorphic vector bundle on a smooth rational curve, such that X has trivial canonical bundle and has sections. Then the normal bundle to such sections is computed in terms of the rank of the Hessian of a suitably defined superpotential at its critical points

Conifold geometries, matrix models and quantum solutions

This paper is a continuation of hepth/0507224 where open topological B-models describing D-branes on 2-cycles of local Calabi--Yau geometries with conical singularities were studied. After a short review, the paper expands in particular on two aspects: the gauge fixing problem in the reduction to two dimensions and the quantum matrix model solutions.Comment: 17 p. To appear in proc. Symposium QTS-4, Varna (Bulgaria), August 200

Mapping prior information onto LMI eigenvalue-regions for discrete-time subspace identification

In subspace identification, prior information can be used to constrain the eigenvalues of the estimated state-space model by defining corresponding LMI regions. In this paper, first we argue on what kind of practical information can be extracted from historical data or step-response experiments to possibly improve the dynamical properties of the corresponding model and, also, on how to mitigate the effect of the uncertainty on such information. For instance, prior knowledge regarding the overshoot, the period between damped oscillations and settling time may be useful to constraint the possible locations of the eigenvalues of the discrete-time model. Then, we show how to map the prior information onto LMI regions and, when the obtaining regions are non-convex, to obtain convex approximations.Comment: Under revie

Some comments on the local curve (B-side)

We consider non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds that are fibrations over compact Riemann surfaces, the local curves, and study the dynamics of B-branes wrapped around the curves. We discuss different but closely related possible approaches to this problem. In particular, we study the open topological string field theory of the B-brane and the dimensional reduction of the holomorphic Chern-Simons functional to the curve. The classical (g_s = 0) limit of these dynamics for one single brane is given by the deformation theory of the curve inside the Calabi-Yau threefold; we consider this last approach for the Laufer curve case.Comment: PhD Thesis, 60 pages, 2 PostScript figures. Some sections reshuffled and some comments added with respect to the version presented at SISSA on November 28, 2006, according to the suggestions of the examination committee. A citation removed because of font incompatibilit

Comment on "Nucleon elastic form factors and local duality"

We comment on the papers "Nucleon elastic form factors and local duality" [Phys. Rev. {\bf D62}, 073008 (2000)] and "Experimental verification of quark-hadron duality" [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 85}, 1186 (2000)]. Our main comment is that the reconstruction of the proton magnetic form factor, claimed to be obtained from the inelastic scaling curve thanks to parton-hadron local duality, is affected by an artifact.Comment: to appear in Phys. Rev.

Tuning of heat and charge transport by Majorana fermions

We investigate theoretically thermal and electrical conductances for the system consisting of a quantum dot (QD) connected both to a pair of Majorana fermions residing the edges of a Kitaev wire and two metallic leads. We demonstrate that both quantities reveal pronounced resonances, whose positions can be controlled by tuning of an asymmetry of the couplings of the QD and a pair of MFs. Similar behavior is revealed for the thermopower, Wiedemann-Franz law and dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit. The considered geometry can thus be used as a tuner of heat and charge transport assisted by MFs