Mirror symmetry for the Kazama-Suzuki models

We study the $N = 2$ coset models in their formulation as supersymmetric gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten models. A model based on the coset $G/H$ is invariant under a symmetry group isomorphic to $\Z_{k+Q}$, where $k$ is the level of the model and $Q$ is the dual Coxeter number of $G$. Using a duality-like relationship, we show that the $\Z_m$ orbifold of the vectorially gauged model and the $\Z_{\tilde{m}}$ orbifold of the axially gauged model are each others mirror partners when $m \tilde{m} = k + Q$.Comment: 9 pages, IASSNS-HEP-94/13, (An erroneous statement concerning the equivalence of vector and axial gauging has been corrected.

Gravitational Wilson Loop and Large Scale Curvature

In a quantum theory of gravity the gravitational Wilson loop, defined as a suitable quantum average of a parallel transport operator around a large near-planar loop, provides important information about the large-scale curvature properties of the geometry. Here we shows that such properties can be systematically computed in the strong coupling limit of lattice regularized quantum gravity, by performing a local average over rotations, using an assumed near-uniform measure in group space. We then relate the resulting quantum averages to an expected semi-classical form valid for macroscopic observers, which leads to an identification of the gravitational correlation length appearing in the Wilson loop with an observed large-scale curvature. Our results suggest that strongly coupled gravity leads to a positively curved (De Sitter-like) quantum ground state, implying a positive effective cosmological constant at large distances.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

Duality Versus Supersymmetry and Compactification

We study the interplay between T-duality, compactification and supersymmetry. We prove that when the original configuration has unbroken space-time supersymmetries, the dual configuration also does if a special condition is met: the Killing spinors of the original configuration have to be independent on the coordinate which corresponds to the isometry direction of the bosonic fields used for duality. Examples of ``losers" (T-duals are not supersymmetric) and ``winners" (T-duals are supersymmetric) are given.Comment: LaTeX file, 19 pages, U. of Groningen Report UG-8/94, Stanford U. Report SU-ITP-94-19, QMW College Report QMW-PH-94-1

Zeros of Jones Polynomials for Families of Knots and Links

We calculate Jones polynomials $V_L(t)$ for several families of alternating knots and links by computing the Tutte polynomials $T(G,x,y)$ for the associated graphs $G$ and then obtaining $V_L(t)$ as a special case of the Tutte polynomial. For each of these families we determine the zeros of the Jones polynomial, including the accumulation set in the limit of infinitely many crossings. A discussion is also given of the calculation of Jones polynomials for non-alternating links.Comment: 30 pages, latex, 9 postscript figures; minor rewording on a reference, no changes in result

Non-Perturbative Gravity and the Spin of the Lattice Graviton

The lattice formulation of quantum gravity provides a natural framework in which non-perturbative properties of the ground state can be studied in detail. In this paper we investigate how the lattice results relate to the continuum semiclassical expansion about smooth manifolds. As an example we give an explicit form for the lattice ground state wave functional for semiclassical geometries. We then do a detailed comparison between the more recent predictions from the lattice regularized theory, and results obtained in the continuum for the non-trivial ultraviolet fixed point of quantum gravity found using weak field and non-perturbative methods. In particular we focus on the derivative of the beta function at the fixed point and the related universal critical exponent $\nu$ for gravitation. Based on recently available lattice and continuum results we assess the evidence for the presence of a massless spin two particle in the continuum limit of the strongly coupled lattice theory. Finally we compare the lattice prediction for the vacuum-polarization induced weak scale dependence of the gravitational coupling with recent calculations in the continuum, finding similar effects.Comment: 46 pages, one figur

Exact T=0 Partition Functions for Potts Antiferromagnets on Sections of the Simple Cubic Lattice

We present exact solutions for the zero-temperature partition function of the $q$-state Potts antiferromagnet (equivalently, the chromatic polynomial $P$) on tube sections of the simple cubic lattice of fixed transverse size $L_x \times L_y$ and arbitrarily great length $L_z$, for sizes $L_x \times L_y = 2 \times 3$ and $2 \times 4$ and boundary conditions (a) $(FBC_x,FBC_y,FBC_z)$ and (b) $(PBC_x,FBC_y,FBC_z)$, where $FBC$ ($PBC$) denote free (periodic) boundary conditions. In the limit of infinite-length, $L_z \to \infty$, we calculate the resultant ground state degeneracy per site $W$ (= exponent of the ground-state entropy). Generalizing $q$ from ${\mathbb Z}_+$ to ${\mathbb C}$, we determine the analytic structure of $W$ and the related singular locus ${\cal B}$ which is the continuous accumulation set of zeros of the chromatic polynomial. For the $L_z \to \infty$ limit of a given family of lattice sections, $W$ is analytic for real $q$ down to a value $q_c$. We determine the values of $q_c$ for the lattice sections considered and address the question of the value of $q_c$ for a $d$-dimensional Cartesian lattice. Analogous results are presented for a tube of arbitrarily great length whose transverse cross section is formed from the complete bipartite graph $K_{m,m}$.Comment: 28 pages, latex, six postscript figures, two Mathematica file

Non-Abelian Duality Based on Non-Semi-Simple Isometry Groups

Non-Abelian duality transformations built on non-semi-simple isometry groups are analysed. We first give the conditions under which the original non-linear sigma model and its non-Abelian dual are equivalent. The existence of an invariant and non-degenerate bilinear form for the isometry Lie algebra is crucial for this equivalence. The non-Abelian dual of a conformally invariant sigma model, with non-semi-simple isometries, is then constructed and its beta functions are shown to vanish. This study resolves an apparent obstruction to the conformal invariance of sigma models obtained via non-Abelian duality based on non-semi-simple groups.Comment: 13 pages, Latex file, to appear in Phys. Lett.

SU(2)×SU(2)SU(2)\times SU(2) harmonic superspace and (4,4) sigma models with torsion

We review a manifestly supersymmetric off-shell formulation of a wide class of torsionful $(4,4)$ $2D$ sigma models and their massive deformations in the harmonic superspace with a double set of $SU(2)$ harmonic variables. Sigma models with both commuting and non-commuting left and right complex structures are treated.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX, Talk given at the 29th International Symposium on the Theory of Elementary Partices, August 1995, Buckow, Germany, the month of appearance correcte