Supersymmetric fluxbrane intersections and closed string tachyons

We consider NS-NS superstring model with several ``magnetic'' parameters $b_s$ (s=1, ...,N) associated with twists mixing a compact $S^1$ direction with angles in $N$ spatial 2-planes of flat 10-dimensional space. It generalizes the Kaluza-Klein Melvin model which has single parameter $b$. The corresponding U-dual background is a R-R type IIA solution describing an orthogonal intersection of $N$ flux 7-branes. Like the Melvin model, the NS-NS string model with $N$ continuous parameters is explicitly solvable; we present its perturbative spectrum and torus partition function explicitly for the N=2 case. For generic $b_s$ (above some critical values) there are tachyons in the $S^1$ winding sector. A remarkable feature of this model is that while in the Melvin N=1 case all supersymmetry is broken, a fraction of it may be preserved for $N >1$ by making a special choice of the parameters $b_s$. Such solvable NS-NS models may be viewed as continuous-parameter analogs of non-compact orbifold models. They and their U-dual R-R fluxbrane counterparts may have some ``phenomenological'' applications. In particular, in N=3 case one finds a special 1/4 supersymmetric R-R 3-brane background. Putting Dp-branes in flat twisted NS-NS backgrounds leads to world-volume gauge theories with reduced amount of supersymmetry. We also discuss possible ways of evolution of unstable backgrounds towards stable ones.Comment: 26 pages, harvmac. v3: reference added, minor changes in appendi

Exactly solvable string models of curved space-time backgrounds

We consider a new 3-parameter class of exact 4-dimensional solutions in closed string theory and solve the corresponding string model, determining the physical spectrum and the partition function. The background fields (4-metric, antisymmetric tensor, two Kaluza-Klein vector fields, dilaton and modulus) generically describe axially symmetric stationary rotating (electro)magnetic flux-tube type universes. Backgrounds of this class include both the dilatonic (a=1) and Kaluza-Klein (a=\sqrt 3) Melvin solutions and the uniform magnetic field solution, as well as some singular space-times. Solvability of the string sigma model is related to its connection via duality to a simpler model which is a ``twisted" product of a flat 2-space and a space dual to 2-plane. We discuss some physical properties of this model (tachyonic instabilities in the spectrum, gyromagnetic ratios, issue of singularities, etc.). It provides one of the first examples of a consistent solvable conformal string model with explicit D=4 curved space-time interpretation.Comment: 54 pages, harvmac (corrected and extended version

Heterotic strings in a uniform magnetic field

An exact conformal model representing a constant magnetic field background in heterotic string theory is explicitly solved in terms of free creation/annihilation operators. The spectrum of physical states is examined for different possible embeddings of the magnetic U(1) subgroup. We find that an arbitrarily small magnetic field gives rise to an infinite number of tachyonic excitations corresponding to charged vector states of the massless level and to higher level states with large spins and charges.Comment: 25 pages, harvmac (few comments added, misprints corrected

Hyperbolic Spaces in String and M-Theory

We describe string-theory and $d=11$ supergravity solutions involving symmetric spaces of constant negative curvature. Many examples of non-supersymmetric string compactifications on hyperbolic spaces $H_r$ of finite volume are given in terms of suitable cosets of the form $H_r/\Gamma$, where $\Gamma$ is a discrete group. We describe in some detail the cases of the non-compact hyperbolic spaces $F_2$ and $F_3$, representing the fundamental regions of $H_2$ and $H_3$ under $SL(2,Z)$ and the Picard group, respectively. By writing $AdS$ as a U(1) fibration, we obtain new solutions where $AdS_{2p+1}$ gets untwisted by T-duality to ${\bf R}\times SU(p,1)/(SU(p)\times U(1))$. Solutions with time-dependent dilaton field are also constructed by starting with a solution with NS5-brane flux over $H_3$. A new class of non-supersymmetric conformal field theories can be defined via holography.Comment: 17 pages, Latex. Small additions and correction

N=2 Chern-Simons-Matter Theories Without Vortices

We study ${\cal N}=2$ Chern-Simons-matter theories with gauge group $U_{k_1}(1)\times U_{k_2}(1)$. We find that, when $k_1+k_2=0$, the partition function computed by localization dramatically simplifies and collapses to a single term. We show that the same condition prevents the theory from having supersymmetric vortex configurations. The theories include mass-deformed ABJM theory with $U(1)_{k}\times U_{-k}(1)$ gauge group as a particular case. Similar features are shared by a class of CS-matter theories with gauge group $U_{k_1}(1)\times \cdots \times U_{k_N}(1)$.Comment: 17 page

Recent Studies of Nonequilibrium Flows at the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory

Vibrational relaxation in supersonic nozzle diatomic gas flow, nonequilibrium effects in high enthalpy airflow over thick wedge flat plates, and reentry nonequilibrium flow field

Real decoupling ghost quantization of the CGHS model for two dimensional black holes

A complete RST quantization of a CGHS model plus Strominger term is carried out. In so doing a conformal invariant theory with $\kappa=\frac{N}{12}$ is found, that is, without ghosts contribution. The physical consequences of the model are analysed and positive definite Hawking radiation is found.Comment: 14 pages, latex, no figures, marginal errors correcte

Buckling of built-up columns of pultruded fiber-reinforced polymer C-sections

This paper presents the test results of an experimental investigation to evaluate the buckling behavior of built-up columns of pultruded profiles, subjected to axial compression. Specimens are assembled by using four (off the shelf) channel shaped profiles of E-glass fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), having similar detailing to strut members in a large FRP structure that was executed in 2009 to start the restoration of the Santa Maria Paganica church in L’Aquila, Italy. This church had partially collapsed walls and no roof after the April 6, 2009, earthquake of 6.3 magnitude. A total of six columns are characterized with two different configurations for the bolted connections joining the channel sections into a built-up strut. Test results are discussed and a comparison is made with closed-form equation predictions for flexural buckling resistance, with buckling resistance values established from both eigenvalue and geometric nonlinear finite element analyses. Results show that there is a significant role played by the end loading condition, the composite action, and imperfections. Simple closed-form equations overestimate the flexural buckling strength, whereas the resistance provided by the nonlinear analysis provides a reasonably reliable numerical approach to establishing the actual buckling behavior