Stable divisorial gonality is in NP

Divisorial gonality and stable divisorial gonality are graph parameters, which have an origin in algebraic geometry. Divisorial gonality of a connected graph $G$ can be defined with help of a chip firing game on $G$. The stable divisorial gonality of $G$ is the minimum divisorial gonality over all subdivisions of edges of $G$. In this paper we prove that deciding whether a given connected graph has stable divisorial gonality at most a given integer $k$ belongs to the class NP. Combined with the result that (stable) divisorial gonality is NP-hard by Gijswijt, we obtain that stable divisorial gonality is NP-complete. The proof consist of a partial certificate that can be verified by solving an Integer Linear Programming instance. As a corollary, we have that the number of subdivisions needed for minimum stable divisorial gonality of a graph with $n$ vertices is bounded by $2^{p(n)}$ for a polynomial $p$

Static quark potential according to the dual-superconductor picture of QCD

We use the effective action describing long-range QCD, which predicts that QCD behaves as a dual superconductor, to derive the interaction energy between two heavy quarks as a function of separation. The dual-superconductor field equations are solved in an approximation in which the boundary between the superconducting vacuum and the region of normal vacuum surrounding the quarks is sharp. Further, non-Abelian effects are neglected. The resulting heavy-quark potential is linear in separation at large separation, and Coulomb-like at small separation. Overall it agrees very well with phenomenologically determined potentials

Quantized electric-flux-tube solutions to Yang-Mills theory

We suggest that long-distance Yang-Mills theory is more conveniently described in terms of electric rather than the customary magnetic vector potentials. On this basis we propose as an effective Lagrangian for this regime the most simple gauge-invariant (under the magnetic rather than electric gauge group) and Lorentz-invariant Lagrangian which yields a 1/q^4 gluon propagator in the Abelian limit. The resulting classical equations of motion have solutions corresponding to tubes of color electric flux quantized in units of e/2 (e is the Yang-Mills coupling constant). To exponential accuracy the electric color energy is contained in a cylinder of finite radius, showing that continuum Yang-Mills theory has excitations which are confined tubes of color electric flux. This is the criterion for electric confinement of color

A Constituent Quark Anti-Quark Effective Lagrangian Based on the Dual Superconducting Model of Long Distance QCD

We review the assumptions leading to the description of long distance QCD by a Lagrangian density expressed in terms of dual potentials. We find the color field distribution surrounding a quark anti-quark pair to first order in their velocities. Using these distributions we eliminate the dual potentials from the Lagrangian density and obtain an effective interaction Lagrangian $L_I ( \vec x_1 \, , \vec x_2 \, ; \vec v_1 \, , \vec v_2 )$ depending only upon the quark and anti-quark coordinates and velocities, valid to second order in their velocities. We propose $L_I$ as the Lagrangian describing the long distance interaction between constituent quarks. Elsewhere we have determined the two free parameters in $L_I$, $\alpha_s$ and the string tension $\sigma$, by fitting the 17 known levels of $b \bar b$ and $c \bar c$ systems. Here we use $L_I$ at the classical level to calculate the leading Regge trajectory. We obtain a trajectory which becomes linear at large $M^2$ with a slope $\alpha' \simeq .74 \, \hbox{GeV}^{-1}$, and for small $M^2$ the trajectory bends so that there are no tachyons. For a constituent quark mass between 100 and 150 MeV this trajectory passes through the two known Regge recurrences of the $\pi$ meson. In this paper, for simplicity of presentation, we have treated the quarks as spin-zero particles.Comment: {\bf 32,UW/PT94-0

Chiral-symmetry breaking in dual QCD

In the context of the formulation of QCD with dual potentials, we show that chiral-symmetry breaking occurs only in the confined state. Therefore, the transition temperature, beyond which chiral symmetry is restored, is the same as the deconfinement temperature. To carry out the calculation, it is necessary to couple quarks to dual gluons. We indicate how this is done (to lowest order in the magnetic coupling constant) and give the Feynman rules for quark–dual-gluon vertices

L^2 part of the heavy-quark potential from dual QCD and heavy-quark spectroscopy

We use the classical approximation to the dual QCD field equations to calculate the term in the heavy-quark potential that is proportional to angular momentum squared. This potential combined with the potentials obtained in our earlier work gives a result which is essentially the dual of the potential acting between a monopole-antimonopole pair carrying Dirac electric dipole moments and rotating in a relativistic superconductor. These potentials are used to fit the masses of the low-lying states of the cc̅ and bb̅ systems. The agreement, achieved with only four parameters, two of which are roughly determined in advance, is better than 1%. We also predict the masses of the lightest cb̅ states

Interaction between solitons in gauge theories

A systematic method for obtaining asymptotic multisoliton solutions in gauge theories is given. These solutions are used to investigate the interaction between vortex lines in type-I and type-II superconductors, reproducing the known behavior. The application to QCD flux tubes and glueballs obtained from the long-range effective Lagrangian yield the following results: (1) No long-range Van der Waals–type forces exist between these solitons in spite of the fact that the Abelian force law obtained from this model is a linear potential; (2) the interactions between flux tubes and between flux tubes and anti-flux-tubes are identical, being repulsive at long range and strongly attractive at short range. This behavior differs sharply from the superconductor case, and results from the differences between the gauge groups SU(2) and U(1)

Perceptions of healthy eating and physical activity in an ethnically diverse sample of young children and their parents: the DEAL prevention of obesity study

Background: Ethnicity is a consistent correlate of obesity; however, little is known about the perceptions and beliefs that may influence engagement with obesity prevention programmes among ethnic minority children. Barriers to (and facilitators of) healthy lifestyles were examined in the qualitative arm of the London (UK) DiEt and Active Living (DEAL) study. Methods: Children aged 8–13 years and their parents, from diverse ethnic groups, were recruited through schools and through places of worship. Thirteen focus group sessions were held with 70 children (n = 39 girls) and eight focus groups and five interviews with 43 parents (n = 34 mothers). Results: Across ethnic groups, dislike of school meals, lack of knowledge of physical activity guidelines for children and negativity towards physical education at school among girls, potentially hindered healthy living. Issues relating to families' wider neighbourhoods (e.g. fast food outlets; lack of safety) illustrated child and parental concerns that environments could thwart intentions for healthy eating and activity. By contrast, there was general awareness of key dietary messages and an emphasis on dietary variety and balance. For ethnic minorities, places of worship were key focal points for social support. Discourse around the retention of traditional practices, family roles and responsibilities, and religion highlighted both potential facilitators (e.g. the importance of family meals) and barriers (reliance on convenience stores for traditional foods). Socio-economic circumstances intersected with key themes, within and between ethnic groups. Conclusions: Several barriers to (and facilitators of) healthy lifestyles were common across ethnic groups. Diversity of cultural frameworks not only were more nuanced, but also shaped lifestyles for minority children.</p

Effective String Theory of Vortices and Regge Trajectories

Starting from a field theory containing classical vortex solutions, we obtain an effective string theory of these vortices as a path integral over the two transverse degrees of freedom of the string. We carry out a semiclassical expansion of this effective theory, and use it to obtain corrections to Regge trajectories due to string fluctuations.Comment: 27 pages, revtex, 3 figures, corrected an error with the cutoff in appendix E (was previously D), added more discussion of Fig. 3, moved some material in section 9 to a new appendi