Heat kernel, effective action and anomalies in noncommutative theories

Being motivated by physical applications (as the phi^4 model) we calculate the heat kernel coefficients for generalised Laplacians on the Moyal plane containing both left and right multiplications. We found both star-local and star-nonlocal terms. By using these results we calculate the large mass and strong noncommutativity expansion of the effective action and of the vacuum energy. We also study the axial anomaly in the models with gauge fields acting on fermions from the left and from the right.Comment: 21 pages, v2: references adde

Moduli Space Dimensions of Multi-Pronged Strings

The numbers of bosonic and fermionic zero modes of multi-pronged strings are counted in ${\cal N}=4$ super-Yang-Mills theory and compared with those of the IIB string theory. We obtain a nice agreement for the fermionic zero modes, while our result for the bosonic zero modes differs from that obtained in the IIB string theory. The possible origin of the discrepancy is discussedComment: 15 pages, 2 figure

Zero-Mode Dynamics of String Webs

At sufficiently low energy the dynamics of a string web is dominated by zero modes involving rigid motion of the internal strings. The dimension of the associated moduli space equals the maximal number of internal faces in the web. The generic web moduli space has boundaries and multiple branches, and for webs with three or more faces the geometry is curved. Webs can also be studied in a lift to M-theory, where a string web is replaced by a membrane wrapped on a holomorphic curve in spacetime. In this case the moduli space is complexified and admits a Kaehler metric.Comment: LaTeX, 17 pages, 5 eps figures; v2: references adde

A Cooper pair light emitting diode

We demonstrate Cooper-pair's drastic enhancement effect on band-to-band radiative recombination in a semiconductor. Electron Cooper pairs injected from a superconducting electrode into an active layer by the proximity effect recombine with holes injected from a p-type electrode and dramatically accelerate the photon generation rates of a light emitting diode in the optical-fiber communication band. Cooper pairs are the condensation of electrons at a spin-singlet quantum state and this condensation leads to the observed enhancement of the electric-dipole transitions. Our results indicate the possibility to open up new interdisciplinary fields between superconductivity and optoelectronics.Comment: 5 pages (4 figures

Analytic continuations of de Sitter thick domain wall solutions

We perform some analytic continuations of the de Sitter thick domain wall solutions obtained in our previous paper hep-th/0201130 in the system of gravity and a scalar field with an axion-like potential. The obtained new solutions represent anti-de Sitter thick domain walls and cosmology. The anti-de Sitter domain wall solutions are periodic, and correspondingly the cosmological solutions represent cyclic universes. We parameterize the axion-like scalar field potential and determine the parameter regions of each type of solutions.Comment: Additons in section 5, 8 pages, 7 figures, RevTe

Strings from position-dependent noncommutativity

We introduce a new set of noncommutative space-time commutation relations in two space dimensions. The space-space commutation relations are deformations of the standard flat noncommutative space-time relations taken here to have position dependent structure constants. Some of the new variables are non-Hermitian in the most natural choice. We construct their Hermitian counterparts by means of a Dyson map, which also serves to introduce a new metric operator. We propose PTlike symmetries, i.e.antilinear involutory maps, respected by these deformations. We compute minimal lengths and momenta arising in this space from generalized versions of Heisenberg's uncertainty relations and find that any object in this two dimensional space is string like, i.e.having a fundamental length in one direction beyond which a resolution is impossible. Subsequently we formulate and partly solve some simple models in these new variables, the free particle, its PT-symmetric deformations and the harmonic oscillator.Comment: 11 pages, Late

Thick de Sitter 3-Branes, Dynamic Black Holes and Localization of Gravity

The embedding of a thick de Sitter 3-brane into a five-dimensional bulk is studied, assuming a scalar field with potential is present in the bulk. A class of solutions is found in closed form that can represent a thick de Sitter 3-brane interpolating either between two dynamical black holes with a $R \times S_{4}$ topology or between two Rindler-like spacetimes with a $R_{2}\times S_{3}$ topology. The gravitational field is localized in a small region near the center of the 3-brane. The analysis of graviton fluctuations shows that a zero mode exists and separates itself from a set of continuous modes by a mass gap. The existence of such a mass gap is shown to be universal. The scalar perturbations are also studied and shown to be stable.Comment: the study of scalar perturbations and some relevant references have been added. The most used definition for mass in de Sitter space has been adopte

Fluctuation Induced Non-Fermi Liquid Behavior near a Quantum Phase Transition in Itinerant Electron Systems

The signature for a non-Fermi liquid behavior near a quantum phase transition has been observed in thermal and transport properties of many metallic systems at low temperatures. In the present work we consider specific examples of itinerant ferromagnet as well as antiferromagnet in the limit of vanishing transition temperature. The temperature variation of spin susceptibility, electrical resistivity, specific heat, and NMR relaxation rates at low temperatures is calculated in the limit of infinite exchange enhancement within the frame work of a self consistent spin fluctuation theory. The resulting non-Fermi liquid behavior is due to the presence of the low lying critically damped spin fluctuations in these systems. The theory presented here gives the leading low temperature behavior, as it turns out that the fluctuation correlation term is always smaller than the mean fluctuation field term in three as well as in two space dimensions. A comparison with illustrative experimental results of these properties in some typical systems has been done. Finally we make some remarks on the effect of disorder in these systems.Comment: File RevTex, 7 Figures available on request, Abstract and text modified, To appear in Phys. Rev.

The accelerated scaling attractor solution of the interacting agegraphic dark energy in Brans-Dicke theory

We investigate the interacting agegraphic dark energy in Brans-Dicke theory and introduce a new series general forms of dark sector coupling. As examples, we select three cases involving a linear interaction form (Model I) and two nonlinear interaction form (Model II and Model III). Our conclusions show that the accelerated scaling attractor solutions do exist in these models. We also find that these interacting agegraphic dark energy modes are consistent with the observational data. The difference in these models is that nonlinear interaction forms give more approached evolution to the standard $\Lambda$CDM model than the linear one. Our work implies that the nonlinear interaction forms should be payed more attention.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, accepted in Eur. Phys. J.

Estimating Level of Engagement from Ocular Landmarks

E-learning offers many advantages like being economical, flexible and customizable, but also has challenging aspects such as lack of – social-interaction, which results in contemplation and sense of remoteness. To overcome these and sustain learners’ motivation, various stimuli can be incorporated. Nevertheless, such adjustments initially require an assessment of engagement level. In this respect, we propose estimating engagement level from facial landmarks exploiting the facts that (i) perceptual decoupling is promoted by blinking during mentally demanding tasks; (ii) eye strain increases blinking rate, which also scales with task disengagement; (iii) eye aspect ratio is in close connection with attentional state and (iv) users’ head position is correlated with their level of involvement. Building empirical models of these actions, we devise a probabilistic estimation framework. Our results indicate that high and low levels of engagement are identified with considerable accuracy, whereas medium levels are inherently more challenging, which is also confirmed by inter-rater agreement of expert coders