8,516 research outputs found
M Theory As A Matrix Model: A Conjecture
We suggest and motivate a precise equivalence between uncompactified eleven
dimensional M-theory and the N = infinity limit of the supersymmetric matrix
quantum mechanics describing D0-branes. The evidence for the conjecture
consists of several correspondences between the two theories. As a consequence
of supersymmetry the simple matrix model is rich enough to describe the
properties of the entire Fock space of massless well separated particles of the
supergravity theory. In one particular kinematic situation the leading large
distance interaction of these particles is exactly described by supergravity .
The model appears to be a nonperturbative realization of the holographic
principle. The membrane states required by M-theory are contained as
excitations of the matrix model. The membrane world volume is a noncommutative
geometry embedded in a noncommutative spacetime.Comment: Typo and tex error corrected. 41 pages, harvma
Consistent truncation of d = 11 supergravity on AdS_4 x S^7
We study the system of equations derived twenty five years ago by B. de Wit
and the first author [Nucl. Phys. B281 (1987) 211] as conditions for the
consistent truncation of eleven-dimensional supergravity on AdS_4 x S^7 to
gauged N = 8 supergravity in four dimensions. By exploiting the E_7(7)
symmetry, we determine the most general solution to this system at each point
on the coset space E_7(7)/SU(8). We show that invariants of the general
solution are given by the fluxes in eleven-dimensional supergravity. This
allows us to both clarify the explicit non-linear ansatze for the fluxes given
previously and to fill a gap in the original proof of the consistent
truncation. These results are illustrated with several examples.Comment: 41 pages, typos corrected, published versio
Quantizing N=2 matter-supergravity systems
We consider supergravity coupled to Yang--Mills matter and
discuss the nature of one--loop divergences. Using superfields and
superspace methods, we describe the quantization of the system in the abelian
case.Comment: 18 pages, late
Completeness in supergravity constructions
We prove that the supergravity r- and c-maps preserve completeness. As a
consequence, any component H of a hypersurface {h=1} defined by a homogeneous
cubic polynomial such that -d^2 h is a complete Riemannian metric on H defines
a complete projective special Kahler manifold and any complete projective
special Kahler manifold defines a complete quaternionic Kahler manifold of
negative scalar curvature. We classify all complete quaternionic Kahler
manifolds of dimension less or equal to 12 which are obtained in this way and
describe some complete examples in 16 dimensions.Comment: 29 page
Resolved 24.5 micron emission from massive young stellar objects
Massive young stellar objects (MYSO) are surrounded by massive dusty
envelopes. Our aim is to establish their density structure on scales of ~1000
AU, i.e. a factor 10 increase in angular resolution compared to similar studies
performed in the (sub)mm. We have obtained diffraction-limited (0.6") 24.5
micron images of 14 well-known massive star formation regions with
Subaru/COMICS. The images reveal the presence of discrete MYSO sources which
are resolved on arcsecond scales. For many sources, radiative transfer models
are capable of satisfactorily reproducing the observations. They are described
by density powerlaw distributions (n(r) ~ r^(-p)) with p = 1.0 +/-0.25. Such
distributions are shallower than those found on larger scales probed with
single-dish (sub)mm studies. Other sources have density laws that are
shallower/steeper than p = 1.0 and there is evidence that these MYSOs are
viewed near edge-on or near face-on, respectively. The images also reveal a
diffuse component tracing somewhat larger scale structures, particularly
visible in the regions S140, AFGL 2136, IRAS 20126+4104, Mon R2, and Cep A. We
thus find a flattening of the MYSO envelope density law going from ~10 000 AU
down to scales of ~1000 AU. We propose that this may be evidence of rotational
support of the envelope (abridged).Comment: 21 pages, accepted for A&
Higher-spin current multiplets in operator-product expansions
Various formulas for currents with arbitrary spin are worked out in general
space-time dimension, in the free field limit and, at the bare level, in
presence of interactions. As the n-dimensional generalization of the
(conformal) vector field, the (n/2-1)-form is used. The two-point functions and
the higher-spin central charges are evaluated at one loop. As an application,
the higher-spin hierarchies generated by the stress-tensor operator-product
expansion are computed in supersymmetric theories. The results exhibit an
interesting universality.Comment: 19 pages. Introductory paragraph, misprint corrected and updated
references. CQG in pres
More on Membranes in Matrix Theory
We study noncompact and static membrane solutions in Matrix theory. Demanding
axial symmetry on a membrane embedded in three spatial dimensions, we obtain a
wormhole solution whose shape is the same with the catenoidal solution of
Born-Infeld theory. We also discuss another interesting class of solutions,
membranes embedded holomorphically in four spatial dimensions, which are 1/4
BPS.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX; expanded to treat matrix membrane solutions with
electric flux, equivalently fundamental strings; to appear in Phys. Rev.
Probing the envelopes of massive young stellar objects with diffraction limited mid-infrared imaging
Massive stars form whilst they are still embedded in dense envelopes. As a
result, the roles of rotation, mass loss and accretion in massive star
formation are not well understood. This study evaluates the source of the
Q-band, lambda=19.5 microns, emission of massive young stellar objects (MYSOs).
This allows us to determine the relative importance of rotation and outflow
activity in shaping the circumstellar environments of MYSOs on 1000 AU scales.
We obtained diffraction limited mid-infrared images of a sample of 20 MYSOs
using the VLT/VISIR and Subaru/COMICS instruments. For these 8 m class
telescopes and the sample selected, the diffraction limit, ~0.6", corresponds
to approximately 1000 AU. We compare the images and the spectral energy
distributions (SEDs) observed to a 2D, axis-symmetric dust radiative transfer
model that reproduces VLTI/MIDI observations of the MYSO W33A. We vary the
inclination, mass infall rate, and outflow opening angle to simultaneously
recreate the behaviour of the sample of MYSOs in the spatial and spectral
domains. The mid-IR emission of 70 percent of the MYSOs is spatially resolved.
In the majority of cases, the spatial extent of their emission and their SEDs
can be reproduced by the W33A model featuring an in-falling, rotating dusty
envelope with outflow cavities. There is independent evidence that most of the
sources which are not fit by the model are associated with ultracompact HII
regions and are thus more evolved. We find that, in general, the diverse 20
micron morphology of MYSOs can be attributed to warm dust in the walls of
outflow cavities seen at different inclinations. This implies that the warm
dust in the outflow cavity walls dominates the Q-band emission of MYSOs. In
turn, this emphasises that outflows are an ubiquitous feature of massive star
formation.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A. The images in this version have been
compressed. A high resolution version is available on reques
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