D-branes, Orientifolds and K-theory

The complete D-brane spectrum in ZZ[squared] orientifolds is computed. Stable non-BPS D-branes with both integral and torsion charges are found. The relation to K-theory is discussed and a new K-theory relevant to orientifolds is suggested

Transformación de arsénico por bacterias aisladas de sedimentos enriquecidos con el metaloide

Las bacterias presentes en ambientes contaminados con arsénico son capaces de resistir esta presión ambiental y adaptarse mediante mecanismos de resistencia, lo que involucra, entre otros, la oxidación y/o reducción del metaloide. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue investigar las propiedades redox en bacterias tolerantes a arsénico, aisladas de sedimentos naturales.  Los sedimentos se obtuvieron del río Camarones(I región, Chile). Las muestras se incubaron en medio mineral durante 7 días, a temperatura ambiente. Diluciones apropiadas fueron sembradas en agar R2A se incubaron a 25 ºC, hasta 7 días. Los niveles de tolerancia para cada metal se determinaron mediante dilución seriada en placa. La propiedad de oxidar o reducir arsénico se investigó mediante nitrato de plata. Los resultados muestran la presencia de bacterias resistentes a arsenito y arseniato, con niveles de tolerancia > 8mM. El 36,84% de las cepas aisladas de sedimentos ricos en arsénico presentaron actividades reductoras(>50%). En cambio, en bacterias aisladas de sedimentoscon bajas concentraciones del metaloide, la actividad reductora varió entre un 10% y 25%. Se puede concluir que la presencia de arsénico selecciona bacterias con la capacidad de tolerar concentraciones altas de arsénico a través de la transformación de As(V) en As(III)

CFT/CFT interpolating RG flows and the holographic c-function

We consider holographic RG flows which interpolate between non-trivial ultra-violet (UV) and infra-red (IR) conformal fixed points. We study the ``superpotentials'' which characterize different flows and discuss their expansions near the fixed points. Then we focus on the holographic $c$-function as defined from the two-point function of the stress-energy tensor. We point out that the equation for the metric fluctuations in the background flow is equivalent to a scattering problem and we use this to obtain an expression for the $c$-function in terms of the associated Jost functions. We propose two explicit models that realize UV-IR flows. In the first example we consider a thin wall separating two AdS spaces with different radii, while in the second one the UV region is replaced with an asymptotically AdS space. We find that the holographic $c$-function obeys the expected properties. In particular it reduces to the correct -- nonzero -- central charge in the IR limit.Comment: 20 pages, discussion at the end of sec. 3 and sec. 4.1 change

Constructing Self-Dual Strings

We present an ADHMN-like construction which generates self-dual string solutions to the effective M5-brane worldvolume theory from solutions to the Basu-Harvey equation. Our construction finds a natural interpretation in terms of gerbes, which we develop in some detail. We also comment on a possible extension to stacks of multiple M5-branes.Comment: 1+19 pages, presentation improved, minor corrections, published versio

Supersymmetric 3-branes on smooth ALE manifolds with flux

We construct a new family of classical BPS solutions of type IIB supergravity describing 3-branes transverse to a 6-dimensional space with topology R^2*ALE. They are characterized by a non-trivial flux of the supergravity 2-forms through the homology 2-cycles of a generic smooth ALE manifold. Our solutions have two Killing spinors and thus preserve N=2 supersymmetry. They are expressed in terms of a quasi harmonic function H (the ``warp factor''), whose properties we study in the case of the simplest ALE, namely the Eguchi-Hanson manifold. The equation for H is identified as an instance of the confluent Heun equation. We write explicit power series solutions and solve the recurrence relation for the coefficients, discussing also the relevant asymptotic expansions. While, as in all such N=2 solutions, supergravity breaks down near the brane, the smoothing out of the vacuum geometry has the effect that the warp factor is regular in a region near the cycle. We interpret the behavior of the warp factor as describing a three-brane charge ``smeared'' over the cycle and consider the asymptotic form of the geometry in that region, showing that conformal invariance is broken even when the complex type IIB 3-form field strength is assumed to vanish. We conclude with a discussion of the basic features of the gauge theory dual.Comment: latex, 36 pages (26 + appendix). Some statements on the gauge dual made more precise. Final version to appear on NP

Magnetized Particle Capture Cross Section for Braneworld Black Hole

Capture cross section of magnetized particle (with nonzero magnetic moment) by braneworld black hole in uniform magnetic field is considered. The magnetic moment of particle was chosen as it was done by \citet{rs99} and for the simplicity particle with zero electric charge is chosen. It is shown that the spin of particle as well as the brane parameter are to sustain the stability of particles circularly orbiting around the black hole in braneworld i.e. spin of particles and brane parameter try to prevent the capture by black hole.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

RG flows from Spin(7), CY 4-fold and HK manifolds to AdS, Penrose limits and pp waves

We obtain explicit realizations of holographic renormalization group (RG) flows from M-theory, from E^{2,1} \times Spin(7) at UV to AdS_4 \times \tilde{S^7} (squashed S^7) at IR, from E^{2,1} \times CY4 at UV to AdS_4 \times Q^{1,1,1} at IR, and from E^{2,1} \times HK (hyperKahler) at UV to AdS_4 \times N^{0,1,0} at IR. The dual type IIA string theory configurations correspond to D2-D6 brane systems where D6 branes wrap supersymmetric four-cycles. We also study the Penrose limits and obtain the pp-wave backgrounds for the above configurations. Besides, we study some examples of non-supersymmetric and supersymmetric flows in five-dimensional gauge theories.Comment: 42 pages, 6 eps figures, typos and misprints correcte

Renormalization Group Flows from D=3, N=2 Matter Coupled Gauged Supergravities

We study holographic RG flows of N=2 matter couple AdS_3 supergravities which admit both compact and non-compact sigma manifolds. For the compact case the supersymmetric domain wall solution interpolates between a conformal IR region and flat spacetime and this corresponds to a deformation of the CFT by an irrelevant operator. When it is non-compact, the solution can be interpreted as a flow between an UV fixed point and a non-conformal(singular) IR region. This is an exact example of a deformation flow when the singularity is physical. We also find a non-supersymmetric deformation flow when the scalar potential has a second AdS vacua. The ratio of the central charges is rational for certain values of the size of the sigma model. Next, we analyze the spectrum of a massless scalar on our background by transforming the problem into Schroedinger form. The spectrum is continuous for the compact model, yet it can be both continuous (with or without mass gap) and discrete otherwise. Finally, 2-point functions are computed for two examples whose quantum mechanical potentials are of Calogero type.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, Latex; v2 minor improvements, references added; v3 a footnote added, typos correcte

Electromagnetic Fields of Slowly Rotating Compact Magnetized Stars in Braneworld

We study the structure of electromagnetic field of slowly rotating magnetized star in a Randall-Sundrum II type braneworld. The star is modeled as a sphere consisting of perfect highly magnetized fluid with infinite conductivity and frozen-in dipolar magnetic field. Maxwell's equations for the external magnetic field of the star in the braneworld are analytically solved in approximation of small distance from the surface of the star. We have also found numerical solution for the electric field outside the rotating magnetized neutron star in the braneworld in dependence on brane tension. The influence of brane tension on the electromagnetic energy losses of the rotating magnetized star is underlined. Obtained "brane" corrections are shown to be relevant and have non-negligible values. In comparison with astrophysical observations on pulsars spindown data they may provide an evidence for the brane tension and, thus, serve as a test for the braneworld model of the Universe.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

The antiferromagnetic phi4 Model, I. The Mean-field Solution

Certain higher dimensional operators of the lagrangian may render the vacuum inhomogeneous. A rather rich phase structure of the phi4 scalar model in four dimensions is presented by means of the mean-field approximation. One finds para- ferro- ferri- and antiferromagnetic phases and commensurate-incommensurate transitions. There are several particles described by the same quantum field in a manner similar to the species doubling of the lattice fermions. It is pointed out that chiral bosons can be introduced in the lattice regularized theory.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev.