Gauging of Geometric Actions and Integrable Hierarchies of KP Type

This work consist of two interrelated parts. First, we derive massive gauge-invariant generalizations of geometric actions on coadjoint orbits of arbitrary (infinite-dimensional) groups $G$ with central extensions, with gauge group $H$ being certain (infinite-dimensional) subgroup of $G$. We show that there exist generalized ``zero-curvature'' representation of the pertinent equations of motion on the coadjoint orbit. Second, in the special case of $G$ being Kac-Moody group the equations of motion of the underlying gauged WZNW geometric action are identified as additional-symmetry flows of generalized Drinfeld-Sokolov integrable hierarchies based on the loop algebra {\hat \cG}. For {\hat \cG} = {\hat {SL}}(M+R) the latter hiearchies are equivalent to a class of constrained (reduced) KP hierarchies called {\sl cKP}_{R,M}, which contain as special cases a series of well-known integrable systems (mKdV, AKNS, Fordy-Kulish, Yajima-Oikawa etc.). We describe in some detail the loop algebras of additional (non-isospectral) symmetries of {\sl cKP}_{R,M} hierarchies. Apart from gauged WZNW models, certain higher-dimensional nonlinear systems such as Davey-Stewartson and $N$-wave resonant systems are also identified as additional symmetry flows of {\sl cKP}_{R,M} hierarchies. Along the way we exhibit explicitly the interrelation between the Sato pseudo-differential operator formulation and the algebraic (generalized) Drinfeld-Sokolov formulation of {\sl cKP}_{R,M} hierarchies. Also we present the explicit derivation of the general Darboux-B\"acklund solutions of {\sl cKP}_{R,M} preserving their additional (non-isospectral) symmetries, which for R=1 contain among themselves solutions to the gauged $SL(M+1)/U(1)\times SL(M)$ WZNW field equations.Comment: LaTeX209, 47 page

Impurity Quantum Phase Transitions

We review recent work on continuous quantum phase transitions in impurity models, both with fermionic and bosonic baths - these transitions are interesting realizations of boundary critical phenomena at zero temperature. The models with fermion bath are generalizations of the standard Kondo model, with the common feature that Kondo screening of the localized spin can be suppressed due to competing processes. The models with boson bath are related to the spin-boson model of dissipative two-level systems, where the interplay between tunneling and friction results in multiple phases. The competition inherent to all models can generate unstable fixed points associated with quantum phase transitions, where the impurity properties undergo qualitative changes. Interestingly, certain impurity transitions feature both lower-critical and upper-critical "dimensions" and allow for epsilon-type expansions. We present results for a number of observables, obtained by both analytical and numerical renormalization group techniques, and make connections to experiments.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figs, review article to be published in Phil. Ma

The Kondo Model with a Bulk Mass Term

We introduce two massive versions of the anisotropic spin 1/2 Kondo model and discuss their integrability. The two models have the same bulk sine-Gordon interactions, but differ in their boundary interactions. At the Toulouse free fermion point each of the models can be understood as two decoupled Ising models in boundary magnetic fields. Reflection S-matrices away from the free fermion point are conjectured.Comment: 33 pages, Plain Te

Raman Scattering and Anomalous Current Algebra: Observation of Chiral Bound State in Mott Insulators

Recent experiments on inelastic light scattering in a number of insulating cuprates [1] revealed a new excitation appearing in the case of crossed polarizations just below the optical absorption threshold. This observation suggests that there exists a local exciton-like state with an odd parity with respect to a spatial reflection. We present the theory of high energy large shift Raman scattering in Mott insulators and interpret the experiment [1] as an evidence of a chiral bound state of a hole and a doubly occupied site with a topological magnetic excitation. A formation of these composites is a crucial feature of various topological mechanisms of superconductivity. We show that inelastic light scattering provides an instrument for direct measurements of a local chirality and anomalous terms in the electronic current algebra.Comment: 18 pages, TeX, C Version 3.

Tunneling and orthogonality catastrophe in the topological mechanism of superconductivity

We compute the angular dependence of the order parameter and tunneling amplitude in a model exhibiting topological superconductivity and sketch its derivation as a model of a doped Mott insulator. We show that ground states differing by an odd number of particles are orthogonal and the order parameter is in the d-representation, although the gap in the electronic spectrum has no nodes. We also develop an operator algebra, that allowes one to compute off-diagonal correlation functions.Comment: 4 pages, Revtex, psfig; some references are correcte

Hofstadter butterfly as Quantum phase diagram

The Hofstadter butterfly is viewed as a quantum phase diagram with infinitely many phases, labelled by their (integer) Hall conductance, and a fractal structure. We describe various properties of this phase diagram: We establish Gibbs phase rules; count the number of components of each phase, and characterize the set of multiple phase coexistence.Comment: 4 prl pages 1 colored figure typos corrected, reference [26] added, "Ten Martini" assumption adde

Entanglement entropy and quantum phase transitions in quantum dots coupled to Luttinger liquid wires

We study a quantum phase transition which occurs in a system composed of two impurities (or quantum dots) each coupled to a different interacting (Luttinger-liquid) lead. While the impurities are coupled electrostatically, there is no tunneling between them. Using a mapping of this system onto a Kondo model, we show analytically that the system undergoes a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless quantum phase transition as function of the Luttinger liquid parameter in the leads and the dot-lead interaction. The phase with low values of the Luttinger-liquid parameter is characterized by an abrupt switch of the population between the impurities as function of a common applied gate voltage. However, this behavior is hard to verify numerically since one would have to study extremely long systems. Interestingly though, at the transition the entanglement entropy drops from a finite value of $\ln(2)$ to zero. The drop becomes sharp for infinite systems. One can employ finite size scaling to extrapolate the transition point and the behavior in its vicinity from the behavior of the entanglement entropy in moderate size samples. We employ the density matrix renormalization group numerical procedure to calculate the entanglement entropy of systems with lead lengths of up to 480 sites. Using finite size scaling we extract the transition value and show it to be in good agreement with the analytical prediction.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Self-Service or Salesman-Service Meat Retailing?

Farmers get about 60 cents of the consumer\u27s meat dollar. Processing and distribution take the other 40 cents. And about half of the latter goes to retailing- by far the largest single cost item in meat distribution

Comparison of costs of service and self-service methods in retail meat departments

The objectives of this study were to compare the costs of service and self-service methods of selling meat and to show the relationship of cost to volume of sales. Cost data were obtained from 23 self-service and 26 service stores for the period October 6 to 11, 1952. The cost items compared were labor, equipment, market floor space and paper supplies. These costs constitute about 85 percent of the total costs of operating the meat department. The volume of meat sales of the stores in this study ranged from $500 to$7,000 per week. Thus, the following results are applicable only to stores in this range. Physical hours of labor per dollar of sales averaged lower under. self-service than service methods up to a sales volume of about $2,000 per week. Beyond that point the self-service method required more physical hours of labor

Chiral non-linear sigma-models as models for topological superconductivity

We study the mechanism of topological superconductivity in a hierarchical chain of chiral non-linear sigma-models (models of current algebra) in one, two, and three spatial dimensions. The models have roots in the 1D Peierls-Frohlich model and illustrate how the 1D Frohlich's ideal conductivity extends to a genuine superconductivity in dimensions higher than one. The mechanism is based on the fact that a point-like topological soliton carries an electric charge. We discuss a flux quantization mechanism and show that it is essentially a generalization of the persistent current phenomenon, known in quantum wires. We also discuss why the superconducting state is stable in the presence of a weak disorder.Comment: 5 pages, revtex, no figure