Noncommutative gauge fields coupled to noncommutative gravity

We present a noncommutative (NC) version of the action for vielbein gravity coupled to gauge fields. Noncommutativity is encoded in a twisted star product between forms, with a set of commuting background vector fields defining the (abelian) twist. A first order action for the gauge fields avoids the use of the Hodge dual. The NC action is invariant under diffeomorphisms and twisted gauge transformations. The Seiberg-Witten map, adapted to our geometric setting and generalized for an arbitrary abelian twist, allows to re-express the NC action in terms of classical fields: the result is a deformed action, invariant under diffeomorphisms and usual gauge transformations. This deformed action is a particular higher derivative extension of the Einstein-Hilbert action coupled to Yang-Mills fields, and to the background vector fields defining the twist. Here noncommutativity of the original NC action dictates the precise form of this extension. We explicitly compute the first order correction in the NC parameter of the deformed action, and find that it is proportional to cubic products of the gauge field strength and to the symmetric anomaly tensor D_{IJK}.Comment: 18 pages, LaTe

Free Differential Algebras: Their Use in Field Theory and Dual Formulation

The gauging of free differential algebras (FDA's) produces gauge field theories containing antisymmetric tensors. The FDA's extend the Cartan-Maurer equations of ordinary Lie algebras by incorporating p-form potentials ($p > 1$). We study here the algebra of FDA transformations. To every p-form in the FDA we associate an extended Lie derivative $\ell$ generating a corresponding ``gauge" transformation. The field theory based on the FDA is invariant under these new transformations. This gives geometrical meaning to the antisymmetric tensors. The algebra of Lie derivatives is shown to close and provides the dual formulation of FDA's.Comment: 10 pages, latex, no figures. Talk presented at the 4-th Colloquium on "Quantum Groups and Integrable Sysytems", Prague, June 199

R-Matrix Formulation of the Quantum Inhomogeneous Groups Iso_qr(N) and Isp_qr(N)

The quantum commutations $RTT=TTR$ and the orthogonal (symplectic) conditions for the inhomogeneous multiparametric $q$-groups of the $B_n,C_n,D_n$ type are found in terms of the $R$-matrix of $B_{n+1},C_{n+1},D_{n+1}$. A consistent Hopf structure on these inhomogeneous $q$-groups is constructed by means of a projection from $B_{n+1},C_{n+1},D_{n+1}$. Real forms are discussed: in particular we obtain the $q$-groups $ISO_{q,r}(n+1,n-1)$, including the quantum Poincar\'e group.Comment: 14 pages, latex, no figure

Inhomogeneous quantum groups IGL_{q,r}(N): Universal enveloping algebra and differential calculus

A review of the multiparametric linear quantum group GL_qr(N), its real forms, its dual algebra U(gl_qr(N)) and its bicovariant differential calculus is given in the first part of the paper. We then construct the (multiparametric) linear inhomogeneous quantum group IGL_qr(N) as a projection from GL_qr(N+1), or equivalently, as a quotient of GL_qr(N+1) with respect to a suitable Hopf algebra ideal. A bicovariant differential calculus on IGL_qr(N) is explicitly obtained as a projection from the one on GL_qr(N+1). Our procedure unifies in a single structure the quantum plane coordinates and the q-group matrix elements T^a_b, and allows to deduce without effort the differential calculus on the q-plane IGL_qr(N) / GL_qr(N). The general theory is illustrated on the example of IGL_qr(2).Comment: 38 page

Non-linear optical effects and third-harmonic generation in superconductors: Cooper-pairs vs Higgs mode contribution

The recent observation of a transmitted Thz pulse oscillating at three times the frequency of the incident light paves the way to a new protocol to access resonant excitations in a superconductor. Here we show that this non-linear optical process is dominated by light-induced excitation of Cooper pairs, in analogy with a standard Raman experiment. The collective amplitude (Higgs) fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter give in general a smaller contribution, unless one designs the experiment by combining properly the light polarization with the lattice symmetry.Comment: Slightly revised introduction, to appear on Phys. Rev. B. as Rapid Communicatio

Generators of Local Supersymmetry Transformation from First Class Constraints

We show how the generator of local supersymmetry transformations can be found from Fermionic first class constraints. This is done by adapting the approaches of Henneaux, Teit- elboim and Zanelli and of Castellani that has been used to find the generator of gauge trans- formations from Bosonic first class constraints. We illustrate how a supersymmetric gauge generator can be found by considering the spinning particle. The invariances that we find are not those presented in the original discussion of the spinning particle.Comment: nine page

On the application of Mattis-Bardeen theory in strongly disordered superconductors

The low energy optical conductivity of conventional superconductors is usually well described by Mattis-Bardeen (MB) theory which predicts the onset of absorption above an energy corresponding to twice the superconducing (SC) gap parameter Delta. Recent experiments on strongly disordered superconductors have challenged the application of the MB formulas due to the occurrence of additional spectral weight at low energies below 2Delta. Here we identify three crucial items which have to be included in the analysis of optical-conductivity data for these systems: (a) the correct identification of the optical threshold in the Mattis-Bardeen theory, and its relation with the gap value extracted from the measured density of states, (b) the gauge-invariant evaluation of the current-current response function, needed to account for the optical absorption by SC collective modes, and (c) the inclusion into the MB formula of the energy dependence of the density of states present already above Tc. By computing the optical conductvity in the disordered attractive Hubbard model we analyze the relevance of all these items, and we provide a compelling scheme for the analysis and interpretation of the optical data in real materials.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

The Hot End of Evolutionary Horizontal Branches

In this paper we investigate the hot end of the HB, presenting evolutionary constraints concerning the CM diagram location and the gravity of hot HB stars. According to the adopted evolutionary scenario, we predict an upper limit for HB temperatures of about logTe = 4.45, remarkably cooler than previous estimates. We find that such a theoretical prescription appears in good agreement with available observational data concerning both stellar temperatures and gravities.Comment: postscript file of 10 pages plus 1 tables,rep.1 5 figures will be added later as postscript file The tex file and the other two not postscript figures are available upon request at [email protected], rep.

Spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties in a four-band model for pnictides

In this paper we provide a comprehesive analysis of different properties of pnictides both in the normal and superconducting state, with a particular focus on the optimally-doped Ba$_{1-x}$K$_{x}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ system. We show that, by using the band dispersions experimentally measured by ARPES, a four-band Eliashberg model in the intermediate-coupling regime can account for both the measured hierarchy of the gaps and for several spectroscopic and thermodynamic signatures of low-energy renormalization. These include the kinks in the band dispersion and the effective masses determined via specific-heat and superfluid-density measurements. We also show that, although an intermediate-coupling Eliashberg approach is needed to account for the magnitude of the gaps, the temperature behavior of the thermodynamic quantities does not show in this regime a significant deviation with respect to weak-coupling BCS calculations. This can explain the apparent success of two-band BCS fits of experimental data reported often in the literature.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, final versio

Super Quantum Mechanics in the Integral Form Formalism

We reformulate Super Quantum Mechanics in the context of integral forms. This framework allows to interpolate between different actions for the same theory, connected by different choices of Picture Changing Operators (PCO). In this way we retrieve component and superspace actions, and prove their equivalence. The PCO are closed integral forms, and can be interpreted as super Poincar\'e duals of bosonic submanifolds embedded into a supermanifold.. We use them to construct Lagrangians that are top integral forms, and therefore can be integrated on the whole supermanifold. The $D=1, ~N=1$ and the $D=1,~ N=2$ cases are studied, in a flat and in a curved supermanifold. In this formalism we also consider coupling with gauge fields, Hilbert space of quantum states and observables.Comment: 41 pages, no figures. Use birkjour.cls. Minor misprints, moved appendix A and B in the main text. Version to be published in Annales H. Poincar\'