Monopole fields from vortex sheets reconciling Abelian and center dominance

We describe a new order parameter for the confinement-deconfinement transition in lattice SU(2) Yang-Mills theory. It is expressed in terms of magnetic monopole field correlators represented as sums over sheets of center vortices. Our construction establishes a link between "abelian" and "center dominance". It avoids an inconsistency in the treatment of small scales present in earlier definitions of monopole fields by respecting Dirac's quantization condition for magnetic fluxes.Comment: LaTeX file, 6 pages; Lattice2001(plenary

Supersymmetric quantum theory and (non-commutative) differential geometry

We reconsider differential geometry from the point of view of the quantum theory of non-relativistic spinning particles, which provides examples of supersymmetric quantum mechanics. This enables us to encode geometrical structure in algebraic data consisting of an algebra of functions on a manifold and a family of supersymmetry generators represented on a Hilbert space. We show that known types of differential geometry can be classified in terms of the supersymmetries they exhibit. Replacing commutative algebras of functions by non-commutative *-algebras of operators, while retaining supersymmetry, we arrive at a formulation of non-commutative geometry encompassing and extending Connes' original approach. We explore different types of non-commutative geometry and introduce notions of non-commutative manifolds and non-commutative phase spaces. One of the main motivations underlying our work is to construct mathematical tools for novel formulations of quantum gravity, in particular for the investigation of superstring vacua.Comment: 125 pages, Plain TeX fil

Asymptotic Completeness for Compton Scattering

Scattering in a model of a massive quantum-mechanical particle, an ``electron'', interacting with massless, relativistic bosons, ``photons'', is studied. The interaction term in the Hamiltonian of our model describes emission and absorption of ``photons'' by the ``electron''; but ``electron-positron'' pair production is suppressed. An ultraviolet cutoff and an (arbitrarily small, but fixed) infrared cutoff are imposed on the interaction term. In a range of energies where the propagation speed of the dressed ``electron'' is strictly smaller than the speed of light, unitarity of the scattering matrix is proven, provided the coupling constant is small enough; (asymptotic completeness of Compton scattering). The proof combines a construction of dressed one--electron states with propagation estimates for the ``electron'' and the ``photons''.Comment: gap of previous version closed, large parts rewritten, more general results and more comprehensive exposition. 64 pages, 3 figure

Supersymmetric quantum theory and non-commutative geometry

Classical differential geometry can be encoded in spectral data, such as Connes' spectral triples, involving supersymmetry algebras. In this paper, we formulate non-commutative geometry in terms of supersymmetric spectral data. This leads to generalizations of Connes' non-commutative spin geometry encompassing non-commutative Riemannian, symplectic, complex-Hermitian and (Hyper-)Kaehler geometry. A general framework for non-commutative geometry is developed from the point of view of supersymmetry and illustrated in terms of examples. In particular, the non-commutative torus and the non-commutative 3-sphere are studied in some detail.Comment: 77 pages, PlainTeX, no figures; present paper is a significantly extended version of the second half of hep-th/9612205. Assumptions in Sect. 2.2.5 clarified; final version to appear in Commun.Math.Phy