Hessian geometry and the holomorphic anomaly

We present a geometrical framework which incorporates higher derivative corrections to the action of N = 2 vector multiplets in terms of an enlarged scalar manifold which includes a complex deformation parameter. This enlarged space carries a deformed version of special Kahler geometry which we characterise. The holomorphic anomaly equation arises in this framework from the integrability condition for the existence of a Hesse potential.Comment: 43 pages. Revised version: minimal changes. Final version, accepted for publication by JHE

Natural Supergravity Inflation

We show that a single uncharged chiral superfield, canonically coupled to \mbox{$N=1$} supergravity with vanishing superpotential, naturally drives inflation in the early universe for a class of simple Kahler potentials. Inflation occurs due to the one-loop generation of a Kahler anomaly proportional to $\R^2$. The coefficient of this $\R^2$ term is of the correct magnitude to describe all aspects of an inflationary cosmology, including sufficient amplitude perturbations and reheating. Higher order terms proportional to $\R^n$ for $n \geq 3$ are naturally suppressed relative to the $\R^2$ term and, hence, do not destabilize the theory.Comment: 13 pages, CERN-TH.6685/92, UPR-0526

Curved BPS domain wall solutions in five-dimensional gauged supergravity

We analyze the possibility of constructing supersymmetric curved domain wall solutions in five-dimensional ${\cal N}=2$ gauged supergravity, which are supported by non-constant scalar fields belonging either to vector multiplets only or to vector and hypermultiplets. We show that the BPS equations for the warp factor and for the vector scalars are modified by the presence of a four-dimensional cosmological constant on the domain wall, in agreement with earlier results by DeWolfe, Freedman, Gubser and Karch. We also show that the cosmological constant on the domain wall is anti-de Sitter like and that it constitutes an independent quantity, not related to any of the objects appearing in the context of very special geometry.Comment: 13 pages, latex, error corrected plus substantial revision (title changed

Indefinite theta functions for counting attractor backgrounds

In this note, we employ indefinite theta functions to regularize canonical partition functions for single-center dyonic BPS black holes. These partition functions count dyonic degeneracies in the Hilbert space of four-dimensional toroidally compactified heterotic string theory, graded by electric and magnetic charges. The regularization is achieved by viewing the weighted sums of degeneracies as sums over charge excitations in the near-horizon attractor geometry of an arbitrarily chosen black hole background, and eliminating the unstable modes. This enables us to rewrite these sums in terms of indefinite theta functions. Background independence is then implemented by using the transformation property of indefinite theta functions under elliptic transformations, while modular transformations are used to make contact with semi-classical results in supergravity.Comment: 24 pages, LaTe

Supersymmetric Solutions in Three-Dimensional Heterotic String Theory

We consider the low-energy effective field theory of heterotic string theory compactified on a seven-torus, and we construct electrically charged as well as more general solitonic solutions. These solutions preserve 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 of N=8, D=3 supersymmetry and have Killing spinors which exist due to cancellation of holonomies. The associated space-time line elements do not exhibit the conical structure that often arises in 2+1 dimensional gravity theories.Comment: 40 pages, LaTeX, minor correction

Deviations from the Area Law for Supersymmetric Black Holes

We review modifications of the Bekenstein-Hawking area law for black hole entropy in the presence of higher-derivative interactions. In four-dimensional N=2 compactifications of string theory or M-theory these modifications are crucial for finding agreement between the macroscopic entropy obtained from supergravity and the microscopic entropy obtained by counting states in string or M-theory. Our discussion is based on the effective Wilsonian action, which in the context of N=2 supersymmetric theories is defined in terms of holomorphic quantities. At the end we briefly indicate how to incorporate non-holomorphic corrections.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX, Contribution to the Proceedings of the 32nd Symposium Ahrenshoop on the Theory of Elementary Particles, Buckow, September 1-5, 1998; a typo correcte

“É DA CIVILIDADE": !”: UM RETRATO DA MODERNIZAÇÃO E A PEDAGOGIA DOS CORPOS PELA IMPRENSA FRANCANA (1890-1940)

The final decades of the 19th century and the beginnings of the 20th century saw political, economic and social changes for a Brazil that became republican. In cities, hygienist projects plundered the most vulnerable sections of the population in exchange for beautifying the city. Assuming a comprehensive conception of the educational process, it is possible to glimpse in the media vehicles – more precisely in the press, our object of study – an exercise in the pedagogy of bodies. Indeed, typographic vehicles took on a leading role in this plot of educating a peasant population that was becoming urban. The objective of this work rests on this formulation, identifying in selected local periodicals of the city of Franca during the apogee of its modernization (1890-1940) a portrait of this mastery of gestures.As décadas finais do século XIX e as primícias do século XX foram de mudanças políticas, econômicas e sociais para um Brasil que se tornava republicano. Nas cidades, projetos higienistas espoliavam as camadas da população mais vulneráveis em troca de um embelezamento da urbe. Assumindo uma concepção abrangente do processo educativo é possível vislumbrar nos veículos midiáticos – mais precisamente na imprensa, nosso objeto de estudo – um exercício de pedagogia dos corpos. Com efeito, os veículos tipográficos assumiram um papel protagonista nesta trama de educar uma população campesina que se tornava urbana. O objetivo deste trabalho repousa nesta formulação, identificando nos periódicos locais selecionados da cidade de Franca durante o apogeu de sua modernização (1890-1940) um retrato deste domínio dos gestos