Symmetry Principles for String Theory

The gauge symmetries that underlie string theory arise from inner automorphisms of the algebra of observables of the associated conformal field theory. In this way it is possible to study broken and unbroken symmetries on the same footing, and exhibit an infinite-dimensional supersymmetry algebra that includes space-time diffeomorphisms and an infinite number of spontaneously broken level-mixing symmetries. We review progress in this area, culminating in the identification of a weighted tensor algebra as a subalgebra of the full symmetry. We also briefly describe outstanding problems. Talk presented at the Gursey memorial conference, Istanbul, Turkey, June, 1994.Comment: 5 pages, Plain TeX, no figure

Comment: Bayesian Checking of the Second Levels of Hierarchical Models

We discuss the methods of Evans and Moshonov [Bayesian Analysis 1 (2006) 893--914, Bayesian Statistics and Its Applications (2007) 145--159] concerning checking for prior-data conflict and their relevance to the method proposed in this paper. [arXiv:0802.0743]Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/07-STS235C the Statistical Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Spacetime Supersymmetry in a nontrivial NS-NS Superstring Background

In this paper we consider superstring propagation in a nontrivial NS-NS background. We deform the world sheet stress tensor and supercurrent with an infinitesimal B_{\mu\nu} field. We construct the gauge-covariant super-Poincare generators in this background and show that the B_{\mu\nu} field spontaneously breaks spacetime supersymmetry. We find that the gauge-covariant spacetime momenta cease to commute with each other and with the spacetime supercharges. We construct a set of "magnetic" super-Poincare generators that are conserved for constant field strength H_{\mu\nu\lambda}, and show that these generators obey a "magnetic" extension of the ordinary supersymmetry algebra.Comment: 13 pages, Latex. Published versio

Optimal properties of some Bayesian inferences

Relative surprise regions are shown to minimize, among Bayesian credible regions, the prior probability of covering a false value from the prior. Such regions are also shown to be unbiased in the sense that the prior probability of covering a false value is bounded above by the prior probability of covering the true value. Relative surprise regions are shown to maximize both the Bayes factor in favor of the region containing the true value and the relative belief ratio, among all credible regions with the same posterior content. Relative surprise regions emerge naturally when we consider equivalence classes of credible regions generated via reparameterizations.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/07-EJS126 the Electronic Journal of Statistics (http://www.i-journals.org/ejs/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Second cohomology groups and finite covers

For D an infinite set, k>1 and W the set of k-sets from D, there is a natural closed permutation group G_k which is a non-split extension of \mathbb{Z}_2^W by \Sym(D). We classify the closed subgroups of G_k which project onto \Sym(D)$. The question arises in model theory as a problem about finite covers, but here we formulate and solve it in algebraic terms.Comment: Typos corrected; change of title to 'Second cohomology groups and finite covers of infinite symmetric groups' in published versio

Phase Transitions in one-dimensional nonequilibrium systems

The phenomenon of phase transitions in one-dimensional systems is discussed. Equilibrium systems are reviewed and some properties of an energy function which may allow phase transitions and phase ordering in one dimension are identified. We then give an overview of the one-dimensional phase transitions which we have been studied in nonequilibrium systems. A particularly simple model, the zero-range process, for which the steady state is know exactly as a product measure, is discussed in some detail. Generalisations of the model, for which a product measure still holds, are also discussed. We analyse in detail a condensation phase transition in the model and show how conditions under which it may occur may be related to the existence of an effective long-range energy function. Although the zero-range process is not well known within the physics community, several nonequilibrium models have been proposed that are examples of a zero-range process, or closely related to it, and we review these applications here.Comment: latex, 28 pages, review article; references update