Stability of vector bundles from F-theory

We use a recently proposed formulation of stable holomorphic vector bundles $V$ on elliptically fibered Calabi--Yau n-fold $Z_n$ in terms of toric geometry to describe stability conditions on $V$. Using the toric map $f: W_{n+1} \to (V,Z_n)$ that identifies dual pairs of F-theory/heterotic duality we show how stability can be related to the existence of holomorphic sections of a certain line bundle that is part of the toric construction.Comment: 8 pages, harvmac (b

Exponential Hierarchy From Spacetime Variable String Vacua

It is shown that non-supersymmetric spacetime varying string vacua can lead to an exponential hierarchy between the electroweak and the gravitational scales. The hierarchy is naturally generated by a string coupling of O(1).Comment: 22 pages, Latex, 2 figure

On Relativistic Brane Probes in Singular Spacetimes

We study the relativistic dynamics of brane probes in singular warped spacetimes and establish limits for such analysis. The behavior of the semiclassical brane probe wave functions implies that unitarity boundary conditions can be imposed at the singularity.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, typos corrected and references adde

Classical {\it vs.}\ Landau-Ginzburg Geometry of Compactification

We consider superstring compactifications where both the classical description, in terms of a Calabi-Yau manifold, and also the quantum theory is known in terms of a Landau-Ginzburg orbifold model. In particular, we study (smooth) Calabi-Yau examples in which there are obstructions to parametrizing all of the complex structure cohomology by polynomial deformations thus requiring the analysis based on exact and spectral sequences. General arguments ensure that the Landau-Ginzburg chiral ring copes with such a situation by having a nontrivial contribution from twisted sectors. Beyond the expected final agreement between the mathematical and physical approaches, we find a direct correspondence between the analysis of each, thus giving a more complete mathematical understanding of twisted sectors. Furthermore, this approach shows that physical reasoning based upon spectral flow arguments for determining the spectrum of Landau-Ginzburg orbifold models finds direct mathematical justification in Koszul complex calculations and also that careful point- field analysis continues to recover suprisingly much of the stringy features.Comment: 14

Spacetime structure of the global vortex

We analyse the spacetime structure of the global vortex and its maximal analytic extension in an arbitrary number of spacetime dimensions. We find that the vortex compactifies space on the scale of the Hubble expansion of its worldvolume, in a manner reminiscent of that of the domain wall. We calculate the effective volume of this compactification and remark on its relevance to hierarchy resolution with extra dimensions. We also consider strongly gravitating vortices and derive bounds on the existence of a global vortex solution.Comment: 19 pages revtex, 2 figures, minor changes, references adde

Relating the Cosmological Constant and Supersymmetry Breaking in Warped Compactifications of IIB String Theory

It has been suggested that the observed value of the cosmological constant is related to the supersymmetry breaking scale M_{susy} through the formula Lambda \sim M_p^4 (M_{susy}/M_p)^8. We point out that a similar relation naturally arises in the codimension two solutions of warped space-time varying compactifications of string theory in which non-isotropic stringy moduli induce a small but positive cosmological constant.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX, references added and minor changes made, (v3) map between deSitter and global cosmic brane solutions clarified, supersymmetry breaking discussion improved and references adde

Femtosecond wavepacket interferometry using the rotational dynamics of a trapped cold molecular ion

A Ramsey-type interferometer is suggested, employing a cold trapped ion and two time-delayed off-resonant femtosecond laser pulses. The laser light couples to the molecular polarization anisotropy, inducing rotational wavepacket dynamics. An interferogram is obtained from the delay dependent populations of the final field-free rotational states. Current experimental capabilities for cooling and preparation of the initial state are found to yield an interferogram visibility of more than 80\%. The interferograms can be used to determine the polarizability anisotropy with an accuracy of about $\pm 2\%$, respectively $\pm 5\%$, provided the uncertainty in the initial populations and measurement errors are confined to within the same limits