On boundary RG-flows in coset conformal field theories

We propose a new rule for boundary renormalization group flows in fixed-point free coset models. Our proposal generalizes the 'absorption of boundary spin'-principle formulated by Affleck and Ludwig to a large class of perturbations in boundary conformal field theories. We illustrate the rule in the case of unitary minimal models.Comment: 3 pages, uses RevTeX

Representation Theory of Chern Simons Observables

Recently we suggested a new quantum algebra, the moduli algebra, which was conjectured to be a quantum algebra of observables of the Hamiltonian Chern Simons theory. This algebra provides the quantization of the algebra of functions on the moduli space of flat connections on a 2-dimensional surface. In this paper we classify unitary representations of this new algebra and identify the corresponding representation spaces with the spaces of conformal blocks of the WZW model. The mapping class group of the surface is proved to act on the moduli algebra by inner automorphisms. The generators of these automorphisms are unitary elements of the moduli algebra. They are constructed explicitly and proved to satisfy the relations of the (unique) central extension of the mapping class group.Comment: 63 pages, late

Brane dynamics in CFT backgrounds

In this note we discuss bound states of un- or meta-stable brane configurations in various non-trivial (curved) backgrounds. We begin by reviewing some known results concerning brane dynamics on group manifolds. These are then employed to study condensation in cosets of the WZW model. While the basic ideas are more general, our presentation focuses on parafermion theories and, closely related, $N=2$ superconformal minimal models. We determine the (non-commutative) low energy effective actions for all maximally symmetric branes in a decoupling limit of the two theories. These actions are used to show that the lightest branes can be regarded as elementary constituents for all other maximally symmetric branes

Heptagon Amplitude in the Multi-Regge Regime

As we have shown in previous work, the high energy limit of scattering amplitudes in N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory corresponds to the infrared limit of the 1-dimensional quantum integrable system that solves minimal area problems in AdS5. This insight can be developed into a systematic algorithm to compute the strong coupling limit of amplitudes in the multi-Regge regime through the solution of auxiliary Bethe Ansatz equations. We apply this procedure to compute the scattering amplitude for n=7 external gluons in different multi-Regge regions at infinite 't Hooft coupling. Our formulas are remarkably consistent with the expected form of 7-gluon Regge cut contributions in perturbative gauge theory. A full description of the general algorithm and a derivation of results will be given in a forthcoming paper.Comment: 14 page

Asymptotic boundary layer method for unstable trajectories : Semiclassical expansions for individual scar wavefunctions.

We extend the asymptotic boundary layer (ABL) method, originally developed for stable resonator modes, to the description of individual wave functions localized around unstable periodic orbits. The formalism applies to the description of scar states in fully or partially chaotic quantum systems, and also allows for the presence of smooth and sharp potentials, as well as magnetic fields. We argue that the separatrix wave function provides the largest contribution to the scars on a single wave function. This agrees with earlier results on the wave-function asymptotics and on the quantization condition of the scar states. Predictions of the ABL formalism are compared with the exact numerical solution for a strip resonator with a parabolic confinement potential and a magnetic field

Non-commutative World-volume Geometries: Branes on SU(2) and Fuzzy Spheres

The geometry of D-branes can be probed by open string scattering. If the background carries a non-vanishing B-field, the world-volume becomes non-commutative. Here we explore the quantization of world-volume geometries in a curved background with non-zero Neveu-Schwarz 3-form field strength H = dB. Using exact and generally applicable methods from boundary conformal field theory, we study the example of open strings in the SU(2) Wess-Zumino-Witten model, and establish a relation with fuzzy spheres or certain (non-associative) deformations thereof. These findings could be of direct relevance for D-branes in the presence of Neveu-Schwarz 5-branes; more importantly, they provide insight into a completely new class of world-volume geometries.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, 1 figure; some explanations improved, references adde

Brane Dynamics in Background Fluxes and Non-commutative Geometry

Branes in non-trivial backgrounds are expected to exhibit interesting dynamical properties. We use the boundary conformal field theory approach to study branes in a curved background with non-vanishing Neveu-Schwarz 3-form field strength. For branes on an $S^3$, the low-energy effective action is computed to leading order in the string tension. It turns out to be a field theory on a non-commutative `fuzzy 2-sphere' which consists of a Yang-Mills and a Chern-Simons term. We find a certain set of classical solutions that have no analogue for flat branes in Euclidean space. These solutions show, in particular, how a spherical brane can arise as bound state from a stack of D0-branes.Comment: 25 page

Counting statistics for mesoscopic conductors with internal degrees of freedom

We consider the transport of electrons passing through a mesoscopic device possessing internal dynamical quantum degrees of freedom. The mutual interaction between the system and the conduction electrons contributes to the current fluctuations, which we describe in terms of full counting statistics. We identify conditions where this discriminates coherent from incoherent internal dynamics, and also identify and illustrate conditions under which the device acts to dynamically bunch transmitted or reflected electrons, thereby generating super-Poissonian noise.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

A Note on Noncommutative String theory and its low energy limit

The noncommutative string theory is described by embedding open string theory in a constant second rank antisymmetric $B_{\mu\nu}$ field and the noncommutative gauge theory is defined by a deformed $\star$ product. As a check, study of various scattering amplitudes in both noncommutative string and noncommutative gauge theory confirm that in the $\alpha^{'}\to 0$ limit, the noncommutative string theoretic amplitude goes over to the noncommutative gauge theoretic amplitude, and the couplings are related as $g_{YM}=G_0\sqrt{\frac{1}{2\alpha^{'}}}$. Furthermore we show that in this limit there will not be any correction to the gauge theoretic action because of absence of massive modes. We get sin/cos factors in the scattering amplitudes depending on the odd/even number of external photons.Comment: 14 pages including 2 figure