Vacuum polarization of a quantized scalar field in the thermal state in a long throat

Vacuum polarization of scalar fields in the background of a long throat is investigated. The field is assumed to be both massive or massless, with arbitrary coupling to the scalar curvature, and in a thermal state at an arbitrary temperature. Analytical approximation for $\left< \varphi^2 \right>_{ren}$ is obtained.Comment: 20 page

Closed N=2 Strings: Picture-Changing, Hidden Symmetries and SDG Hierarchy

We study the action of picture-changing and spectral flow operators on a ground ring of ghost number zero operators in the chiral BRST cohomology of the closed N=2 string and describe an infinite set of symmetry charges acting on physical states. The transformations of physical string states are compared with symmetries of self-dual gravity which is the effective field theory of the closed N=2 string. We derive all infinitesimal symmetries of the self-dual gravity equations in 2+2 dimensional spacetime and introduce an infinite hierarchy of commuting flows on the moduli space of self-dual metrics. The dependence on moduli parameters can be recovered by solving the equations of the SDG hierarchy associated with an infinite set of abelian symmetries generated recursively from translations. These non-local abelian symmetries are shown to coincide with the hidden abelian string symmetries responsible for the vanishing of most scattering amplitudes. Therefore, N=2 string theory "predicts" not only self-dual gravity but also the SDG hierarchy.Comment: 41 pages, no figure

Analytical approximation for <ϕ2>< \phi^2 > of a quantized scalar field in ultrastatic asymptotically flat spacetimes

Analytical approximations for of a quantized scalar field in ultrastatic asymptotically flat spacetimes are obtained. The field is assumed to be both massive and massless, with an arbitrary coupling $\xi$ to the scalar curvature, and in a zero or nonzero temperature vacuum state. The expression for is divided into low- and high-frequency parts. The expansion for the high-frequency contribution to this quantity is obtained. This expansion is analogous to the DeWitt-Schwinger one. As an example, the low-frequency contribution to $$ is calculated on the background of the small perturbed flat spacetime in a quantum state corresponding to the Minkowski vacuum at the asymptotic. The limits of the applicability of these approximations are discussed.Comment: revtex4, 9 page

Interference at quantum transitions: lasing without inversion and resonant four-wave mixing in strong fields at Doppler-broadened transitions

An influence of nonlinear interference processes at quantum transitions under strong resonance electromagnetic fields on absorption, amplification and refractive indices as well as on four-wave mixing processes is investigated. Doppler broadening of the coupled transitions, incoherent excitation, relaxation processes, as well as power saturation processes associated with the coupled levels are taken into account. Both closed (ground state is involved) and open (only excited states are involved) energy level configurations are considered. Common expressions are obtained which allow one to analyze the optical characteristics (including gain without inversion and enhanced refractive index at vanishing absorption) for various V, Lambda and H configurations of interfering transitions by a simple substitution of parameters. Similar expressions for resonant four-wave mixing in Raman configurations are derived too. Crucial role of Doppler broadening is shown. The theory is applied to numerical analysis of some recent and potential experiments.Comment: 12 pages, 9 eps figures, invited paper, Proceedings of the 11th International Vavilov Conference on Nonlinear Optic

Results from HARP and their implications for neutrino physics

Recent results from the HARP experiment on the measurements of the double-differential production cross-section of pions in proton interactions with beryllium, carbon and tantalum targets are presented. These results are relevant for a detailed understanding of neutrino flux in accelerator neutrino experiments MiniBooNE/SciBooNE, for a better prediction of atmospheric neutrino fluxes as well as for an optimization of a future neutrino factory design.Comment: Presented at the XLIInd Rencontres de Moriond on Electroweak Interactions and Unified Theorie