Two Dimensional Quantum Chromodynamics as the Limit of Higher Dimensional Theories

We define pure gauge $QCD$ on an infinite strip of width $L$. Techniques similar to those used in finite $TQCD$ allow us to relate $3D$-observables to pure $QCD_2$ behaviors. The non triviality of the L \arrow 0 limit is proven and the generalization to four dimensions described. The glueball spectrum of the theory in the small width limit is calculated and compared to that of the two dimensional theory.Comment: 12 pages written in LaTeX, figure available from the authors, preprint Univ. of Valencia, FTUV/94-4

An intrinsic characterization of 2+2 warped spacetimes

We give several equivalent conditions that characterize the 2+2 warped spacetimes: imposing the existence of a Killing-Yano tensor $A$ subject to complementary algebraic restrictions; in terms of the projector $v$ (or of the canonical 2-form $U$) associated with the 2-planes of the warped product. These planes are principal planes of the Weyl and/or Ricci tensors and can be explicitly obtained from them. Therefore, we obtain the necessary and sufficient (local) conditions for a metric tensor to be a 2+2 warped product. These conditions exclusively involve explicit concomitants of the Riemann tensor. We present a similar analysis for the conformally 2+2 product spacetimes and give an invariant classification of them. The warped products correspond to two of these invariant classes. The more degenerate class is the set of product metrics which are also studied from an invariant point of view.Comment: 18 pages; submitted to Class. Quantum Grav

Obtaining the Weyl tensor from the Bel-Robinson tensor

The algebraic study of the Bel-Robinson tensor proposed and initiated in a previous work (Gen. Relativ. Gravit. {\bf 41}, see ref [11]) is achieved. The canonical form of the different algebraic types is obtained in terms of Bel-Robinson eigen-tensors. An algorithmic determination of the Weyl tensor from the Bel-Robinson tensor is presented.Comment: 21 page

A topological charge selection rule for phase singularities

We present an study of the dynamics and decay pattern of phase singularities due to the action of a system with a discrete rotational symmetry of finite order. A topological charge conservation rule is identified. The role played by the underlying symmetry is emphasized. An effective model describing the short range dynamics of the vortex clusters has been designed. A method to engineer any desired configuration of clusters of phase singularities is proposed. Its flexibility to create and control clusters of vortices is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

The Role of Temperature in a Dimensional Approach to QCD_3

We analyze the role played by temperature in QCD_3 by means of a dimensional interpolating approach. Pure gauge QCD_3 is defined on a strip of finite width L, which acts as an interpolating parameter between two and three dimensions. A two-dimensional effective theory can be constructed for small enough widths giving the same longitudinal physics as QCD_3. Explicit calculations of T-dependent QCD_3 observables can thus be performed. The generation of a deconfinig phase transition, absent in QCD_2, is proven through an exact calculation of the electric or Debye mass at high T. Low and high T behaviors of relevant thermodynamic functions are also worked out. An accurate estimate of the critical temperature is given and its evolution with L is studied in detail.Comment: 27 pages, 3 postscript figures. Changes in section

On the importance of interstellar helium for the propagation of heavy cosmic rays

The influence of interstellar He on the fragmentation of heavy cosmic rays in the interstellar medium (ISM) has long been a controversial subject. While H-induced cross section data are now avialable over broad mass and energy ranges, little data for He-induced fragmentation exists. With the recent reports of accurate measurements of the secondary/primary ratios in cosmic rays and of H-induced cross sections the problem of including interstellar He in propagation calculations becomes even more critical. As is argued the escape lengths lambda e deduced from the B/C+) and Sc-Cr/Fe ratios cannot be reconciled within the frame of a simple leaky box model assuming the ISM composed of pure H. It is quite remarkable that the discrepancy is especially large in the GeV region where (1) secondary/primary ratios measured by several groups agree fairly well and (2) fragmentation cross sections have been recently measured with good accuracy

Symmetry breaking and singularity structure in Bose-Einstein condensates

We determine the trajectories of vortex singularities that arise after a single vortex is broken by a discretely symmetric impulse in the context of Bose-Einstein condensates in a harmonic trap. The dynamics of these singularities are analyzed to determine the form of the imprinted motion. We find that the symmetry-breaking process introduces two effective forces: a repulsive harmonic force that causes the daughter trajectories to be ejected from the parent singularity, and a Magnus force that introduces a torque about the axis of symmetry. For the analytical non-interacting case we find that the parent singularity is reconstructed from the daughter singularities after one period of the trapping frequency. The interactions between singularities in the weakly interacting system do not allow the parent vortex to be reconstructed. Analytic trajectories were compared to the actual minima of the wavefunction, showing less 0.5% error for impulse strength of (v=0.00005). We show that these solutions are valid within the impulse regime for various impulse strengths using numerical integration of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We also show that the actual duration of the symmetry breaking potential does not significantly change the dynamics of the system as long as the strength is below (v=0.0005).Comment: 14 pages, 10 figure