Kappa symmetric OSp(2|2) WZNW model

We construct a kappa symmetric WZNW model for the OSp(2|2) supergroup, whose bosonic part is AdS3xS1 space. The field equation gives the chiral current conservation and the right/left factorization is shown after the kappa symmetry is fixed. The right-moving modes contain both bosons and fermions while the left-moving modes contain only bosons.Comment: 18 pages; reference and comments added, version to appear in JHE

Thermodynamics of a Kerr Newman de Sitter Black Hole

We compute the conserved quantities of the four-dimensional Kerr-Newman-dS (KNdS) black hole through the use of the counterterm renormalization method, and obtain a generalized Smarr formula for the mass as a function of the entropy, the angular momentum and the electric charge. The first law of thermodynamics associated to the cosmological horizon of KNdS is also investigated. Using the minimal number of intrinsic boundary counterterms, we consider the quasilocal thermodynamics of asymptotic de Sitter Reissner-Nordstrom black hole, and find that the temperature is equal to the product of the surface gravity (divided by $2\pi$) and the Tolman redshift factor. We also perform a quasilocal stability analysis by computing the determinant of Hessian matrix of the energy with respect to its thermodynamic variables in both the canonical and the grand-canonical ensembles and obtain a complete set of phase diagrams. We then turn to the quasilocal thermodynamics of four-dimensional Kerr-Newman-de Sitter black hole for virtually all possible values of the mass, the rotation and the charge parameters that leave the quasilocal boundary inside the cosmological event horizon, and perform a quasilocal stability analysis of KNdS black hole.Comment: REVTEX4, 12 pages, 12 figures, references added and some points in Sec II have been clarified, version to appear in Can. J. Phy

Fundamental Superstrings as Holograms

The worldsheet of a macroscopic fundamental superstring in the Green-Schwarz light-cone gauge is viewed as a possible boundary hologram of the near horizon region of a small black string. For toroidally compactified strings, the hologram has global symmetries of AdS_3 \times S^{d-1} \times T^{8-d}, (d =3,..,8), only some of which extend to local conformal symmetries. We construct the bulk string theory in detail for the particular case of d=3. The symmetries of the hologram are correctly reproduced from this exact worldsheet description in the bulk. Moreover, the central charge of the boundary Virasoro algebra obtained from the bulk agrees with the Wald entropy of the associated small black holes. This construction provides an exact CFT description of the near horizon region of small black holes both in Type-II and heterotic string theory arising from multiply wound fundamental superstrings.Comment: 46 pages, JHEP style. v2: Comments, references adde

Gauge Theory and the Excision of Repulson Singularities

We study brane configurations that give rise to large-N gauge theories with eight supersymmetries and no hypermultiplets. These configurations include a variety of wrapped, fractional, and stretched branes or strings. The corresponding spacetime geometries which we study have a distinct kind of singularity known as a repulson. We find that this singularity is removed by a distinctive mechanism, leaving a smooth geometry with a core having an enhanced gauge symmetry. The spacetime geometry can be related to large-N Seiberg-Witten theory.Comment: 31 pages LaTeX, 2 figures (v3: references added

Near the horizon of 5D black rings

For the five dimensional N=2 black rings, we study the supersymmetry enhancement and identify the global supergroup of the near horizon geometry. We show that the global part of the supergroup is OSp(4*|2)X U(1) which is similar to the small black string. We show that results obtained by applying the entropy function formalism, the c-extremization approach and the Brown-Henneaux method to the black ring solution are in agreement with the microscopic entropy calculation.Comment: 26 pages, version to appear in JHEP, the near horizon superalgebra is corrected, discussion on small black ring is discarded, Brown-Henneaux approach to large black ring is adde

Localized modes at a D-brane--O-plane intersection and heterotic Alice strings

We study a system of $N_c$ $D3$-branes intersecting $D7$-branes and $O7$-planes in 1+1-dimensions. We use anomaly cancellation and string dualities to argue that there must be chiral fermion zero-modes on the $D3$-branes which are localized near the $O7$-planes. Away from the orientifold limit we verify this by using index theory as well as explicit construction of the zero-modes. This system is related to F-theory on K3 and heterotic matrix string theory, and the heterotic strings are related to Alice string defects in $\mathcal{N}=4$ Super-Yang-Mills. In the limit of large $N_c$ we find an $AdS_3$ dual of the heterotic matrix string CFT.Comment: 44 pages, typos corrected, version published in JHE

String Theoretic Bounds on Lorentz-Violating Warped Compactification

We consider warped compactifications that solve the 10 dimensional supergravity equations of motion at a point, stabilize the position of a D3-brane world, and admit a warp factor that violates Lorentz invariance along the brane. This gives a string embedding of ``asymmetrically warped'' models which we use to calculate stringy (\alpha') corrections to standard model dispersion relations, paying attention to the maximum speeds for different particles. We find, from the dispersion relations, limits on gravitational Lorentz violation in these models, improving on current limits on the speed of graviton propagation, including those derived from field theoretic loops. We comment on the viability of models that use asymmetric warping for self-tuning of the brane cosmological constant.Comment: 20pg, JHEP3; v2 additional references, slight change to intro; v3. added referenc

Identifying topological edge states in 2D optical lattices using light scattering

We recently proposed in a Letter [Physical Review Letters 108 255303] a novel scheme to detect topological edge states in an optical lattice, based on a generalization of Bragg spectroscopy. The scope of the present article is to provide a more detailed and pedagogical description of the system - the Hofstadter optical lattice - and probing method. We first show the existence of topological edge states, in an ultra-cold gas trapped in a 2D optical lattice and subjected to a synthetic magnetic field. The remarkable robustness of the edge states is verified for a variety of external confining potentials. Then, we describe a specific laser probe, made from two lasers in Laguerre-Gaussian modes, which captures unambiguous signatures of these edge states. In particular, the resulting Bragg spectra provide the dispersion relation of the edge states, establishing their chiral nature. In order to make the Bragg signal experimentally detectable, we introduce a "shelving method", which simultaneously transfers angular momentum and changes the internal atomic state. This scheme allows to directly visualize the selected edge states on a dark background, offering an instructive view on topological insulating phases, not accessible in solid-state experiments.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Revised and extended version, to appear in EJP Special Topic for the special issue on "Novel Quantum Phases and Mesoscopic Physics in Quantum Gases". Extended version of arXiv:1203.124

Quest for Localized 4-D Black Holes in Brane Worlds

We investigate the possibility of obtaining localized black hole solutions in brane worlds by introducing a dependence of the four-dimensional line--element on the extra dimension. An analysis, performed for the cases of an empty bulk and of a bulk containing either a scalar or a gauge field, reveals that no conventional type of matter can support such a dependence. Considering a particular ansatz for the five-dimensional line--element that corresponds to a black hole solution with a ``decaying'' horizon, we determine the bulk energy--momentum tensor capable of sustaining such a behaviour. It turns out that an exotic, shell-like distribution of matter is required. For such solutions, the black hole singularity is indeed localized near the brane and the spacetime is well defined near the AdS horizon, in contrast to the behaviour found in black string type solutions.Comment: 17 pages, RevTex, 3 figures, version to appear in Physical Review D, comments and references added, typos correcte

What we don't know about time

String theory has transformed our understanding of geometry, topology and spacetime. Thus, for this special issue of Foundations of Physics commemorating "Forty Years of String Theory", it seems appropriate to step back and ask what we do not understand. As I will discuss, time remains the least understood concept in physical theory. While we have made significant progress in understanding space, our understanding of time has not progressed much beyond the level of a century ago when Einstein introduced the idea of space-time as a combined entity. Thus, I will raise a series of open questions about time, and will review some of the progress that has been made as a roadmap for the future.Comment: 15 pages; Essay for a special issue of Foundations of Physics commemorating "Forty years of string theory