301 research outputs found
Conformal Partial Waves and the Operator Product Expansion
By solving the two variable differential equations which arise from finding
the eigenfunctions for the Casimir operator for succinct expressions
are found for the functions, conformal partial waves, representing the
contribution of an operator of arbitrary scale dimension and spin
together with its descendants to conformal four point functions for
, recovering old results, and also for . The results are expressed in
terms of ordinary hypergeometric functions of variables which are simply
related to the usual conformal invariants. An expression for the conformal
partial wave amplitude valid for any dimension is also found in terms of a sum
over two variable symmetric Jack polynomials which is used to derive relations
for the conformal partial waves.Comment: 17 pages, uses harvmac, v2 correction to eq. 2.2
Dualities in Supersymmetric Field Theories
Lectures presented at the 33rd Karpacz Winter School ``Duality: Strings and
Fields'' briefly introducing dualities in four-dimensional quantum field
theory, and summarizing results found in supersymmetric field theories. The
first lecture describes physical aspects of electric-magnetic (EM), strong-weak
coupling (S), and infrared (IR) dualities. The second lecture focuses on
results and conjectures concerning S-duality in N=2 supersymmetric gauge
theories. The third lecture discusses IR-dualities and their relation to
S-duality in N=1 supersymmetric field theories.Comment: 9 pages, latex with espcrc2.st
Old and new results for superenergy tensors from dimensionally dependent tensor identities
It is known that some results for spinors, and in particular for superenergy
spinors, are much less transparent and require a lot more effort to establish,
when considered from the tensor viewpoint. In this paper we demonstrate how the
use of dimensionally dependent tensor identities enables us to derive a number
of 4-dimensional identities by straightforward tensor methods in a signature
independent manner. In particular, we consider the quadratic identity for the
Bel-Robinson tensor and also the new conservation laws for the
Chevreton tensor, both of which have been obtained by spinor means; both of
these results are rederived by {\it tensor} means for 4-dimensional spaces of
any signature, using dimensionally dependent identities, and also we are able
to conclude that there are no {\it direct} higher dimensional analogues. In
addition we demonstrate a simple way to show non-existense of such identities
via counter examples; in particular we show that there is no non-trivial Bel
tensor analogue of this simple Bel-Robinson tensor quadratic identity. On the
other hand, as a sample of the power of generalising dimensionally dependent
tensor identities from four to higher dimensions, we show that the symmetry
structure, trace-free and divergence-free nature of the four dimensional
Bel-Robinson tensor does have an analogue for a class of tensors in higher
dimensions.Comment: 18 pages; TeX fil
Theoretical Research in Cosmology, High-Energy Physics and String Theory
The research was in the area of Theoretical Physics: Cosmology, High-Energy Physics and String Theor
On Four-Point Functions of Half-BPS Operators in General Dimensions
We study four-point correlation functions of half-BPS operators of arbitrary
weight for all dimensions d=3,4,5,6 where superconformal theories exist. Using
harmonic superspace techniques, we derive the superconformal Ward identities
for these correlators and present them in a universal form. We then solve these
identities, employing Jack polynomial expansions. We show that the general
solution is parameterized by a set of arbitrary two-variable functions, with
the exception of the case d=4, where in addition functions of a single variable
appear. We also discuss the operator product expansion using recent results on
conformal partial wave amplitudes in arbitrary dimension.Comment: The discussion of the case d=6 expanded; references added/correcte
Scale without Conformal Invariance at Three Loops
We carry out a three-loop computation that establishes the existence of scale
without conformal invariance in dimensional regularization with the MS scheme
in d=4-epsilon spacetime dimensions. We also comment on the effects of scheme
changes in theories with many couplings, as well as in theories that live on
non-conformal scale-invariant renormalization group trajectories. Stability
properties of such trajectories are analyzed, revealing both attractive and
repulsive directions in a specific example. We explain how our results are in
accord with those of Jack & Osborn on a c-theorem in d=4 (and d=4-epsilon)
dimensions. Finally, we point out that limit cycles with turning points are
unlike limit cycles with continuous scale invariance.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures, Erratum adde
A systematic review of sport and dance participation in healthy young people (15-24 years) to promote subjective wellbeing
We know that taking part in physical activity like sport and dance can bring wellbeing benefits, such as being more satisfied with life and happier, and feeling less anxious and depressed. Most of the evidence is however about adults. This review was carried out to investigate the relationships between subjective wellbeing (SWB) and taking part in sport and dance for healthy young people (15-24 years). Healthy people were defined as those without a condition diagnosed by a health professional. SWB describes wellbeing in terms of the good and bad feelings arising from what people do and how they think. The focus of this review was agreed through on-going collaborative engagement with UK-wide stakeholders representing policy, commissioning and managing, service delivery, and scholars from both academic and non-academic organisations.
We examined studies from the past 10 years and found that there is limited good quality evidence, and very little conducted in the UK. The review includes published findings from 977 participants across six countries - China, Korea, India, Turkey, Sweden and the USA. In some studies, participants were predominantly female. A wide variety of wellbeing measures were used. The most common form of sport/dance related activity was based on meditative practices (yoga and Baduanjin Qigong). Other physical activities reported included body conditioning, aerobic exercise, dance training, hip hop dance and sports including volleyball, ice skating, Nintendo Wii Active Games.
We included evidence from recent unpublished reports (grey literature) produced by or for sport and dance organisations since 2013. Participants in the evaluations were both male and female with a mean age between 13-24 years and were engaged in UK-based programmes of sport and dance. Findings illustrate that depending on activity type and delivery mode, taking part is associated with wellbeing improvements connected to social connectedness, pleasure, sense of purpose, confidence, interpersonal skills, happiness, relaxation, creative skills and expression, aspiration and ambition. Taking part was also associated with negative wellbeing connected to concerns about competency and capability.
Overall, the evidence available in this review suggests that yoga-type activities have the potential to improve subjective wellbeing and that group-based and peer supported sport and dance programmes may promote wellbeing enhancement in youth groups. The evidence in this review provides limited promising findings upon which sport and dance programmes for wellbeing improvement could be developed.
The lack of evidence identified in this review does not necessarily mean that wellbeing benefits are not accrued from taking part in sport and dance. There is scope to build evidence on wellbeing outcomes of sport and dance in healthy young people through well-designed, rigorous and appropriate research methods which are underpinned by relevant theory and use established methods of analysis
A systematic review of the subjective wellbeing outcomes of engaging with visual arts for adults (âworking-ageâ, 15-64 years) with diagnosed mental health conditions
The importance of the visual arts in contributing to the wellbeing of adults with mental health conditions has been little documented beyond some insightful and influential interventions and exploratory studies. Initiatives such as Arts on Prescription projects have, in the UK provided examples of the positive effects that engagement in artistic and creative activity can have, and some of these have been documented in small-scale studies of interventions. Most of the evidence has been perceived as positive but of limited scale. In this context, this review was carried out to examine in a more focused way the âsubjective wellbeingâ (SWB) outcomes of engagement with the visual arts for adults with a background history of mental health conditions. SWB embraces both the positive and negative feelings that arise in individuals based on their view of the world, how they think about themselves and others, and what they do in the interactions and practices of everyday life. Adult subjects in the studies included in this review were of âworking-ageâ (15-64 years). The focus of the review and the precise research question were agreed at inception sessions of the research team, and in collaborative engagement with stakeholders in the areas of policy, service-delivery, project and evaluation commissioning, and research and scholarship in the spheres of the visual arts and mental health.
Published studies from the past 10 years were studied for the review, and their findings synthesised and integrated into an evaluation of the state of knowledge in the field, in terms of the specifics of the research questions. We found that there is limited high-quality evidence, though case studies from the UK have provided important and consistent findings, corroborated by grey literature that has reported on interventions and projects. The review includes published findings based on data on/from 163 participants across four countries â Australia, Sweden, the UK, and the USA. Overall, female respondents outnumbered male respondents. A wide variety of wellbeing measures were used in some quantitative, statistical studies. In-depth interviews dominated the qualitative studies, giving voice to the experiences of individual subjects. The visual arts practices that featured in the studies included forms of painting or drawing, art appreciation with selected art forms, artmaking culminating in an exhibition, and more general creative and craft activities that included visual artefacts such as ceramics or sculpture.
Evidence we include from recent unpublished reports (grey literature) was produced by or for visual arts organisations since 2014. Participants in the evaluations were both male and female and were engaged in UK-based arts interventions, many via community arts or âArts on Prescriptionâ types of intervention. Overall, the evidence available in this review has shown that engagement in the visual arts for adults with mental health conditions can reduce reported levels of depression and anxiety; increase self-respect, self-worth and self-esteem; encourage and stimulate re-engagement with the wider, everyday social world; and support in participants a potential renegotiation of identity through practice-based forms of making or doing. The most effective âworking ways to wellbeingâ are also confirmed in processes of implementation that ensure provision of secure safe-space and havens for interventions; that recognise the value of non-stigmatising settings; and that support and sustain collaborative facilitation of programmes and sessions.
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Some negative dimensions of engagement with the visual arts were also identified, including stress and pressure felt to complete activities or commit to artmaking, and the very real fear that the end of an intervention would mean the return to a world of anxiety, decreasing confidence and social isolation. The review shows that for adults starting visual arts activities or programmes, the subjective wellbeing outcomes are, for the majority of participants, positive. This applies to men and women alike across the studies. The most convincing evidence has emerged from focused qualitative research designs, and makes clear that the most effective work in the field continues to lack the necessary resources and infrastructure that would ensure sustainable practices and interventions. Overall, there is some evidence of benefit in a weak field that could be strengthened by fuller monitoring of cohorts to evaluate the long-term effects of participantsâ engagement with the visual arts
Bose-Einstein condensation for interacting scalar fields in curved spacetime
We consider the model of self-interacting complex scalar fields with a rigid
gauge invariance under an arbitrary gauge group . In order to analyze the
phenomenon of Bose-Einstein condensation finite temperature and the possibility
of a finite background charge is included. Different approaches to derive the
relevant high-temperature behaviour of the theory are presented.Comment: 28 pages, LaTe
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