Fine Structure of Dark Energy and New Physics

Following our recent work on the cosmological constant problem, in this letter we make a specific proposal regarding the fine structure (i.e., the spectrum) of dark energy. The proposal is motivated by a deep analogy between the blackbody radiation problem, which led to the development of quantum theory, and the cosmological constant problem, which we have recently argued calls for a conceptual extension of the quantum theory. We argue that the fine structure of dark energy is governed by a Wien distribution, indicating its dual quantum and classical nature. We discuss a few observational consequences of such a picture of dark energy.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, typos fixed, comments, references, and footnotes added, Sec. 4 revise

Modular matrix models

Inspired by a formal resemblance of certain q-expansions of modular forms and the master field formalism of matrix models in terms of Cuntz operators, we construct a Hermitian one-matrix model, which we dub the ``modular matrix model.'' Together with an N=1 gauge theory and a special Calabi-Yau geometry, we find a modular matrix model that naturally encodes the Klein elliptic j-invariant, and hence, by Moonshine, the irreducible representations of the Fischer-Griess Monster group

On the Shape of Things: From holography to elastica

We explore the question of which shape a manifold is compelled to take when immersed in another one, provided it must be the extremum of some functional. We consider a family of functionals which depend quadratically on the extrinsic curvatures and on projections of the ambient curvatures. These functionals capture a number of physical setups ranging from holography to the study of membranes and elastica. We present a detailed derivation of the equations of motion, known as the shape equations, placing particular emphasis on the issue of gauge freedom in the choice of normal frame. We apply these equations to the particular case of holographic entanglement entropy for higher curvature three dimensional gravity and find new classes of entangling curves. In particular, we discuss the case of New Massive Gravity where we show that non-geodesic entangling curves have always a smaller on-shell value of the entropy functional. Then we apply this formalism to the computation of the entanglement entropy for dual logarithmic CFTs. Nevertheless, the correct value for the entanglement entropy is provided by geodesics. Then, we discuss the importance of these equations in the context of classical elastica and comment on terms that break gauge invariance.Comment: 54 pages, 8 figures. Significantly improved version, accepted for publication in Annals of Physics. New section on logarithmic CFTs. Detailed derivation of the shape equations added in appendix B. Typos corrected, clarifications adde

On the Physics of the Riemann Zeros

We discuss a formal derivation of an integral expression for the Li coefficients associated with the Riemann xi-function which, in particular, indicates that their positivity criterion is obeyed, whereby entailing the criticality of the non-trivial zeros. We conjecture the validity of this and related expressions without the need for the Riemann Hypothesis and discuss a physical interpretation of this result within the Hilbert-Polya approach. In this context we also outline a relation between string theory and the Riemann Hypothesis.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, Quantum Theory and Symmetries 6 conference proceeding

Quantum Gravity and Turbulence

We apply recent advances in quantum gravity to the problem of turbulence. Adopting the AdS/CFT approach we propose a string theory of turbulence that explains the Kolmogorov scaling in 3+1 dimensions and the Kraichnan and Kolmogorov scalings in 2+1 dimensions. In the gravitational context, turbulence is intimately related to the properties of spacetime, or quantum, foam.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX; Honorable Mention in the 2010 Gravity Research Foundation Essay Contes

Eigenvalue Density, Li’s Positivity, and the Critical Strip

We rewrite the zero-counting formula within the critical strip of the Riemann zeta function as a cumulative density distribution; this subsequently allows us to formally derive an integral expression for the Li coefficients associated with the Riemann xi-function which, in particular, indicate that their positivity criterion is obeyed, whereby entailing the criticality of the non-trivial zeros. We conjecture the validity of this and related expressions without the need for the Riemann Hypothesis and also offer a physical interpretation of the result and discuss the Hilbert-Polya approach