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Superconformal indices of four-dimensional N = 1 gauge theories factorize into holomorphic blocks. We interpret this as a modular property resulting from the combined action of an SL(3, ℤ) and SL(2, ℤ) ⋉ ℤ2 transformation. The former corresponds to a gluing transformation and the latter to an overall large diffeomorphism, both associated with a Heegaard splitting of the underlying geometry. The extension to more general transformations leads us to argue that a given index can be factorized in terms of a family of holomorphic blocks parametrized by modular (congruence sub)groups. We find precise agreement between this proposal and new modular properties of the elliptic Γ function. This leads to our conjecture for the "modular factorization" of superconformal lens indices of general N = 1 gauge theories. We provide evidence for the conjecture in the context of the free chiral multiplet and SQED and sketch the extension of our arguments to more general gauge theories. Assuming the validity of the conjecture, we systematically prove that a normalized part of superconformal lens indices defines a non-trivial first cohomology class associated with SL(3, ℤ). Finally, we use this framework to propose a formula for the general lens space index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Λ CDM model, dark energy is viewed as a constant vacuum energy density, the cosmological constant in the Einstein–Hilbert action. This assumption can be relaxed in various models that introduce a dynamical dark energy. In this paper, we argue that the mixing between infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) degrees of freedom in quantum gravity leads to infinite statistics, the unique statistics consistent with Lorentz invariance in the presence of nonlocality, and yields a fine structure for dark energy. Introducing IR and UV cutoffs into the quantum gravity action, we deduce the form of Λ as a function of redshift and translate this to the behavior of the Hubble parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) is the theory of the strong interaction. The fundamental particles of QCD, quarks and gluons, carry color charge and form colorless bound states at low energies. The hadronic bound states of primary interest to us are mesons and baryons. A modern approach to computing hadron masses relies on the computationally intensive framework of lattice QCD. In cases where the exact quark composition or other quantum numbers of hadronic states are not precisely known, the prediction of masses from theoretical first principles is especially challenging. We address the problem of creating accurate and interpretable models of hadronic masses without resorting to extensive numerical computations. In this study, we construct a model of hadronic masses using both Bayesian and non-Bayesian techniques in machine learning. From knowledge of the meson spectrum only, neural networks and Gaussian processes predict the masses of baryons with 90.3% and 96.6% accuracy, respectively. We also predict the masses of pentaquarks and other exotic hadrons and demonstrate that machine learning is an effective tool for testing composition hypotheses. Our results surpass the benchmark constituent quark model both in terms of accuracy of predictions and hypothesis testing across all sectors of hadrons. We anticipate that our methods could yield a mass formula for hadrons from quark composition and other quantum numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entropy of 1/16-th BPS AdS5 black holes can be microscopically accounted for by the superconformal index of the N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory. One way to compute this is through a Cardy-like limit of a formula for the index obtained in [1] using the "S-transformation" of the elliptic Γ function. In this paper, we derive more general SL(3, ℤ) modular properties of the elliptic Γ function. We then use these properties to obtain a three integer parameter family of generalized Cardy-like limits of the N = 4 superconformal index. From these limits, we obtain entropy formulae that have a similar form as that of the original AdS5 black hole, up to an overall rescaling of the entropy. We interpret this both on the field theory and the gravitational side. Finally, we comment on how our work suggests a generalization of the Farey tail to four dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple phenomenological formula which approximates the hyperbolic volume of a knot using only a single evaluation of its Jones polynomial at a root of unity. The average error is just 2.86% on the first 1.7 million knots, which represents a large improvement over previous formulas of this kind. To find the approximation formula, we use layer-wise relevance propagation to reverse engineer a black box neural network which achieves a similar average error for the same approximation task when trained on 10% of the total dataset. The particular roots of unity which appear in our analysis cannot be written as e2πi/(k+2) with integer k; therefore, the relevant Jones polynomial evaluations are not given by unknot-normalized expectation values of Wilson loop operators in conventional SU(2) Chern-Simons theory with level k. Instead, they correspond to an analytic continuation of such expectation values to fractional level. We briefly review the continuation procedure and comment on the presence of certain Lefschetz thimbles, to which our approximation formula is sensitive, in the analytically continued Chern-Simons integration cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compute the superconformal index of the N = 4 SU(N) Yang-Mills theory through a residue calculation. The method is similar in spirit to the Bethe Ansatz formalism, except that all poles are explicitly known, and we do not require specialization of any of the chemical potentials. Our expression for the index allows us to revisit the Cardy limit using modular properties of four-dimensional supersymmetric partition functions. We find that all residues contribute at leading order in the Cardy limit. In a specific region of flavour chemical potential space, close to the two unrefined points, in fact all residues contribute universally. These universal residues precisely agree with the entropy functions of the asymptotically AdS5 black hole and its "twin saddle" respectively. Finally, we discuss how our formula is suited to study the implications of four-dimensional modularity for the index beyond the Cardy limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extremal black holes in general dimensions are well known to contain an AdS2 factor in their near-horizon geometries. If the extremal limit is taken in conjunction with a specific vanishing horizon limit, the so-called Extremal Vanishing Horizon (EVH) limit, the AdS2 factor lifts to a locally AdS3 factor with a pinching angular direction. In this paper, we study the EVH limit of asymptotically AdS black holes which preserve some supersymmetry. The primary example we consider is the 1/16th BPS asymptotically AdS5 black hole, whose EVH limit has an AdS3 factor in its near-horizon geometry. We also consider the near-EVH limit of this black hole, in which the near-horizon geometry instead contains an extremal BTZ factor. We employ recent results on the large-N limit of the superconformal index of the dual CFT4 to understand the emergence of a CFT2 in the IR of the CFT4, which is the field theory dual to the emergence of the locally AdS3 factor in the near-horizon geometry. In particular, we show that the inverse Laplace transform of the superconformal index, yielding the black hole entropy, becomes equivalent to the derivation of a Cardy formula for the dual CFT2. Finally, we examine the EVH limit of supersymmetric black holes in other dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restriction enzymes recognize and bind to specific sequences on invading bacteriophage DNA. Like a key in a lock, these proteins require many contacts to specify the correct DNA sequence. Using information theory we develop an equation that defines the number of independent contacts, which is the dimensionality of the binding. We show that EcoRI, which binds to the sequence GAATTC, functions in 24 dimensions. Information theory represents messages as spheres in high dimensional spaces. Better sphere packing leads to better communications systems. The densest known packing of hyperspheres occurs on the Leech lattice in 24 dimensions. We suggest that the single protein EcoRI molecule employs a Leech lattice in its operation. Optimizing density of sphere packing explains why 6 base restriction enzymes are so common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the likelihood for relative minima of random polynomial potentials to support the slow-roll conditions for inflation. Consistent with renormalizability and boundedness, the coefficients that appear in the potential are chosen to be order one with respect to the energy scale at which inflation transpires. Investigation of the single field case illustrates a window in which the potentials satisfy the slow-roll conditions. When there are two scalar fields, we find that the probability depends mildly on the choice of distribution for the coefficients. A uniform distribution yields a 0.05% probability of finding a suitable minimum in the random potential, whereas a maximum entropy distribution yields a 0.1% probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the distribution of topological numbers in Calabi-Yau manifolds, using the Kreuzer-Skarke dataset of hypersurfaces in toric varieties as a testing ground. While the Hodge numbers are well-known to exhibit mirror symmetry, patterns in frequencies of combination thereof exhibit striking new patterns. We find pseudo-Voigt and Planckian distributions with high confidence and exact fit for many substructures. The patterns indicate typicality within the landscape of Calabi-Yau manifolds of various dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss a precise relation between the Veneziano amplitude of string theory, rewritten in terms of ratios of the Riemann zeta function, and two elementary criteria for the Riemann hypothesis formulated in terms of integrals of the logarithm and the argument of the zeta function. We also discuss how the integral criterion based on the argument of the Riemann zeta function relates to the Li criterion for the Riemann hypothesis. We provide a new generalization of this integral criterion. Finally, we comment on the physical interpretation of our recasting of the Riemann hypothesis in terms of the Veneziano amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an intriguing and precise interplay between algebraic geometry and the phenomenology of generations of particles. Using the electroweak sector of the MSSM as a testing ground, we compute the moduli space of vacua as an algebraic variety for multiple generations of Standard Model matter and Higgs doublets. The space is shown to have Calabi-Yau, Grassmannian, and toric signatures, which sensitively depend on the number of generations of leptons, as well as inclusion of Majorana mass terms for right-handed neutrinos. We speculate as to why three generations is special. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explain the origin of the Veronese surface in the vacuum moduli space geometry of the MSSM electroweak sector. While this result appeared many years ago using techniques of computational algebraic geometry, it has never been demonstrated analytically. Here, we present an analytical derivation of the vacuum geometry of the electroweak theory by understanding how the F- and D-term relations lead to the Veronese surface. We moreover give a detailed description of this geometry, realising an extra branch as a zero-dimensional point when quadratic Higgs lifting deformations are incorporated into the superpotential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 space-time or quantum foam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. This string theory of turbulence should be understood in light of the AdS/CFT dictionary. Our argument is crucially based on the use of Migdal's loop variables and the self-consistent solutions of Migdal's loop equations for turbulence. In particular, there is an area law for turbulence in 2+1 dimensions related to the Kraichnan scaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel solution to the low entropy and arrow of time puzzles of the initial state of the universe. Our approach derives from the physics of a specific generalization of Matrix theory put forth in earlier work as the basis for a quantum theory of gravity. The particular dynamical state space of this theory, the infinite-dimensional analogue of the Fubini–Study metric over a complex nonlinear Grassmannian, has recently been studied by Michor and Mumford. The geodesic distance between any two points on this space is zero. Here we show that this mathematical result translates to a description of a hot, zero entropy state and an arrow of time after the Big Bang. This is modeled as a far from equilibrium, large fluctuation driven, "freezing by heating" metastable ordered phase transition of a nonlinear dissipative dynamical system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel solution to the nature and formation of the initial state of the Universe. It derives from the physics of a generally covariant extension of matrix theory. We focus on the dynamical state space of this background-independent quantum theory of gravity and matter — an infinite-dimensional, complex, nonlinear Grassmannian. When this space is endowed with a Fubini–Study-like metric, the associated geodesic distance between any two of its points is zero. This striking mathematical result translates into a physical description of a hot, zero-entropy Big Bang. The latter is then seen as a far-from-equilibrium, large-fluctuation-driven, metastable ordered transition — a "freezing by heating" jamming transition. Moreover, the subsequent unjamming transition could provide a mechanism for inflation while rejamming may model a Big Crunch, the final state of gravitational collapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review our recent proposal for a background-independent formulation of a holographic theory of quantum gravity. The present paper incorporates the necessary background material on geometry of canonical quantum theory, holography and space–time thermodynamics, Matrix theory, as well as our specific proposal for a dynamical theory of geometric quantum mechanics, as applied to Matrix theory. At the heart of this review is a new analysis of the conceptual problem of time and the closely related and phenomenologically relevant problem of vacuum energy in quantum gravity. We also present a discussion of some observational implications of this new viewpoint on the problem of vacuum energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cosmological constant problem is turned around to argue for a new foundational physics postulate underlying a consistent quantum theory of gravity and matter, such as string theory. This postulate is a quantum equivalence principle which demands a consistent gauging of the geometric structure of canonical quantum theory. We argue that string theory can be formulated to accommodate such a principle, and that in such a theory the observed cosmological constant is a fluctuation about a zero value. This fluctuation arises from an uncertainty relation involving the cosmological constant and the effective volume of space–time. The measured, small vacuum energy is dynamically tied to the large "size" of the universe, thus violating naive decoupling between small and large scales. The numerical value is related to the scale of cosmological supersymmetry breaking, supersymmetry being needed for a nonperturbative stability of local Minkowski space–time regions in the classical regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that heavy pure states of gravity can appear to be mixed states to almost all probes. Our arguments are made for AdS5 Schwarzschild black holes using the field theory dual to string theory in such spacetimes. Our results follow from applying information theoretic notions to field theory operators capable of describing very heavy states in gravity. For certain supersymmetric states of the theory, our account is exact: the microstates are described in gravity by a spacetime "foam", the precise details of which are invisible to almost all probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any canonical quantum theory can be understood to arise from the compatibility of the statistical geometry of distinguishable observations with the canonical Poisson structure of Hamiltonian dynamics. This geometric perspective offers a novel, background independent non-perturbative formulation of quantum gravity. We invoke a quantum version of the equivalence principle, which requires both the statistical and symplectic geometries of canonical quantum theory to be fully dynamical quantities. Our approach sheds new light on such basic issues of quantum gravity as the nature of observables, the problem of time, and the physics of the vacuum. In particular, the observed numerical smallness of the cosmological constant can be rationalized in this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Witten has presented an argument for the vanishing of the cosmological constant in 2+1 dimensions. This argument is crucially tied to the specific properties of (2+1)-dimensional gravity. We argue that this reasoning can be deconstructed to 3+1 dimensions under certain conditions. Our observation is also tied to a possibility that there exists a well-defined UV completion of (3+1)-dimensional gravity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The quantum Hall system is known to have two mutually dual Chern–Simons descriptions, one associated with the hydrodynamics of the electron fluid, and another associated with the statistics. Recently, Susskind has made the claim that the hydrodynamical Chern–Simons theory should be considered to have a non-commutative gauge symmetry. The statistical Chern–Simons theory has a perturbative momentum expansion. In this paper, we study this perturbation theory and show that the effective action, although commutative at leading order, is non-commutative. This conclusion is arrived at through a careful study of the three-point function of Chern–Simons gauge fields. The non-commutative gauge symmetry of this system is thus a quantum symmetry, which we show can only be fully realized through the inclusion of all orders in perturbation theory. We discuss the duality between the two non-commutative descriptions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An important conjecture in knot theory relates the large- N , double scaling limit of the colored Jones polynomial J K , N (q) of a knot K to the hyperbolic volume of the knot complement, Vol (K). A less studied question is whether Vol (K) can be recovered directly from the original Jones polynomial (N = 2). In this report we use a deep neural network to approximate Vol (K) from the Jones polynomial. Our network is robust and correctly predicts the volume with 97.6% accuracy when training on 10% of the data. This points to the existence of a more direct connection between the hyperbolic volume and the Jones polynomial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supervised machine learning can be used to predict properties of string geometries with previously unknown features. Using the complete intersection Calabi–Yau (CICY) threefold dataset as a theoretical laboratory for this investigation, we use low h 1 , 1 geometries for training and validate on geometries with large h 1 , 1. Neural networks and Support Vector Machines successfully predict trends in the number of Kähler parameters of CICY threefolds. The numerical accuracy of machine learning improves upon seeding the training set with a small number of samples at higher h 1 , 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The latest techniques from Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines (SVM) are used to investigate geometric properties of Complete Intersection Calabi–Yau (CICY) threefolds, a class of manifolds that facilitate string model building. An advanced neural network classifier and SVM are employed to (1) learn Hodge numbers and report a remarkable improvement over previous efforts, (2) query for favourability, and (3) predict discrete symmetries, a highly imbalanced problem to which both Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) and permutations of the CICY matrix are used to decrease the class imbalance and improve performance. In each case study, we employ a genetic algorithm to optimise the hyperparameters of the neural network. We demonstrate that our approach provides quick diagnostic tools capable of shortlisting quasi-realistic string models based on compactification over smooth CICYs and further supports the paradigm that classes of problems in algebraic geometry can be machine learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We apply reinforcement learning (RL) to generate fine regular star triangulations of reflexive polytopes, that give rise to smooth Calabi-Yau (CY) hypersurfaces. We demonstrate that, by simple modifications to the data encoding and reward function, one can search for CYs that satisfy a set of desirable string compactification conditions. For instance, we show that our RL algorithm can generate triangulations together with holomorphic vector bundles that satisfy anomaly cancellation and poly-stability conditions in heterotic compactification. Furthermore, we show that our algorithm can be used to search for reflexive subpolytopes together with compatible triangulations that define fibration structures of the CYs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-branes at a given toric Calabi-Yau singularity lead to different phases of the conformal field theory related by toric (Seiberg) duality. Using the dimer model/brane tiling description in terms of bipartite graphs on a torus, we find a new invariant under Seiberg duality, namely the Klein j-invariant of the complex structure parameter in the distinguished isoradial embedding of the dimer, determined by the physical R-charges. Additional number theoretic invariants are described in terms of the algebraic number field of the R-charges. We also give a new compact description of the a-maximization procedure by introducing a generalized incidence matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using techniques of algorithmic algebraic geometry, we present a new and efficient method for explicitly computing the vacuum space of gauge theories. We emphasize the importance of finding special geometric properties of these spaces in connecting phenomenology to guiding principles descending from high-energy physics. We exemplify the method by addressing various subsectors of the MSSM. In particular the geometry of the vacuum space of electroweak theory is described in detail, with and without right-handed neutrinos. We discuss the impact of our method on the search for evidence of underlying physics at a higher energy. Finally we describe how our results can be used to rule out certain top–down constructions of electroweak physics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We propose a new guiding principle for phenomenology: special geometry in the vacuum space. New algorithmic methods which efficiently compute geometric properties of the vacuum space of supersymmetric gauge theories are described. We illustrate the technique on subsectors of the MSSM. The fragility of geometric structure that we find in the moduli space motivates phenomenologically realistic deformations of the superpotential, while arguing against others. Special geometry in the vacuum may therefore signal the presence of string physics underlying the low-energy effective theory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Calabi–Yau manifolds can be obtained as hypersurfaces in toric varieties built from reflexive polytopes. We generate reflexive polytopes in various dimensions using a genetic algorithm. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate that our algorithm reproduces the full set of reflexive polytopes in two and three dimensions, and in four dimensions with a small number of vertices and points. Motivated by this result, we construct five-dimensional reflexive polytopes with the lowest number of vertices and points. By calculating the normal form of the polytopes, we establish that many of these are not in existing datasets and therefore give rise to new Calabi–Yau four-folds. In some instances, the Hodge numbers we compute are new as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]