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Three-dimensional colored gravity refers to nonabelian isospin extension of Einstein gravity. We investigate the asymptotic symmetry algebra of the $SU(N)$-colored gravity in (2+1)-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime. Formulated by the Chern-Simons theory with $SU(N,N)\times SU(N,N)$ gauge group, the theory contains graviton, $SU(N)$ Chern-Simons gauge fields and massless spin-two multiplets in the $SU(N)$ adjoint representation, thus extending diffeomorphism to colored, nonabelian counterpart. We identify the asymptotic symmetry as Poisson algebra of generators associated with the residual global symmetries of the nonabelian diffeomorphism set by appropriately chosen boundary conditions. The resulting asymptotic symmetry algebra is a nonlinear extension of Virasoro algeba and $\widehat{\mathfrak{su}(N)}$ Kac-Moody algebra, supplemented by additional generators corresponding to the massless spin-two adjoint matter fields., 22 pages, published version in JHEP

In previous works (arXiv:1610.07916, arXiv:1711.07921, arXiv:1807.00186) we studied a class of toric Calabi-Yau threefolds which engineer six-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories with gauge group $U(N)$ and adjoint matter. The K\"ahler moduli space of these manifolds can be extended through flop transformations to include regions which are described by so-called shifted toric web diagrams. In this paper we analyse gauge theories that are engineered by these shifted toric web diagrams and argue that in specific limits, some of the them engineer five-dimensional quiver gauge theories with gauge group $G\subset U(N)$ and with fundamental and bi-fundamental matter. We discuss several examples in detail and describe how the matter sector is obtained from the six-dimensional parent theory., Comment: 25 pages

We study invariant operators in general tensor models. We show that representation theory provides an efficient framework to count and classify invariants in tensor models. In continuation and completion of our earlier work, we present two natural ways of counting invariants, one for arbitrary rank of the group and another valid for large rank. We construct basis of invariant operators based on the counting, and compute correlators of their elements. The basis associated with finite rank diagonalizes two-point function. It is analogous to the restricted Schur basis used in matrix models. We show that the constructions get almost identical as we swap the Littlewood-Richardson numbers in multi-matrix models with Kronecker coefficients in general tensor models. We explore this parallelism between matrix model and tensor model in depth from the perspective of representation theory and comment on several ideas for future investigation., 30 pages. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1706.02667. Updated version to match the publication. References added

We study a class of eight-supercharge little string theories (LSTs) on the world-volume of $N$ M5-branes with transverse space $\mathbb{S}^{1}\times (\mathbb{C}^2/\mathbb{Z}_M)$. These M-brane configurations compactified on a circle are dual to $M$ D5-branes intersecting $N$ NS5-branes on $\mathbb{T}^2\times \mathbb{R}^{7,1}$ as well as to F-theory compactified on a toric Calabi-Yau threefold $X_{N,M}$. We argue that the K\"ahler cone of $X_{N,M}$ admits three regions associated with weakly coupled quiver gauge theories of gauge groups $[U(N)]^M, [U(M)]^N$ and $[U(\frac{NM}{k})]^k$ where $k=\mbox{gcd}(N,M)$. These provide low-energy descriptions of different LSTs. The duality between the first two gauge theories is well known and is a consequence of the S-duality between D5- and NS5-branes or the T-duality of the LSTs. The triality involving the third gauge theory is new and we demonstrate it using several examples. We also discuss implications of this triality for the W-algebras associated with the Alday-Gaiotto-Tachikawa dual theories., Comment: 49 pages

The (heterotic) double field theories and the exceptional field theories are recently developed for manifestly duality covariant formulation of various supergravity theories, describing low-energy limit of various (heterotic) superstring and M-theory compactifications. These field theories are known to be reduced to the standard descriptions by introducing appropriately parameterized generalized metric and by applying suitably chosen section conditions. We generalize this development to non-geometric backgrounds by utilizing dual fields pertinent to non-geometric fluxes. We introduce different parameterizations for the generalized metric, in terms of the conventional supergravity fields or the dual fields. Under certain simplifying assumptions, we construct new effective action for non-geometric backgrounds. We then obtain the non-geometric backgrounds sourced by exotic branes. From them, we construct their $U$-duality monodromy matrices. The charge of exotic branes obtained from these monodromy matrices agrees perfectly with the charge obtained from the non-geometric flux integral., Comment: cover + 101 pages; v2. published version in JHEP

Representation theory provides a suitable framework to count and classify invariants in tensor models. We show that there are two natural ways of counting invariants, one for arbitrary rank of the gauge group and a second, which is only valid for large N. We construct bases of invariant operators based on the counting, and compute correlators of their elements. The basis associated with finite N diagonalizes the two-point function of the theory and it is analogous to the restricted Schur basis used in matrix models. We comment on future lines of investigation., Two overlapping but independent results are merged to a joint work. 16 pages, 1 table

We derive global consistency condition for strongly coupled heterotic string in the presence of M5-branes. Its elliptic genus is interpretable as generating functional of anomaly polynomials and so, on anomaly-free vacua, the genus is both holomorphic and modular invariant. In holomorphic basis, we identify the modular properties by calculating the phase. By interpreting the refinement parameters as background curvature of tangent and vector bundles, we identify the extended Bianchi identity for Kalb--Ramond field of heterotic M-theory in the presence of arbitrary numbers of M5-branes., Comment: 5 pages, 2 columns

A particular two-parameter class of little string theories can be described by $M$ parallel M5-branes probing a transverse affine $A_{N-1}$ singularity. We previously discussed the duality between the theories labelled by $(N,M)$ and $(M,N)$. In this work, we propose that these two are in fact only part of a larger web of dual theories. We provide evidence that the theories labelled by $(N,M)$ and $(\tfrac{NM}{k},k)$ are dual to each other, where $k=\text{gcd}(N,M)$. To argue for this duality, we use a geometric realization of these little string theories in terms of F-theory compactifications on toric, non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds $X_{N,M}$ which have a double elliptic fibration structure. We show explicitly for a number of examples that $X_{NM/k,k}$ is part of the extended moduli space of $X_{N,M}$, i.e. the two are related through symmetry transformations and flop transitions. By working out the full duality map, we provide a simple check at the level of the free energy of the little string theories., Comment: 69 pages

We study BPS bound states of little strings in a limit where they realize monopole strings in five dimensional gauge theories. The latter have gauge group $U(M{)}^{N}$ and arise from compactification of (1,0) little string theories of type ${A}_{M\ensuremath{-}1}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{A}_{N\ensuremath{-}1}$. We find evidence that the partition function of a certain subclass of monopole strings of charge $(k,\dots{},k)$ ($k\ensuremath{\ge}1$) is expressible as the partition function of a symmetric orbifold sigma model, whose target space is precisely the symmetric product of the moduli space of monopoles with charge $(1,\dots{},1)$.

Partial symmetries are described by generalized group structures known as symmetric inverse semigroups. We use the algebras arising from these structures to realize supersymmetry in (0+1) dimensions and to build many-body quantum systems on a chain. This construction consists in associating appropriate supercharges to chain sites, in analogy to what is done in spin chains. For simple enough choices of supercharges, we show that the resulting states have a finite non-zero Witten index, which is invariant under perturbations, therefore defining supersymmetric phases of matter protected by the index. The Hamiltonians we obtain are integrable and display a spectrum containing both product and entangled states. By introducing disorder and studying the out-of-time-ordered correlators (OTOC), we find that these systems are in the many-body localized phase and do not thermalize. Finally, we reformulate a theorem relating the growth of the second Renyi entropy to the OTOC on a thermal state in terms of partial symmetries., Comment: 45 pages, 7 figures; v2: 50 pages, Sec. 4 expanded and improved, published version

We study a class of ${\cal N}=(1,0)$ little string theories obtained from orbifolds of M-brane configurations. These are realised in two different ways that are dual to each other: either as $M$ parallel M5-branes probing a transverse $A_{N-1}$ singularity or $N$ M5-branes probing an $A_{M-1}$ singularity. These backgrounds can further be dualised into toric, non-compact Calabi-Yau threefolds $X_{N,M}$ which have double elliptic fibrations and thus give a natural geometric description of T-duality of the little string theories. The little string partition functions are captured by the topological string partition function of $X_{N,M}$. We analyse in detail the free energies $\Sigma_{N,M}$ associated with the latter in a special region in the K\"ahler moduli space of $X_{N,M}$ and discover a remarkable property: in the Nekrasov-Shatashvili-limit, $\Sigma_{N,M}$ is identical to $NM$ times $\Sigma_{1,1}$. This entails that the BPS degeneracies for any $(N,M)$ can uniquely be reconstructed from the $(N,M)=(1,1)$ configuration, a property we refer to as self-similarity. Moreover, as $\Sigma_{1,1}$ is known to display a number of recursive structures, BPS degeneracies of little string configurations for arbitrary $(N,M)$ as well acquire additional symmetries. These symmetries suggest that in this special region the two little string theories described above are self-dual under T-duality., Comment: 49 pages, 4 figures

We present a new approach to describe hydrodynamics carrying non-Abelian macroscopic degrees of freedom. Based on the Kaluza-Klein compactification of a higher-dimensional neutral dissipative fluid on a group manifold, we obtain a d=4 colored dissipative fluid coupled to Yang-Mills gauge field. We calculate the transport coefficients of the new fluid, which show the non-Abelian character of the gauge group. In particular, we obtain group-valued terms in the gradient expansions and response quantities such as the conductivity matrix and the chemical potentials. While using SU(2) for simplicity, this approach is applicable to any gauge group. Resulting a robust description of non-Abelian hydrodynamics, we discuss some links between this system and quark-gluon plasma and fluid/gravity duality., 41 pages (31 + appendices), 1 figure. V2: Minor modifications, some typos fixed and references added

We interpret Janus as an interface in a conformal field theory and study its properties. The Janus is created by an exactly marginal operator and we study its effect on the interface conformal field theory on the Janus. We do this by utilizing the AdS/CFT correspondence. We compute the interface free energy both from leading correction to the Euclidean action in the dual gravity description and from conformal perturbation theory in the conformal field theory. We find that the two results agree each other and that the interface free energy scales precisely as expected from the conformal invariance of the Janus interface., 37 pages, 5 figures, references added, section 2 and references added, published version

We study BPS excitations in M5-M2-brane configurations with a compact transverse direction, which are also relevant for type IIa and IIb little string theories. These configurations are dual to a class of toric elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds $X_N$ with manifest $SL(2, \mathbb{Z}) \times SL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ modular symmetry. They admit two dual gauge theory descriptions. For both, the non-perturbative partition function can be written as an expansion of the topological string partition function of $X_N$ with respect to either of the two modular parameters. We analyze the resulting BPS counting functions in detail and find that they can be fully constructed as linear combinations of the BPS counting functions of M5-M2-brane configurations with non-compact transverse directions. For certain M2-brane configurations, we also find that the free energies in the two dual theories agree with each other, which points to a new correspondence between instanton and monopole configurations. These results are also a manifestation of T-duality between type IIa and IIb little string theories., Comment: 48 Pages; v2. a footnote is updated and a reference is added; v3. a misplaced file is replaced, v4. version to be published

We study the color-decoration of higher-spin (anti)-de Sitter gravity in three dimensions. We show that the rainbow vacua, which we found recently for the colored gravity theory, also pertain in the colored higher-spin theory. The color singlet spin-two plays the role of first fundamental form (metric). The difference is that when spontaneous breaking of color symmetry takes place, the Goldstone modes of massless spin-two combine with all other spins and become the maximal-depth partially massless fields of the highest spin in the theory, forming a Regge trajectory.

We revisit unitary representation of centrally extended psu ( 2 | 2 ) excitation superalgebra. We find most generally that ‘pseudo-momentum’, not lattice momentum, diagonalizes spin chain Hamiltonian and leads to generalized dynamic spin chain. All known results point to lattice momentum diagonalization for N = 4 super-Yang–Mills theory. Having different interacting structure, we ask if N = 6 superconformal Chern–Simons theory provides an example of pseudo-momentum diagonalization. For SO ( 6 ) sector, we study maximal shuffling and next-to-maximal shuffling terms in the dilatation operator and compare them with results expected from psu ( 2 | 2 ) superalgebra and integrability. At two loops, we rederive maximal shuffling term (3-site) and find perfect agreement with known results. At four loops, we first find absence of next-to-maximal shuffling term (4-site), in agreement with prediction based on integrability. We next extract maximal shuffling term (5-site), the most relevant term for checking the possibility of pseudo-momentum diagonalization. Curiously, we find that result agrees with integrability prediction based on lattice momentum, as in N = 4 super-Yang–Mills theory. Consistency of our results is fully ensured by checks of renormalizability up to six loops.

Double field theory is an approach for massless modes of string theory, unifying and geometrizing all gauge invariance in manifest $\mathbf{O}(D,D)$ covariant manner. In this approach, we derive off-shell conserved Noether current and corresponding Noether potential associated with unified gauge invariance. We add Wald-type counter two-form to the Noether potential and define conserved global charges as surface integral. We check our $\mathbf{O}(D,D)$ covariant formula against various string backgrounds, both geometric and non-geometric. In all cases we examined, we find perfect agreements with previous results. Our formula facilitates to evaluate momenta along not only ordinary spacetime directions but also dual spacetime directions on equal footing. From this, we confirm recent assertion that null wave in doubled spacetime is the same as macroscopic fundamental string in ordinary spacetime., v2) 1+42 pages, Refs added, minor changes. To appear in JHEP

We propose a theory of three-dimensional (anti) de Sitter gravity carrying Chan-Paton color charges. We define the theory by Chern-Simons formulation with the gauge algebra $(\mathfrak{gl}_{2}\oplus \mathfrak{gl}_{2})\otimes \mathfrak{u}(N)$, obtaining a color-decorated version of interacting spin-one and spin-two fields. We also describe the theory in metric formulation and show that, among $N^{2}$ massless spin-two fields, only the singlet one plays the role of metric graviton whereas the rest behave as \emph{colored spinning matter} that strongly interacts at large $N$. Remarkably, these \emph{colored spinning matter} acts as Higgs field and generates a non-trivial potential of staircase shape. At each extremum labelled by $k = 0, \ldots, [\frac{N-1}2]$, the $\mathfrak{u}(N)$ color gauge symmetry is spontaneously broken down to $\mathfrak{u}(N-k)\oplus \mathfrak{u}(k)$ and provides different (A)dS backgrounds with the cosmological constants $\big(\frac{N}{N-2k}\big)^{2}\,��$\,. When this symmetry breaking takes place, the spin-two Goldstone modes combine with (or are eaten by) the spin-one gauge fields to become partially-massless spin-two fields. We discuss various aspects of this theory and highlight physical implications., 1+29 pages; 3 embedded fig v2. details of partially massless spectrum

We study relations between M-strings (one-dimensional intersections of M2-branes and M5-branes) in six dimensions and m-strings (magnetically charged monopole strings) in five dimensions. For specific configurations, we propose that the counting functions of BPS bound-states of M-strings capture the elliptic genus of the moduli space of m-strings. We check this proposal for the known cases, the Taub-NUT and Atiyah-Hitchin spaces for which we find complete agreement. Furthermore, we analyze the modular properties of the M-string free energies, which do not transform covariantly under SL(2,Z). However, for a given number of M-strings, we find that there exists a unique combination of unrefined genus-zero free energies that transforms as a Jacobi form under a congruence subgroup of SL(2,Z). These combinations correspond to summing over different numbers of M5-branes and make sense only if the distances between them are all equal. We explain that this is a necessary condition for the m-string moduli space to be factorizable into relative and center-of-mass parts., Comment: 80 pages, 4 embedded figures, 5 long tables; v2. typos fixed; v3. published version with title change

Supersymmetric field theories can be studied exactly on suitable off-shell supergravity backgrounds. We show that in two dimensions such backgrounds are identifiable with BRST invariant backgrounds of topological gravity coupled to an abelian topological gauge multiplet. This latter background is required for the consistent coupling of the topological `matter' YM theory to topological gravity. We make use of this topological point of view to obtain, in a simple and straightforward way, a complete classification of localizing supersymmetric backgrounds in two dimensions. The BRST invariant topological backgrounds are parametrized by both Killing vectors and $S^1$-equivariant cohomology of the 2-dimensional world-sheet. We reconstruct completely the supergravity backgrounds from the topological data: some of the supergravity fields are twisted versions of the topological backgrounds, but others are "composite", i.e. they are non-linear functionals of them. We recover all the known localizing 2-dimensional backgrounds and (infinitely) many more that have not been explored so far. We show that the supersymmetric $\Omega$-deformation is nothing but the background value of the ghost-for-ghost of topological gravity, a result which holds for other dimensions too. The new localizing backgrounds are characterized by non-trivial fluxes for both the graviphotons of the supergravity multiplet., Comment: 45 pages, 2 figures, revised introduction, version published on JHEP

We study exclusive scattering of `hadrons' at high energy and fixed angle in (nonconformal) noncommutative gauge theories. Via gauge-string duality, we show that the noncommutativity renders the scattering soft, leading to exponential suppression. The result fits with the picture that, in noncommutative gauge theory, fundamental partons consist of extremely soft constituents and `hadrons' are made out of open Wilson lines., 9 pages, Latex, no figure, v2. text shortened, v3. parton interpretation rectified+one ref. added

Godel universe in M-theory is a supersymmetric and homogeneous background with rotation and four-form magnetic flux. It is known that, as seen in inertial frame of co-moving observer, all geodesics with zero orbital angular momentum orbit inside `surface of light velocity' (CTC horizon). To learn if other probes can travel beyond the CTC horizon, we study dynamics of M-graviton and, in particular, M2-brane, whose motion is affected by Lorentz force exerted by the four-form magnetic flux and by nonzero orbital angular momentum. Classically, we find that both probes gyrate closed orbits, but diameter and center of gyration depends on sign and magnitude of probe's energy, charge and orbital angular momentum. For M2-brane, orbits in general travel outside the CTC horizon. Quantum-mechanically, we find that wave function and excitation energy levels are all self-similar. We draw analogy of probe's dynamics with Landau problem for charged particle in magnetic field., Comment: Latex, 3 .eps figs, 21 pages, v2: typos fixed, references added

Open Wilson line operators and the generalized star product have been studied extensively in non-commutative gauge theories. We show that they also show up in non-commutative scalar field theories as universal structures. We first point out that the dipole picture of non-commutative geometry provides an intuitive argument for robustness of the open Wilson lines and generalized star products therein. We calculate the one-loop effective action of the non-commutative scalar field theory with cubic self-interaction and show explicitly that the generalized star products arise in the non-planar part. It is shown that, in the low-energy, large non-commutativity limit, the non-planar part is expressible solely in terms of the scalar open Wilson line operator and descendants, the latter being interpreted as composite operators representing a closed string.

We establish resolution bounds on reconstructing a bulk field from boundary data on a timelike hypersurface. If the bulk only supports propagating modes, reconstruction is complete. If the bulk also supports evanescent modes, local reconstruction is not achievable unless one has exponential precision in knowledge of the boundary data. Without exponential precision, for a Minkowski bulk, one can reconstruct a spatially coarse-grained bulk field, but only out to a depth set by the coarse-graining scale. For an asymptotically AdS bulk, reconstruction is limited to a spatial coarse-graining proper distance set by the AdS scale. AdS black holes admit evanescent modes. We study the resolution bound in the large AdS black hole background and provide a dual CFT interpretation. Our results demonstrate that, if there is a black hole of any size in the bulk, then sub-AdS bulk locality is no longer well-encoded in boundary data in terms of local CFT operators. Specifically, in order to probe the bulk on sub-AdS scales using only boundary data in terms of local operators, one must either have such data to exponential precision or make further assumptions about the bulk state., Comment: 27 pages + appendix, 8 figures

Is it possible for an anisotropic Lifshitz critical point to actually exhibit isotropic conformal invariance? We answer this question in the affirmative by constructing a concrete holographic realization. We study three-dimensional spin-3 higher-spin gauge theory with a z=2 Lifshitz ground state with non-trivial spin-3 background. We provide consistent boundary conditions and determine the associated asymptotic symmetry algebra. Surprisingly, we find that the algebra consists of two copies of the W_3 extended conformal algebra, which is the extended conformal algebra of an isotropic critical system. Moreover, the central charges are given by 3l/(2G). We consider the possible geometric interpretation of the theory in light of the higher spin gauge invariance and remark on the implications of the asymptotic symmetry analysis., 19 pp; v2: minor edits, new refs; v3: added footnote, minor rewordings, to appear in JHEP

We find a class of extremal black hole-like global p -brane in higher-dimensional gravity with a negative cosmological constant. The region inside the p -brane horizon possesses all essential features required for the Randall–Sundrum type brane world scenario. The set-up allows to interpret the horizon size as the compactification size in that the Planck scale M Pl is determined by the fundamental scale M ∗ and the horizon size r H via the familiar relation M Pl 2 ∼M ∗ 2+n r H n , and the gravity behaves as expected in a world with n -extra dimensions compactified with size r H . Most importantly, a stable mass hierarchy between M Pl and M ∗ can be generated from topological charge of the p -brane and the horizon size r H therein. We also offer a new perspective on various issues associated to the brane world scenarios including the cosmological constant problem.

We explore some aspects of causal time-delay in open string scattering studied recently by Seiberg, Susskind and Toumbas. By examining high-energy scattering amplitudes at higher order in perturbation theory, we argue that causal time-delay at G-th order is 1/(G+1) times smaller than the time-delay at tree level. We propose a space-time interpretation of the result by utilizing the picture of the high-energy open string scattering put forward by Gross and Manes. We argue that the phenomenon of reduced time-delay is attributed to the universal feature of the space-time string trajectory in high-energy scattering that string shape at higher order remains the same as that at tree level but overall scale is reduced. We also discuss implications to the space-time uncertainty principle and make brief comments on causal time-delay behavior in space/time noncommutative field theory., v1. 15 pages, 1 eps figure, v2. typos, v3. typos/references added, v4. version in Phys. Lett. B

On a noncommutative space of rank-1, we construct a codimension-one soliton explicitly and, in the context of noncommutative bosonic open string field theory, identify it with the D24-brane. We compute the tension of the proposed D24-brane, yielding an exact value and show that it is related to the tension of the codimension two D23-brane by the string T-duality. This resolves an apparent puzzle posed by the result of Harvey, Kraus, Larsen and Martinec and proves that the T-duality is a gauge symmetry; in particular, at strong noncommutativity, it is part of the U(oo) gauge symmetry on the worldvolume. We also apply the result to non-BPS D-branes in superstring theories and argue that the codimension-one soliton gives rise to new descent relation among the non-BPS D-branes in Type IIA and Type IIB string theories via T-duality., Comment: 12 pages, no figure, v2. final version to appear in Physics Letters B

In AdS_n x S^m threaded by N-units of Ramond-Ramond flux, the dynamics of a Dm-brane wrapped on S^{m-1} embedded in S^m is investigated. Under the condition that flux of the dual gauge field on the D-brane worldvolume is quantized integrally, It is found that the wrapped D-brane is stable both locally and globally and, on AdS_n, behaves effectively as a fundamental string. It is also claimed that the semi-infinite partially wrapped D-brane `lasso' around the S^m., 10 pages, Latex, v2. typos corrected, v3. typos corrected and 1 ref. added v4. grant acknowledgement number changed v5. to appear in Physics Letters B

Near-horizon geometry of coincident M2-branes at a conical singularity is related to M-theory on AdS4 times an appropriate seven-dimensional manifold X7. For X_7=N^{0,1,0}, squashing deformation is known to lead to spontaneous (super) symmetry breaking from N=(3, 0) to N=(0, 1) in gauged AdS4 supergravity. Via AdS/CFT correspondence, it is interpreted as renormalization group flow of strongly coupled three-dimensional field theory with SU(3)*SU(2) global symmetry. The flow interpolates between N=(0,1) fixed point in the UV to N=(3,0)fixed point in the IR. Evidences for the interpretation are found both from critical points of the supergravity scalar potential and from conformal dimension of relevant chiral primary operators at each fixed point. We also analyze cases with X7=SO(5)/SO(3)_{max}, V_{5,2}(R), M^{1,1,1}, Q^{1,1,1} and find that there is no nontrivial renormalization group flows. We extend the analysis to Englert type vacua of M-theory. By analyzing de Wit-Nicolai potential, we find that deformation of S7 gives rise to renormalization group flow from N=8, SO(8) invariant UV fixed point to N=1, G_2 invariant IR fixed point. For AdS_7 supergravity relevant for near-horizon geometry of coincident M5-branes, we also point out a nontrivial renormalization group flow from N=1 superconformal UV fixed point to non-supersymmetric IR fixed point., Comment: 21 pages, Latex, 3 figures

Utilizing AdS/CFT correspondence in M-theory, an example of interacting d=3 conformal field theories and renormalization group flow between them is presented. Near-horizon geometry of N coincident M2-branes located on a conical singularity on eight-dimensional hyperk\"ahler manifold or manifold with Spin(7) holonomy is, in large-N limit, AdS4*X7, where X7 is seven-sphere with squashing. Deformation from round $\S_7$ to squashed one is known to lead to spontaneous breaking of N=8 local supersymmetry in gauged AdS4 supergravity to N=1, 0. Via AdS/CFT correspondence, it is interpreted as renormalization group flow from SO(5)*SO(3) symmetric UV fixed point to SO(8) symmetric IR fixed point. Evidences for the interpretation are found both from supergravity scalar potential and existence of interpolating static domain-wall thereof, and from conformal dimensions of relevant chiral primary operator at each fixed point., Comment: Latex, 16 pages, 3 figures

We study the M(atrix) theory description of M-theory compactified on a Ts/Z2 orbifold. In the large volume limit we show that M-theory dynamics is described by A/" = 8 supersymmetric USp(2N) M(atrix) quantum mechanics. Via zero-brane parton scattering, we show that each orbifold fixed point carries an anomalous G-flux ~[G/2~-] = -1/2. To cancel the anomalous G-flux, we introduce a twisted sector consisting of sixteen five-branes represented by fundamental representation hypermultiplets. In the small volume limit we show that M-theory dynamics is effectively described by (5 + 1 )-dimensional (8, 0 ) supersymmetric USp (2N) chiral gauge theory. We point out that both perturbative and global gauge anomalies are cancelled by the sixteen fundamental representation hypermultiplets in the twisted sector. We show that M(atrix) theory is capable of turning on a space-time background with the required sixteen five-branes out of zero-brane partons as bound states. We determine the six-dimensional space-time spectrum from the M(atrix) theory for both untwisted and twisted sectors and find a complete agreement with the spectrum of (2, 0) supergravity. We discuss the M(atrix) theory description of compactification moduli space, symmetry enhancement thereOf as well as further toroidal compactifications~ (~) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

We calculate non-perturbative O(ΛQCD2mc2) corrections to the dilepton invariant mass spectrum and the forward-backward charge asymmetry in B → Xse+e− decay using a heavy quark expansion approach. The method has recently been used to estimate long-distance effects in B → Xsγ. We generalize this analysis to the case of non-vanishing photon invariant mass, q2 ≠ 0, relevant for the rare decay mode B → Xse+e−. In the phenomenologically interesting q2 region away from the cc resonances, the heavy quark expansion approach should provide a reasonable description of possible non-perturbative corrections. In particular this picture is preferable to the model-dependent approach relying on the tails of Breit-Wigner resonances, which has been employed so far in the literature to account for these effects. We find that the O(ΛQCD2mc2) corrections to the dilepton invariant mass spectrum and to the forward-backward asymmetry in B → Xse+e− amount to several percent at most for q2mb2 ≲ 0.3 and q2mb2 ≳ 0.6. The O(ΛQCD2mc2) correc tion to the B → Xsγ decay rate is also computed and found to be +3%, which agrees in magnitude with previous calculations. Finally, we comment on long-distance effects in B → Xsνν−, which in this case are extremely suppressed due to the absence of virtual photon contributions.

The inclusive absorption cross section of a fundamental IIB string to a D-string is calculated perturbatively. The leading-order result agrees with the estimate based on the stringy Higgs mechanism via the Cremmer-Scherk coupling. It is argued that the subleading-order correction is dominated by purely planar diagrams in the large mass limit. The correction represents the conversion of the binding energy into the local recoil process of the fundamental string and the D-string bound state. We show their presence explicitly in the next leading order.

We study critical points of the BPS mass Z, the BPS string tension Zm, the black hole potential V and the gauged central charge potential P for M-theory compactified on Calabi-Yau three-folds. We first show that the stabilization equations for Z (determining the black hole entropy) take an extremely simple form in five dimensions as opposed to four dimensions. The stabilization equations for Zm are also very simple and determine the size of the infinite adS3throat of the string. The black hole potential in general exhibits two classes of critical points: supersymmetric critical points which coincide with those of the central charge and non-supersymmetric critical points. We then generalize the discussion to the entire extended Kahler cone encompassing topologically different but birationally equivalent Calabi-Yau three-folds that are connected via flop transitions. We examine behavior of the four potentials to probe the nature of these phase transitions. We find that V and P are continuous but not smooth across the flop transition, while Z and its first two derivatives, as well as Zm and its first derivative, are continuous. This in turn implies that supersymmetric stabilization of Z and Zm for a given configuration takes place in at most one point throughout the entire extended Kahler cone. The corresponding black holes (or string states) interpolate between different Calabi-Yau three-folds. At the boundaries of the extended Kahler cone we observe that electric states become massless and/or magnetic strings become tensionless.

A measurement of the hadron energy spectrum in inclusive semileptonic B decays is proposed as a viable method for extracting {vert_bar}V{sub ub}{vert_bar}. Compared to the traditional energy spectrum of the charged lepton, the hadron energy spectrum exhibits kinematical advantages such as a wider energy window and a larger signal branching fraction. The hadron energy distribution is calculated in the approach of the model of Altarelli {ital et al.} and of the heavy-quark effective field theory. In both methods, perturbative QCD corrections, the Fermi motion of the b quark in the B meson, and the recoil momentum of the B meson [stemming from the {Upsilon}(4S) resonance] are taken into account. We find excellent agreement between the spectra calculated in both methods, especially in the relevant kinematical region below the charmed meson threshold. The theoretical error to {vert_bar}V{sub ub}{vert_bar}, which is dominated by the uncertainty of the b-quark mass, is estimated to be at the {plus_minus}12{percent} level. Experimental techniques utilized in the recent measurement of exclusive semileptonic b{r_arrow}u decays point to the feasibility of the present proposal both at CLEO and at future B factories. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

M(atrix) theory on an orbifold and classical two-branes therein are studied with particular emphasis to heterotic M(atrix) theory on $S_1/Z_2$ relevant to strongly coupled heterotic and dual Type IA string theories. By analyzing orbifold condition on Chan-Paton factors, we show that three choice of gauge group are possible for heterotic M(atrix) theory: SO(2N), SO(2N+1) or USp(2N). By examining area-preserving diffeomorphism that underlies the M(atrix) theory, we find that each choices of gauge group restricts possible topologies of two-branes. The result suggests that only the choice of SO(2N) or SO(2N+1) groups allows open two-branes, hence, relevant to heterotic M(atrix) theory. We show that requirement of both local vacuum energy cancellation and of worldsheet anomaly cancellation of resulting heterotic string identifies supersymmetric twisted sector spectra with sixteen fundamental representation spinors from each of the two fixed points. Twisted open and closed two-brane configurations are obtained in the large N limit., Comment: latex, 23 pages, version to appear in Nuclear Physics B

The restrictions of target--space duality are imposed at the perturbative level on the holomorphic Wilsonian couplings that encode certain higher-order gravitational interactions in $N=2, D=4$ heterotic string compactifications. A crucial role is played by non-holomorphic corrections. The requirement of symplectic covariance and an associated symplectic anomaly equation play an important role in determining their form. For models which also admit a type-II description, this equation coincides with the holomorphic anomaly equation for type-II compactifications in the limit that a specific K\"ahler-class modulus grows large. We explicitly evaluate some of the higher-order couplings for a toroidal compactification with two moduli $T$ and $U$, and we express them in terms of modular forms., Comment: 39 pages, Latex

Motivated by an apparent puzzle of the light-front vacua incompatible with the axial anomaly, we have considered the two-dimensional massless Schwinger model for an arbitrary interpolating angle of the quantization surface. By examining spectral deformation of the Dirac sea under an external electric field semiclassically, we have found that the axial anomaly is quantization angle independent. This indicates an intricate nontrivial vacuum structure present even in the light-front limit., Comment: 12 pages, REVTEX, one figure postscript file encoded