Integrable field theories with defects

The structure of integrable field theories in the presence of defects is discussed in terms of boundary functions under the Lagrangian formalism. Explicit examples of bosonic and fermionic theories are considered. In particular, the boundary functions for the super sinh-Gordon model is constructed and shown to generate the Backlund transformations for its soliton solutions.

Entropy and thermodynamic limits in M-theory

The matching of the BPS part of the (super) membrane's spectrum enables one to obtain membrane's results via string calculations. We compute the thermodynamic behavior at large coupling constant by considering M-theory on a manifold with topology T-2 X R-9. In the small coupling limit of M-theory the entropy coincides with the standard entropy of type IIB strings. We claim that the finite temperature partition functions associated with BPS p-brane spectrum can be analytically continued to well-defined functionals. This means that finite temperature can be introduced in brane theory. For the point particle limit (p --> 0) the entropy has the standard behavior of thermodynamic quantities.

Conformal field theory of AdS background with Ramond-Ramond flux

We review a formalism of superstring quantization with manifest six-dimensional spacetime supersymmetry, and apply it to AdS(3) x S-3 backgrounds with Ramond-Ramond flux. The resulting description is a conformal field theory based on a sigma model whose target space is a certain supergroup SU' (2\2).

N=2 superconformal description of superstring in Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds

Using the U(4) formalism developed ten years ago, the worldsheet action for the superstring in Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds is expressed in a manifestly N = (2, 2) superconformally invariant manner. This simplifies the construction of consistent Ramond-Ramond plane wave backgrounds and eliminates the problems associated with light-cone interaction point operators.

Mixing-demixing transition and collapse of a vortex state in a quasi-two-dimensional boson-fermion mixture

We investigate the mixing-demixing transition and the collapse in a quasi-two-dimensional degenerate boson-fermion mixture (DBFM) with a bosonic vortex. We solve numerically a quantum-hydrodynamic model based on a new density functional which accurately takes into account the dimensional crossover. It is demonstrated that with the increase of interspecies repulsion, a mixed state of DBFM could turn into a demixed state. The system collapses for interspecies attraction above a critical value which depends on the vortex quantum number. For interspecies attraction just below this critical limit there is almost complete mixing of boson and fermion components. Such mixed and demixed states of a DBFM could be experimentally realized by varying an external magnetic field near a boson-fermion Feshbach resonance, which will result in a continuous variation of interspecies interaction.

Covariant quantization of the superstring

After reviewing the Green-Schwarz superstring using the approach of Siegel, the superstring is covariantly quantized by constructing a BRST operator from the fermionic constraints and a bosonic pure spinor ghost variable. Physical massless vertex operators are constructed and, for the first time, N-point tree amplitudes are computed in a manifestly ten-dimensional super-Poincare covariant manner. Quantization can be generalized to curved supergravity backgrounds and the vertex operator for fluctuations around AdS(5) x S-5 is explicitly constructed.

Self-dual super-Yang-Mills as a string theory in (x, 0) space

Different string theories in twistor space have recently been proposed for describing N = 4 super-Yang-Mills. In this paper, a string theory in (x, theta) space is constructed for self-dual N = 4 super-Yang-Mills. It is hoped that these results will be useful for understanding the twistor-string proposals and their possible relation with the pure spinor formalism of the d = 10 superstring.

Miscibility in a degenerate fermionic mixture induced by linear coupling

We consider a one-dimensional mean-field-hydrodynamic model of a two-component degenerate Fermi gas in an external trap, each component representing a spin state of the same atom. We demonstrate that the interconversion between them (linear coupling), imposed by a resonant electromagnetic wave, transforms the immiscible binary gas into a miscible state, if the coupling constant, kappa, exceeds a critical value, kappa(cr). The effect is predicted in a variational approximation, and confirmed by numerical solutions. Unlike the recently studied model of a binary Bose-Einsten condensate with the linear coupling, the components in the immiscible phase of the binary fermion mixture never fill two separated domains with a wall between them, but rather form antilocked (pi-phase-shifted) density waves. Another difference from the bosonic mixture is spontaneous breaking of symmetry between the two components in terms of the numbers of atoms in them, N(1) and N(2). The latter effect is characterized by the parameter nu equivalent to(N(1)-N(2))/(N(1)+N(2)) (only N(1)+N(2) is a conserved quantity), the onset of miscibility at kappa >=kappa(cr) meaning a transition to nu equivalent to 0. At kappa

A path integral approach to the full Dicke model with dipole-dipole interaction

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dual superconformal symmetry, and the amplitude/Wilson loop connection

We show that tree level superstring theories on certain supersymmetric backgrounds admit a symmetry which we call "fermionic T-duality". This is a non-local redefinition of the fermionic worldsheet fields similar to the redefinition we perform on bosonic variables when we do an ordinary T-duality. This duality maps a supersymmetric background to another supersymmetric background with different RR fields and a different dilaton. We show that a certain combination of bosonic and fermionic T-dualities maps the full superstring theory on AdS(5) x S-5 back to itself in such a way that gluon scattering amplitudes in the original theory map to something very close to Wilson loops in the dual theory. This duality maps the "dual superconformal symmetry" of the original theory to the ordinary superconformal symmetry of the dual model. This explains the dual superconformal invariance of planar scattering amplitudes of N = 4 super Yang Mills and also sheds some light on the connection between amplitudes and Wilson loops. In the appendix, we propose a simple prescription for open superstring MHV tree amplitudes in a flat background.

Pure spinor superspace identities for massless four-point kinematic factors

Using the pure spinor formalism we prove identities which relate the tree-level, one-loop and two-loop kinematic factors for massless four-point amplitudes. From these identities it follows that the complete supersymmetric one- and two-loop amplitudes are immediately known once the tree-level kinematic factor is evaluated. In particular, the two-loop equivalence with the RNS formalism (up to an overall coefficient) is obtained as a corollary.

Cubic interaction term for Schnabl's solution using Pade approximants

We evaluate the cubic interaction term in the action of open bosonic string field theory for Schnabl's solution written in terms of Bernoulli numbers. This computation provides us with new evidence for the fact that the string field equation of motion is satisfied when it is contracted with the solution itself.

Pure spinors, twistors, and emergent supersymmetry

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

One-loop superstring amplitude from integrals on pure spinors space

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Taming the b antighost with Ramond-Ramond flux

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)