Extra dimensions in superstring theory

It was earlier shown that an SO(9,1) θα spinor variable can be constructed from RNS matter and ghost fields. θα has a bosonic world-sheet super-partner λα which plays the role of a twistor variable, satisfying λΓμ λ = ∂xμ + iθΓμ ∂θ. For Type IIA superstrings, the left-moving [θL α, λL α] and right-moving [θRα, λRα] can be combined into 32-component SO(10,1) spinors [θA, λA]. This suggests that λAΓAB 11 λB = 2λL αλRα can be interpreted as momentum in the eleventh direction. Evidence for this interpretation comes from the zero-momentum vertex operators of the Type IIA superstring and from consideration of DD-branes. As in the work of Bars, one finds an SO(10,2) structure for the Type IIA superstring and an SO(9, 1) × SO(2, 1) structure for the Type IIB superstring. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Positron-helium scattering: Resonance and differential cross sections

We study positron-helium scattering using close coupling approximation (CCA) employing different combinations of the following basis functions: He(1s1s), He(1s2s), He(1s2p), Ps(1s). and Ps(2s), where Ps stands for the positronium atom. We observe a prominent S wave resonance of width 2 eV at about 30 eV, in excitation and rearrangement cross sections to He(1s2s), He(1s2p), Ps(1s) and Ps(2s) states. We also report results of differential cross sections for the excitation of helium and positronium formation.

NN scattering: Chiral predictions for asymptotic observables

We assume that the nuclear potential for distances larger than 2.5 fm is given just by the exchanges of one and two pions and, for the latter, we adopt a model based on chiral symmetry and subthreshold pion-nucleon amplitudes, which contains no free parameters. The predictions produced by this model for nucleon-nucleon observables are calculated and shown to agree well with both experiment and those due to phenomenological potentials.

Duality-symmetric eleven-dimensional supergravity and its coupling to M-branes

The standard eleven-dimensional supergravity action depends on a three-form gauge field and does not allow direct coupling to five-branes. Using previously developed methods, we construct a covariant eleven-dimensional supergravity action depending on a three-form and six-form gauge field in a duality-symmetric manner. This action is coupled to both the M-theory two-brane and five-brane, and corresponding equations of motion are obtained. Consistent coupling relates D = 11 duality properties with self-duality properties of the M5-brane. From this duality-symmetric formulation, one derives an action describing coupling of the M-branes to standard D = 11 supergravity. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

On the picture dependence of Ramond-Ramond cohomology

Closed string physical states are BRST cohomology classes computed on the space of states annihilated by b- 0. Since b- 0 does not commute with the operations of picture changing, BRST cohomologies at different pictures need not agree. We show explicitly that Ramond-Ramond (RR) zero-momentum physical states are inequivalent at different pictures, and prove that non-zero-momentum physical states are equivalent in all pictures. We find that D-brane states represent BRST classes that are non-polynomial on the superghost zero-modes, while RR gauge fields appear as polynomial BRST classes. We also prove that in x-cohomology, the cohomology where the zero-mode of the spatial coordinates is included, there is a unique ghost-number one BRST class responsible for the Green-Schwarz anomaly, and a unique ghost number minus one BRST class associated with RR charge. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

Dimensional versus cut-off renormalization and the nucleon-nucleon interaction

The role of dimensional regularization is discussed and compared with that of cut-off regularization in some quantum mechanical problems with ultraviolet divergence in two and three dimensions with special emphasis on the nucleon-nucleon interaction. Both types of renormalizations are performed for attractive divergent one- and two-term separable potentials, a divergent tensor potential, and the sum of a delta function and its derivatives. We allow energy-dependent couplings, and determine the form that these couplings should take if equivalence between the two regularization schemes is to be enforced. We also perform renormalization of an attractive separable potential superposed on an analytic divergent potential.

Testing the resolving power of two-dimensional K+K+ interferometry

We show results from an analysis performed to test the resolving power of a two-dimensional χ2 method proposed previously when applied to the case of kaon interferometry, where no significant contribution from long-lived resonances is expected. For that purpose, use is made of the preliminary E859 K+K+ interferometry data from Si+Au collisions at 14.6/4 GeV/c. Although less sensitivity is achieved in the present case, this analysis seems to favor scenarios with no resonance formation at the AGS energy range. The possible compatibility of data with zero decoupling proper time interval, conjectured by the three-dimensional experimental analysis, is also investigated and is ruled out when considering more realistic dynamical models with expanding sources. Furthermore, these results strongly emphasize that the static Gaussian parametrization cannot be trusted under more realistic conditions, leading to a distorted or even wrong interpretation of the source parameters.

An updated analysis on atmospheric neutrinos

We have reanalysed the atmospheric neutrino data including new results from Super-Kamiokande and Soudan-II experiments, under the assumption of two-flavor neutrino oscillation. We present the allowed region of oscillation parameters for the νμ → ντ channel. In performing this re-analysis we also take into account some recent theoretical improvements in the flux calculations.

Probing negative-dimensional integration: Two-loop covariant vertex and one-loop light-cone integrals

The negative-dimensional integration method (NDIM) seems to be a very promising technique for evaluating massless and/or massive Feynman diagrams. It is unique in the sense that the method gives solutions in different regions of external momenta simultaneously. Moreover, it is a technique whereby the difficulties associated with performing parametric integrals in the standard approach are transferred to a simpler solving of a system of linear algebraic equations, thanks to the polynomial character of the relevant integrands. We employ this method to evaluate a scalar integral for a massless two-loop three-point vertex with all the external legs off-shell, and consider several special cases for it, yielding results, even for distinct simpler diagrams. We also consider the possibility of NDIM in non-covariant gauges such as the light-cone gauge and do some illustrative calculations, showing that for one-degree violation of covariance (i.e. one external, gauge-breaking, light-like vector n μ) the ensuing results are concordant with the ones obtained via either the usual dimensional regularization technique, or the use of the principal value prescription for the gauge-dependent pole, while for two-degree violation of covariance - i.e. two external, light-like vectors n μ, the gauge-breaking one, and (its dual) n * μ - the ensuing results are concordant with the ones obtained via causal constraints or the use of the so-called generalized Mandelstam-Leibbrandt prescription. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

Are two gluons the QCD pomeron?

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Torsion action and its possible observables

The methods of effective field theory are used to explore the theoretical and phenomenological aspects of the torsion field. The spinor action coupled to the electromagnetic field and torsion possesses an additional softly broken gauge symmetry. This symmetry enables one to derive the unique form of the torsion action compatible with unitarity and renormalizability. It turns out that the antisymmetric torsion field is equivalent to a massive axial vector field. The introduction of scalars leads to serious problems which are revealed after the calculation of the leading two-loop divergences. Thus the phenomenological aspects of torsion may be studied only for the fermion-torsion systems. In this part of the paper we obtain upper bounds for the torsion parameters using present experimental data on forward-backward Z-pole asymmetries, data on the experimental limits on four-fermion contact interaction (LEP, HERA, SLAC, SLD, CCFR) and also TEVATRON limits on the cross section of a new gauge boson, which could be produced as a resonance at high energy pp collisions. The present experimental data enable one to put limits on the torsion parameters for the various ranges of the torsion mass. We emphasize that for a torsion mass of the order of the Planck mass no independent theory for torsion is possible, and one must directly use string theory. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

Fock terms in the quark-meson coupling model

The mean field description of nuclear matter in the quark-meson coupling model is improved by the inclusion of exchange contributions (Fock terms). The inclusion of Fock terms allows us to explore the momentum dependence of meson-nucleon vertices and the role of pionic degrees of freedom in matter. It is found that the Fock terms maintain the previous predictions of the model for the in-medium properties of the nucleon and for the nuclear incompressibility. The Fock terms significantly increase the absolute values of the single-particle, four-component scalar and vector potentials, a feature that is relevant for the spin-orbit splitting in finite nuclei. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

R-parity-violating signals for chargino production at LEP II

We study chargino pair production at LEP II in supersymmetric models with spontaneously broken R-parity. We perform signal and background analyses, showing that a large region of the parameter space of these models can be probed through chargino searches at LEP II. In particular, we determine the attainable limits on the chargino mass as a function of the magnitude of the effective bilinear R-parity violation parameter ∈, demonstrating that LEP II is able to unravel the existence of charginos with masses almost up to their kinematical limit even in the case of R-parity violation. This requires the study of several final state topologies since the usual MSSM chargino signature is recovered as ∈ → 0. Moreover, for sufficiently large ∈ values, for which the chargino decay mode χ ± → τ ± J dominates, we find through a dedicated Monte Carlo analysis that the χ ± mass bounds are again very close to the kinematic limit. Our results establish the robustness of the chargino mass limit, in the sense that it is basically model-independent. They also show that LEP II can establish the existence of spontaneous R-parity violation in a large region of parameter space should charginos be produced. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

Renormalization of the one-pion-exchange interaction

A renormalization scheme for the nucleon-nucleon (NN) interaction based on a subtracted T-matrix equation is proposed and applied to the one-pion-exchange potential supplemented by contact interactions. The singlet and triplet scattering lengths are given to fix the renormalized strengths of the contact interactions. With only one scaling parameter (μ), the results show an overall very good agreement with neutron-proton data, particularly for the observables related to the triplet channel. The agreement is qualitative in the 1 S0 channel. Between the low-energy NN observables we have examined, the mixing parameter of the 3S1-3D1 states is the most sensitive to the scale. The scheme is renormalization group invariant for μ → ∞. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Generalized polarizabilities and electroexcitation of the nucleon

Generalized nucleon polarizabilities for virtual photons can be defined in terms of electroproduction cross sections as function of the 4-momentum transfer Q2. In particular, the sum of the generalized electric and magnetic polarizabilities ∑ = α + β and the spin polarizability γ can be expressed by virtual photon absorption cross sections integrated over the excitation energy. These quantities have been calculated within the framework of the recently developed unitary isobar model for pion photo- and electroproduction on the proton, which describes the available experimental data up to an excitation energy of about 1 GeV. Our results have been compared to the predictions of chiral perturbation theory. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.