Quantization of the electromagnetic field outside static black holes and its application to low-energy phenomena

We discuss the Gupta-Bleuler quantization of the free electromagnetic field outside static black holes in the Boulware vacuum. We use a gauge which reduces to the Feynman gauge in Minkowski spacetime. We also discuss its relation with gauges used previously. Then we apply the low-energy sector of this held theory to investigate some low-energy phenomena. First, we discuss the response rate of a static charge outside the Schwarzschild black hole in four dimensions. Next, motivated by string physics, we compute the absorption cross sections of low-energy plane waves for the Schwarzschild and extreme Reissner-Nordstrom black holes in arbitrary dimensions higher than three.

Quantization of the superstring in Ramond-Ramond backgrounds

Sigma model actions are constructed for the type II superstring compactified to four-and six-dimensional curved backgrounds which can contain non-vanishing Ramond-Ramond fields. These actions are N = 2 worldsheet superconformally invariant and can be covariantly quantized preserving manifest spacetime supersymmetry. They are constructed using a hybrid Version of superstring variables which combines features of the Ramond-Neveu-Schwarz and Green-Schwarz formalisms. For the AdS(2) x S-2 and AdS(3) x S-3 backgrounds, these actions differ from the classical Green-Schwarz actions by a crucial kinetic term for the fermions. Parts of this work have been done in collaborations with M Bershadsky, T Hauer, W Siegel, C Vafa, E Witten, S Zhukov and B Zwiebach.

Reply to comment on 'Quantization rules for bound states in quantum wells'

In this reply to the comment on 'Quantization rules for bound states in quantum wells' we point out some interesting differences between the supersymmetric Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) quantization rule and a matrix generalization of usual WKB (mWKB) and Bohr-Sommerfeld (mBS) quantization rules suggested by us. There are certain advantages in each of the supersymmetric WKB (SWKB), mWKB and mBS quantization rules. Depending on the quantum well, one of these could be more useful than the other and it is premature to claim unconditional superiority of SWKB over mWKB and mBS quantization rules.

Electric charge quantization and the muon anomalous magnetic moment

We investigate some proposals to solve the electric charge quantization puzzle that simultaneously explain the recent measured deviation on the muon anomalous magnetic moment. For this we assess extensions of the electro-weak standard model spanning modifications on the scalar sector only. It is interesting to verify that one can have modest extensions which easily account for the solution for both problems.

First quantized approaches to neutrino oscillations and second quantization

Neutrino oscillations are treated from the point of view of relativistic first quantized theories and compared to second quantized treatments. Within first quantized theories, general oscillation probabilities can be found for Dirac fermions and charged spin 0 bosons. A clear modification in the oscillation formulas can be obtained and its origin is elucidated and confirmed to be inevitable from completeness and causality requirements. The left-handed nature of created and detected neutrinos can also be implemented in the first quantized Dirac theory in the presence of mixing; the probability loss due to the changing of initially left-handed neutrinos to the undetected right-handed neutrinos can be obtained in analytic form. Concerning second quantized approaches, it is shown in a calculation using virtual neutrino propagation that both neutrinos and antineutrinos may also contribute as intermediate particles. The sign of the contributing neutrino energy may have to be chosen explicitly without being automatic in the formalism. At last, a simple second quantized description of the flavor oscillation phenomenon is devised. In this description there is no interference terms between positive and negative components, but it still gives simple normalized oscillation probabilities. A new effect appearing in this context is an inevitable but tiny violation of the initial flavor of neutrinos. The probability loss due to the conversion of left-handed neutrinos to right-handed neutrinos is also presented.

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.

Increase of temperature of an ideal nondegenerate quantum gas in a suddenly expanding box due to energy quantization

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Correlation times in stochastic equations with delayed feedback and multiplicative noise

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Path integral quantization of generalized quantum electrodynamics

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Quantization of the Proca field in the Rindler wedge and the interaction of uniformly accelerated currents with massive vector bosons from the Unruh thermal bath

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Matsubara-Fradkin thermodynamical quantization of Podolsky electrodynamics

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Noise and ultraviolet divergences in the dynamics of the chiral condensate in QCD

The time evolution of the matter produced in high energy heavy-ion collisions seems to be well described by relativistic viscous hydrodynamics. In addition to the hydrodynamic degrees of freedom related to energy-momentum conservation, degrees of freedom associated with order parameters of broken continuous symmetries must be considered because they are all coupled to each other. of particular interest is the coupling of degrees of freedom associated with the chiral symmetry of QCD. Quantum and thermal fluctuations of the chiral fields act as noise sources in the classical equations of motion, turning them into stochastic differential equations in the form of Ginzburg-Landau-Langevin (GLL) equations. Analytic solutions of GLL equations are attainable only in very special circumstances and extensive numerical simulations are necessary, usually by discretizing the equations on a spatial lattice. However, a not much appreciated issue in the numerical simulations of GLL equations is that ultraviolet divergences in the form of lattice-spacing dependence plague the solutions. The divergences are related to the well-known Rayleigh-Jeans catastrophe in classical field theory. In the present communication we present a systematic lattice renormalization method to control the catastrophe. We discuss the implementation of the method for a GLL equation derived in the context of a model for the QCD chiral phase transition and consider the nonequilibrium evolution of the chiral condensate during the hydrodynamic flow of the quark-gluon plasma.

Corrosion of the component phases presents in high copper dental amalgams. Application of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical noise analysis

The corrosion resistance of three of the constituent phases in high copper dental amalgams has been investigated by electrochemical methods in 0.9% NaCl solution. Polarization curves show corrosion potentials most positive for gamma(1)-Ag2Hg3, followed by Ag-Cu, and gamma-Ag3Sn in agreement with the order of corrosion resistance deduced from the corrosion currents. Complex plane impedance plots at the open circuit potential showed distorted semicircles with diffusional components at low frequency for Ag-Hg and Ag-Cu, while for gamma-Ag3Sn a layer of corrosion products is formed, partially or completely covering the surface of the electrode. Impedance and noise spectra have been compared in the frequency domain, and show good agreement. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.