arXiv subjects

Amanda W. Peet

Publications and source records attributed to Amanda W. Peet.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2003

Enhancon Solutions: Pushing Supergravity to its Limits

We extend the investigation of nonextremal enhancons, finding the most general solutions with the correct symmetry and charges. There are two families of solutions. One of these contains a solution with a regular horizon found previously; this previous example is shown to be the unique solution with a regular horizon. The other family generalises a previous nonextreme extension of the enhancon, producing solutions with shells which satisfy the weak energy condition. We argue that identifying a unique solution with a shell requires input beyond supergravity.

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arXiv2003

A note on the singularity theorem for supergravity SD-branes

Recently, a singularity theorem for full SD-brane spacetimes was given in hep-th/0305055. We comment on the relation between this and previous work as well as provide a more geometric formulation interpreted as a no-go theorem. We then point out that some setups of physical interest escape the theorem: cosmological applications, half-SDp-branes and decaying unstable Dp-branes for general p. We also provide indications that the space-filling full SD8-brane (in d=10) escapes as well, because of the important role of Ramond-Ramond fields. In any case, tachyon cosmology is not ruled out by the no-go theorem. Lastly, we remark upon interesting directions for potential generalizations of the theorem, and quantum corrections.

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arXiv2003

SD-brane gravity fields and rolling tachyons

S(pacelike)D-branes are objects arising naturally in string theory when Dirichlet boundary conditions are imposed on the time direction. SD-brane physics is inherently time-dependent. Previous investigations of gravity fields of SD-branes have yielded undesirable naked spacelike singularities. We set up the problem of coupling the most relevant open-string tachyonic mode to massless closed-string modes in the bulk, with backreaction and Ramond-Ramond fields included. We find solutions numerically in a self-consistent approximation; our solutions are naturally asymptotically flat and time-reversal asymmetric. We find completely nonsingular evolution; in particular, the dilaton and curvature are well-behaved for all time. The essential mechanism for spacetime singularity resolution is the inclusion of full backreaction between the bulk fields and the rolling tachyon. Our analysis is not the final word on the story, because we have to make some significant approximations, most notably homogeneity of the tachyon on the unstable branes. Nonetheless, we provide significant progress in plugging a gaping hole in prior understanding of the gravity fields of SD-branes.

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arXiv2002

Supergravity S-Branes

We construct supergravity solutions corresponding to space-like branes in string theory. Our approach is to apply the usual solution generating techniques to an appropriate time-dependent solution of the eleven dimensional vacuum Einstein equations. In this way all SDp-brane solutions are obtained, as well as the NS and M-theory space branes. Bound states of SDp/SD(p-2)- and SDp/SD(p-4)-branes are also constructed. Finally, we begin an investigation of the near-brane regions and singularity structure of these solutions.

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arXiv2002

Aspects of supertubes

We find supersymmetric solutions of the D4 brane Born-Infeld action describing D2 supertubes ending on an arbitrary curve inside a D4 brane. From the D4 brane point of view, these are dyonic strings. We also consider various higher dimensional extensions of the usual supertubes, involving expanded D4 and D3 brane configurations. Finally, considering the worldsheet theory for open strings on a supertube, we show that this configuration is an exact solution to all orders in alpha'. Further the causal structure of the open-string metric provides new insight into the arbitrary cross-section of the supertube solutions. From this point of view, it is similar to the arbitrary profile that appears for certain null plane waves.

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arXiv2001

The Enhancon and the Consistency of Excision

The enhancon mechanism removes a family of time-like singularities from certain supergravity spacetimes by forming a shell of branes on which the exterior geometry terminates. The problematic interior geometry is replaced by a new spacetime, which in the prototype extremal case is simply flat. We show that this excision process, made inevitable by stringy phenomena such as enhanced gauge symmetry and the vanishing of certain D-branes' tension at the shell, is also consistent at the purely gravitational level. The source introduced at the excision surface between the interior and exterior geometries behaves exactly as a shell of wrapped D6-branes, and in particular, the tension vanishes at precisely the enhancon radius. These observations can be generalised, and we present the case for non-extremal generalisations of the geometry, showing that the procedure allows for the possibility that the interior geometry contains an horizon. Further knowledge of the dynamics of the enhancon shell itself is needed to determine the precise position of the horizon, and to uncover a complete physical interpretation of the solutions.

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arXiv2001

More on Singularity Resolution

String theoretic resolution of classical spacetime singularities is discussed. Particular emphasis is on the use of brane probes, and the connection [1] of the enhancon phenomenon [2] to the n=2* Pilch-Warner flow spacetime [3]. Some comments and details on the singularity of the PW spacetime are added. For the proceedings of Strings 2001, Mumbai, India.

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arXiv2000

TASI lectures on black holes in string theory

This is a write-up of introductory lectures on black holes in string theory given at TASI-99. Topics discussed include: Black holes, thermodynamics and the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy, the information problem; supergravity actions, conserved quantum numbers, supersymmetry and BPS states, units and duality, dimensional reduction, solution-generating; extremal M-branes and D-branes, smearing, probe actions, nonextremal branes, the Gregory-Laflamme instability; breakdown of supergravity and the Correspondence Principle, limits in parameter space, singularity resolution; making black holes with branes, intersection-ology, explicit d=5,4 examples; string/brane computations of extremal black hole entropy in d=5,4, rotation, fractionation; non-extremality and entropy, the link to BTZ black holes, Hawking radiation and absorption cross-sections in the string/brane and supergravity pictures.

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arXiv2000

Gauge Dual and Noncommutative Extension of an N=2 Supergravity Solution

We investigate some properties of a recent supergravity solution of Pilch and Warner, which is dual to the N=4 gauge theory softly broken to N=2. We verify that a D3-brane probe has the expected moduli space and its effective action can be brought to N=2 form. The kinetic term for the probe vanishes on an enhancon locus, as in earlier work on large-n N=2 theories, though for the Pilch-Warner solution this locus is a line rather than a ring. On the gauge theory side we find that the probe metric can be obtained from a perturbative one-loop calculation; this principle may be useful in obtaining the supergravity dual at more general points in the N=2 gauge theory moduli space. We then turn on a B-field, following earlier work on the N=4 theory, to obtain the supergravity dual to the noncommutative N=2 theory.

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arXiv2000

Excision of `repulson' singularities: a spacetime result and its gauge theory analogue

We discuss spacetime singularity resolution in the context of the gravity/gauge correspondence, for brane systems which give rise to gauge theories with eight supercharges and no hypermultiplets. The discussion is aimed at non-experts. Writeup of talk on hep-th/9911161 with C.V.Johnson and J.Polchinski, given in various forms at: PASCOS-99, Aspen winter conference `Way Beyond the Standard Models', Banff CIAR Gravity+Cosmology Programme Meeting.

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arXiv1999

Gauge Theory and the Excision of Repulson Singularities

We study brane configurations that give rise to large-N gauge theories with eight supersymmetries and no hypermultiplets. These configurations include a variety of wrapped, fractional, and stretched branes or strings. The corresponding spacetime geometries which we study have a distinct kind of singularity known as a repulson. We find that this singularity is removed by a distinctive mechanism, leaving a smooth geometry with a core having an enhanced gauge symmetry. The spacetime geometry can be related to large-N Seiberg-Witten theory.

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arXiv1999

Brane Baldness vs. Superselection Sectors

The search for intersecting brane solutions in supergravity is a large and profitable industry. Recently, attention has focused on finding localized forms of known `delocalized' solutions. However, in some cases, a localized version of the delocalized solution simply does not exist. Instead, localized separated branes necessarily delocalize as the separation is removed. This phenomenon is related to black hole no-hair theorems, i.e. `baldness.' We continue the discussion of this effect and describe how it can be understood, in the case of Dirichlet branes, in terms of the corresponding intersection field theory. When it occurs, it is associated with the quantum mixing of phases and lack of superselection sectors in low dimensional field theories. We find surprisingly wide agreement between the field theory and supergravity both with respect to which examples delocalize and with respect to the rate at which this occurs.

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arXiv1998

Microcanonical Phases of String Theory on AdS_m x S^n

Banks, Douglas, Horowitz and Martinec [hep-th/9808016] recently argued that in the microcanonical ensemble for string theory on AdS_m xS^n, there is a phase transition between a black hole solution extended over the S^n and a solution localized on the S^n. If we think of this AdS_m x S^n geometry as arising from the near-horizon limit of a black m-2 brane, the existence of this phase transition is puzzling. We present a resolution of this puzzle, and discuss its significance from the point of view of the dual m-1 dimensional field theory. We also discuss multi-black hole solutions in AdS.

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arXiv1998

UV/IR Relations in AdS Dynamics

We point out that two distinct distance--energy relations have been discussed in the AdS/CFT correspondence. In conformal backgrounds they differ only in normalization, but in nonconformal backgrounds they differ in functional form. We discuss the relation to probe processes, the holographic principle, and black hole entropies.

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arXiv1998

The Bekenstein Formula and String Theory (N-brane Theory)

A review of recent progress in string theory concerning the Bekenstein formula for black hole entropy is given. Topics discussed include p-branes, D-branes and supersymmetry; the correspondence principle; the D- and M-brane approach to black hole entropy; the D-brane analogue of Hawking radiation, and information loss; D-branes as probes of black holes; and the Matrix theory approach to charged and neutral black holes. Some introductory material is included.

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arXiv1995

Extremal Black Holes As Fundamental Strings

We show that polarization dependent string-string scattering provides new evidence for the identification of the Dabholkar-Harvey (DH) string solution with the heterotic string itself. First, we construct excited versions of the DH solution which carry arbitrary left-moving waves yet are annihilated by half the supersymmetries. These solutions correspond in a natural way to Bogomolny-bound-saturating excitations of the ground state of the heterotic string. When the excited string solutions are compactified to four dimensions, they reduce to Sen's family of extremal black hole solutions of the toroidally compactified heterotic string. We then study the large impact parameter scattering of two such string solutions. We develop methods which go beyond the metric on moduli space approximation and allow us to read off the subleading polarization dependent scattering amplitudes. We find perfect agreement with heterotic string tree amplitude predictions for the scattering of corresponding string states. Taken together, these results clearly identify the string states responsible for Sen's extremal black hole entropy. We end with a brief discussion of implications for the black hole information problem.

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arXiv1995

Entropy and supersymmetry of $D$ dimensional extremal electric black holes versus string states

Following the work of Sen, we consider the correspondence between extremal black holes and string states in the context of the entropy. We obtain and study properties of electrically charged black hole backgrounds of tree level heterotic string theory compactified on a $p$ dimensional torus, for $D=(10-p)=4 \ldots 9$. We study in particular a one--parameter extremal class of these black holes, the members of which are shown to be supersymmetric. We find that the entropy of such an extremal black hole, when calculated at the stringy stretched horizon, scales in such a way that it can be identified with the entropy of the elementary string state with the corresponding quantum numbers.

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