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Francesco Dalla Piazza

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Dalla Piazza.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

One-Dimensional Super Calabi-Yau Manifolds and their Mirrors

We apply a definition of generalised super Calabi-Yau variety (SCY) to supermanifolds of complex dimension one. One of our results is that there are two SCY's having reduced manifold equal to $\mathbb{P}^1$, namely the projective super space $\mathbb{P}^{1|2} $ and the weighted projective super space $\mathbb{WP}^{1|1}_{(2)}$. Then we compute the corresponding sheaf cohomology of superforms, showing that the cohomology with picture number one is infinite dimensional, while the de Rham cohomology, which is what matters from a physical point of view, remains finite dimensional. Moreover, we provide the complete real and holomorphic de Rham cohomology for generic projective super spaces $\mathbb P^{n|m}$. We also determine the automorphism groups: these always match the dimension of the projective super group with the only exception of $\mathbb{P}^{1|2} $, whose automorphism group turns out to be larger than the projective general linear supergroup. By considering the cohomology of the super tangent sheaf, we compute the deformations of $\mathbb{P}^{1|m}$, discovering that the presence of a fermionic structure allows for deformations even if the reduced manifold is rigid. Finally, we show that $\mathbb{P}^{1|2} $ is self-mirror, whereas $\mathbb{WP} ^{1|1}_{(2)}$ has a zero dimensional mirror. Also, the mirror map for $\mathbb{P}^{1|2}$ naturally endows it with a structure of $N=2$ super Riemann surface.

hep-th↗

A new proof of the Caporaso-Sernesi theorem via Weber's formula

In this paper we give a new proof of Caporaso and Sernesi's result which states that the general plane quartic is uniquely determined by its 28 bitangents. Our proof uses classical geometric results, as it is based on Weber's formula and on the injectivity of the $θ^{(4)}$ map.

math.AG↗

Vector-valued modular forms and the Gauss map

We use the gradients of theta functions at odd two-torsion points --- thought of as vector-valued modular forms --- to construct holomorphic differential forms on the moduli space of principally polarized abelian varieties, and to characterize the locus of decomposable abelian varieties in terms of the Gauss images of two-torsion points.

math.AG↗

Plane quartics: the matrix of bitangents

Aronhold's classical result states that a plane quartic can be recovered by the configuration of any Aronhold systems of bitangents, i.e. special 7-tuples of bitangents such that the six points at which any subtriple of bitangents touches the quartic do not lie on the same conic in the projective plane. In 2005 Lehavi proved that a smooth plane quartic can be explicitly reconstructed from its 28 bitangents; this result improved Aronhold's method of recovering the curve. In a 2011 paper Plaumann, Sturmfels and Vinzant introduced an eight by eight symmetric matrix parametrizing the bitangents of a nonsingular plane quartic. The starting point of their construction is Hesse's result for which every smooth quartic curve has exactly 36 equivalence classes of linear symmetric determinantal representations. In this paper we tackle the inverse problem, i.e. the construction of the bitangent matrix starting from the 28 bitangents of the plane quartic.

math.AG↗

Perturbative photon production in a dispersive medium

We investigate photon pair-creation in a dispersive dielectric medium induced by the presence of a spacetime varying dielectric constant. Our aim is to examine the possibility to observe new phenomena of pair creation induced by travelling dielectric perturbations e.g. created by laser pulses by means of the Kerr effect. In this perspective, we adopt a semi-phenomenological version of the Hopfield model in which a space-time dependent dielectric susceptibility appears. We focus our attention on perturbation theory, and provide general formulas for the photon production induced by a local but arbitrarily spacetime dependent refractive index perturbation. As an example, we further explore the case of an uniformly travelling perturbation, and provide examples of purely time-dependent perturbations.

quant-ph↗

On the Coble quartic and Fourier-Jacobi expansion of theta relations

In the paper "The universal Kummer threefold", Q. Ren, S. Sam, G. Schrader, and B. Sturmfels (arXiv:1208.1229), conjectured equations for the universal Kummer variety in genus 3 case. Though, most of these equations are obtained from the Fourier-Jacobi expansion of relations among theta constants in genus 4, the more prominent one, Coble's quartic was obtained differently. The aim of the current paper is to show that Coble's quartic can be obtained as Fourier-Jacobi expansion of a relation among theta-constants in genus 4. We get also one more relation that could be in the ideal described in "The universal Kummer threefold".

math.AG↗

Emission of correlated photon pairs from superluminal perturbations in dispersive media

We develop a perturbative theory that describes a superluminal refractive perturbation propagating in a dispersive medium and the subsequent excitation of the quantum vacuum zero-point fluctuations. We find a process similar to the anomalous Doppler effect: photons are emitted in correlated pairs and mainly within a Cerenkov-like cone, one on the forward and the other in backward directions. The number of photon pairs emitted from the perturbation increases strongly with the degree of superluminality and under realizable experimental conditions, it can reach up to ~0.01 photons per pulse. Moreover, it is in principle possible to engineer the host medium so as to modify the effective group refractive index. In the presence of "fast light" media, e.g. a with group index smaller than unity, a further ~10x enhancement may be achieved and the photon emission spectrum is characterized by two sharp peaks that, in future experiments would clearly identify the correlated emission of photon pairs.

quant-ph↗

E7 groups from octonionic magic square

In this paper we continue our program, started in [2], of building up explicit generalized Euler angle parameterizations for all exceptional compact Lie groups. Here we solve the problem for E7, by first providing explicit matrix realizations of the Tits construction of a Magic Square product between the exceptional octonionic algebra J and the quaternionic algebra H, both in the adjoint and the 56 dimensional representations. Then, we provide the Euler parametrization of E7 starting from its maximal subgroup U=(E6 x U(1))/Z3. Next, we give the constructions for all the other maximal compact subgroups.

math-ph↗

Classical theta constants vs. lattice theta series, and super string partition functions

Recently, various possible expressions for the vacuum-to-vacuum superstring amplitudes has been proposed at genus $g=3,4,5$. To compare the different proposals, here we will present a careful analysis of the comparison between the two main technical tools adopted to realize the proposals: the classical theta constants and the lattice theta series. We compute the relevant Fourier coefficients in order to relate the two spaces. We will prove the equivalence up to genus 4. In genus five we will show that the solutions are equivalent modulo the Schottky form and coincide if we impose the vanishing of the cosmological constant.

hep-th↗

More on superstring chiral measures

In this paper we study the expressions of the superstring chiral measures for $g\leq 5$. We obtain certain new expressions which are functions of higher powers of theta constants. For $g=3$ we show that the measures can be written in terms of fourth power of theta constants and for $g=4$ in terms of squares of theta constants. In both cases the forms $Ξ_8^{(g)}[0^{(g)}]$ appearing in the expression of the measures are defined on the whole Siegel upper half space. Instead, for $g=5$ we find a form $Ξ_8^{(5)}[0^{(5)}]$ which is a polynomial in the classical theta constants, well defined on the Siegel upper half space and satisfying some suitable constraints on the moduli space of curves (and not on the whole Siegel upper half space) that could be a candidate for the genus five superstring measure. Moreover, we discuss the problem of the uniqueness of this form in genus five. We also determine the dimension of certain spaces of modular forms and reinterpret the vanishing of the cosmological constant in terms of group representations.

hep-th↗

Quantum properties of the Dirac field on BTZ black hole backgrounds

We consider a Dirac field on a $(1 + 2)$-dimensional uncharged BTZ black hole background. We first find out the Dirac Hamiltonian, and study its self-adjointness properties. We find that, in analogy to the Kerr-Newman-AdS Dirac Hamiltonian in $(1+3)$ dimensions, essential self-adjointness on $C_0^{\infty}(r_+,\infty)^2$ of the reduced (radial) Hamiltonian is implemented only if a suitable relation between the mass $μ$ of the Dirac field and the cosmological radius $l$ holds true. The very presence of a boundary-like behaviour of $r=\infty$ is at the root of this problem. Also, we determine in a complete way qualitative spectral properties for the non-extremal case, for which we can infer the absence of quantum bound states for the Dirac field. Next, we investigate the possibility of a quantum loss of angular momentum for the $(1 + 2)$-dimensional uncharged BTZ black hole. Unlike the corresponding stationary four-dimensional solutions, the formal treatment of the level crossing mechanism is much simpler. We find that, even in the extremal case, no level crossing takes place. Therefore, no quantum loss of angular momentum via particle pair production is allowed.

math-ph↗

Construction of chiral superstring measure

The mathematically rigorous definition and construction of the amplitudes in superstring theory is still an open problem. Here, we describe some recent development in the construction of the superstring measures in $g=3,4$ and we point out some aspects that are not yet clear.

hep-th↗

Genus four superstring measures

A main issue in superstring theory are the superstring measures. D'Hoker and Phong showed that for genus two these reduce to measures on the moduli space of curves which are determined by modular forms of weight eight and the bosonic measure. They also suggested a generalisation to higher genus. We showed that their approach works, with a minor modification, in genus three and we announced a positive result also in genus four. Here we give the modular form in genus four explicitly. Recently S. Grushevsky published this result as part of a more general approach.

hep-th↗

Siegel modular forms and finite symplectic groups

The finite symplectic group Sp(2g) over the field of two elements has a natural representation on the vector space of Siegel modular forms of given weight for the principal congruence subgroup of level two. In this paper we decompose this representation, for various (small) values of the genus and the level, into irreducible representations. As a consequence we obtain uniqueness results for certain modular forms related to the superstring measure, a better understanding of certain modular forms in genus three studied by D'Hoker and Phong as well as a new construction of Miyawaki's cusp form of weight twelve in genus three.

math.AG↗

Modular Forms and Three Loop Superstring Amplitudes

We study a proposal of D'Hoker and Phong for the chiral superstring measure for genus three. A minor modification of the constraints they impose on certain Siegel modular forms leads to a unique solution. We reduce the problem of finding these modular forms, which depend on an even spin structure, to finding a modular form of weight 8 on a certain subgroup of the modular group. An explicit formula for this form, as a polynomial in the even theta constants, is given. We checked that our result is consistent with the vanishing of the cosmological constant. We also verified a conjecture of D'Hoker and Phong on modular forms in genus 3 and 4 using results of Igusa.

hep-th↗

Two loop superstring amplitudes and S_6 representations

In this paper we describe how representation theory of groups can be used to shorten the derivation of two loop partition functions in string theory, giving an intrinsic description of modular forms appearing in the results of D'Hoker and Phong [1]. Our method has the advantage of using only algebraic properties of modular functions and it can be extended to any genus g.

hep-th↗