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I. Antoniadis

Publications and source records attributed to I. Antoniadis.

122 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Exact Supersymmetric String Solutions in Curved Gravitational Backgrounds

We construct a new class of exact and stable superstring solutions based on $N=4$ superconformal world-sheet symmetry. In a subclass of these, the full spectrum of string excitations is derived in a modular-invariant way. In the weak curvature limit, our solutions describe a target space with non-trivial metric and topology, and generalize the previously known (semi) wormhole. The effective field theory limit is identified in certain cases, with solutions of the $N=4$ and $N=8$ extended gauged supergravities, in which the number of space-time supersymmetries is reduced by a factor of 2 because of the presence of non-trivial dilaton, gravitational and/or gauge backgrounds. In the context of string theory, our solutions correspond to stable non-critical superstrings in the strong coupling region; the super-Liouville field couples to a unitary matter system with central charge $5\le{\hat c}_M\le 9$.

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Limits on extra dimensions in orbifold compactifications of superstrings

Perturbative breaking of supersymmetry in four-dimensional string theories predict in general the existence of new large dimensions at the TeV scale. Such dimensions can be consistent with perturbative unification up to the Planck scale in a class of string models and open the exciting possibility of lowering a part of the massive string spectrum at energies accessible to future accelerators. The main signature is the production of Kaluza-Klein excitations which have a very particular structure, strongly correlated with the supersymmetry breaking mechanism. We present a model independent analysis of the physics of these states in the context of orbifold compactifications of the heterotic superstring. In particular, we compute the limits on the size of large dimensions used to break supersymmetry.

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Topological Amplitudes in String Theory

We show that certain type II string amplitudes at genus $g$ are given by the topological partition function $F_g$ discussed recently by Bershadsky, Cecotti, Ooguri and Vafa. These amplitudes give rise to a term in the four-dimensional effective action of the form $\sum_g F_g W^{2g}$, where $W$ is the chiral superfield of $N=2$ supergravitational multiplet. The holomorphic anomaly of $F_g$ is related to non-localities of the effective action due to the propagation of massless states. This result generalizes the holomorphic anomaly of the one loop case which is known to lead to non-harmonic gravitational couplings.

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Review of free-fermionic 4d string models

I review the main properties of four-dimensional strings constructed with free-fermions on the world-sheet. In particular I discuss possible model independent low energy predictions related to the existence of states with fractional electric charges, the computation of the string unification scale, the string model building, and the perturbative approach to supersymmetry breaking which makes the spectacular prediction of a new large dimension at the TeV scale.

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Singularity-free cosmological solutions of the superstring effective action

We study the cosmological solutions of the one loop corrected superstring effective action, in a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background, and in the presence of the dilaton and modulus fields. A particularly interesting class of solutions is found which avoid the initial singularity and are consistent with the perturbative treatment of the effective action.

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String loop corrections to gauge and Yukawa couplings

We report on the recent progress in computing the effective supergravity action from superstring scattering amplitudes beyond the tree approximation. We discuss the moduli-dependent string loop corrections to gauge, gravitational and Yukawa couplings.

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Scaling behavior of quantum four-geometries

We propose that large quantum fluctuations of the conformal factor drastically modify classical general relativity at cosmological distance scales, resulting in a scale invariant phase of quantum gravity in the far infrared. We derive scaling relations for the partition function and physical observables in this conformal phase, and suggest quantitative tests of these relations in numerical simulations of simplicial four geometries with $S^4$ topology. In particular, we predict the form of the critical curve in the coupling constant plane, and determine the scaling of the Newtonian coupling with volume which permits a sensible continuum limit. The existing numerical results already provide some evidence of this new conformal invariant phase of quantum gravity.

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Conformal dynamics of quantum gravity with torsion

The trace anomaly induced dynamics of the conformal factor is investigated in four-dimensional quantum gravity with torsion. The constraints for the coupling constants of torsion matter interaction are obtained in the infrared stable fixed point of the effective scalar theory.

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Superstring Threshold Corrections to Yukawa Couplings

A general method of computing string corrections to the Kähler metric and Yukawa couplings is developed at the one-loop level for a general compactification of the heterotic superstring theory. It also provides a direct determination of the so-called Green-Schwarz term. The matter metric has an infrared divergent part which reproduces the field-theoretical anomalous dimensions, and a moduli-dependent part which gives rise to threshold corrections in the physical Yukawa couplings. Explicit expressions are derived for symmetric orbifold compactifications.

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Dynamical supersymmetry breaking with a large internal dimension

Supersymmetry breaking in string perturbation theory predicts the existence of a new dimension at the TeV scale. The simplest realization of the minimal supersymmetric Standard Model in the context of this mechanism has two important consequences: (i) A natural solution to the $μ$-problem; (ii) The absence of quadratic divergences in the cosmological constant, which leads to a dynamical determination of the supersymmetry breaking and electroweak scale. We present an explicit example in which the whole particle spectrum is given as a function of the top quark mass. A generic prediction of this mechanism is the existence of Kaluza-Klein excitations for gauge bosons and higgses. In particular the first excitation of the photon could be accessible to future accelerators and give a clear signal of the proposed mechanism.

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Dynamics of the conformal factor in 4D gravity

We argue that 4D gravity is drastically modified at distances larger than the horizon scale, due to the large infrared quantum fluctuations of the conformal part of the metric. The infrared dynamics of the conformal factor is generated by an effective action, induced by the trace anomaly of matter in curved space, analogous to the Polyakov action in two dimensions. The resulting effective scalar theory is renormalizable, and possesses a non-trivial, infrared stable fixed point, characterized by an anomalous scaling dimension of the conformal factor. We argue that this theory describes a large distance scale invariant phase of 4D gravity and provides a framework for a dynamical solution of the cosmological constant problem.

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Moduli Corrections to Gauge and Gravitational Couplings in four dimensional Superstrings

We study one-loop, moduli-dependent corrections to gauge and gravitational couplings in supersymmetric vacua of the heterotic string. By exploiting their relation to the integrability condition for the associated CP-odd couplings, we derive general expressions for them, both for $(2,2)$ and $(2,0)$ models, in terms of tree level four-point functions in the internal $N=2$ superconformal theory. The $(2,2)$ case, in particular symmetric orbifolds, is discussed in detail.

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Conformal Symmetry and Central Charges in 4 Dimensions

The trace anomaly of matter in curved space generates an effective action for the conformal factor of the metric tensor in $D=4$ dimensions, analogous to the Polyakov action for $D=2$. We compute the contributions of the reparameterization ghosts to the central charges for $D=4$, as well as the quantum contribution of the conformal factor itself. The ghost contribution satisfies the necessary Wess-Zumino consistency condition only if combined with the spin-2 modes, whose contributions to the trace anomaly we also discuss.

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Moduli Corrections to Gravitational Couplings from String loops

We study moduli dependent threshold corrections to gravitational couplings in the case of the heterotic string compactified on a symmetric orbifold, for untwisted moduli, extending previous analysis on gauge couplings. Like in the gauge case, the contribution comes entirely from the spacetime $N=2$ sector. As a byproduct, this calculation provides a simple derivation of the trace anomaly coefficients for the different fields coupled to gravity.

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