arXiv subjects

Joon-Hwi Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Joon-Hwi Kim.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

Single Kerr-Schild Metric for Taub-NUT Instanton

It is shown that a complex coordinate transformation maps the Taub-NUT instanton metric to a Kerr-Schild metric. This metric involves a semi-infinite line defect as the gravitational analog of the Dirac string, much like the original metric. Moreover, it facilitates three versions of classical double copy correspondence with the self-dual dyon in electromagnetism, one of which involving a nonlocal operator. The relevance to the Newman-Janis algorithm is briefly noted.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Massive twistor worldline in electromagnetic fields

We study the (ambi-)twistor model for spinning particles interacting via electromagnetic field, as a toy model for studying classical dynamics of gravitating bodies including effects of both spins to all orders. We compute the momentum kick and spin kick up to one-loop order and show precisely how they are encoded in the classical eikonal. The all-orders-in-spin effects are encoded as a dynamical implementation of the Newman-Janis shift, and we find that the expansion in both spins can be resummed to simple expressions in special kinematic configurations, at least up to one-loop order. We confirm that the classical eikonal can be understood as the generator of canonical transformations that map the in-states of a scattering process to the out-states. We also remark that cut contributions for converting worldline propagators from time-symmetric to retarded amount to the iterated action of the leading eikonal at one-loop order.

hep-th↗

arXiv2024

Generalized Symmetry in Dynamical Gravity

We explore generalized symmetry in the context of nonlinear dynamical gravity. Our basic strategy is to transcribe known results from Yang-Mills theory directly to gravity via the tetrad formalism, which recasts general relativity as a gauge theory of the local Lorentz group. By analogy, we deduce that gravity exhibits a one-form symmetry implemented by an operator $U_α$ labeled by a center element $α$ of the Lorentz group and associated with a certain area measured in Planck units. The corresponding charged line operator $W_ρ$ is the holonomy in a spin representation $ρ$, which is the gravitational analog of a Wilson loop. The topological linking of $U_α$ and $W_ρ$ has an elegant physical interpretation from classical gravitation: the former materializes an exotic chiral cosmic string defect whose quantized conical deficit angle is measured by the latter. We verify this claim explicitly in an AdS-Schwarzschild black hole background. Notably, our conclusions imply that the standard model exhibits a new symmetry of nature at scales below the lightest neutrino mass. More generally, the absence of global symmetries in quantum gravity suggests that the gravitational one-form symmetry is either gauged or explicitly broken. The latter mandates the existence of fermions. Finally, we comment on generalizations to magnetic higher-form or higher-group gravitational symmetries.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Symplectic Perturbation Theory in Massive Ambitwistor Space: A Zig-Zag Theory of Massive Spinning Particles

We develop a theory of massive spinning particles interacting with background fields in four spacetime dimensions in which holomorphy and chirality play a central role. Applying a perturbation theory of symplectic forms to the massive twistor space as a Kähler manifold, we find that the spin precession behavior of a massive spinning particle is directly determined from the manner in which self-dual and anti-self-dual field strengths permeate into "complex spacetime." Especially, the particle shows the minimally coupled precession behavior if self-dual field strength continues holomorphically into the complex: the Newman-Janis shift. In general, computing the momentum impulse shows that the parameters that control generic non-holomorphic continuations are directly related to the coupling constants in the massive-massive-massless spinning on-shell amplitude of Arkani-Hamed, Huang, and Huang, and thus they are interpreted as the single-curvature Wilson coefficients given by Levi and Steinhoff, redefined on complex worldlines. Finally, exact expressions for Kerr and $\sqrt{\text{Kerr}}$ actions are bootstrapped in monochromatic self-dual plane-wave backgrounds from symplectivity and a matching between classical scattering and the on-shell amplitude, from which we obtain all-order exact impulses of classical observables.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

The Relativistic Spherical Top as a Massive Twistor

We prove the equivalence between two traditional approaches to the classical mechanics of a massive spinning particle in special relativity. One is the spherical top model of Hanson and Regge, recast in a Hamiltonian formulation with improved treatment of covariant spin constraints. The other is the massive twistor model, slightly generalized to incorporate the Regge trajectory relating the mass to the total spin angular momentum. We establish the equivalence by computing the Dirac brackets of the physical phase space carrying three translation and three rotation degrees of freedom. Lorentz covariance and little group covariance uniquely determine the structure of the physical phase space. The Regge trajectory does not affect the phase space but enters the equations of motion. Upon quantization, the twistor model produces a spectrum that agrees perfectly with the massive spinor-helicity description proposed by Arkani-Hamed, Huang and Huang for scattering amplitudes for all masses and spins.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Thermodynamic identities with sunray diagrams

One of the hurdles in teaching undergraduate thermodynamics is a plethora of complicated partial derivative identities. Students suffer from difficulties in deriving, justifying, or interpreting the identities, misconceptions about partial derivatives, and a lack of in-depth understanding of the meanings of identities. We propose a novel diagrammatic method for the calculus of differentials and partial derivatives called the "sunray diagram" that resolves the difficulties above. The sunray diagram technique relates a partial derivative with "arrow sliding," which enables an aesthetic and intuitive manipulation of partial derivative expressions in the form of successive arrow slidings. Furthermore, the sunray diagram is more than an ad hoc or abstract machinery but is based on the symplectic structure of thermodynamics; the sunray diagram admits a direct physical interpretation on the P-V (or T-S) plane. We elaborate on such physical semantics of the sunray diagram by taking Maxwell's approach to the geometry of thermodynamic structures--reinterpreted in terms of differential geometry--as a reference point. We anticipate that our discussion introduces the geometry of thermodynamics to learners and enriches the graphical pedagogy in physics education.

physics.ed-ph↗

arXiv2020

Boosting Vector Calculus with the Graphical Notation

Learning vector calculus techniques is one of the major missions to be accomplished by physics undergraduates. However, beginners report various difficulties dealing with the index notation due to its bulkiness. Meanwhile, there have been graphical notations for tensor algebra that are intuitive and effective in calculations and can serve as a quick mnemonic for algebraic identities. Although they have been introduced and applied in vector algebra in the educational context, to the best of our knowledge, there have been no publications that employ the graphical notation to three-dimensional Euclidean vector calculus, involving differentiation and integration of vector fields. Aiming for physics students and educators, we introduce such "graphical vector calculus," demonstrate its pedagogical advantages, and provide enough exercises containing both purely mathematical identities and practical calculations in physics. The graphical notation can readily be utilized in the educational environment to not only lower the barriers in learning and practicing vector calculus but also make students interested and self-motivated to manipulate the vector calculus syntax and heuristically comprehend the language of tensors by themselves.

physics.ed-ph↗