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Kimball A. Milton

Publications and source records attributed to Kimball A. Milton.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
arXiv2001

Bulk versus brane running couplings

A simplified higher dimensional Randall-Sundrum-like model in 6 dimensions is considered. It has been observed previously by Goldberger and Wise that in such a self-interacting scalar theory on the bulk with a conical singularity there is mixing of renormalization of 4d brane couplings with that of the bulk couplings. We study the influence of the running bulk couplings on the running of the 4d brane couplings. We find that bulk quantum effects may completely alter the running of brane couplings. In particular, the structure of the Landau pole may be drastically altered and non-asymptotically free running may turn into asymptotically safe (or free) behavior.

hep-th↗
arXiv2001

Constraints on Extra Dimensions from Cosmological and Terrestrial Measurements

If quantum fields exist in extra compact dimensions, they will give rise to a quantum vacuum or Casimir energy. That vacuum energy will manifest itself as a cosmological constant. The fact that supernova and cosmic microwave background data indicate that the cosmological constant is of the same order as the critical mass density to close the universe supplies a lower bound on the size of the extra dimensions. Recent laboratory constraints on deviations from Newton's law place an upper limit. The allowed region is so small as to suggest that either extra compact dimensions do not exist, or their properties are about to be tightly constrained by experimental data.

hep-th↗
arXiv2001

Constraints on extra dimensions from cosmological and terrestrial measurements

If quantum fields exist in extra compact dimensions, they will give rise to a quantum vacuum or Casimir energy. That vacuum energy will manifest itself as a cosmological constant. The fact that supernova and cosmic microwave background data indicate that the cosmological constant is of the same order as the critical mass density to close the universe supplies a lower bound on the size of the extra dimensions. Recent laboratory constraints on deviations from Newton's law place an upper limit. The allowed region is so small as to suggest that either extra compact dimensions do not exist, or their properties are about to be tightly constrained by experimental data.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2000

Quantum (In)Stability of a Brane-World AdS$\bf_5$ Universe at Nonzero Temperature

We consider the quantum effects of bulk matter (scalars, spinors) in the Randall-Sundrum AdS$_5$ brane-world at nonzero temperature. The thermodynamic energy (modulus potential) is evaluated at low and high temperatures. This potential has an extremum which could be a minimum in some cases (for example, for a single fermion). That suggests a new dynamical mechanism to stabilize the thermal AdS$_5$ brane-world. It is shown that the brane separation required to solve the hierarchy scale problem may occur at a quite low temperature. A natural generalization in terms of the AdS/CFT correspondence (through the supergravity thermal contribution) is also possible.

hep-th↗
arXiv2000

Dimensional and Dynamical Aspects of the Casimir Effect: Understanding the Reality and Significance of Vacuum Energy

Zero-point fluctuations in quantum fields give rise to observable forces between material bodies, the so-called Casimir forces. In this lecture I present some results of the theory of the Casimir effect, primarily formulated in terms of Green's functions. There is an intimate relation between the Casimir effect and van der Waals forces. Applications to conductors and dielectric bodies of various shapes will be given for the cases of scalar, electromagnetic, and fermionic fields. The dimensional dependence of the effect will be described. Finally, we ask the question: Is there a connection between the Casimir effect and the phenomenon of sonoluminescence?

hep-th↗
arXiv2000

Eikonal Scattering of Monopoles and Dyons in Dual QED

The quantum field theory of electron-point magnetic monopole interactions and dyon-dyon interactions, based on the string-dependent ``nonlocal'' action of Dirac and Schwinger is developed. We demonstrate that a nonperturbative quantum field theoretic formulation can be constructed resulting in a string {\em independent} cross section for monopole-electron and dyon-dyon scattering. Such calculations can be done only by using nonperturbative approximations such as the eikonal and not by some mutilation of lowest-order perturbation theory.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

Dual Quantum Electrodynamics: Dyon-Dyon and Charge-Monopole Scattering in a High-Energy Approximation

We develop the quantum field theory of electron-point magnetic monopole interactions and more generally, dyon-dyon interactions, based on the original string-dependent ``nonlocal'' action of Dirac and Schwinger. We demonstrate that a viable nonperturbative quantum field theoretic formulation can be constructed that results in a string {\em independent} cross section for monopole-electron and dyon-dyon scattering. Such calculations can be done only by using nonperturbative approximations such as the eikonal and not by some mutilation of lowest-order perturbation theory.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

Solution of Schwinger-Dyson Equations for ${\cal PT}$-Symmetric Quantum Field Theory

In recent papers it has been observed that non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, such as those describing $igϕ^3$ and $-gϕ^4$ field theories, still possess real positive spectra so long as the weaker condition of ${\cal PT}$ symmetry holds. This allows for the possibility of new kinds of quantum field theories that have strange and quite unexpected properties. In this paper a technique based on truncating the Schwinger-Dyson equations is presented for renormalizing and solving such field theories. Using this technique it is argued that a $-gϕ^4$ scalar quantum field theory in four-dimensional space-time is renormalizable, is asymptotically free, has a nonzero value of $<0|ϕ|0>$, and has a positive definite spectrum. Such a theory might be useful in describing the Higgs boson.

hep-th↗
arXiv1999

Direct and Indirect Searches for Low-Mass Magnetic Monopoles

Recently, there has been renewed interest in the search for low-mass magnetic monopoles. At the University of Oklahoma we are performing an experiment (Fermilab E882) using material from the old D0 and CDF detectors to set limits on the existence of Dirac monopoles of masses of the order of 500 GeV. To set such limits, estimates must be made of the production rate of such monopoles at the Tevatron collider, and of the binding strength of any such produced monopoles to matter. Here we sketch the still primitive theory of such interactions, and indicate why we believe a credible limit may still be obtained. On the other hand, there have been proposals that the classic Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian together with duality could be employed to set limits on magnetic monopoles having masses less than 1 TeV, based on virtual, rather than real processes. The D0 collaboration at Fermilab has used such a proposal to set mass limits based on the nonobservation of pairs of photons each with high transverse momentum. We critique the underlying theory, by showing that the cross section violates unitarity at the quoted limits and is unstable with respect to radiative corrections. We therefore believe that no significant limit can be obtained from the current experiments, based on virtual monopole processes.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

The Casimir Effect: Physical Manifestations of Zero Point Energy

Zero-point fluctuations in quantum fields give rise to observable forces between material bodies, the so-called Casimir forces. In these lectures I present the theory of the Casimir effect, primarily formulated in terms of Green's functions. There is an intimate relation between the Casimir effect and van der Waals forces. Applications to conductors and dielectric bodies of various shapes will be given for the cases of scalar, electromagnetic, and fermionic fields. The dimensional dependence of the effect will be described. Finally, we ask the question: Is there a connection between the Casimir effect and the phenomenon of sonoluminescence?

hep-th↗
arXiv1998

Mode-by-mode summation for the zero point electromagnetic energy of an infinite cylinder

Using the mode-by-mode summation technique the zero point energy of the electromagnetic field is calculated for the boundary conditions given on the surface of an infinite solid cylinder. It is assumed that the dielectric and magnetic characteristics of the material which makes up the cylinder $(ε_1, μ_1)$ and of that which makes up the surroundings $(ε_2, μ_2)$ obey the relation $ε_1μ_1= ε_2μ_2$. With this assumption all the divergences cancel. The divergences are regulated by making use of zeta function techniques. Numerical calculations are carried out for a dilute dielectric cylinder and for a perfectly conducting cylindrical shell. The Casimir energy in the first case vanishes, and in the second is in complete agreement with that obtained by DeRaad and Milton who employed a Green's function technique with an ultraviolet regulator.

hep-th↗
arXiv1998

Identity of the van der Waals Force and the Casimir Effect and the Irrelevance of these Phenomena to Sonoluminescence

We show that the Casimir, or zero-point, energy of a dilute dielectric ball, or of a spherical bubble in a dielectric medium, coincides with the sum of the van der Waals energies between the molecules that make up the medium. That energy, which is finite and repulsive when self-energy and surface effects are removed, may be unambiguously calculated by either dimensional continuation or by zeta function regularization. This physical interpretation of the Casimir energy seems unambiguous evidence that the bulk self-energy cannot be relevant to sonoluminescence.

hep-th↗
arXiv1998

Difficulties with Photonic Searches for Magnetic Monopoles

Recently, there have been proposals that the classic Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian together with duality could be employed to set limits on magnetic monopoles having masses less than 1 TeV. The D0 collaboration at Fermilab has used such a proposal to set mass limits based on the nonobservation of pairs of photons each with high transverse momentum. In this note, we critique the underlying theory, by showing that at the quoted limits the cross section violates unitarity and is unstable with respect to radiative corrections. It is proposed that the correct coupling of magnetic monopoles to photons leads to an effective softening of the interaction, leading to a much smaller cross section, from which no significant limit can be obtained from the current experiments. Previous limits based on virtual monopole loops are similarly criticized.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1998

Massless quantum electrodynamics with a critical point

Recently, it has been observed that a quantum field theory need not be Hermitian to have a real, positive spectrum. What seems to be required is symmetry under combined parity and time-reversal transformations. This idea is extended to massless electrodynamics, in which the photon couples to the axial-vector current with an imaginary coupling constant. The eigenvalue condition necessary for the finiteness of the theory can now be solved; the value for the charge appears to be stable order-by-order. Similarly, the semiclassical Casimir model for the fine-structure constant yields a positive value.

hep-th↗
arXiv1997

Analytic Perturbation Theory: A New Approach to the Analytic Continuation of the Strong Coupling Constant $α_S$ into the Timelike Region

The renormalization group applied to perturbation theory is ordinarily used to define the running coupling constant in the spacelike region. However, to describe processes with timelike momenta transfers, it is important to have a self-consistent determination of the running coupling constant in the timelike region. The technique called analytic perturbation theory (APT) allows a consistent determination of this running coupling constant. The results are found to disagree significantly with those obtained in the standard perturbative approach. Comparison between the standard approach and APT is carried out to two loops, and threshold matching in APT is applied in the timelike region.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1997

Model of supersymmetric quantum field theory with broken parity symmetry

Recently, it was observed that self-interacting scalar quantum field theories having a non-Hermitian interaction term of the form $g(iϕ)^{2+δ}$, where $δ$ is a real positive parameter, are physically acceptable in the sense that the energy spectrum is real and bounded below. Such theories possess PT invariance, but they are not symmetric under parity reflection or time reversal separately. This broken parity symmetry is manifested in a nonzero value for $<ϕ>$, even if $δ$ is an even integer. This paper extends this idea to a two-dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theory whose superpotential is ${\cal S}(ϕ)=-ig(iϕ)^{1+δ}$. The resulting quantum field theory exhibits a broken parity symmetry for all $δ>0$. However, supersymmetry remains unbroken, which is verified by showing that the ground-state energy density vanishes and that the fermion-boson mass ratio is unity.

hep-th↗
arXiv1997

Observability of the Bulk Casimir Effect: Can the Dynamical Casimir Effect be Relevant to Sonoluminescence?

The experimental observation of intense light emission by acoustically driven, periodically collapsing bubbles of air in water (sonoluminescence) has yet to receive an adequate explanation. One of the most intriguing ideas is that the conversion of acoustic energy into photons occurs quantum mechanically, through a dynamical version of the Casimir effect. We have argued elsewhere that in the adiabatic approximation, which should be reliable here, Casimir or zero-point energies cannot possibly be large enough to be relevant. (About 10 MeV of energy is released per collapse.) However, there are sufficient subtleties involved that others have come to opposite conclusions. In particular, it has been suggested that bulk energy, that is, simply the naive sum of ${1\over2}\hbarω$, which is proportional to the volume, could be relevant. We show that this cannot be the case, based on general principles as well as specific calculations. In the process we further illuminate some of the divergence difficulties that plague Casimir calculations, with an example relevant to the bag model of hadrons.

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