Hidden symmetries of a self-dual monopole
The symmetries of a spinning particle in the field of a self-dual monopole are studied from the viewpoint of supersymmetric quantum mechanics.
hep-th↗
arXiv subjects
L. O'Raifeartaigh
Publications and source records attributed to L. O'Raifeartaigh.
Aharonov-Bohm effect in Presence of Superconductors
The analysis of a previous paper, in which it was shown that the energy for the Aharonov-Bohm effect could be traced to the interaction energy between the magnetic field of the electron and the background magnetic field, is extended to cover the case in which the magnetic field of the electron is shielded from the background magnetic field by superconducting material. The paradox that arises from the fact that such a shielding would apparently preclude the possibility of an interaction energy is resolved and, within the limits of the ideal situation considered, the observed experimental result is derived.
quant-ph↗
Monopole-charge instability
For monopoles with nonvanishing Higgs potential it is shown that with respect to "Brandt-Neri-Coleman type" variations (a) the stability problem reduces to that of a pure gauge theory on the two-sphere (b) each topological sector admits one, and only one, stable monopole charge, and (c) each unstable monopole admits $2\sum_{q<0} (2|q|-1)$ negative modes, where the sum goes over all negative eigenvalues $q$ of the non-Abelian charge $Q$. An explicit construction for (i) the unique stable charge (ii) the negative modes and (iii) the spectrum of the Hessian, on the 2-sphere, is then given. The relation to loops in the residual group is explained. The negative modes are tangent to suitable energy-reducing two-spheres. The general theory is illustrated for the little groups U(2), U(3), SU(3)/Z_3 and O(5).
hep-th↗
Applications of chiral supersymmetry for spin fields in self-dual backgrounds
Due to chiral supersymmetry the (nonzero mode) spectral and symmetry properties of a 4-dimensional, self-dual Dirac-Yang-Mills operator $\D$ can be recovered from those of the corresponding scalar Laplacian $D^2$. It is shown that a similar result holds for higher spins, and that in the 4-vector case the super-symmetric partners are $-D^21_4$ and the fluctuation operator. The reduction to $D^2$ is used to simplify previous analyses of the (nonzero mode) spectrum of $\D$ and of the fluctuations for a BPS-monopole, and to explain the Kepler and su(2/2) (super)symmetries of a system studied recently by D'Hoker and Vinet.
hep-th↗
The Maximal Kinematical Invariance Group of Fluid Dynamics and Explosion-Implosion Duality
It has recently been found that supernova explosions can be simulated in the laboratory by implosions induced in a plasma by intense lasers. A theoretical explanation is that the inversion transformation, ($Σ: t \to -1/t,~ {\bf x}\to {\bf x}/t$), leaves the Euler equations of fluid dynamics, with standard polytropic exponent, invariant. This implies that the kinematical invariance group of the Euler equations is larger than the Galilei group. In this paper we determine, in a systematic manner, the maximal invariance group ${\cal G}$ of general fluid dynamics and show that it is a semi-direct product ${\cal G} = SL(2,R) \wedge G$, where the $SL(2,R)$ group contains the time-translations, dilations and the inversion $Σ$, and $G$ is the static (nine-parameter) Galilei group. A subtle aspect of the inclusion of viscosity fields is discussed and it is shown that the Navier-Stokes assumption of constant viscosity breaks the $SL(2, R)$ group to a two-parameter group of time translations and dilations in a tensorial way. The 12-parameter group ${\cal G}$ is also known to be the maximal invariance group of the free Schrödinger equation. It originates in the free Hamilton-Jacobi equation which is central to both fluid dynamics and the Schrödinger equation.
hep-th↗
Supersymmetric Noether Currents and Seiberg-Witten Theory
The purpose of this paper is twofold. The first purpose is to review a systematic construction of Noether currents for supersymmetric theories, especially effective supersymmetric theories. The second purpose is to use these currents to derive the mass-formula for the quantized Seiberg-Witten model from the supersymmetric algebra. We check that the mass-formula of the low-energy theory agrees with that of the full theory (in the broken phase).
hep-th↗
The Two-exponential Liouville Theory and the Uniqueness of the Three-point Function
It is shown that in the two-exponential version of Liouville theory the coefficients of the three-point functions of vertex operators can be determined uniquely using the translational invariance of the path integral measure and the self-consistency of the two-point functions. The result agrees with that obtained using conformal bootstrap methods. Reflection symmetry and a previously conjectured relationship between the dimensional parameters of the theory and the overall scale are derived.
hep-th↗
Duality in Liouville Theory as a Reduced Symmetry
The origin of the rather mysterious duality symmetry found in quantum Liouville theory is investigated by considering the Liouville theory as the reduction of a WZW-like theory in which the form of the potential for the Cartan field is not fixed a priori. It is shown that in the classical theory conformal invariance places no condition on the form of the potential, but the conformal invariance of the classical reduction requires that it be an exponential. In contrast, the quantum theory requires that, even before reduction, the potential be a sum of two exponentials. The duality of these two exponentials is the fore-runner of the Liouville duality. An interpretation for the reflection symmetry found in quantum Liouville theory is also obtained along similar lines.
hep-th↗
Duality in Quantum Liouville Theory
The quantisation of the two-dimensional Liouville field theory is investigated using the path integral, on the sphere, in the large radius limit. The general form of the $N$-point functions of vertex operators is found and the three-point function is derived explicitly. In previous work it was inferred that the three-point function should possess a two-dimensional lattice of poles in the parameter space (as opposed to a one-dimensional lattice one would expect from the standard Liouville potential). Here we argue that the two-dimensionality of the lattice has its origin in the duality of the quantum mechanical Liouville states and we incorporate this duality into the path integral by using a two-exponential potential. Contrary to what one might expect, this does not violate conformal invariance; and has the great advantage of producing the two-dimensional lattice in a natural way.
hep-th↗
Path Integral Formulation of the Conformal Wess-Zumino-Witten to Liouville Reduction
The quantum Wess-Zumino-Witten $\to$ Liouville reduction is formulated using the phase space path integral method of Batalin, Fradkin, and Vilkovisky, adapted to theories on compact two dimensional manifolds. The importance of the zero modes of the Lagrange multipliers in producing the Liouville potential and the WZW anomaly, and in proving gauge invariance, is emphasised. A previous problem concerning the gauge dependence of the Virasoro centre is solved.
hep-th↗
On the Uniqueness of the effective Lagrangian for N= 2 SQCD
The low energy effective Lagrangian for N= 2 SU(2) supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory coupled to N_F<4 massless matter fields is derived from the BPS mass formula using asymptotic freedom and assuming that the number of strong coupling singularities is finite.
hep-th↗
Conformally Invariant Path Integral Formulation of the Wess-Zumino-Witten $\to$ Liouville Reduction
The path integral description of the Wess-Zumino-Witten $\to$ Liouville reduction is formulated in a manner that exhibits the conformal invariance explicitly at each stage of the reduction process. The description requires a conformally invariant generalization of the phase space path integral methods of Batalin, Fradkin, and Vilkovisky for systems with first class constraints. The conformal anomaly is incorporated in a natural way and a generalization of the Fradkin-Vilkovisky theorem regarding gauge independence is proved. This generalised formalism should apply to all conformally invariant reductions in all dimensions. A previous problem concerning the gauge dependence of the centre of the Virasoro algebra of the reduced theory is solved.
hep-th↗
Uniqueness of the Seiberg-Witten Effective Lagrangian
The low energy effective Lagrangian for $N\es 2$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, proposed by Seiberg and Witten is shown to be the unique solution, assuming only that supersymmetry is unbroken and that the number of strong-coupling singularities is finite. Duality is then a consequence rather than an input.
hep-th↗
Weyl-Gauging and Conformal Invariance
Scale-invariant actions in arbitrary dimensions are investigated in curved space to clarify the relation between scale-, Weyl- and conformal invariance on the classical level. The global Weyl-group is gauged. Then the class of actions is determined for which Weyl-gauging may be replaced by a suitable coupling to the curvature (Ricci gauging). It is shown that this class is exactly the class of actions which are conformally invariant in flat space. The procedure yields a simple algebraic criterion for conformal invariance and produces the improved energy-momentum tensor in conformally invariant theories in a systematic way. It also provides a simple and fundamental connection between Weyl-anomalies and central extensions in two dimensions. In particular, the subset of scale-invariant Lagrangians for fields of arbitrary spin, in any dimension, which are conformally invariant is given. An example of a quadratic action for which scale-invariance does not imply conformal invariance is constructed.
hep-th↗
Brief Resume of Seiberg-Witten Theory
Talk presented by the second author at the Inaugural Coference of the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, Seoul, June 1996. The purpose of this note is to give a resume of the Seiberg-Witten theory in the simplest possible mathematical terms.
hep-th↗
Morse Theory and the Topology of Configuration Space
The first and second homology groups are computed for configuration spaces of framed three-dimensional point particles with annihilation included, when up to two particles and an antiparticle are present.
hep-th↗
Canonical Quantization of Interacting WZW Theories
Using canonical quantization we find the Virasoro centre for a class of conformally-invariant interacting Wess-Zumino-Witten theories. The theories have a group structure similar to that of Toda theories (both abelian and non-abelian) but the usual Toda constraints on the coupling constants are relaxed and the theories are not necessarily integrable. The general formula for the Virasoro centre is compared to that derived by BRST methods in the Toda case, and helps to explain the structure of the latter.
hep-th↗
Non-Trivial Non-Canonical W-Algebras from Kac-Moody Reductions
By reducing a split $G_2$ Kac-Moody algebra by a non-maximal set of first-class constraints we produce W-algebras which (i) contain fields of negative conformal spin and (ii) are not trivial extensions of canonical W-algebras.
hep-th↗