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Leon Menger

Publications and source records attributed to Leon Menger.

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Towards First Quantisation Formalism for AKSZ Theories

\noindent Given an AKSZ theory $\mathbb{T}$ on a manifold $M$, with target a graded vector space $Y$, we formulate a 1-dimensional theory $\mathbb{t}$ on graphs (the ``first quantisation picture for $\mathbb{T}$''), whose partition functions reproduce the Feynman graphs of $\mathbb{T}$. More precisely, the theory $\mathbb{t}$ is itself a 1d AKSZ theory with the target built out of $M$, and involving a coupling to 1d supergravity. It yields a form on the space of metric graphs (with length $T$ of an edge and its de Rham differential $\mathrm{d} T$ interpreted as the zero-modes of the graviton and gravitino, respectively); its integral yields the sum of Feynman graphs of $\mathbb{T}$. We study the theory $\mathbb{t}$ in the BV-BFV formalism; a gauge-fixing of $\mathbb{T}$ corresponds to a gauge-fixing of $\mathbb{t}$. At the classical level, $\mathbb{t}$ assigns to vertices certain Lagrangian submanifolds $L_k$ in Cartesian powers $\Phi^{\times k}$ of the phase space $\Phi$ of $\mathbb{t}$. These submanifolds can be thought of as defining a cyclic $\mathrm{L}_\infty$-algebra in Weinstein's symplectic category (``dequantising'' the cohomological vector field on the target %target AKSZ dg structure of $\mathbb{T}$). In the path integral construction of $\mathbb{t}$, Lagrangians $L_k$ determine sewing conditions for fields on the incident edges at a $k$-valent vertex. We give examples of this paradigm, such as when $\mathbb{t}$ on edges is the Witten-Morse supersymmetric quantum mechanics (which corresponds to a particular type of gauge-fixing for $\mathbb{T}$ and $\mathbb{t}$). In the example where $\mathbb{T}$ is the non-abelian Chern--Simons theory with structure Lie algebra $\mathfrak{su}(2)$, we describe the vertex Lagrangian $L_{\mathrm{W}}$ (the ``Wigner Lagrangian'' ).

math-ph

Effect of Torsion on Neutron Star Structure in Einstein-Cartan Gravity

Einstein-Cartan gravity is a close historical sibling of general relativity that allows for spacetime torsion. As a result, angular momentum couples to spacetime geometry in a similar way to energy. While consequences of this are well studied on cosmological scales, their role in neutron star physics is largely under-explored. We study the effects that torsion, sourced by either microphysical spin or macroscopic angular momentum, has on neutron stars. For this, we use a simplified polytropic model to quantify the microphysical coupling to torsion. We also derive expressions to model rotation-induced torsion effects and estimate the consequences for rotating neutron stars with different rotation rates. We find that the presence of torsion in general leads to neutron stars with smaller radii and masses, but higher central densities. Realistic models for microphysical spin lead to torsion effects that have no relevant influence on the neutron star structure. Rotation-induced torsion effects however, can decrease the radius by up to $900\,m$, which is comparable to the increase due to centrifugal forces. Depending on which effect dominates, this leads to a torsion-induced spin-up or spin-down of the neutron star. We conclude that torsion effects due to rotation can not be neglected and are large enough to be tested using current or near-future technology.

gr-qc

Gravity with torsion as deformed $BF$ theory

We study a family of (possibly non topological) deformations of $BF$ theory for the Lie algebra obtained by quadratic extension of $\mathfrak{so}(3,1)$ by an orthogonal module. The resulting theory, called quadratically extended General Relativity (qeGR), is shown to be classically equivalent to certain models of gravity with dynamical torsion. The classical equivalence is shown to promote to a stronger notion of equivalence within the Batalin--Vilkovisky formalism. In particular, both Palatini--Cartan gravity and a deformation thereof by a dynamical torsion term, called (quadratic) generalised Holst theory, are recovered from the standard Batalin--Vilkovisky formulation of qeGR by elimination of generalised auxiliary fields.

math-ph

Introduction to 2-dimensional Topological Quantum Field Theory

Mostly self-contained script on functorial topological quantum field theories. These notes give a slow introduction to the basic notions of category theory which serve a closer investigation of cobordisms and (commutative) Frobenius algebras. In the fourth chapter the axiomatic definition of TQFTs is motivated and some folklore results about the equivalence of (symmetric) monoidal functors and (commutative) Frobenius algebras are proven. The script can serve as material for an introductory course.

math.QA