arXiv subjects

M. J. Duff

Publications and source records attributed to M. J. Duff.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Experimental evidence of radiation reaction in the collision of a high-intensity laser pulse with a laser-wakefield accelerated electron beam

The dynamics of energetic particles in strong electromagnetic fields can be heavily influenced by the energy loss arising from the emission of radiation during acceleration, known as radiation reaction. When interacting with a high-energy electron beam, today's lasers are sufficiently intense to explore the transition between the classical and quantum radiation reaction regimes. We report on the observation of radiation reaction in the collision of an ultra-relativistic electron beam generated by laser wakefield acceleration ($\varepsilon > 500$ MeV) with an intense laser pulse ($a_0 > 10$). We measure an energy loss in the post-collision electron spectrum that is correlated with the detected signal of hard photons ($γ$-rays), consistent with a quantum (stochastic) description of radiation reaction. The generated $γ$-rays have the highest energies yet reported from an all-optical inverse Compton scattering scheme, with critical energy $\varepsilon_{\rm crit} > $ 30 MeV.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

The Magic Star of Exceptional Periodicity

We present a periodic infinite chain of finite generalisations of the exceptional structures, including e8, the exceptional Jordan algebra (and pair), and the octonions. We demonstrate that the exceptional Jordan algebra is part of an infinite family of finite-dimensional matrix algebras (corresponding to a particular class of cubic Vinberg's T-algebras). Correspondingly, we prove that e8 is part of an infinite family of algebras (dubbed "Magic Star" algebras) that resemble lattice vertex algebras.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

D = 3 Unification of Curious Supergravities

We consider the dimensional reduction to D = 3 of four maximal-rank supergravities which preserve minimal supersymmetry in D = 11, 7, 5 and 4. Such "curious" theories were investigated some time ago, and the four-dimensional one corresponds to an N = 1 supergravity with 7 chiral multiplets spanning the seven-disk manifold. Recently, this latter theory provided cosmological models for alpha-attractors, which are based on the disk geometry with possible restrictions on the parameter alpha. A unified picture emerges in D = 3, where the Ehlers group of General Relativity merges with the S-, T- and U- dualities of the D = 4 parent theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Majorana Fermions in Particle Physics, Solid State and Quantum Information

This review is based on lectures given by M. J. Duff summarising the far reaching contributions of Ettore Majorana to fundamental physics, with special focus on Majorana fermions in all their guises. The theoretical discovery of the eponymous fermion in 1937 has since had profound implications for particle physics, solid state and quantum computation. The breadth of these disciplines is testimony to Majorana's genius, which continues to permeate physics today. These lectures offer a whistle-stop tour through some limited subset of the key ideas. In addition to touching on these various applications, we will draw out some fascinating relations connecting the normed division algebras $\mathbb{R}, \mathbb{C}, \mathbb{H}, \mathbb{O}$ to spinors, trialities, $K$-theory and the classification of stable topological states of symmetry-protected gapped free-fermion systems.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Comment on time-variation of fundamental constants

The possible time variation of dimensionless fundamental constants of nature, such as the fine-structure constant $α$, is a legitimate subject of physical enquiry. By contrast, the time variation of dimensional constants, such as $\hbar$, $c$, $G$, $e$, $k$,... which are merely human constructs whose number and values differ from one choice of units to the next, has no operational meaning. To illustrate this, we refute a recent claim of Davies et al that black holes can discriminate between two contending theories of varying $α$, one with varying $c$ and the other with varying $e$. In Appendix A we respond to criticisms by P. Davies and two Nature referees. In Appendix B we respond to remarks by Magueijo and by T. Davis. In Appendix C we critique recent claims by Copi, A. Davis and Krauss to have placed constraints on $ΔG/G$.} In Appendix D we provide extracts of a lecture by Dirac, of which we have only recently become aware, which includes the comment "Talking about whether a thing is constant or not does not have any absolute meaning unless that quantity is dimensionless".

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Twin Supergravities from Yang-Mills Squared

We consider `twin supergravities' - pairs of supergravities with $\mathcal{N}_+$ and $\mathcal{N}_-$ supersymmetries, $\mathcal{N}_+>\mathcal{N}_-$, with identical bosonic sectors - in the context of tensoring super Yang-Mills multiplets. It is demonstrated that the pairs of twin supergravity theories are related through their left and right super Yang-Mills factors. This procedure generates new theories from old. In particular, the matter coupled $\mathcal{N}_-$ twins in $D=3,5,6$ and the $\mathcal{N}_-=1$ twins in $D=4$ have not, as far as we are aware, been obtained previously using the double-copy construction, adding to the growing list of double-copy constructible theories. The use of fundamental matter multiplets in the double-copy construction leads us to introduce a bi-fundamental scalar that couples to the well-known bi-adjoint scalar field. It is also shown that certain matter coupled supergravities admit more than one factorisation into left and right super Yang-Mills-matter theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Gravity as the square of Yang-Mills?

In these lectures we review how the symmetries of gravitational theories may be regarded as originating from those of "Yang-Mills squared". We begin by motivating the idea that certain aspects of gravitational theories can be captured by the product, in some sense, of two distinct Yang-Mills theories, particularly in the context of scattering amplitudes. We then introduce a concrete dictionary for the covariant fields of (super)gravity in terms of the product of two (super) Yang-Mills theories. The dictionary implies that the symmetries of each (super) Yang-Mills factor generate the symmetries of the corresponding (super)gravity theory: general covariance, $p$-form gauge invariance, local Lorentz invariance, local supersymmetry, R-symmetry and U-duality.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

The structure of superqubit states

Superqubits provide a supersymmetric generalisation of the conventional qubit in quantum information theory. After a review of their current status, we address the problem of generating entangled states. We introduce the global unitary supergroup $\text{UOSp}((3^n+1)/2 | (3^n-1)/2)$ for an $n$-superqubit system, which contains as a subgroup the local unitary supergroup $[\text{UOSp}(2|1)]^n$. While for $4>n>1$ the bosonic subgroup in $\text{UOSp}((3^n+1)/2 | (3^n-1)/2)$ does not contain the standard global unitary group $\text{SU}(2^n)$, it does have an $\text{USp}(2^n)\subset\text{SU}(2^n)$ subgroup which acts transitively on the $n$-qubit subspace, as required for consistency with the conventional multi-qubit framework. For two superqubits the $\text{UOSp}(5|4)$ action is used to generate entangled states from the "bosonic" separable state $|00\rangle$.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Membrane Duality Revisited

Just as string T-duality originates from transforming field equations into Bianchi identities on the string worldsheet, so it has been suggested that M-theory U-dualities originate from transforming field equations into Bianchi identities on the membrane worldvolume. However, this encounters a problem unless the target space has dimension $D = p + 1$. We identify the problem to be the nonintegrability of the U-duality transformation assigned to the pull-back map. Just as a double geometry renders manifest the $O(D,D)$ string T-duality, here we show in the case of the M2-brane in $D = 3$ that a generalised geometry renders manifest the $SL(3) \times SL(2)$ U-duality. In the case of M2-brane in $D=4$, with and without extra target space coordinates, we show that only the ${\rm GL}(4,R)\ltimes R^4$ subgroup of the expected $SL(5,R)$ U-duality symmetry is realised.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

M-history without the M

A review of the book "A Brief History of String Theory: From Dual Models to M-Theory" by Dean Rickles

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2015

A magic square from Yang-Mills squared

We give a unified description of D = 3 super-Yang-Mills theory with N = 1, 2, 4, and 8 supersymmeties in terms of the four division algebras: reals (R), complexes (C), quaternions (H) and octonions (O). Tensoring left and right super-Yang-Mills multiplets with N = 1, 2, 4, 8 we obtain a magic square RR, CR, CC, HR, HC, HH, OR, OC, OH, OO description of D = 3 supergravity with N = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

How fundamental are fundamental constants?

I argue that the laws of physics should be independent of one's choice of units or measuring apparatus. This is the case if they are framed in terms of dimensionless numbers such as the fine structure constant, alpha. For example, the Standard Model of particle physics has 19 such dimensionless parameters whose values all observers can agree on, irrespective of what clock, rulers, scales... they use to measure them. Dimensional constants, on the other hand, such as h, c, G, e, k..., are merely human constructs whose number and values differ from one choice of units to the next. In this sense only dimensionless constants are "fundamental". Similarly, the possible time variation of dimensionless fundamental "constants" of nature is operationally well-defined and a legitimate subject of physical enquiry. By contrast, the time variation of dimensional constants such as c or G on which a good many (in my opinion, confusing) papers have been written, is a unit-dependent phenomenon on which different observers might disagree depending on their apparatus. All these confusions disappear if one asks only unit-independent questions. We provide a selection of opposing opinions in the literature and respond accordingly.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Super Yang-Mills, division algebras and triality

We give a unified division algebraic description of (D=3, N=1,2,4,8), (D=4, N=1,2,4), (D=6, N=1,2) and (D=10, N=1) super Yang-Mills theories. A given (D=n+2, N) theory is completely specified by selecting a pair (A_n, A_{nN}) of division algebras, A_n, A_{nN} = R, C, H, O, where the subscripts denote the dimension of the algebras. We present a master Lagrangian, defined over A_{nN}-valued fields, which encapsulates all cases. Each possibility is obtained from the unique (O, O) (D=10, N=1) theory by a combination of Cayley-Dickson halving, which amounts to dimensional reduction, and removing points, lines and quadrangles of the Fano plane, which amounts to consistent truncation. The so-called triality algebras associated with the division algebras allow for a novel formula for the overall (spacetime plus internal) symmetries of the on-shell degrees of freedom of the theories. We use imaginary A_{nN}-valued auxiliary fields to close the non-maximal supersymmetry algebra off-shell. The failure to close for maximally supersymmetric theories is attributed directly to the non-associativity of the octonions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Explicit Orbit Classification of Reducible Jordan Algebras and Freudenthal Triple Systems

We determine explicit orbit representatives of reducible Jordan algebras and of their corresponding Freudenthal triple systems. This work has direct application to the classification of extremal black hole solutions of N = 2, 4 locally supersymmetric theories of gravity coupled to an arbitrary number of Abelian vector multiplets in D = 4, 5 space-time dimensions.

math.RA↗

arXiv2014

Tsirelson's bound and supersymmetric entangled states

A superqubit, belonging to a $(2|1)$-dimensional super-Hilbert space, constitutes the minimal supersymmetric extension of the conventional qubit. In order to see whether superqubits are more nonlocal than ordinary qubits, we construct a class of two-superqubit entangled states as a nonlocal resource in the CHSH game. Since super Hilbert space amplitudes are Grassmann numbers, the result depends on how we extract real probabilities and we examine three choices of map: (1) DeWitt (2) Trigonometric (3) Modified Rogers. In cases (1) and (2) the winning probability reaches the Tsirelson bound $p_{win}=\cos^2{π/8}\simeq0.8536$ of standard quantum mechanics. Case (3) crosses Tsirelson's bound with $p_{win}\simeq0.9265$. Although all states used in the game involve probabilities lying between 0 and 1, case (3) permits other changes of basis inducing negative transition probabilities.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Yang-Mills origin of gravitational symmetries

By regarding gravity as the convolution of left and right Yang-Mills theories together with a spectator scalar field in the bi-adjoint representation, we derive in linearised approximation the gravitational symmetries of general covariance, p-form gauge invariance, local Lorentz invariance and local supersymmetry from the flat space Yang-Mills symmetries of local gauge invariance and global super-Poincaré. As a concrete example we focus on the new-minimal (12+12) off-shell version of simple four-dimensional supergravity obtained by tensoring the off-shell Yang-Mills multiplets (4+4,N_L =1)and(3+0,N_R =0).

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

A magic pyramid of supergravities

By formulating N = 1, 2, 4, 8, D = 3, Yang-Mills with a single Lagrangian and single set of transformation rules, but with fields valued respectively in R,C,H,O, it was recently shown that tensoring left and right multiplets yields a Freudenthal-Rosenfeld-Tits magic square of D = 3 supergravities. This was subsequently tied in with the more familiar R,C,H,O description of spacetime to give a unified division-algebraic description of extended super Yang-Mills in D = 3, 4, 6, 10. Here, these constructions are brought together resulting in a magic pyramid of supergravities. The base of the pyramid in D = 3 is the known 4x4 magic square, while the higher levels are comprised of a 3x3 square in D = 4, a 2x2 square in D = 6 and Type II supergravity at the apex in D = 10. The corresponding U-duality groups are given by a new algebraic structure, the magic pyramid formula, which may be regarded as being defined over three division algebras, one for spacetime and each of the left/right Yang-Mills multiplets. We also construct a conformal magic pyramid by tensoring conformal supermultiplets in D = 3, 4, 6. The missing entry in D = 10 is suggestive of an exotic theory with G/H duality structure F4(4)/Sp(3) x Sp(1).

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

An octonionic formulation of the M-theory algebra

We give an octonionic formulation of the N = 1 supersymmetry algebra in D = 11, including all brane charges. We write this in terms of a novel outer product, which takes a pair of elements of the division algebra A and returns a real linear operator on A. More generally, with this product comes the power to rewrite any linear operation on R^n (n = 1,2,4,8) in terms of multiplication in the n-dimensional division algebra A. Finally, we consider the reinterpretation of the D = 11 supersymmetry algebra as an octonionic algebra in D = 4 and the truncation to division subalgebras.

hep-th↗