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M. J. Duff

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

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2007

Black hole entropy and quantum information

We review some recently established connections between the mathematics of black hole entropy in string theory and that of multipartite entanglement in quantum information theory. In the case of N=2 black holes and the entanglement of three qubits, the quartic [SL(2)]^3 invariant, Cayley's hyperdeterminant, provides both the black hole entropy and the measure of tripartite entanglement. In the case of N=8 black holes and the entanglement of seven qubits, the quartic E_7 invariant of Cartan provides both the black hole entropy and the measure of a particular tripartite entanglement encoded in the Fano plane.

hep-th↗
arXiv2007

E_7 and the tripartite entanglement of seven qubits

In quantum information theory, it is well known that the tripartite entanglement of three qubits is described by the group [SL(2,C)]^3 and that the entanglement measure is given by Cayley's hyperdeterminant. This has provided an analogy with certain N=2 supersymmetric black holes in string theory, whose entropy is also given by the hyperdeterminant. In this paper, we extend the analogy to N=8. We propose that a particular tripartite entanglement of seven qubits, encoded in the Fano plane, is described by the exceptional group E_7(C) and that the entanglement measure is given by Cartan's quartic E_7 invariant.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2007

E_6 and the bipartite entanglement of three qutrits

Recent investigations have established an analogy between the entropy of four-dimensional supersymmetric black holes in string theory and entanglement in quantum information theory. Examples include: (1) N=2 STU black holes and the tripartite entanglement of three qubits (2-state systems), where the common symmetry is [SL(2)]^3 and (2) N=8 black holes and the tripartite entanglement of seven qubits where the common symmetry is E_7 which contains [SL(2)]^7. Here we present another example: N=8 black holes (or black strings) in five dimensions and the bipartite entanglement of three qutrits (3-state systems), where the common symmetry is E_6 which contains [SL(3)]^3. Both the black hole (or black string) entropy and the entanglement measure are provided by the Cartan cubic E_6 invariant. Similar analogies exist for ``magic'' N=2 supergravity black holes in both four and five dimensions.

hep-th↗
arXiv2007

String triality, black hole entropy and Cayley's hyperdeterminant

The four-dimensional N=2 STU model of string compactification is invariant under an SL(2,Z)_S x SL(2,Z)_T x SL(2,Z)_U duality acting on the dilaton/axion S, complex Kahler form T and the complex structure fields U, and also under a string/string/string triality S-T-U. The model admits an extremal black hole solution with four electric and four magnetic charges whose entropy must respect these symmetries. It is given by the square root of the hyperdeterminant introduced by Cayley in 1845. This also features in three-qubit quantum entanglement.

hep-th↗
arXiv2006

Hidden symmetries of the Nambu-Goto action

We organize the eight variables of the four-dimensional bosonic string ({\dot X}^μ, X'^μ) into a 2 x 2 x 2 hypermatrix a_{AA'A''} and show that in signature (2,2) the Nambu-Goto Lagrangian is given by \sqrt{Det a} where Det is Cayley's hyperdeterminant. This is invariant not only under [SL(2,R)]^{3} but also under interchange of the indices A, A' and A''. This triality reveals hitherto hidden discrete symmetries of the Nambu-Goto action.

hep-th↗
arXiv2006

Signature reversal invariance

We consider the signature reversing transformation of the metric tensor g_ab goes to -g_ab induced by the chiral transformation of the curved space gamma matrices gamma_a goes to gamma gamma_a in spacetimes with signature (S,T), which also induces a (-1)^T spacetime orientation reversal. We conclude: (1) It is a symmetry only for chiral theories with S-T= 4k, with k integer. (2) Yang-Mills theories require dimensions D=4k with T even for which even rank antisymmentric tensor field strengths and mass terms are also allowed. For example, D=10 super Yang-Mills is ruled out. (3) Gravititational theories require dimensions D=4k+2 with T odd, for which the symmetry is preserved by coupling to odd rank field strengths. In D=10, for example, it is a symmetry of N=1 and Type IIB supergravity but not Type IIA. A cosmological term and also mass terms are forbidden but non-minimal R phi^2 coupling is permitted. (4) Spontaneous compactification from D=4k+2 leads to interesting but different symmetries in lower dimensions such as D=4, so Yang-Mills terms, Kaluza-Klein masses and a cosmological constant may then appear. As a well-known example, IIB permits AdS_5 x S^5.

hep-th↗
arXiv2006

The membrane at the end of the (de Sitter) universe

The original {\it membrane at the end of the universe} corresponds to a probe $M2$-brane of signature $(2,1)$ occupying the $S^{2} \times S^{1}$ boundary of the $(10,1)$ spacetime $AdS_{4} \times S^{7}$, and is described by an $OSp(4/8)$ SCFT. However, it was subsequently generalized to other worldvolume signatures $(s,t)$ and other spacetime signatures $(S,T)$. An interesting special case is provided by the $(3,0)$ brane at the end of the de Sitter universe $dS_{4}$ which has recently featured in the $dS/CFT$ correspondence. The resulting CFT contains the one recently proposed as the holographic dual of a four-dimensional de Sitter cosmology. Supersymmetry restricts $S,T,s,t$ by requiring that the corresponding bosonic symmetry $O(s+1,t+1) \times O(S-s,T-t)$ be a subgroup of a superconformal group. The case of $dS_{4} \times AdS_{7}$ is `doubly holographic' and may be regarded as the near horizon geometry of $N_{2}$ $M2$-branes or equivalently, under interchange of conformal and R symmetry, of $N_{5}$ $M5$-branes, provided $N_{2}=2N_{5}{}^{2}$. The same correspondence holds in the pp-wave limit of conventional $M$-theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv2006

Metric and coupling reversal in string theory

Invariance under reversing the sign of the metric G_{MN}(x) and/or the sign of the string coupling field H(x), where = g_s, leads to four possible Universes denoted 1,I,J,K according as (G,H) goes to (G,H), (-G,H), (-G,-H), (G,-H), respectively. Universe 1 is described by conventional string/M theory and contains all M, D, F and NS branes. Universe I contains only D(-1), D3 and D7. Universe J contains only D1, D5, D9 and Type I. Universe K contains only F1 and NS5 of IIB and Heterotic SO(32).

hep-th↗
arXiv2005

Benchmarks on the brane

Branes now occupy center stage in theoretical physics as microscopic components of M-theory, as the higher-dimensional progenitors of black holes and as entire universes in their own right. Their history has been a checkered one, however. Here we list some of the milestones, starting with Dirac's 1962 paper. Asim Barut was an early pioneer.

hep-th↗
arXiv2004

Erice lectures on "The status of local supersymmetry"

In the first lecture we review the current status of local supersymmetry. In the second lecture we focus on D=11 supergravity as the low-energy limit of M-theory and pose the questions: (1) What are the D=11 symmetries? (2) How many supersymmetries can M-theory vacua preserve?

hep-th↗
arXiv2004

Complementarity of the Maldacena and Karch-Randall Pictures

We perform a one-loop test of the holographic interpretation of the Karch-Randall model, whereby a massive graviton appears on an AdS_4 brane in an AdS_5 bulk. Within the AdS/CFT framework, we examine the quantum corrections to the graviton propagator on the brane, and demonstrate that they induce a graviton mass in exact agreement with the Karch-Randall result. Interestingly enough, at one loop order, the spin 0, spin 1/2 and spin 1 loops contribute to the dynamically generated (mass)^2 in the same 1: 3: 12 ratio as enters the Weyl anomaly and the 1/r^3 corrections to the Newtonian gravitational potential.

hep-th↗
arXiv2003

Generalized holonomy of M-theory vacua

The number of M-theory vacuum supersymmetries, 0 <= n <= 32, is given by the number of singlets appearing in the decomposition of the 32 of SL(32,R) under H \subset SL(32,R) where H is the holonomy group of the generalized connection which incorporates non-vanishing 4-form. Here we compute this generalized holonomy for the n=16 examples of the M2-brane, M5-brane, M-wave, M-monopole, for a variety of their n=8 intersections and also for the n>16 pp waves.

hep-th↗
arXiv2003

Hidden Spacetime Symmetries and Generalized Holonomy in M-theory

In M-theory vacua with vanishing 4-form F, one can invoke the ordinary Riemannian holonomy H \subset SO(1,10) to account for unbroken supersymmetries n=1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32. However, the generalized holonomy conjecture, valid for non-zero F, can account for more exotic fractions of supersymmetry, in particular 16<n<32. The conjectured holonomies are given by H \subset G where G are the generalized structure groups G=SO(d-1,1) x G(spacelike), G=ISO(d-1) x G(null) and G=SO(d) x G(timelike) with 1<=d<11. For example, G(spacelike)=SO(16), G(null)=[SU(8) x U(1)] \ltimes R^{56} and G(timelike)=SO*(16) when d=3. Although extending spacetime symmetries, there is no conflict with the Coleman-Mandula theorem. The holonomy conjecture rules out certain vacua which are otherwise permitted by the supersymmetry algebra.

hep-th↗
arXiv2002

Quantum Discontinuity for Massive Spin 3/2 with a Lambda Term

We show that the recently demonstrated absence of the van Dam-Veltman-Zakharov discontinuity for massive spin 3/2 with a Lambda term is an artifact of the tree level approximation, and that the discontinuity reappears at one loop. As a numerical check on the calculation, we rederive the vanishing of the one- loop beta function for D=11 supergravity on AdS_4 x S^7 level-by-level in the Kaluza-Klein tower.

hep-th↗
arXiv2002

Trialogue on the number of fundamental constants

This paper consists of three separate articles on the number of fundamental dimensionful constants in physics. We started our debate in summer 1992 on the terrace of the famous CERN cafeteria. In the summer of 2001 we returned to the subject to find that our views still diverged and decided to explain our current positions. LBO develops the traditional approach with three constants, GV argues in favor of at most two (within superstring theory), while MJD advocates zero.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2001

The world in eleven dimensions: a tribute to Oskar Klein

Current attempts to find a unified theory that would reconcile Einstein's General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, and explain all known physical phenomena, invoke the Kaluza-Klein idea of extra spacetime dimensions. The best candidate is M-theory, which lives in eleven dimensions, the maximum allowed by supersymmetry of the elementary particles. We give a non-technical account. An Appendix provides an updated version of Edwin A. Abbott's 1884 satire {\it Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions}. Entitled {\it Flatland, Modulo 8}, it describes the adventures of a superstring theorist, A. Square, who inhabits a ten-dimensional world and is initially reluctant to accept the existence of an eleventh dimension.

hep-th↗
arXiv2001

Quantum M^2 -> 2Lambda/3 discontinuity for massive gravity with a Lambda term

In a previous paper we showed that the absence of the van Dam-Veltman-Zakharov discontinuity as M^2 -> 0 for massive spin-2 with a Lambda term is an artifact of the tree approximation, and that the discontinuity reappears at one loop, as a result of going from five degrees of freedom to two. In this paper we show that a similar classical continuity but quantum discontinuity arises in the "partially massless" limit M^2 -> 2Lambda/3, as a result of going from five degrees of freedom to four.

hep-th↗