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O. Aharony

Publications and source records attributed to O. Aharony.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2002

Clean Time-Dependent String Backgrounds from Bubble Baths

We consider the set of controlled time-dependent backgrounds of general relativity and string theory describing ``bubbles of nothing'', obtained via double analytic continuation of black hole solutions. We analyze their quantum stability, uncover some novel features of their dynamics, identify their causal structure and observables, and compute their particle production spectrum. We present a general relation between squeezed states, such as those arising in cosmological particle creation, and nonlocal theories on the string worldsheet. The bubble backgrounds have various aspects in common with de Sitter space, Rindler space, and moving mirror systems, but constitute controlled solutions of general relativity and string theory with no external forces. They provide a useful theoretical laboratory for studying issues of observables in systems with cosmological horizons, particle creation, and time-dependent string perturbation theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv1999

Large N Field Theories, String Theory and Gravity

We review the holographic correspondence between field theories and string/M theory, focusing on the relation between compactifications of string/M theory on Anti-de Sitter spaces and conformal field theories. We review the background for this correspondence and discuss its motivations and the evidence for its correctness. We describe the main results that have been derived from the correspondence in the regime that the field theory is approximated by classical or semiclassical gravity. We focus on the case of the N=4 supersymmetric gauge theory in four dimensions, but we discuss also field theories in other dimensions, conformal and non-conformal, with or without supersymmetry, and in particular the relation to QCD. We also discuss some implications for black hole physics.

hep-th↗
arXiv1997

Light-Cone Description of (2,0) Superconformal Theories in Six Dimensions

We study the (2,0) superconformal theories in six dimensions, which arise from the low-energy limit of k coincident 5-branes, using their discrete light-cone formulation as a superconformal quantum mechanical sigma model. We analyze the realization of the superconformal symmetry in the quantum mechanics, and the realization of primary operators. As an example we compute the spectrum of chiral primary states in symmetric Spin(5)_R representations. To facilitate the analysis we introduce and briefly discuss a new class of Lorentz non-invariant theories, which flow in the IR to the (2,0) superconformal field theories but differ from them in the UV.

hep-th↗
arXiv1997

Matrix Description of Interacting Theories in Six Dimensions

We propose descriptions of interacting (2,0) supersymmetric theories without gravity in six dimensions in the infinite momentum frame. They are based on the large $N$ limit of quantum mechanics or 1+1 dimensional field theories on the moduli space of $N$ instantons in $\IR^4$.

hep-th↗
arXiv1997

Aspects of N=2 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories in Three Dimensions

We consider general aspects of N=2 gauge theories in three dimensions, including their multiplet structure, anomalies and non-renormalization theorems. For U(1) gauge theories, we discuss the quantum corrections to the moduli space, and their relation to ``mirror symmetries'' of 3d N=4 theories. Mirror symmetry is given an interpretation in terms of vortices. For SU(N_c) gauge groups with N_f fundamental flavors, we show that, depending on the number of flavors, there are quantum moduli spaces of vacua with various phenomena near the origin.

hep-th↗
arXiv1997

Field Theory Questions for String Theory Answers

We discuss the field theory of 3-brane probes in F-theory compactifications in two configurations, generalizing the work of Sen and of Banks, Douglas and Seiberg. One configuration involves several parallel 3-brane probes in F-theory compactified on $T^4/Z_2$, while the other involves a compactification of F-theory on $T^6/Z_2 x Z_2$ (which includes intersecting $D_4$ singularities). In both cases string theory provides simple pictures of the spacetime theory, whose implications for the three-brane world-volume theories are discussed. In the second case the field theory on the probe is an unusual N=1 superconformal theory, with exact electric-magnetic duality. Several open questions remain concerning the description of this theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv1995

Flows and Duality Symmetries in N=1 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories

We present more examples of dual N=1 SUSY gauge theories. This set of theories is connected by flows to both Seiberg's and Kutasov's dual theories. This provides a unifying picture of the various dual theories. We investigate the dual theories, their flat directions and mass perturbations.

hep-th↗
arXiv1993

Elliptic Genera and the Landau-Ginzburg Approach to N=2 Orbifolds

We compute the elliptic genera of orbifolds associated with $N=2$ super--conformal theories which admit a Landau-Ginzburg description. The identification of the elliptic genera of the macroscopic Landau-Ginzburg orbifolds with those of the corresponding microscopic $N=2$ orbifolds further supports the conjectured identification of these theories. For $SU(N)$ Kazama-Suzuki models the orbifolds are associated with certain $\IZ_p$ subgroups of the various coset factors. Based on our approach we also conjecture the existence of "$E$-type" variants of these theories, their elliptic genera and the corresponding Landau-Ginzburg potentials.

hep-th↗
arXiv1993

c=1 String Theory as a Topological G/G Model

The physical states on the free field Fock space of the ${SL(2,R)\over SL(2,R)$ model at any level are computed. Using a similarity transformation on $Q_{BRST}$, the cohomology of the latter is mapped into a direct sum of simpler cohomologies. We show a one to one correspondence between the states of the $k=-1$ model and those of the $c=1$ string model. A full equivalence between the ${SL(2,R)\over SL(2,R)$ and ${SL(2,R)\over U(1)$ models at the level of their Fock space cohomologies is found.

hep-th↗
arXiv1992

On the twisted G/H topological models

The twisted G/H models are constructed as twisted supersymmetric gauged WZW models. We analyze the case of $G=SU(N)$, $H=SU(N_1)\times ...\times SU(N_n)\times U(1)^r$ with $rank\ G =\ rank\ H$, and discuss possible generalizations. We introduce a non-abelian bosonization of the $(1,0)$ ghost system in the adjoint of $H$ and in G/H. By computing chiral anomalies in the latter picture we write the quantum action as a decoupled sum of ``matter", gauge and ghost sectors. The action is also derived in the unbosonized version. We invoke a free field parametrization and extract the space of physical states by computing the cohomology of $Q$ , the sum of the BRST gauge-fixing charge and the twisted supersymmetry charge. For a given $G$ we briefly discuss the relation between the various G/H models corresponding to different choices of $H$. The choice $H=G$ corresponds to the topological G/G theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv1992

G/G Models and W_N strings

We derive the BRST cohomology of the G/G topological model for the case of A^{(1)}_{N-1} . It is shown that at level k={p/q}-N the latter describes the (p,q) W_N minimal model coupled to $W_N$ gravity (plus some extra ``topological sectors").

hep-th↗
arXiv1992

Physical States in G/G Models and 2d Gravity

An analysis of the BRST cohomology of the G/G topological models is performed for the case of $A_1^{(1)}$. Invoking a special free field parametrization of the various currents, the cohomology on the corresponding Fock space is extracted. We employ the singular vector structure and fusion rules to translate the latter into the cohomology on the space of irreducible representations. Using the physical states we calculate the characters and partition function, and verify the index interpretation. We twist the energy-momentum tensor to establish an intriguing correspondence between the ${SL(2)\over SL(2)}$ model with level $k={p\over q}-2$ and $(p,q)$ models coupled to gravity.

hep-th↗