arXiv subjects

S. Vandoren

Publications and source records attributed to S. Vandoren.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2017

Order parameter fluctuations in the holographic superconductor

We investigate the effect of order parameter fluctuations in the holographic superconductor. In particular, using a fully backreacted bulk geometry, the intrinsic spectral functions of the order parameter in both the normal and the superconducting phase are computed. We also present a vector-like large-$N$ version of the Ginzburg-Landau model that accurately describes our long-wavelength results in both phases. The large-$N$ limit of the latter model explains why the Higgs mode and the second-sound mode are not present in the spectral functions. Our results indicate that the holographic superconductor describes a relativistic multi-component superfluid in the universal regime of the BEC-BCS crossover.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Theory of Ultracold Superstrings

The combination of a vortex line in a one-dimensional optical lattice with fermions bound to the vortex core makes up an ultracold superstring. We give a detailed derivation of the way to make this supersymmetric string in the laboratory. In particular, we discuss the presence of a fermionic bound state in the vortex core and the tuning of the laser beams needed to achieve supersymmetry. Moreover, we discuss experimental consequences of supersymmetry and identify the precise supersymmetry in the problem. Finally, we make the mathematical connection with string theory.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Ultracold Superstrings in atomic boson-fermion mixtures

We propose a setup with ultracold atomic gases that can be used to make a nonrelativistic superstring in four spacetime dimensions. In particular, we consider for the creation of the superstring a fermionic atomic gas that is trapped in the core of a vortex in a Bose-Einstein condensate. We explain the required tuning of experimental parameters to achieve supersymmetry between the fermionic atoms and the bosonic modes describing the oscillations in the vortex position. Furthermore, we discuss the experimental consequences of supersymmetry.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

Non-Extremal D-instantons and the AdS/CFT Correspondence

We investigate non-extremal D-instantons in an asymptotically $ AdS_5 \times S^5$ background and the role they play in the $ AdS_5 / CFT_4$ correspondence. We find that the holographic dual operators of non-extremal D-instanton configurations do not correspond to self-dual Yang-Mills instantons, and we compute explicitly the deviation from self-duality. Furthermore, a class of non-extremal D-instantons yield Euclidean axionic wormhole solutions with two asymptotic boundaries. After Wick rotating, this provides a playground for investigating holography in the presence of cosmological singularities in a closed universe.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Non-extremal D-instantons

We construct the most general non-extremal deformation of the D-instanton solution with maximal rotational symmetry. The general non-supersymmetric solution carries electric charges of the SL(2,R) symmetry, which correspond to each of the three conjugacy classes of SL(2,R). Our calculations naturally generalise to arbitrary dimensions and arbitrary dilaton couplings. We show that for specific values of the dilaton coupling parameter, the non-extremal instanton solutions can be viewed as wormholes of non-extremal Reissner-Nordström black holes in one higher dimension. We extend this result by showing that for other values of the dilaton coupling parameter, the non-extremal instanton solutions can be uplifted to non-extremal non-dilatonic p-branes in p+1 dimensions higher. Finally, we attempt to consider the solutions as instantons of (compactified) type IIB superstring theory. In particular, we derive an elegant formula for the instanton action. We conjecture that the non-extremal D-instantons can contribute to the R^8-terms in the type IIB string effective action.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Non-extremal instantons and wormholes in string theory

We construct the most general non-extremal spherically symmetric instanton solution of a gravity-dilaton-axion system with $SL(2,R)$ symmetry, for arbitrary euclidean spacetime dimension $D\geq 3$. A subclass of these solutions describe completely regular wormhole geometries, whose size is determined by an invariant combination of the $SL(2,R)$ charges. Our results can be applied to four-dimensional effective actions of type II strings compactified on a Calabi-Yau manifold, and in particular to the universal hypermultiplet coupled to gravity. We show that these models contain regular wormhole solutions, supported by regular dilaton and RR scalar fields of the universal hypermultiplet.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Instanton Solutions for the Universal Hypermultiplet

We expand our previous analysis on fivebrane and membrane instanton solutions in the universal hypermultiplet, including near-extremal multi-centered solutions and mixed fivebrane-membrane charged instantons. The results are most conveniently described in terms of a double-tensor multiplet.

hep-th↗

arXiv2000

Yang-Mills- and D-instantons

In these lectures, which are written at an elementary and pedagogical level, we discuss general aspects of (single) instantons in SU(N_c) Yang-Mills theory, and then specialize to the case of N = 4 supersymmetry and the large N_c limit. We show how to determine the measure of collective coordinates and compute instanton corrections to certain correlation functions. We then relate this to D-instantons in type IIB supergravity. By taking the D-instantons to live in an $AdS_5\times S^5$ background, we perform explicit checks of the AdS/CFT correspondence.

hep-th↗

arXiv2000

Instantons, Euclidean supersymmetry and Wick rotations

We discuss the reality properties of the fermionic collective coordinates in Euclidean space in an instanton background and construct hermitean actions for N = 4 and N = 2 supersymmetric Euclidean Yang-Mills theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

Multi-Instanton Calculus and the AdS/CFT Correspondence in N=4 Superconformal Field Theory

We present a self-contained study of ADHM multi-instantons in SU(N) gauge theory, especially the novel interplay with supersymmetry and the large-N limit. We give both field- and string-theoretic derivations of the N=4 supersymmetric multi-instanton action and collective coordinate integration measure. As a central application, we focus on certain n-point functions G_n, n=16, 8 or 4, in N=4 SU(N) gauge theory at the conformal point (as well as on related higher-partial-wave correlators); these are correlators in which the 16 exact supersymmetric and superconformal fermion zero modes are saturated. In the large-N limit, for the first time in any 4-dimensional theory, we are able to evaluate all leading-order multi-instanton contributions exactly. We find compelling evidence for Maldacena's conjecture: (1) The large-N k-instanton collective coordinate space has the geometry of a single copy of AdS_5 x S^5. (2) The integration measure on this space includes the partition function of 10-dimensional N=1 SU(k) gauge theory dimensionally reduced to 0 dimensions, matching the description of D-instantons in Type IIB string theory. (3) In exact agreement with Type IIB string calculations, at the k-instanton level, G_n = \sqrt{N} g^8 k^{n-7/2} e^{2πikτ} \sum_{d|k} d^{-2} F_n(x_1,...,x_n), where F_n is identical to a convolution of n bulk-to-boundary supergravity propagators.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Multi-Instantons and Maldacena's Conjecture

We examine certain n-point functions G_n in {\cal N}=4 supersymmetric SU(N) gauge theory at the conformal point. In the large-N limit, we are able to sum all leading-order multi-instanton contributions exactly. We find compelling evidence for Maldacena's conjecture: (1) The large-N k-instanton collective coordinate space has the geometry of AdS_5 x S^5. (2) In exact agreement with type IIB superstring calculations, at the k-instanton level, $G_n = \sqrt{N} g^8 k^{n-7/2} e^{-8π^2 k/g^2}\sum_{d|k} d^{-2} \times F_n(x_1,...,x_n)$, where F_n is identical to a convolution of n bulk-to-boundary SUGRA propagators.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Yang-Mills Instantons in the Large-N Limit and the AdS/CFT Correspondence

We examine a certain 16-fermion correlator in {\cal N}=4 supersymmetric SU(N) gauge theory in 4 dimensions. Generalizing recent SU(2) results of Bianchi, Green, Kovacs and Rossi, we calculate the exact N-dependence of the effective 16-fermion vertex at the 1-instanton level, and find precise agreement in the large-N limit with the prediction of the type IIB superstring on AdS_5 x S^5. This suggests that the string theory prediction for the 1-instanton amplitude considered here is not corrected by higher-order terms in the alpha' expansion.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Instanton Effects in Three-Dimensional Supersymmetric Gauge Theories with Matter

Using standard field theory techniques we compute perturbative and instanton contributions to the Coulomb branch of three-dimensional supersymmetric QCD with N=2 and N=4 supersymmetry and gauge group SU(2). For the N=4 theory with one massless flavor, we confirm the proposal of Seiberg and Witten that the Coulomb branch is the double-cover of the centered moduli space of two BPS monopoles constructed by Atiyah and Hitchin. Introducing a hypermultiplet mass term, we show that the asymptotic metric on the Coulomb branch coincides with the metric on Dancer's deformation of the monopole moduli space. For the N=2 theory with $N_f$ flavors, we compute the one-loop corrections to the metric and complex structure on the Coulomb branch. We then determine the superpotential including one-loop effects around the instanton background. These calculations provide an explicit check of several results previously obtained by symmetry and holomorphy arguments.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Special geometry in hypermultiplets

We give a detailed analysis of pairs of vector and hypermultiplet theories with N=2 supersymmetry in four spacetime dimensions that are related by the (classical) mirror map. The symplectic reparametrizations of the special Kähler space associated with the vector multiplets induce corresponding transformations on the hypermultiplets. We construct the Sp(1)$\times$Sp($n$) one-forms in terms of which the hypermultiplet couplings are encoded and exhibit their behaviour under symplectic reparametrizations. Both vector and hypermultiplet theories allow vectorial central charges in the supersymmetry algebra associated with integrals over the Kähler and hyper-Kähler forms, respectively. We show how these charges and the holomorphic BPS mass are related by the mirror map.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Special Geometry and Compactification on a Circle

We discuss some consequences of our previous work on rigid special geometry in hypermultiplets in 4-dimensional Minkowski spacetime for supersymmetric gauge dynamics when one of the spatial dimensions is compactified on a circle.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

Instantons, Three-Dimensional Gauge Theory, and the Atiyah-Hitchin Manifold

We investigate quantum effects on the Coulomb branch of three-dimensional N=4 supersymmetric gauge theory with gauge group SU(2). We calculate perturbative and one-instanton contributions to the Wilsonian effective action using standard weak-coupling methods. Unlike the four-dimensional case, and despite supersymmetry, the contribution of non-zero modes to the instanton measure does not cancel. Our results allow us to fix the weak-coupling boundary conditions for the differential equations which determine the hyper-Kahler metric on the quantum moduli space. We confirm the proposal of Seiberg and Witten that the Coulomb branch is equivalent, as a hyper-Kahler manifold, to the centered moduli space of two BPS monopoles constructed by Atiyah and Hitchin.

hep-th↗

arXiv1996

Covariant Quantisation in the Antifield Formalism

In this thesis we give an overview of the antifield formalism and show how it must be used to quantise arbitrary gauge theories. The formalism is further developed and illustrated in several examples, including Yang-Mills theory, chiral $W_3$ and $W_{2,5/2}$ gravity, strings in curved backgrounds and topological field theories. All these models are characterised by their gauge algebra, which can be open, reducible, or even infinitly reducible. We show in detail how to perform the gauge fixing and how to compute the anomalies using Pauli-Villars regularisation and the heat kernel method. Finally, we discuss the geometrical structure of the antifield formalism.

hep-th↗

arXiv1995

Redefining B-twisted topological sigma models

A recently proposed variation on the usual procedure to perform the topological B-twist in rigid $N=2$ models is applied to the case of the $σ$ model on a Kähler manifold. This leads to an alternative description of Witten's topological $σ$ model, which allows for a proper BRST interpretation and ghost number assignement. We also show that the auxiliary fields, which are responsible for the off shell closure of the $N=2$ algebra, play an important role in our construction.

hep-th↗