arXiv subjects

Sergei Dubovsky

Publications and source records attributed to Sergei Dubovsky.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

From QCD Strings to WZW

According to the Axionic String Anstaz (ASA) confining flux tubes in pure gluodynamics are in the same equivalence class as a new family of integrable non-critical strings, called axionic strings. In addition to translational modes, axionic strings carry a set of worldsheet axions transforming as an antisymmetric tensor under the group of transverse rotations. We initiate a study of integrable axionic strings at general number of space-time dimensions $D$. We show that in the infinite tension limit worldsheet axions should be described by a peculiar "pseudofree" theory---their $S$-matrix is trivial, but the corresponding action cannot be brought into a free form by a local field redefinition. This requirement fixes the axionic action to take a form of the $O(D-2)$ Wess--Zumino--Witten (WZW) model.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

$T\bar{T}$ Partition Function from Topological Gravity

The $T{\bar T}$ deformation of a relativistic two-dimensional theory results in a solvable gravitational theory. Deformed scattering amplitudes can be obtained from coupling the undeformed theory to the flat space Jackiw--Teitelboim (JT) gravity. We show that the JT description is applicable and useful also in finite volume. Namely, we calculate the torus partition function of an arbitrary matter theory coupled to the JT gravity, formulated in the first order (vierbein) formalism. The first order description provides a natural set of dynamical clocks and rods for this theory, analogous to the target space coordinates in string theory. These dynamical coordinates play the role of relational observables allowing to define a torus path integral for the JT gravity. The resulting partition function is one-loop exact and reproduces the $T\bar{T}$ deformed finite volume spectrum.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Heating up the Galaxy with Hidden Photons

We elaborate on the dynamics of ionized interstellar medium in the presence of hidden photon dark matter. Our main focus is the ultra-light regime, where the hidden photon mass is smaller than the plasma frequency in the Milky Way. We point out that as a result of the Galactic plasma shielding direct detection of ultra-light photons in this mass range is especially challenging. However, we demonstrate that ultra-light hidden photon dark matter provides a powerful heating source for the ionized interstellar medium. This results in a strong bound on the kinetic mixing between hidden and regular photons all the way down to the hidden photon masses of order $10^{-20}$ eV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

A Simple Worldsheet Black Hole

We study worldsheet theory of confining strings in two-dimensional massive adjoint QCD. Similarly to confining strings in higher dimensions this theory exhibits a non-trivial $S$-matrix surviving even in the strict planar limit. In the process of two-particle scattering a zigzag is formed on the worldsheet. It leads to an interesting non-locality and exhibits some properties of a quantum black hole. Ordinarily, identical quantum particles do not carry identity. On the worldsheet they acquire off-shell identity due to strings attached. Identity implies complementarity. We discuss similarities and differences of the worldsheet scattering with the $T\bar{T}$ deformation. We also propose a promising candidate for a supersymmetric model with integrable confining strings.

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arXiv2017

Black Hole Mergers and the QCD Axion at Advanced LIGO

In the next few years Advanced LIGO (aLIGO) may see gravitational waves (GWs) from thousands of black hole (BH) mergers. This marks the beginning of a new precision tool for physics. Here we show how to search for new physics beyond the standard model using this tool, in particular the QCD axion in the mass range ma ~ 10^-14 to 10^-10 eV. Axions (or any bosons) in this mass range cause rapidly rotating BHs to shed their spin into a large cloud of axions in atomic Bohr orbits around the BH, through the effect of superradiance (SR). This results in a gap in the mass vs. spin distribution of BHs when the BH size is comparable to the axion's Compton wavelength. By measuring the spin and mass of the merging objects observed at LIGO, we could verify the presence and shape of the gap in the BH distribution produced by the axion. The axion cloud can also be discovered through the GWs it radiates via axion annihilations or level transitions. A blind monochromatic GW search may reveal up to 10^5 BHs radiating through axion annihilations, at distinct frequencies within ~3% of $2 ma. Axion transitions probe heavier axions and may be observable in future GW observatories. The merger events are perfect candidates for a targeted GW search. If the final BH has high spin, a SR cloud may grow and emit monochromatic GWs from axion annihilations. We may observe the SR evolution in real time.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Yang--Mills Glueballs as Closed Bosonic Strings

We put forward the Axionic String Ansatz (ASA), which provides a unified description for the worldsheet dynamics of confining strings in pure Yang--Mills theory both in $D=3$ and $D=4$ space-time dimensions. The ASA is motivated by the excitation spectrum of long confining strings, as measured on a lattice, and by recently constructed integrable axionic non-critical string models. According to the ASA, pure gluodynamics in 3D is described by a non-critical bosonic string theory without any extra local worldsheet degrees of freedom. We argue that this assumption fixes the set of quantum numbers (spins, $P$- and $C$-parities) of almost all glueball states. We confront the resulting predictions with the properties of approximately $1^2+2^2+3^2+5^2=39$ lightest glueball states measured on a lattice and find a good agreement. On the other hand, the spectrum of low lying glueballs in 4D gluodynamics suggests the presence of a massive pseudoscalar mode on the string worldsheet, in agreement with the ASA and lattice data for long strings.

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arXiv2016

Four Loop Scattering in the Nambu-Goto Theory

We initiate the study of multiloop scattering amplitudes in the Nambu-Goto theory on the worldsheet of a non-critical string. We start with a brute force calculation of two loop four particle scattering. Somewhat surprisingly, even though non-trivial UV counterterms are present at this order, on-shell amplitudes remain polynomial in the momenta of colliding particles. We show that this can be understood as a consequence of existence of certain close by (semi)integrable models. Furthermore, these arguments can be extended to obtain the answer for three and four loop scattering, bypassing the brute force calculation. The resulting amplitudes develop non-polynomial (logarithmic) dependence on the momenta starting at three loops.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Implications of the scalar tilt for the tensor-to-scalar ratio

We investigate the possible implications of the measured value of the scalar tilt $n_s$ for the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ in slow-roll, single-field inflationary models. The measured value of the tilt satisfies $n_s -1\sim 1/N_*$, where $N_* \sim 60$ is the number of $e$-folds for observationally relevant scales. If this is not a coincidence and the scaling holds for different values of $N$, it strongly suggests that either $r$ is as big as $10^{-1}$ (a possibility in tension with the recent data), or smaller than $10^{-2}$ and exponentially dependent on $n_s$. A large region of the ($n_s$,$r$) plane is not compatible with this scaling.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Towards a Theory of the QCD String

We construct a new model of four-dimensional relativistic strings with integrable dynamics on the worldsheet. In addition to translational modes this model contains a single massless pseudoscalar worldsheet field - the worldsheet axion. The axion couples to a topological density which counts the self-intersection number of a string. The corresponding coupling is fixed by integrability to $Q=\sqrt{7\over 16π}\approx 0.37$. We argue that this model is a member of a larger family of relativistic non-critical integrable string models. This family includes and extends conventional non-critical strings described by the linear dilaton CFT. Intriguingly, recent lattice data in $SU(3)$ and $SU(5)$ gluodynamics reveals the presence of a massive pseudoscalar axion on the worldsheet of confining flux tubes. The value of the corresponding coupling, as determined from the lattice data, is equal to $Q_L\approx0.38\pm0.04$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Looking for Integrability on the Worldsheet of Confining Strings

We study restrictions on scattering amplitudes on the worldvolume of branes and strings (such as confining flux tubes in QCD) implied by the target space Poincare symmetry. We focus on exploring the conditions for the string worldsheet theory to be integrable. We prove that for a higher dimensional membrane the scattering amplitudes for the translational Goldstone modes ("branons") are double soft. At one-loop double softness is generically violated for the string worldsheet scattering as a consequence of collinear singularities. Violation of double softness implies in turn the breakdown of integrability. We prove that if branons are the only gapless degrees of freedom then the worldsheet integrability is compatible with target space Poincare symmetry only if the number of space-time dimensions is equal to D = 26 (a critical bosonic string), and for D = 3. We extend the analysis to include massless worldsheet fermions, resulting from spontaneous breakdown of the target space supersymmetry. We check that the tree-level integrability in this case is in one-to-one correspondence with the existence of a kappa-symmetric Green-Schwarz (GS) action. As a byproduct we show that at the leading order in the derivative expansion an N = 1 superstring without kappa-symmetry in D = 3,4,6,10 dimensions exhibits an accidental enhanced supersymmetry and is equivalent to a kappa-symmetric N = 2 GS superstring.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Flux Tube Spectra from Approximate Integrability at Low Energies

We provide a detailed introduction to a method we recently proposed for calculating the spectrum of excitations of effective strings such as QCD flux tubes. The method relies on the approximate integrability of the low energy effective theory describing the flux tube excitations and is is based on the Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz (TBA). The approximate integrability is a consequence of the Lorentz symmetry of QCD. For excited states the convergence of the TBA technique is significantly better than that of the traditional perturbative approach. We apply the new technique to the lattice spectra for fundamental flux tubes in gluodynamics in D=3+1 and D=2+1, and to k-strings in gluodynamics in D=2+1. We identify a massive pseudoscalar resonance on the world sheet of the confining strings in SU(3) gluodynamics in D=3+1, and massive scalar resonances on the world sheet of k=2,3 strings in SU(6) gluodynamics in D=2+1.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Living with the Wrong Sign

We describe a UV complete asymptotically fragile Lorentz-invariant theory exhibiting superluminal signal propagation. Its low energy effective action contains "wrong" sign higher dimensional operators. Nevertheless, the theory gives rise to an S-matrix, which is defined at all energies. As expected for a non-local theory, the corresponding scattering amplitudes are not exponentially bounded on the physical sheet, but otherwise are healthy. We study some of the physical consequences of this S-matrix.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Evidence for a new particle on the worldsheet of the QCD flux tube

We propose a new approach for the calculation of the spectrum of excitations of QCD flux tubes. It relies on the fact that the worldsheet theory is integrable at low energies. With this approach, energy levels can be calculated for much shorter flux tubes than was previously possible, allowing for a quantitative comparison with existing lattice data. The improved theoretical control makes it manifest that existing lattice data provides strong evidence for a new pseudoscalar particle localized on the QCD fluxtube - the worldsheet axion.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Natural Tuning: Towards A Proof of Concept

The cosmological constant problem and the absence of new natural physics at the electroweak scale, if confirmed by the LHC, may either indicate that the nature is fine-tuned or that a refined notion of naturalness is required. We construct a family of toy UV complete quantum theories providing a proof of concept for the second possibility. Low energy physics is described by a tuned effective field theory, which exhibits relevant interactions not protected by any symmetries and separated by an arbitrary large mass gap from the new "gravitational" physics, represented by a set of irrelevant operators. Nevertheless, the only available language to describe dynamics at all energy scales does not require any fine-tuning. The interesting novel feature of this construction is that UV physics is not described by a fixed point, but rather exhibits asymptotic fragility. Observation of additional unprotected scalars at the LHC would be a smoking gun for this scenario. Natural tuning also favors TeV scale unification.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Effective String Theory Revisited

We revisit the effective field theory of long relativistic strings such as confining flux tubes in QCD. We derive the Polchinski-Strominger interaction by a calculation in static gauge. This interaction implies that a non-critical string which initially oscillates in one direction gets excited in orthogonal directions as well. In static gauge no additional term in the effective action is needed to obtain this effect. It results from a one-loop calculation using the Nambu-Goto action. Non-linearly realized Lorentz symmetry is manifest at all stages in dimensional regularization. We also explain that independent of the number of dimensions non-covariant counterterms have to be added to the action in the commonly used zeta-function regularization.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Solving the Simplest Theory of Quantum Gravity

We solve what is quite likely the simplest model of quantum gravity, the worldsheet theory of an infinitely long, free bosonic string in Minkowski space. Contrary to naive expectations, this theory is non-trivial. We illustrate this by constructing its exact factorizable S-matrix. Despite its simplicity, the theory exhibits many of the salient features expected from more mature quantum gravity models, including the absence of local off-shell observables, a minimal length, a maximum achievable (Hagedorn) temperature, as well as (integrable relatives of) black holes. All these properties follow from the exact S-matrix. We show that the complete finite volume spectrum can be reconstructed analytically from this S-matrix with the help of the thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz. We argue that considered as a UV complete relativistic two-dimensional quantum field theory the model exhibits a new type of renormalization group flow behavior, "asymptotic fragility". Asymptotically fragile flows do not originate from a UV fixed point.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Axion monodromy in a model of holographic gluodynamics

The low energy field theory for N type IIA D4-branes at strong 't Hooft coupling, wrapped on a circle with antiperiodic boundary conditions for fermions, is known to have a vacuum energy which depends on the $θ$ angle for the gauge fields, and which is a multivalued function of this angle. This gives a field-theoretic realization of "axion monodromy" for a nondynamical axion. We construct the supergravity solution dual to the field theory in the metastable state which is the adiabatic continuation of the vacuum to large values of $θ$. We compute the energy of this state and show that it initially rises quadratically and then flattens out. We show that the glueball mass decreases with $θ$, becoming much lower than the 5d KK scale governing the UV completion of this model. We construct two different classes of domain walls interpolating between adjacent vacua. We identify a number of instability modes -- nucleation of domain walls, bulk Casimir forces, and condensation of tachyonic winding modes in the bulk -- which indicate that the metastable branch eventually becomes unstable. Finally, we discuss two phenomena which can arise when the axion is dynamical; axion-driven inflation, and axion strings.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Universality of the Volume Bound in Slow-Roll Eternal Inflation

It has recently been shown that in single field slow-roll inflation the total volume cannot grow by a factor larger than e^(S_dS/2) without becoming infinite. The bound is saturated exactly at the phase transition to eternal inflation where the probability to produce infinite volume becomes non zero. We show that the bound holds sharply also in any space-time dimensions, when arbitrary higher-dimensional operators are included and in the multi-field inflationary case. The relation with the entropy of de Sitter and the universality of the bound strengthen the case for a deeper holographic interpretation. As a spin-off we provide the formalism to compute the probability distribution of the volume after inflation for generic multi-field models, which might help to address questions about the population of vacua of the landscape during slow-roll inflation.

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