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W. Troost

Publications and source records attributed to W. Troost.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Some thoughts about matrix coordinate transformations

Matrix coordinate transformations are defined as substitution operators without requiring an ordering prescription or an inclusion function from the Abelian coordinate transformations. We construct transforming objects mimicking most of the properties of tensors. We point out some problems with the matrix generalization of contravariant vectors. We suggest to use the substitution operators to search for an inclusion function.

hep-th

Splitting of macroscopic fundamental strings in flat space and holographic hadron decays

In this review article we present the calculation of the splitting rate in flat space of a macroscopic fundamental string either intersecting at a generic angle a Dp-brane or lying on it. The result is then applied, in the context of the string/gauge theory correspondence, to the study of exclusive decay rates of large spin mesons into mesons. As examples, we discuss the cases of N=4 SYM with a small number of flavors, and of QCD-like theories in the quenched approximation. In the latter context, explicit analytic formulas are given for decay rates of mesons formed either by heavy quarks or by massless quarks.

hep-th

Meson decays from string splitting

We discuss exclusive decays of large spin mesons into mesons in models of large N_c quenched QCD at strong coupling using string theory. The rate of the processes are calculated by studying the splitting of a macroscopic string on the relevant dual gravity backgrounds. We study analytic formulas for the decay rates of mesons made up of very heavy or very light quarks.

hep-th

String splitting and strong coupling meson decay

We study the decay of high spin mesons using the gauge/string theory correspondence. The rate of the process is calculated by studying the splitting of a macroscopic string intersecting a D-brane. The result is applied to the decay of mesons in N=4 SYM with a small number of flavors and in a gravity dual of large N QCD. In QCD the decay of high spin mesons is found to be heavily suppressed in the regime of validity of the supergravity description.

hep-th

Derivative corrections to the Born-Infeld action through beta-function calculations in N=2 boundary superspace

We calculate the beta-functions for an open string sigma-model in the presence of a U(1) background. Passing to N=2 boundary superspace, in which the background is fully characterized by a scalar potential, significantly facilitates the calculation. Performing the calculation through three loops yields the equations of motion up to five derivatives on the fieldstrengths, which upon integration gives the bosonic sector of the effective action for a single D-brane in trivial bulk background fields through four derivatives and to all orders in alpha'. Finally, the present calculation shows that demanding ultra-violet finiteness of the non-linear sigma-model can be reformulated as the requirement that the background is a deformed stable holomorphic U(1) bundle.

hep-th

D-branes and constant electro-magnetic backgrounds

We probe the effective worldvolume theory of a set of coinciding D-branes by switching on constant electro-magnetic fields on them. The comparison of the mass spectrum predicted by string theory with the mass spectrum obtained from the effective action provides insights in the structure of the effective theory.

hep-th

Dilaton transformation under abelian and non-abelian T-duality in the path integral approach

We present a convenient method for deriving the transformation of the dilaton under T-duality in the path-integral approach. Subtleties arising in performing the integral over the gauge fields are carefully analysed using Pauli-Villars regularization, thereby clarifying existing ambiguities in the literature. The formalism can not only be applied to the abelian case, but, and this for the first time, to the non-abelian case as well. Furthermore, by choosing a particular gauge, we directly obtain the target-space covariant expression for the dual geometry in the abelian case. Finally it is shown that the conditions for gauging non-abelian isometries are weaker than those generally found in the literature.

hep-th

What is Special Kähler Geometry ?

The scalars in vector multiplets of N=2 supersymmetric theories in 4 dimensions exhibit `special Kaehler geometry', related to duality symmetries, due to their coupling to the vectors. In the literature there is some confusion on the definition of special geometry. We show equivalences of some definitions and give examples which show that earlier definitions are not equivalent, and are not sufficient to restrict the Kaehler metric to one that occurs in N=2 supersymmetry. We treat the rigid as well as the local supersymmetry case. The connection is made to moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces and Calabi-Yau 3-folds. The conditions for the existence of a prepotential translate to a condition on the choice of canonical basis of cycles.

hep-th

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

An alternative BRST operator for topological Landau-Ginzburg models

We propose a new BRST operator for the B-twist of $N=2$ Landau-Ginzburg (LG) models. It solves the problem of the fractional ghost numbers of Vafa's old BRST operator and shows how the model is obtained by gauge fixing a zero action. An essential role is played by the anti-BRST operator,which is given by one of the supersymmetries of the $N=2$ algebra. Its presence is needed in proving that the model is indeed a topological field theory. The space of physical observables, defined by taking the anti-BRST cohomology in the BRST cohomology groups, is unchanged.

hep-th

Regularisation of non-local actions in two-dimensional field theories

Taking the induced action for gauge fields coupled to affine currents as an example, we show how loop calculations in non-local two-dimensional field theories can be regulated. Our regularisation method for one loop is based on the method of Pauli and Villars. We use it to calculate the renormalisation factors for the corresponding effective actions, clearing up some discrepancies in the literature. In particular, it will be shown explicitly that vector gauge transformation invariance and Haar invariance of functional integral measures impose different requirements, but they are related by a counterterm (which is local in terms of group variables). For higher loops, we use the method of covariant derivatives combined with Pauli-Villars to argue that the one loop result remains unaltered.

hep-th

Extensions of the Virasoro Algebra and Gauged WZW Models

To any non-trivial embedding of sl(2) in a (super) Lie algebra, one can associate an extension of the Virasoro algebra. We realize the extended Virasoro algebra in terms of a WZW model in which a chiral, solvable group is gauged, the gauge group being determined by the sl(2) embedding. The resulting BRST cohomology is computed and the field content of the extended Virasoro algebra is determined. The (quantum) closure of the extended Virasoro algebra is shown. Applications such as the quantum Miura transformation and the effective action of the associated extended gravity theory are discussed in detail.

hep-th

Hiding Anomalies

Anomalies can be anticipated at the classical level without changing the classical cohomology, by introducing extra degrees of freedom. In the process, the anomaly does not quite disappear. We show that, in fact, it is shifted to new symmetries that come with the extra fields.

hep-th

The regularized BRST Jacobian of pure Yang-Mills theory

The Jacobian for infinitesimal BRST transformations of path integrals for pure Yang-Mills theory, viewed as a matrix $\unity +ΔJ$ in the space of Yang-Mills fields and (anti)ghosts, contains off-diagonal terms. Naively, the trace of $ΔJ$ vanishes, being proportional to the trace of the structure constants. However, the consistent regulator $\cR$, constructed from a general method, also contains off-diagonal terms. An explicit computation demonstrates that the regularized Jacobian $Tr\ ΔJ\exp -\cR /M^2$ for $M^2\rightarrow \infty $ is the variation of a local counterterm, which we give. This is a direct proof at the level of path integrals that there is no BRST anomaly.

hep-th

Nonlocal regularisation and two-dimensional induced actions

We present an invariant regularisation scheme to compute two dimensional induced gauge theory actions, that is local in Polyakov's variables, but nonlocal in the original gauge potentials. Our method sheds light on the locality of this induced action, and leads to a straightforward proof that the $\varepsilon$-anomaly in $W_3$-gravity is completely given by the one loop term.

hep-th