N=2 6-dimensional supersymmetric E6 breaking

We study the N=2 supersymmetric E₆ models on the 6-dimensional space–time where the supersymmetry and gauge symmetry can be broken by the discrete symmetry. On the space–time M⁴×S¹/(Z₂×Z₂′)×S¹/(Z₂×Z₂′), for the zero modes, we obtain the 4-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric models with gauge groups SU(3)×SU(2)×SU(2)×U(1)², SU(4)×SU(2)×SU(2)×U(1), and SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1)³ with one extra pair of Higgs doublets from the vector multiplet. In addition, considering that the extra space manifold is the annulus A² and disc D², we list all the constraints on constructing the 4-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1)³ models for the zero modes, and give the simplest model with Z₉ symmetry. We also comment on the extra gauge symmetry breaking and its generalization.     

GUT breaking on M×T/(Z2×Z2′)

We construct two SU(5) models on the space–time M⁴×T²/(Z₂×Z₂′) where the gauge and Higgs fields are in the bulk and the Standard Model fermions are on the brane at the fixed point or line. For the zero modes, the SU(5) gauge symmetry is broken down to SU(3)×SU(2)×U(1) due to non-trivial orbifold projection. In particular, if we put the Standard model fermions on the 3-brane at the fixed point in model II, we only have the zero modes and KK modes of the Standard Model gauge fields and two Higgs doublets on the observable 3-brane. So, we can have the low energy unification, and solve the triplet–doublet splitting problem, the gauge hierarchy problem, and the proton decay problem.     

Prediction of sinθW in a conformal approach to coupling unification

The possibility that nonsupersymmetric conformal field theories softly broken below 100 TeV may provide an alternative to conventional grand unification is explored. We consider a low energy theory presumed to be of this type arising from the type IIB superstring compactified on a AdS₅×S₅/Γ space whose gauge group and the particle content are severely restricted by the compactification process. We present an example of a resulting SU(4)_C×SU(2)_L×SU(2)_R with three generations, which leads to coupling unification and a prediction for sin²θ_W0.227 and other phenomenology generally consistent with observations.     

Specific scalar mass relations in SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) orbifold model

We study flat directions and soft scalar masses using a Z₃ orbifold model with SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) gauge group and extra gauge symmetries including an anomalous U(1) symmetry. Soft scalar masses contain D-term contributions and particle mixing effects after symmetry breaking and they are parametrized by a few parameters. Some specific relations among scalar masses are obtained.     

Center vortices on SU(2) lattices

We show that gauge invariant definitions of thin, thick and hybrid center vortices, defined by Kovacs and Tomboulis on SO(3)×Z(2) configurations, can also be defined in SU(2). We make this connection using the freedom of choosing a particular SU(2) representative of SO(3). We further show that in another representative the Tomboulis σ–η thin vortices are P (projection) vortices. The projection approximation corresponds to dropping the perimeter factor of a Wilson loop after appropriate gauge fixing. We present results for static quark potentials based on these vortex counters and compare projection vortex counters with gauge invariant ones on the same configuration.     

Gauge-Higgs unification in the left–right model

We construct a supersymmetric left–right model in four dimension with gauge-Higgs unification starting from a SU(3)_c×SU(4)_w×U(1)_B−L gauge symmetry in five dimension. The model has several interesting features, such as, the CKM mixings in the quark sector are naturally small while for the neutrino sector it is not, light neutrino masses can be generated via the seesaw mechanism in the usual way, and the model has a U(1)_R symmetry which naturally forbid dimension five proton decay operators. We also discuss the grand unification of our model in SO(12) in five dimensions.     

Family unification, exotic states and magnetic monopoles

The embedding in SU(4)×SU(3)×SU(3) of the well studied gauge groups SU(4)×SU(2)×SU(2) and SU(3)×SU(3)×SU(3) naturally leads to family unification as opposed to simple family replication. An inescapable consequence is the predicted existence of (exotic) color singlet states that carry fractional electric charge. The corresponding magnetic monopoles carry multiple Dirac magnetic charge, can be relatively light (10⁷–10¹³ GeV), and may be present in the galaxy not far below the Parker bound.     

Branes, geometry and N = 1 duality with product gauge groups of SO and Sp

We study N = 1 dualities in four-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theories as the world volume theory of D4 branes with one compact direction in type IIA string theory. We generalize the previous work for SO(N_c1) × Sp(N_c2) with the superpotential W = TrX⁴ to the case of W = TrX^4(k+1) in terms of brane configuration. We conjecture that the new dualities for the product gauge groups of SO(N_c1) × Sp(N_c2) × SO(N_c3), SO(N_c1) × Sp(N_c2) × SO(N_c3) × Sp(N_c4) and higher multiple product gauge groups can be obtained by reversing the ordering of NS5 branes and D6 branes while preserving the linking numbers. We also describe the above dualities in terms of wrapping D6 branes around 3-cycles of Calabi-Yau threefolds in type IIA string theory. The theory with adjoint matter can be regarded as taking multiple copies of NS5 brane in the configuration of brane or geometric approaches.     

On the NSR formulation of string theory on AdS5×S

We discuss the NSR formulation of the superstring action on AdS₅×S⁵ proposed recently by Kallosh and Tseytlin in the Green-Schwarz formalism. We show that the stress-energy tensor corresponding to the NSR action for AdS superstring contains the branelike terms, corresponding to exotic massless vertex operators (referred to as the branelike vertices)- the 5-form e^φψ_m1ψ_m5 and the 3-form ∂(e^φψ_m1ψ_m3), multiplied by ∂X_m. The corresponding sigma-model action has the manifest SO(1,3)×SO(6) invariance of superstring theory on AdS₅×S⁵. We argue that adding the branelike terms is equivalent to curving the space-time to obtain the AdS₅×S⁵ background. We commence the study of the proposed NSR sigma-model by analyzing the scattering amplitudes involving the branelike vertex operators. The analysis shows quite an unusual momentum dependence of these scattering amplitudes.     

Matter–antimatter asymmetry and neutrino properties

The cosmological baryon asymmetry can be explained as remnant of heavy Majorana neutrino decays in the early universe. We study this mechanism for two models of neutrino masses with a large ν_μ−ν_τ mixing angle which are based on the symmetries SU(5)×U(1)_F and SU(3)_c×SU(3)_L×SU(3)_R×U(1)_F, respectively. In both cases B−L is broken at the unification scale Λ_GUT. The models make different predictions for the baryogenesis temperature and the gravitino abundance.     

Monopoles, vortices and confinement in SU(3) gauge theory

We compute, in SU(3) pure gauge theory, the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of the operator which creates a Z₃ vortex wrapping the lattice through periodic boundary conditions (dual Polyakov line). The technique used is the same already tested in the SU(2) case. The dual Polyakov line proves to be a good disorder parameter for confinement, and has a similar behaviour to the monopole condensate. The new features which characterise the construction of the disorder operator in SU(3) are emphasised.     

Unified models at intermediate energy scales and Kaluza–Klein excitations

We discuss the possibility of intermediate gauge coupling unification in unified models of string origin. Useful relations of the β-function coefficients are derived, which ensure unification of couplings when Kaluza–Klein excitations are included above the compactification scale. We apply this procedure to two models with SU(3)×SU(3)_L×SU(3)_R and SU(4)×O(4) gauge symmetries.     

Focusing properties of a bounded cylindrical field

Numerical solution of motion equations has been used in the non-relativistic limit in order to determine the focussing properties of the cylindrical field between concentric cylinders of radii R₁, R₂ with two boundaries along the Z-axis, for charged particles entering the field parallel to the symmetry axis. The field is a solution of the Laplace equation ²U(R, Z)=0, with the boundary conditions as follows: U(R₁, Z)=U(R, 0)=U(R, L)=0, U(R₂, Z)=V. It was shown that this field can be used for the energy analysis with second order focussing.     

M-theory on AdS4 × M: the complete Osp(2|4) × SU(3) × SU(2) spectrum from harmonic analysis

We reconsider the Kaluza-Klein compactifications of D = 11 supergravity on AdS₄ × (G/H)₇ manifolds that were classified in the eighties, in the modern perspective of AdS₄/CFT₃ correspondence. We focus on one of the three N = 2 cases: (G/H)₇ = M¹¹¹ = SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) /SU(2) × U(1)′ × U(1)′'. Relying on the systematic use of the harmonic analysis techniques developed in the eighties by one of us (P. Fré) with R. D'Auria, we derive the complete spectrum of long, short and massless Osp(2|4) × SU(3) × SU(2) unitary irreducible representations obtained in this compactification. Our result also provides a general scheme for the other N = 2 compactifications. Furthermore, it is a necessary comparison term in the AdS₄/CFT₃ correspondence: the complete AdS/CFT match of the spectra that we obtain will provide a much more stringent proof of the ACS/CFT correspondence than in the S⁷ case, since the structure of the superconformal field theory on the M2-brane world volume must be such as to reproduce, at the level of composite operators, the flavor group representations, the conformal dimensions and the hyperchanges that we obtain in the present article. The investigation of this match is left to future publications. Here we provide an exhaustive construction of the Kaluza-Klein side of our spectroscopy.     

Two-proton radioactivity of exotic nuclei beyond proton drip-line

To search for new candidates of the true and simultaneous two-proton(2 p) radioactivity, the 2 p decay energies(Q2 p) are extracted by the Weizs?cker–Skyrme-4(WS4) model, the finite-range droplet model(FRDM), the Koura–Tachibana–Uno–Yamada(KTUY) model and the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov mean-field model with the BSk29 Skyrme interaction(HFB29). Then, the 2 p radioactivity half-lives are calculated within the generalized liquid drop model by inputting the four types of Q2 pvalues. By the energy and half-life constraints, it is found that the probable 2 p decay candidates are the nuclei beyond the proton-drip line in the region of Z≤50 based on the WS4 and KTUY mass models. For the FRDM mass model, the probable 2 p decay candidates are found in the region of Z≤44. However, the 2p-decaying candidates are predicted in the region of Z≤58 by the HFB29 mass model. It means that the probable 2 p decay candidates of Z50 are only predicted by the HFB29 mass model. Finally, the competition between the true 2p radioactivity and α-decay for the nuclei above the N=Z=50 shell closures is discussed. It is shown that ~(101)Te,~(111)Ba and ~(114)Ce prefer to 2p radioactivity and the dominant decay mode of ~(107)Xe and ~(116)Ce is α-decay.     

Heterotic and Type I string dynamics from eleven dimensions

We propose that the ten-dimensional E₈ × E₈ heterotic string is related to an eleven-dimensional theory on the orbifold in the same way that the Type IIA string in ten dimensions is related to . This in particular determines the strong coupling behavior of the ten-dimensional E₈ × E₈ theory. It also leads to a plausible scenario whereby duality between SO(32) heterotic and Type I superstrings follows from the classical symmetries of the eleven-dimensional world, just as the duality of the ten-dimensional Type IIB theory follows from eleven-dimensional diffeomorphism invariance.     

The spectral density of the QCD Dirac operator and patterns of chiral symmetry breaking

We study the spectrum of the QCD Dirac operator for two colors with fermions in the fundamental representation and for two or more colors with adjoint fermions. For N_f flavors, the chiral flavor symmetry of these theories is spontaneously broken according to SU (2N_f → Sp (2N_f) and SU (N_f → O (N_f), respectively, rather than the symmetry breaking pattern SU (N_f) × SU (N_f) → SU (N_f) for QCD with three or more colors and fundamental fermions. In this paper we study the Dirac spectrum for the first two symmetry breaking patterns. Following previous work for the third case we find the Dirac spectrum in the domain λ Λ_QCD by means of partially quenched chiral perturbation theory. In particular, this result allows us to calculate the slope of the Dirac spectrum at λ = 0. We also show that for λ 1/L₂ Λ_QCD (wing L the linear size fo the system) the Dirac spectrum is given by a chiral Random Matrix Theory with the symmetries of the Dirac operator.     

In-band M1 and E2 transition rates and collective structures in Ba

Subpicosecond mean lifetimes of eight excited states in ¹²⁸Ba populated via the ⁹⁶Zr(³⁶S,4n) reaction were measured by the Doppler-shift attenuation (DSA) technique using a line-shape analysis. The differential decay-curve method (DDCM) was applied for the lifetime determination. The B(E2) values in the yrast band indicate that the first band-crossing is with a proton S-band. The configuration πh_11/2d_5/2 of the negative-parity semi-decoupled bands is confirmed by the measured B(E2, I → I − 2) and B(M1, I → I − 1) transition strengths. The higher-lying “dipole” band in ¹²⁸Ba can be described as a high-K four-quasiparticle band built on the prolate configuration (πh_11/2d_5/2) (νh_11/2g_7/2).     

The moduli space of flat SU (2) and SO (3) connections over surfaces

All the connected components of the moduli space of flat connections on SU (2) and SO (3) (trivial and non-trivial) bundles over closed oriented surfaces are determined. The symplectic structure and volumes of the non-maximal strata of the moduli space are also determined.     

Diffusion of W on A W(211) plane

The diffusion of W on a (211) plane of a W field emitter has been re-examined by means of the fluctuation autocorrelation method. Diffusion along channels yielded E = 16.8 ± 0.5 kcal, D₀ = (3 ± 1) × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹. For diffusion across channels E =6.6 kcal, D₀ = 4 × 10⁻⁹cm² s⁻¹ at T < 752 K, and E = 24 kcal, D₀ = 5 × 10⁻⁴ cm² s⁻¹ at T > 752 K. The results for diffusion along channels yield E and D₀ values intermediate between recent results by Wang and Ehrlich [Surf. Sci. 206 (1988) 451] using field ion microscopy (E = 19 kcal, D₀ = 7.7 × 10⁻³ cm² s⁻¹) and Tringides and Gomer [J. Chem. Phys. 84 (1986) 4049], using the same method as the present work but a larger slit (E = 13.3 kcal, D₀ = 7 × 10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹). The results for cross channel diffus good agreement with those of Tringides and Gomer below 752 K, where these authors stopped. The new high temperature results suggest that the channel wall exchange mechanism postulated by Tringides and Gomer for cross channel diffusion at low T gives way to diffusion by climbing over the channel walls with higher E but also higher D₀ above 752 K. Possible reasons for the discrepancies between these three sets of results and the absence of cross channel diffusion in the work of Wang and Ehrlich are briefly discussed.