Towards a unified gauge theory of gravitational and strong interactions

We study the space-time properties of leptons and hadrons and find it necessary to extend general relativity to the gauge theory based on the four-dimensional affine group. This group translates and deforms the tetrads of the locally Minkowskian space-time. Its conserved currents, momentum, and hypermomentum, act as sources in the two field equations of gravity. A Lagrangian quadratic in torsion and curvature allows for the propagation of two independent gauge fields: translationale-gravity mediated by the tetrad coefficients, and deformational -gravity mediated by the connection coefficients. For macroscopic mattere-gravity coincides with general relativity up to the post-Newtonian approximation of fourth order. For microscopic matter -gravity represents a strong Yang-Mills type interaction. In the linear approximation, for a static source, a confinement potential is found.This essay received an honorable mention (1979) from the Gravity Research Foundation.-Ed.     

An Abelian Gauge-Higgs theory in three dimensions with radial degrees of freedom

Using Monte Carlo techniques we study the phase structure of a three-dimensional U(1) lattice gauge theory which is coupled to a radially variable scalar (Higgs) field in the fundamental representation. Simulations were done on a 6³ lattice. Phase transitions due to radial fluctuations are observed when the self-coupling of the scalar field is small enough.     

Dynamical theory of a bidimensional system with an infinite number of degrees of freedom

The dynamical theory of a bidimensional model of hard squares with elastic collisions is presented. The time evolution is shown to exist on a large class of infinite configurations. Moreover, it is proved that any equilibrium state, that is any solution of the equilibrium equations, is concentrated on this set of allowed initial configurations and is invariant under the time evolution.     

Foundations of the unified theory of gravitational,electromagnetic, and scalar fields

A particular case of bimetrical unified field theory is considered, which is based on Hilbert's proposal of obtaining a complete system of independent equations for unified theory. The action depends on two symmetrical tensors g_μν and g _μν ^° , the second leading to a zero curvature tensor, which results in the theory being invariant under the Poincaré group, and in ten conservation laws. The field equations obtained when varying the action with respect to g_μν have the form of Einstein equations whose righthand side is not defined independently, but is rather a function of g_μν and g _μν ^° . The vector and scalar gauge transformations corresponding to variations δS of special form are defined. With the aid of these transformations, the electromagnetic and scalar fields are introduced within the framework of the unified theory. The basic equations of the theory under consideration contain a new dimensional physical constant, which connects gravitation and electromagnetism. A numerical estimate of this constant is given.     

The Hagedorn transition and the number of degrees of freedom of string theory

Extending recent discussions of the Hagedorn transition in string theory, we argue that this transition is a first-order phase transition with a very large heat (corresponding to a genus-zero contribution to the free energy that appears above the critical temperature). Formally analyzing the k-loop contributions to the free energy at temperatures far above the Hagedorn temperature leads to a number of interesting speculations about the underlying degrees of freedom in string theory.     

Conformally invariant gravitational waves in a modified gravitational theory

International Journal of Theoretical Physics - An attempt is made to obtain a conformally invariant gravitational wave equation in an isotropic background universe by modifying the Einstein field...     

Nonclassical degrees of freedom in the Riemann Hamiltonian

The Hilbert-Pólya conjecture states that the imaginary parts of the zeros of the Riemann zeta function are eigenvalues of a quantum Hamiltonian. If so, conjectures by Katz and Sarnak put this Hamiltonian in the Altland-Zirnbauer universality class?C. This implies that the system must have a nonclassical two-valued degree of freedom. In such a system, the dominant primitive periodic orbits contribute to the density of states with a phase factor of -1. This resolves a previously mysterious sign problem with the oscillatory contributions to the density of the Riemann zeros.     

A method of reduction of Einstein's equations of evolution and a natural symplectic structure on the space of gravitational degrees of freedom

A program is outlined which addresses the problem of thereduction of Einstein's equations, namely, that of writing Einstein's vacuum equations in (3+1)-dimensions as anunconstrained dynamical system where the variables are thetrue degrees of freedom of the gravitational field. Our analysis is applicable for globally hyperbolic Ricci-flat spacetimes that admit constant mean curvature compact orientable spacelike Cauchy hypersurfaces M with degM=0 andM not diffeomorphic toF ₆, the underlying manifold of a certain compact orientable flat affine 3-manifold. We find that for these spacetimes, modulo the extended Poincaré conjecture and the use of local cross-sections rather than a global cross-section, (3+1)-reduction can be completed much as in the (2+1)-dimensional case. In both cases, one gets as the reduced phase space the cotangent bundleT ^* T _M of theTeichmüller space T _M of conformal structures onM, whereM is a given initial constant mean curvature compact orientable spacelike Cauchy hypersurface in a spacetime (V, g _V ), and one gets reduction of the full classical non-reduced Hamiltonian system with constraints to a reduced Hamiltonian system without constraints onT ^* T _M . For these reduced systems, the time parameter is the parameter of a family of monotonically increasing constant mean curvature compact orientable spacelike Cauchy hypersurfaces in a neighborhood of a given initial one. In the (2+1)-dimensional case, the Hamiltonian is the area functional of these hypersurfaces, and in the (3+1)-dimensional case, the Hamiltonian is the volume functional of these hypersurfaces.     

Variational principle and limit relations in the unified theory of gravitational,electromagnetic, and scalar fields

Within the framework of a special version of unified bimetrical field theory [1], starting from the explicit form of the Lagrangian L, the principal expressions are derived: the field equations, the energy-momentum tensor, the generalized equations of electrodynamics, the conservation laws. Various limiting cases are considered. It is shown that the equations for the electromagnetic field can be obtained as a consequence of the conservation law for the energy-momentum of the unified field.     

Thermopower for a molecule with vibrational degrees of freedom

We study a simple model to describe resonant tunneling through an organic molecule between two conducting leads, taking into account the vibrational modes of the molecule. We solve the model approximately analytically in the weak coupling limit and give explicit expressions for the thermopower and Seebeck coefficient. The behavior of these two quantities is studied as function of model parameters and temperature. For a certain regime of parameters a rather peculiar variation of the thermopower and Seebeck coefficient is observed.     

Superfrustration of charge degrees of freedom

We review recent results, obtained with P. Fendley, on frustration of quantum charges in lattice models for itinerant fermions with strong repulsive interactions. A judicious tuning of kinetic and interaction terms leads to models possessing supersymmetry. In such models frustration takes the form of what we call superfrustration: an extensive degeneracy of supersymmetric ground states. We present a gallery of examples of superfrustration on a variety of 2D lattices.     

Collectivity and single-particle degrees of freedom

Intruder rotational bands in ⁴⁵Sc and ⁴⁵Ti have been investigated up to the maximum aligned angular momentum by means of EUROBALL IV and the Recoil Filter Detector (RFD). The use of the RFD allowed for a reduction of the -line Doppler broadening and, moreover, for a determination of very short level lifetimes. In the studied nuclei, the estimated deformation shows a gradual disappearance of the collectivity at the highest available spins.Received: 19 November 2002, Revised: 14 March 2003, Published online: 2 March 2004PACS: 21.10.Tg Lifetimes - 21.60.Cs Shell model - 27.40. + z P. Bednarczyk: Present address: GSI, Darmstadt, GermanyM.B. Smith: Present address: TRIUMF, Vancouver, Canada     

Breakdown of Landau Fermi liquid theory: Restrictions on the degrees of freedom of quantum electrons

One challenge in contemporary condensed matter physics is to understand unconventional electronic physics beyond the paradigm of Landau Fermi-liquid theory. Here, we present a perspective that posits that most such examples of unconventional electronic physics stem from restrictions on the degrees of freedom of quantum electrons in Landau Fermi liquids. Since the degrees of freedom are deeply connected to the system’s symmetries and topology, these restrictions can thus be realized by external constraints or by interaction-driven processes via the following mechanisms: (i) symmetry breaking, (ii) new emergent symmetries, and (iii) nontrivial topology. Various examples of unconventional electronic physics beyond the reach of traditional Landau Fermi liquid theory are extensively investigated from this point of view. Our perspective yields basic pathways to study the breakdown of Landau Fermi liquids and also provides a guiding principle in the search for novel electronic systems and devices.