Noncommutative space-time models

The FRT quantum Euclidean spaces O _q ^N are formulated in terms of Cartesian generators. The quantum analogs of N-dimensional Cayley-Klein spaces are obtained by contractions and analytical continuations. Noncommutative constant-curvature spaces are introduced as spheres in the quantum Cayley-Klein spaces. For N = 5 part of them is interpreted as the noncommutative analogs of (1+3) space-time models. As a result the quantum (anti) de Sitter, Minkowski, Newton, Galilei kinematics with the fundamental length and the fundamental time are suggested. Presented at the International Colloquium “Integrable Systems and Quantum Symmetries”, Prague, 16–18 June 2005.     

A geometrical construction of rational boundary states in linear sigma models

Starting from the geometrical construction of special Lagrangian submanifolds of a toric variety, we identify a certain subclass of A-type D-branes in the linear sigma model for a Calabi–Yau manifold and its mirror with the A- and B-type Recknagel–Schomerus boundary states of the Gepner model, by reproducing topological properties such as their labeling, intersection, and the relationships that exist in the homology lattice of the D-branes. In the non-linear sigma model phase these special Lagrangians reproduce an old construction of 3-cycles relevant for computing periods of the Calabi–Yau, and provide insight into other results in the literature on special Lagrangian submanifolds on compact Calabi–Yau manifolds. The geometrical construction of rational boundary states suggests several ways in which new Gepner model boundary states may be constructed.     

Topological sigma models

A variant of the usual supersymmetric nonlinear sigma model is described, governing maps from a Riemann surface to an arbitrary almost complex manifoldM. It possesses a fermionic BRST-like symmetry, conserved for arbitrary, and obeyingQ ²=0. In a suitable version, the quantum ground states are the 1+1 dimensional Floer groups. The correlation functions of the BRST-invariant operators are invariants (depending only on the homotopy type of the almost complex structure ofM) similar to those that have entered in recent work of Gromov on symplectic geometry. The model can be coupled to dynamical gravitational or gauge fields while preserving the fermionic symmetry; some observations by Atiyah suggest that the latter coupling may be related to the Jones polynomial of knot theory. From the point of view of string theory, the main novelty of this type of sigma model is that the graviton vertex operator is a BRST commutator. Thus, models of this type may correspond to a realization at the level of string theory of an unbroken phase of quantum gravity.On leave from Department of Physics, Princeton University. Supported in part by NSF Grants No. 80-19754, 86-16129, 86-20266     

Topological massive sigma models

In this paper we construct topological sigma models which include a potential and are related to twisted massive supersymmetric sigma models. Contrary to a previous construction these models have no central charge and do not require the manifold to admit a Killing vector. We use the topological massive sigma model constructed here to simplify the calculation of the observables. Lastly it is noted that this model can be viewed as interpolating between topological massless sigma models and topological Landau-Ginzburg models.     

Nontriviality of the linear sigma model

We consider techniques (based on an ultraviolet cutoff) used to prove that the pure boson ( field theory is trivial and apply them instead to the dynamically generated quark-level linear sigma model. This cutoff approach leads to the conclusion that the latter field theory is in fact nontrivial. Received: 9 November 1998 / Published online: 11 March 1999     

On classicalization in nonlinear sigma models

We consider the phenomenon of classicalization in nonlinear sigma models with both positive and negative target space curvature and with any number of derivatives. We find that the theories with only two derivatives exhibit a weak form of classicalization, and that the quantitative results depend on the sign of the curvature. Nonlinear sigma models with higher derivatives show a strong form of the phenomenon which is independent of the sign of curvature. We argue that weak classicalization may actually be equivalent to asymptotic safety, whereas strong classicalization seems to be a genuinely different phenomenon. We also discuss possible ambiguities in the definition of the classical limit.     

Chiral Nonlinear sigma models as models for topological superconductivity

We study the mechanism of topological superconductivity in a hierarchical chain of chiral nonlinear sigma models (models of current algebra) in one, two, and three spatial dimensions. The models illustrate how the 1D Fr?hlich's ideal conductivity extends to a genuine superconductivity in dimensions higher than one. The mechanism is based on the fact that a pointlike topological soliton carries an electric charge. We discuss a flux quantization mechanism and show that it is essentially a generalization of the persistent current phenomenon, known in quantum wires. We also discuss why the superconducting state is stable in the presence of a weak disorder.     

Non-perturbative effects in supersymmetric sigma models

A scheme for taking account of crucial non-perturbative effects in a quantum field theory ahead of developing perturbation series for it is extended here from bosonic to supersymmetric sigma models in two dimensions. The scheme writes field products in the lagrangian in terms of suitably defined normal ordered products and VEVs of field products. The exact values of the latter can be inferred directly from the symmetry and supersymmetry Ward identities of the theory, so that a lagrangian with scale breaking effects explicitly treated, is available for use in perturbation theory. The supersymmetric sigma model on the manifold S^N is used to illustrate many aspects of the scheme.     

Heterotic p-branes from massive sigma models

We explicitly construct massive (0,4) supersymmetric ADHM sigma models which have heterotic p-brane solitons as their conformal fixed points. These yield the familiar gauge 5-brane and a new 1-brane solution which preserve half and a quarter of the space-time supersymmetry, respectively. We also discuss an analogous construction for the type 11 NS-NS p-branes using (4,4) supersymmetric models.