Particle theory

Abstract:

We derive the perturbative four-dimensional effective theory describing heterotic M theory with branes and antibranes in the bulk space. The backreaction of both the branes and antibranes is explicitly included. To first order in the heterotic S expansion, we find that the forces on branes and antibranes vanish and that the Kachru-Kallosh-Linde-Trivedi (KKLT) procedure of simply adding to the supersymmetric theory the probe approximation to the energy density of the antibrane reproduces the correct potential. However, there are additional nonsupersymmetric corrections to the gauge-kinetic functions and matter terms. The new correction to the gauge-kinetic functions is important in a discussion of moduli stabilization. At second order in the S expansion, we find that the forces on the branes and antibranes become nonvanishing. These forces are not precisely in the naive form that one may have anticipated and, being second order in the small parameter S, they are relatively weak. This suggests that moduli stabilization in heterotic models with antibranes is achievable. © 2007 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

We present numerical evidence for the spontaneous breaking of the ZN4 symmetry of four-dimensional twisted Eguchi-Kawai models with SU(N) gauge group and symmetric twist, for sufficiently large N. We find that for N ≥ 100 this occurs for a wide range of bare couplings. Moreover for N ≤ 144, where we have been able to perform detailed calculations, there is no window of couplings where the physically interesting confined and deconfined phases appear in the reduced model. We provide a possible interpretation for this in terms of generalised 'fluxon' configurations. We discuss the implications of our findings for the validity and utility of space-time reduced models as N → ∞. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract:

The Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) has measured the spectrum and composition of the ultrahigh energy cosmic rays with unprecedented precision. We use these measurements to constrain their spectrum and composition as injected from their sources and, in turn, use these results to estimate the spectrum of cosmogenic neutrinos generated in their propagation through intergalactic space. We find that the PAO measurements can be well fit if the injected cosmic rays consist entirely of nuclei with masses in the intermediate (C, N, O) to heavy (Fe, Si) range. A mixture of protons and heavier species is also acceptable but (on the basis of existing hadronic interaction models) injection of pure light nuclei (p, He) results in unacceptable fits to the new elongation rate data. The expected spectrum of cosmogenic neutrinos can vary considerably, depending on the precise spectrum and chemical composition injected from the cosmic ray sources. In the models where heavy nuclei dominate the cosmic ray spectrum and few dissociated protons exceed GZK energies, the cosmogenic neutrino flux can be suppressed by up to two orders of magnitude relative to the all-proton prediction, making its detection beyond the reach of current and planned neutrino telescopes. Other models consistent with the data, however, are proton-dominated with only a small (1-10%) admixture of heavy nuclei and predict an associated cosmogenic flux within the reach of upcoming experiments. Thus a detection or non-detection of cosmogenic neutrinos can assist in discriminating between these possibilities.