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At least 271 records · Page 15

Brill-Noether-general limit root bundles: absence of vector-like exotics in F-theory Standard Models

Root bundles appear prominently in studies of vector-like spectra of 4d F-theory compactifications. Of particular importance to phenomenology are the Quadrillion F-theory Standard Models (F-theory QSMs). In this work, we analyze a superset of the physical root bundles whose cohomologies encode the vector-like spectra for the matter representations ($3$, $2$) 1/6 , ($\overline{3}$, $1$) -2/3 and ($1$, $1$) 1 . For the family B 3 (Δ$^{°}_{4}$) consisting of $\mathcal{O}$(10 11 ) F-theory QSM geometries, we argue that more than 99.995% of the roots in this superset have no vector-like exotics. This indicates that absence of vector-like exotics in those representations is a very likely scenario in the O(10 11 ) QSM geometries B 3 (Δ$^{°}_{4}$). The QSM geometries come in families of toric 3-folds B 3 (Δ°) obtained from triangulations of certain 3-dimensional polytopes Δ°. The matter curves in X Σ $\large{ϵ}$ B 3 (Δ°) can be deformed to nodal curves which are the same for all spaces in B 3 (Δ°). Therefore, one can probe the vector-like spectra on the entire family B 3 (Δ°) from studies of a few nodal curves. We compute the cohomologies of all limit roots on these nodal curves. In our applications, for the majority of limit roots the cohomologies are determined by line bundle cohomology on rational tree-like curves. For this, we present a computer algorithm. The remaining limit roots, corresponding to circuit-like graphs, are handled by hand. The cohomologies are independent of the relative position of the nodes, except for a few circuits. On these jumping circuits, line bundle cohomologies can jump if nodes are specially aligned. This mirrors classical Brill-Noether jumps. B 3 (Δ°) admits a jumping circuit, but the root bundle constraints pick the canonical bundle and no jump happens.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Dynamical evolution in the D1D5 CFT

It is interesting to ask: how does the radial space direction emerge from the CFT in gauge-gravity duality? In this context we resolve a long-standing puzzle with the gravity duals of two classes of states in the D1D5 CFT. For each class the CFT states are in the untwisted sector, suggesting that the energy gap should be 1/R y where R y is the radius of the circle on which the D1D5 CFT is compactified. For one class of states, the gravity dual indeed has exactly this gap, while for the other class, the gravity dual has a very deep throat, leading to an energy gap much smaller than 1/R y . We resolve this puzzle by showing that for the latter class of states, perturbing the CFT off its free point leads to the formation of a band structure in the CFT. We also explain why such a band structure does not arise for the first class of states. Thus for the case where a deep throat emerges in the gravity description, the dynamics of falling down this throat is described in the CFT as a sequential ‘hopping’ between states all of which have the same energy at the free point; this hopping amplitude converts an integer spaced spectrum into a closely spaced band of energy levels.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Axion wormholes with massive dilaton

Abstract If Euclidean wormholes contribute meaningfully to the path integral of quantum gravity they can have important implications for particle physics and cosmology. The dominant effects arise from wormholes whose sizes are comparable to the cut-off scale of effective field theory, for which ultraviolet corrections become relevant. We study corrections to classical axion wormhole solutions in string motivated scenarios in which the dilaton partner of the axion becomes massive. We find corrections near the neck region which are consistent with a recent version of the weak gravity conjecture for axions.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Experimental targets for dark photon dark matter

Ultralight dark photon dark matter features distinctive cosmological and astrophysical signatures and is also supported by a burgeoning direct-detection program searching for its kinetic mixing with the ordinary photon over a wide mass range. Dark photons, however, cannot necessarily constitute the dark matter in all of this parameter space. In minimal models where the dark photon mass arises from a dark Higgs mechanism, early-Universe dynamics can easily breach the regime of validity of the low-energy effective theory for a massive vector field. In the process, the dark sector can collapse into a cosmic string network, precluding dark photons as viable dark matter. We establish the general conditions under which dark photon production avoids significant backreaction on the dark Higgs and identify regions of parameter space that naturally circumvent these constraints. After surveying implications for known dark photon production mechanisms, we propose novel models that set well-motivated experimental targets across much of the accessible parameter space. We also discuss complementary cosmological and astrophysical signatures that can probe the dark sector physics responsible for dark photon production.

Dark matter↗

Noncommutative-geometry model for closed bosonic strings

It is shown how Witten's (1986) noncommutative geometry may be extended to describe the closed bosonic string. For closed strings, an explicit representation is provided of the integral operator needed to construct an action and of an associative product on string fields. The proper choice of the action of the integral operator and the associative product in order to give rise to a reasonable theory is explained, and the consequences of such a choice are discussed. It is shown that the ghost numbers of the operator and associative product can be chosen arbitrarily for both open and closed strings, and that this construct can be used as an action for interacting closed bosonic strings.

Sen, Siddhartha↗

Stable vacua with realistic phenomenology and cosmology in heterotic M-theory satisfying Swampland conjectures

We recently described a protocol for computing the potential energy in heterotic M-theory for the dilaton, complex structure and Kähler moduli. This included the leading order non-perturbative contributions to the complex structure, gaugino condensation and worldsheet instantons assuming a hidden sector that contains an anomalous U(1) structure group embedded in E8. In this paper, we elucidate, in detail, the mathematical and computational methods required to utilize this protocol. These methods are then applied to a realistic heterotic M-theory model, the B – L MSSM, whose observable sector is consistent with all particle physics requirements. Within this context, it is shown that the dilaton and universal moduli can be completely stabilized at values compatible with every phenomenological and mathematical constraint — as well as with ΛCDM cosmology. We also show that the heterotic M-theory vacua are consistent with all well-supported Swampland conjectures based on considerations of string theory and quantum gravity, and we discuss the implications of dark energy theorems for compactified theories.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Scattering strings off quantum extremal surfaces

We consider a Hayden & Preskill like setup for both maximally chaotic and sub-maximally chaotic quantum field theories. We act on the vacuum with an operator in a Rindler like wedge R and transfer a small subregion I of R to the other wedge. The chaotic scrambling dynamics of the QFT Rindler time evolution reveals the information in the other wedge. The holographic dual of this process involves a particle excitation falling into the bulk and crossing into the entanglement wedge of the complement to r = R\I. With the goal of studying the locality of the emergent holographic theory we compute various quantum information measures on the boundary that tell us when the particle has entered this entanglement wedge. In a maximally chaotic theory, these measures indicate a sharp transition where the particle enters the wedge exactly when the insertion is null separated from the quantum extremal surface for r. For sub-maximally chaotic theories, we find a smoothed crossover at a delayed time given in terms of the smaller Lyapunov exponent and dependent on the time-smearing scale of the probe excitation. The information quantities that we consider include the full vacuum modular energy R\I as well as the fidelity between the state with the particle and the state without. Along the way, we find a new explicit formula for the modular Hamiltonian of two intervals in an arbitrary 1+1 dimensional CFT to leading order in the small cross ratio limit. We also give an explicit calculation of the Regge limit of the modular flowed chaos correlator and find examples which do not saturate the modular chaos bound. Finally, we discuss the extent to which our results reveal properties of the target of the probe excitation as a “stringy quantum extremal surface” or simply quantify the probe itself thus giving a new approach to studying the notion of longitudinal string spreading.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

AdS scale separation and the distance conjecture

It has been argued that orientifold vacua with fluxes in type IIA string theory can achieve moduli stabilisation and arbitrary decoupling between the AdS and KK scales upon sending certain unconstrained RR-flux quanta to infinity. In this paper, we find a novel scalar field in the open-string sector that allows us to interpolate between such IIA vacua that differ in flux quanta and find that the limit of large fluxes is nicely consistent with the distance conjecture. This shows that the massive IIA vacua pass an important Swampland criterion and suggests that scale-separated AdS vacua might not be in the Swampland. Our analysis also naturally suggests a flux analogue of “Reid’s fantasy” where flux vacua that differ in quantised flux numbers can be connected through trajectories in open-string field space and not just via singular domain walls.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Perturbative unorientable JT gravity and matrix models

We consider an orthogonal polynomial formulation of the double scaling limit of multicritical matrix models in the β = 1 Dyson-Wigner class. They capture the physics of 2D quantum gravity coupled to minimal matter on unorientable surfaces, otherwise called unoriented minimal strings. We derive a formula for the density of states valid to all orders in perturbation theory. We show how to define an interpolation between the multicritical models and that a certain interpolation among an infinite number of them provides an alternative definition of unoriented JT gravity. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our formulation.

1/N Expansion↗

Logarithmic corrections to the entropy of rotating black holes and black strings in AdS 5

We investigate logarithmic corrections to the entropy of supersymmetric, rotating, asymptotically AdS 5 black holes and black strings. Within the framework of the AdS/CFT correspondence, the entropy of these black objects is determined, on the field theory side, by the superconformal index and the refined topologically twisted index of $\mathcal{N}$ = 4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, respectively. We read off the logarithmic correction from those field-theoretic partition functions. On the gravity side, we take the near-horizon limit and apply the Kerr/CFT correspondence whose associated charged Cardy formula describes the degeneracy of states at subleading order and determines the logarithmic correction to the entropy. We find perfect agreement between these two approaches. Our results provide a window into precision microstate counting and demonstrate the efficacy of low-energy, symmetry-based approaches such as the Kerr/CFT correspondence for asymptotically AdS black objects under certain conditions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Gravitational wave signatures from discrete flavor symmetries

Non-Abelian discrete symmetries have been widely used to explain the patterns of lepton masses and flavor mixing. In these models, a given symmetry is assumed at a high scale and then is spontaneously broken by scalars (the flavons), which acquire vacuum expectation values. Typically, the resulting leading order predictions for the oscillation parameters require corrections in order to comply with neutrino oscillation data. Here, we introduce such corrections through an explicit small breaking of the symmetry. This has the advantage of solving the cosmological problems of these models without resorting to inflation. The explicit breaking induces an energy difference or "bias" between different vacua and drives the evolution of the domain walls, unavoidably produced after the symmetry breaking, towards their annihilation. Importantly, the wall annihilation leads to gravitational waves which may be observed in current and/or future experiments. We show that a distinctive pattern of gravitational waves with multiple overlapped peaks is generated when walls annihilate, which is within the reach of future detectors. We also show that cosmic walls from discrete flavor symmetries can be cosmologically safe for any spontaneous breaking scale between 1 and 10 18 GeV, if the bias is chosen adequately, without the need to inflate the walls away. We use as an example a particular A 4 model in which an explicit breaking is included in right-handed neutrino mass terms.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Treelike structure of symmetry topological field theories and multisector QFTs

The global symmetries of a D -dimensional quantum field theory (QFT) can, in many cases, be captured in terms of a ( D + 1 )-dimensional symmetry topological field theory (SymTFT). In this work we construct a ( D + 1 )-dimensional theory which governs the symmetries of QFTs with multiple sectors which have connected correlators that admit a decoupling limit. The associated symmetry field theory decomposes into a SymTree, namely a treelike structure of SymTFTs fused along possibly nontopological junctions. In string-realized multisector QFTs, these junctions are smoothed out in the extradimensional geometry, as we demonstrate in examples. We further use this perspective to study the fate of higher-form symmetries in the context of holographic large M averaging where the topological sectors of different large M replicas become dressed by additional extended operators associated with the SymTree. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

Gravitational Cardy limit and AdS black hole entropy

We explore the gravitational implementation of the field theory Cardy-like limit recently used in the successful microstate countings of AdS black hole entropy in various dimensions. On the field theory side, the Cardy-like limit focuses on a particular scaling of conserved electric charges and angular momenta and we first translate this scaling to the gravitational side by a limiting procedure on the black hole parameters. We note that the scaling naturally accompanies a near-horizon region for which these black hole solutions are greatly simplified. Applying the Kerr/CFT correspondence to the near-horizon region, we precisely reproduce the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy of asymptotically AdS 4,5,6,7 BPS black holes. Our results explicitly provide a microscopic and universal low energy description for AdS black holes across various dimensions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Unitarity cuts of the worldsheet

We compute the imaginary parts of genus-one string scattering amplitudes. Following Witten’s i\varepsilon i ε prescription for the integration contour on the moduli space of worldsheets, we give a general algorithm for computing unitarity cuts of the annulus, Möbius strip, and torus topologies exactly in \alpha' α ′ . With the help of tropical analysis, we show how the intricate pattern of thresholds (normal and anomalous) opening up arises from the worldsheet computation. The result is a manifestly-convergent representation of the imaginary parts of amplitudes, which has the analytic form expected from Cutkosky rules in field theory, but bypasses the need for performing laborious sums over the intermediate states. We use this representation to study various physical aspects of string amplitudes, including their behavior in the (s,t) ( s , t ) plane, exponential suppression, decay widths of massive strings, total cross section, and low-energy expansions. We find that planar annulus amplitudes exhibit a version of low-spin dominance: at any finite energy, only a finite number of low partial-wave spins give an appreciable contribution to the imaginary part.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Information transfer with a twist

Holographic duals for CFTs compactified on a Riemann surface Σ with a twist are cast in the language of wedge holography. Σ starts as part of the field theory geometry in the UV and becomes part of the internal space in the IR. This allows to associate entanglement entropies with splits of the internal space in the IR geometry. Decomposing the internal space in the IR and geometrizing the corresponding subsystems separately leads to two interacting gravitational systems, similar to the intermediate holographic description in braneworld models. For Σ = T 2 the setups are used to model information transfer from a black hole to a gravitating bath. This leads to Page curves with a phase structure which precisely mirrors that in braneworld models. The transition from geometric to non-geometric entropies is also discussed for Σ = S 2 as a model for more general internal spaces in AdS/CFT.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Universal tripartite entanglement signature of ungappable edge states

Gapped two-dimensional topological phases can feature ungappable edge states which are robust even in the absence of protecting symmetries. In this Letter we argue that a multipartite entanglement measure recently proposed in the context of holography, the Markov gap, provides a universal diagnostic of ungappable edge states. Defined as a difference of the reflected entropy and mutual information h(A:B)=S R (A:B)-I(A:B) between two parties, we argue that for A,B being adjacent subregions in the bulk h=$\frac{c+}{3}$ ln 2, where c + is the minimal total central charge of the boundary theory. As evidence, we prove that h=0 for string-net models and numerically verify that h=$\frac{|C|}{3}$ ln 2 for a Chern-C insulator. Our Letter establishes a unique bulk entanglement criteria for the presence of a conformal field theory on the boundary.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Islands and Page curves in 4d from Type IIB

Variants of the black hole information paradox are studied in Type IIB string theory setups that realize four-dimensional gravity coupled to a bath. The setups are string theory versions of doubly-holographic Karch/Randall brane worlds, with black holes coupled to non-gravitating and gravitating baths. The 10d versions are based on fully backreacted solutions for configurations of D3, D5 and NS5 branes, and admit dual descriptions as N = 4 SYM on a half space and 3d $T$$^{σ}_{ρ}$ [SU(N)] SCFTs. Island contributions to the entanglement entropy of black hole radiation systems are identified through Ryu/Takayanagi surfaces and lead to Page curves. Analogs of the critical angles found in the Karch/Randall models are identified in 10d, as critical parameters in the brane configurations and dual field theories.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Frozen generalized symmetries

M-theory frozen singularities are (locally) D - or E -type orbifold singularities with a background fractional C 3 -monodromy surrounding them. In this paper, we revisit such backgrounds and address several puzzling features of their physics. We first give a top-down derivation of how the D - or E -type 7D N = 1 gauge theory directly “freezes” to a lower-rank gauge theory due to the C 3 background. This relies on a Hanany-Witten effect of fractional M5 branes and the presence of a gauge anomaly of fractional D p probes in the circle reduction. Additionally, we compute defect groups and 8D symmetry topological field theories of the 7D frozen theories in several duality frames. We apply our results to understanding the evenness condition of strings ending on O 7 + planes, and calculating the global forms of supergravity gauge groups of M-theory compactified on T 4 / Γ with frozen singularities. We also revisit IIA A D E singularities with a C 1 -monodromy along a 1-cycle in the boundary lens space and show that this freezes the gauge degrees of freedom via confinement. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Cvetič, Mirjam↗