Integrability, non-perturbative effects and symmetry in quantum field theory

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 97.0557
• Projekttitel Englisch: Integrability, non-perturbative effects and symmetry in quantum field theory

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Quantum Field Theory; Gravity; Black Holes; String Theory; Supersymmetry

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: FMRX-CT96-0012

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 10.1 Stimulation of training and mobility

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

Coordinator: University of Durham (UK)

Abstract (Englisch)

In our project we focused on different aspects of string theory in relation with black hole physics and quantum field theory.

Over the last 5 years our understanding of the non-perturbative properties of superstring theory and supersymmetric Yang-Mills (YM) theory has improved considerably starting with the pioneering work of Seiberg and Witten on the exact low energy effective action in N=2 YM theory. Nevertheless, some important details in the non-perturbative treatment require a more in depth analysis. In particular, explicit perturbative checks of the postulated low energy effective dynamics in scale invariant theories have highlighted a short cut in the analysis of Seiberg and Witten. In a work carried during the past year with W. Weir also at Durham University we have now been able to close this gap by providing an explicit non-perturbative relation between microscopic- and effective coupling in the scale invariant N=2 theory [1].

On another front, the rather successful development in describing
the properties of supersymmetic solitons and the dualities between them in quantum field theory and string theory has prompted us to consider possible non-supersymmetric generalisations. Some progress in this direction has now been made in a work carried out last year by the author where black hole solutions with non-dilatonic near-horizon geometry have been found within non-supersymmetric type 0 string theory [2].

The third aspect addressed over the last year concerns the multiplet structure of canonical, that is non-improved currents in supersymmetric quantum field theory. These multiplets are of interest because they contain the central charges which in turn are relevant in the analysis of supersymmetric solitons. For minimal N=1 supersymmetry this programme has now been completed in collaboration with M. Magro and S. Wolfe at the ENS-Lyon. We are presently extending the analysis to include extended supersymmetry [3].

[1] I. Sachs and W. Weir, Microscopic- versus Effective Coupling in N=2 Yang-Mills With Four Flavours, Durham Preprint DPT/99/73, hep-th/9910015, submitted to Phys. Lett. B.
[2]I. Sachs, Electric Black Holes in Type 0 String Theory, JHEP 9911 (1999)
011.
[3] M. Magro, I. Sachs and S. Wolfe, in preparation.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 97.0557