Triangle Seminars
Monday, 8 Oct 2012
Localizing the black M2-M5 intersection
Vasilis Niarchos
(Crete U.)
Abstract:
I will discuss recent work on the supergravity description of the fully localized orthogonal black M2-M5 intersection using blackfold theory. Special emphasis will be given to the near-extremal thermodynamics of this system from which we can read off, for the first time, the large-N scaling of the central charge of the two-dimensional superconformal field theory that lives at the intersection. The resulting formula for this central charge is suggestive for the underlying M2 and M5 brane physics.
I will discuss recent work on the supergravity description of the fully localized orthogonal black M2-M5 intersection using blackfold theory. Special emphasis will be given to the near-extremal thermodynamics of this system from which we can read off, for the first time, the large-N scaling of the central charge of the two-dimensional superconformal field theory that lives at the intersection. The resulting formula for this central charge is suggestive for the underlying M2 and M5 brane physics.
Posted by: IC
Tuesday, 9 Oct 2012
Novel algebraic directions in Free Probability Theory
Roland Friedrich
(Humboldt)
Abstract:
Free probability theory, a species of non-commutative probability theory, is amazing for several reasons. Not only has it nice combinatorial features underlying it but also profound connections with other fields, in particular physics. Recently, we established a priori unexpected relations with some very prominent algebraic objects, in particular Hopf algebras. In this talk we will carefully introduce some of the basic features and give a glance at future directions.
Free probability theory, a species of non-commutative probability theory, is amazing for several reasons. Not only has it nice combinatorial features underlying it but also profound connections with other fields, in particular physics. Recently, we established a priori unexpected relations with some very prominent algebraic objects, in particular Hopf algebras. In this talk we will carefully introduce some of the basic features and give a glance at future directions.
Posted by: KCL
Wednesday, 10 Oct 2012
New SCFTs From M5-Branes
📍 London
Brian Wecht
(Queen Mary)
Abstract:
I will describe a new infinite set of AdS/CFT dual pairs which come from M5-branes wrapping Riemann surfaces. These solutions interpolate between and extend beyond a famous pair of solutions by Maldacena and Nunez. Additionally, the dual SCFTs are so-called "non-Lagrangian" theories, which have no weakly coupled UV description yet can (and will) be described explicitly.
I will describe a new infinite set of AdS/CFT dual pairs which come from M5-branes wrapping Riemann surfaces. These solutions interpolate between and extend beyond a famous pair of solutions by Maldacena and Nunez. Additionally, the dual SCFTs are so-called "non-Lagrangian" theories, which have no weakly coupled UV description yet can (and will) be described explicitly.
Posted by: KCL
Minimal Area Surfaces and Wilson Loops
Martin Kruczenski
(Purdue)
Abstract:
The AdS/CFT correspondence has recently allowed the computation of gauge theory quantities in the strong coupled regime (for certain particular theories). One important such quantity is the Wilson loop which is related to the quark/ anti-quark potential, scattering amplitudes, etc. The computation is reduced to finding minimal area surfaces in hyperbolic space. Although this is a classical problem in mathematics its solution is not easy since it involves non-linear partial differential equations. In this talk I will describe some recent work where we found an infinite parameter family of such surfaces by using Riemann Theta functions to analytically solve the equations.
The AdS/CFT correspondence has recently allowed the computation of gauge theory quantities in the strong coupled regime (for certain particular theories). One important such quantity is the Wilson loop which is related to the quark/ anti-quark potential, scattering amplitudes, etc. The computation is reduced to finding minimal area surfaces in hyperbolic space. Although this is a classical problem in mathematics its solution is not easy since it involves non-linear partial differential equations. In this talk I will describe some recent work where we found an infinite parameter family of such surfaces by using Riemann Theta functions to analytically solve the equations.
Posted by: IC
Thursday, 11 Oct 2012
Gravity tree amplitudes and twistor-string theory
Lionel Mason
(Oxford)
Abstract:
We use an observation of Maldacena to argue that gravity tree-amplitudes can be computed
by inserting appropriate wave-functions into the Witten-Berkovits twistor-string for
conformal gravity. This is used to motivate and partially explain the recent remarkable
twistor-string-like formula of Cachazo & Skinner that expresses the complete tree-level
S-matrix for N=8 supergravity in terms of an integral over rational curves in twistor
space.
We use an observation of Maldacena to argue that gravity tree-amplitudes can be computed
by inserting appropriate wave-functions into the Witten-Berkovits twistor-string for
conformal gravity. This is used to motivate and partially explain the recent remarkable
twistor-string-like formula of Cachazo & Skinner that expresses the complete tree-level
S-matrix for N=8 supergravity in terms of an integral over rational curves in twistor
space.
Posted by: QMW