Abstract: We describe the moduli space of SU(N) instantons in the presence of a general surface operator of type N = n 1 + ⋯ + n M in terms of the representations of the so-called chain-saw quiver, which allows us to write down the instanton partition function as a summation over the fixed point contributions labeled by Young diagrams. We find that the instanton partition function depends on the ordering of n I which fixes a choice of the parabolic structure. This is in accord with the fact that the Verma module of the W-algebra also depends on the ordering of n I . By explicit calculations, we check that the partition function agrees with the norm of a coherent state in the corresponding Verma module.

Abstract: Given an Archimedean order unit space (V, V , e), we construct a minimal operator system OMIN(V ) and a maximal operator system OMAX(V ), which are the analogues of the minimal and maximal operator spaces of a normed space. We develop some of the key properties of these operator systems and make some progress on characterizing when an operator system S is completely boundedly isomorphic to either OMIN(S) or to OMAX(S). We then apply these concepts to the study of entanglement breaking maps. We prove that for matrix algebras a linear map is completely positive from OMIN(Mn) to OMAX(Mm) if and only if it is entanglement breaking.

Abstract: Magnetohydrodynamics of strongly magnetized relativistic fluids is derived in the ideal and dissipative cases, taking into account the breaking of spatial symmetries by a quantizing magnetic field. A complete set of transport coefficients, consistent with the Curie and Onsager principles, is derived for thermal conduction, as well as shear and bulk viscosities. It is shown that in the most general case the dissipative function contains five shear viscosities, two bulk viscosities, and three thermal conductivity coefficients. We use Zubarev's non-equilibrium statistical operator method to relate these transport coefficients to correlation functions of equilibrium theory. The desired relations emerge at linear order in the expansion of the non-equilibrium statistical operator with respect to the gradients of relevant statistical parameters (temperature, chemical potential, and velocity.) The transport coefficients are cast in a form that can be conveniently computed using equilibrium (imaginary-time) infrared Green's functions defined with respect to the equilibrium statistical operator.

Abstract: Using integrability and analyticity properties of the AdS5/CFT4 Y-system we reduce it to a finite set of nonlinear integral equations. The Z4 symmetry of the underlying coset sigma model, in its quantum version, allows for a deeper insight into the analyticity structure of the underlying Y-functions and T-functions, as well as for their analyticity friendly parameterization in terms of Wronskian determinants of Q-functions. As a check for the new equations, we reproduce the numerical results for the Konishi operator previously obtained from the original infinite Y-system.

Abstract: We describe the moduli space of SU(N) instantons in the presence of a general surface operator of type N=n_1+ ... +n_M in terms of the representations of the so-called chain-saw quiver, which allows us to write down the instanton partition function as a summation over the fixed point contributions labeled by Young diagrams. We find that the instanton partition function depends on the ordering of n_I which fixes a choice of the parabolic structure. This is in accord with the fact that the Verma module of the W-algebra also depends on the ordering of n_I. By explicit calculations, we check that the partition function agrees with the norm of a coherent state in the corresponding Verma module.

Abstract: The Vlasov–Poisson–Boltzmann System governs the time evolution of the distribution function for dilute charged particles in the presence of a self-consistent electric potential force through the Poisson equation. In this paper, we are concerned with the rate of convergence of solutions to equilibrium for this system over \({\mathbb R^3}\). It is shown that the electric field, which is indeed responsible for the lowest-order part in the energy space, reduces the speed of convergence, hence the dispersion of this system over the full space is slower than that of the Boltzmann equation without forces; the exact L2-rate for the former is (1 + t)−1/4 while it is (1 + t)−3/4 for the latter. For the proof, in the linearized case with a given non-homogeneous source, Fourier analysis is employed to obtain time-decay properties of the solution operator. In the nonlinear case, the combination of the linearized results and the nonlinear energy estimates with the help of the proper Lyapunov-type inequalities leads to the optimal time-decay rate of perturbed solutions under some conditions on initial data.

Abstract: We derive an exact, continuous-variable path integral (PI) representation of the canonical partition function for electronically nonadiabatic systems. Utilizing the Stock-Thoss (ST) mapping for an N-level system, matrix elements of the Boltzmann operator are expressed in Cartesian coordinates for both the nuclear and electronic degrees of freedom. The PI discretization presented here properly constrains the electronic Cartesian coordinates to the physical subspace of the mapping. We numerically demonstrate that the resulting PI-ST representation is exact for the calculation of equilibrium properties of systems with coupled electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. We further show that the PI-ST formulation provides a natural means to initialize semiclassical trajectories for the calculation of real-time thermal correlation functions, which is numerically demonstrated in applications to a series of nonadiabatic model systems.

Abstract: Operator fractional Brownian motions (OFBMs) are (i) Gaussian, (ii) operator self-similar and (iii) stationary increment processes. They are the natural multivariate generalizations of the well-studied fractional Brownian motions. Because of the possible lack of time-reversibility, the defining properties (i)–(iii) do not, in general, characterize the covariance structure of OFBMs. To circumvent this problem, the class of OFBMs is characterized here by means of their integral representations in the spectral and time domains. For the spectral domain representations, this involves showing how the operator self-similarity shapes the spectral density in the general representation of stationary increment processes. The time domain representations are derived by using primary matrix functions and taking the Fourier transforms of the deterministic spectral domain kernels. Necessary and sufficient conditions for OFBMs to be time-reversible are established in terms of their spectral and time domain representations. It is also shown that the spectral density of the stationary increments of an OFBM has a rigid structure, here called the dichotomy principle. The notion of operator Brownian motions is also explored.

Abstract: Non-Gaussianities of the primordial density perturbations have emerged as a very powerful possible signal to test the dynamics that drove the period of inflation. While in general the most sensitive observable is the three-point function in this paper we show that there are technically natural inflationary models where the leading source of non-Gaussianity is the four-point function. Using the recently developed Effective Field Theory of Inflation, we are able to show that it is possible to impose an approximate parity symmetry and an approximate continuos shift symmetry on the inflaton fluctuations that allow, when the dispersion relation if of the form ω ~ csk, for a unique quartic operator, while approximately forbidding all the cubic ones. The resulting shape for the four-point function is unique. In the models where the dispersion relation is of the form ω ~ k2/M a similar construction can be carried out and additional shapes are possible.

Abstract: Operator fractional Brownian motions (OFBMs) are (i) Gaussian, (ii) operator self-similar and (iii) stationary increment processes. They are the natural multivariate generalizations of the well-studied fractional Brownian motions. Because of the possible lack of time-reversibility, the defining properties (i)--(iii) do not, in general, characterize the covariance structure of OFBMs. To circumvent this problem, the class of OFBMs is characterized here by means of their integral representations in the spectral and time domains. For the spectral domain representations, this involves showing how the operator self-similarity shapes the spectral density in the general representation of stationary increment processes. The time domain representations are derived by using primary matrix functions and taking the Fourier transforms of the deterministic spectral domain kernels. Necessary and sufficient conditions for OFBMs to be time-reversible are established in terms of their spectral and time domain representations. It is also shown that the spectral density of the stationary increments of an OFBM has a rigid structure, here called the dichotomy principle. The notion of operator Brownian motions is also explored.

Abstract: In this paper we first develop various enhancements of the theory of spectral invariants of Hamiltonian Floer homology and of Entovi-Polterovich theory of spectral symplectic quasi-states and quasimorphisms by incorporating \emph{bulk deformations}, i.e., deformations by ambient cycles of symplectic manifolds, of the Floer homology and quantum cohomology. Essentially the same kind of construction is independently carried out by Usher [Us4] in a slightly less general context. Then we explore various applications of these enhancements to the symplectic topology, especially new construction of symplectic quasi-states, quasimorphisms and new Lagrangian intersection results on toric manifolds. The most novel part of this paper is to use open-closed Gromov-Witten theory (operator $\frak q$ in [FOOO1] and its variant involving closed orbits of periodic Hamiltonian system) to connect spectral invariants (with bulk deformation), symplectic quasi-states, quasimorphism to the Lagrangian Floer theory (with bulk deformation). We use this open-closed Gromov-Witten theory to produce new examples. Especially using the calculation of Lagrangian Floer homology with bulk deformation in [FOOO3,FOOO4], we produce examples of compact toric manifolds $(M,\omega)$ which admits uncountably many independent quasimorphisms $\widetilde{\operatorname{Ham}}(M,\omega) \to \mathbb R$. We also obtain a new intersection result of Lagrangian submanifolds on $S^2 \times S^2$ discovered in [FOOO6]. Many of these applications were announced in [FOOO3,FOOO4,FOOO6].

Abstract: We show how the perturbation theory results recently obtained by F Fiamberti, A Santambrogio, C Sieg and D Zanon for operator anomalous dimensions of β-deformed super-Yang–Mills theory can be reproduced from the AdS5/CFT4 Y-system proposed by NG, V Kazakov and P Vieira. To do this, we obtain the general twisted asymptotic solution of this Y-system of functional equations. We show that existence of an additional parameter β in the deformed theory allows us to extract rich information about the perturbation theory integrals directly from the Y-system. Using this method we found a simple generating function for a broad class of such integrals.

Abstract: We recast into histories-based form a quantum field theory defined earlier in operator language for a free scalar field on a background causal set. The resulting decoherence functional resembles that of the continuum theory but the counterpart of the d'Alembertian operator is nonlocal and a generalized inverse of the discrete retarded Green function. We comment on the significance of this and we also suggest how to include interactions.

Abstract: We describe a universal element $ \mathbb{P} $ in the group algebra of symmetric groups, whose characters provides the counting of quarter and eighth BPS states at weak coupling in $ \mathcal{N} = 4 $ SYM, refined according to representations of the global symmetry group. A related projector $ \mathcal{P} $ acting on the Hilbert space of the free theory is used to construct the matrix of two-point functions of the states annihilated by the one-loop dilatation operator, at finite N or in the large N limit. The matrix is given simply in terms of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients of symmetric groups and dimensions of U(N) representations. It is expected, by non-renormalization theorems, to contain observables at strong coupling. Using the stringy exclusion principle, we interpret a class of its eigenvalues and eigenvectors in terms of giant gravitons. We also give a formula for the action of the one-loop dilatation operator on the orthogonal basis of the free theory, which is manifestly covariant under the global symmetry.

Abstract: We study 6d N=(2,0) theory of type SU(N) compactified on Riemann surfaces with finite area, including spheres with fewer than three punctures. The Higgs branch, whose metric is inversely proportional to the total area of the Riemann surface, is discussed in detail. We show that the zero-area limit, which gives us a genuine 4d theory, can involve a Wigner-Inonu contraction of global symmetries of the six-dimensional theory. We show how this explains why subgroups of SU(N) can appear as the gauge group in the 4d limit. As a by-product we suggest that half-BPS codimension-two defects in the six-dimensional (2,0) theory have an operator product expansion whose operator product coefficients are four-dimensional field theories.

Abstract: We derive the bilinear equations of the constrained BKP hierarchy from the calculus of pseudodifferential operators. The full hierarchy equations can be expressed in Hirota's bilinear form characterized by the functions ρ, σ, and τ. Besides, we also give a modification of the original Orlov–Schulman additional symmetry to preserve the constrained form of the Lax operator for this hierarchy. The vector fields associated with the modified additional symmetry turn out to satisfy a truncated centerless Virasoro algebra.

Abstract: Different families of states, which are solutions of the time-dependent free Schrodinger equation, are imported from the harmonic oscillator using the quantum Arnold transformation introduced in Aldaya et al (2011 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor.44 065302). Among them, infinite series of states are given that are normalizable, expand the whole space of solutions, are spatially multi-localized and are eigenstates of a suitably defined number operator. Associated with these states new sets of coherent and squeezed states for the free particle are defined representing traveling, squeezed, multi-localized wave packets. These states are also constructed in higher dimensions, leading to the quantum mechanical version of the Hermite–Gauss and Laguerre–Gauss states of paraxial wave optics. Some applications of these new families of states and procedures to experimentally realize and manipulate them are outlined.

Abstract: The single-mode spin-boson model exhibits behavior not included in the rotating-wave approximation (RWA) in the ultra and deep-strong coupling regimes, where counter-rotating contributions become important. We introduce a symmetric rotating-wave approximation that treats rotating and counter-rotating terms equally, preserves the invariances of the Hamiltonian with respect to its parameters, and reproduces several qualitative features of the spin-boson spectrum not present in the original rotating-wave approximation both off-resonance and at deep-strong coupling. The symmetric rotating-wave approximation allows for the treatment of certain ultra- and deep-strong coupling regimes with similar accuracy and mathematical simplicity as does the RWA in the weak-coupling regime. Additionally, we symmetrize the generalized form of the rotating-wave approximation to obtain the same qualitative correspondence with the addition of improved quantitative agreement with the exact numerical results. The method is readily extended to higher accuracy if needed. Finally, we introduce the two-photon parity operator for the two-photon Rabi Hamiltonian and obtain its generalized symmetric rotating-wave approximation. The existence of this operator reveals a parity symmetry similar to that in the Rabi Hamiltonian as well as another symmetry that is unique to the two-photon case, providing insight into the mathematical structure of the two-photon spectrum, significantly simplifying the numerics, andmore » revealing some interesting dynamical properties.« less

Abstract: This work aims to illuminate the relations between quantum and classical mechanics. There is some discussion of philosophical matters such as measurement, uncertainty, and decoherence, for example, but this is not emphasized; generally the text presents the fruits of computation based on the operator formulation of QM and quantum field theory. In Chapter 1, connections of QM to deterministic behaviour are exhibited in the trajectory representations of Faraggi-Matone, and there is a review of KP theory and some preliminary remarks on coherent states, and related topics. Chapter 2 studies the QM of embedded curves and surfaces, illustrating some QM effects of geometry, while Chapter 3 examines quantum integrable systems, quantum groups, and modern deformation quantization. Further chapters involve, for example, the Whitham equations in various roles, mediating between QM and classical behaviour. In particular, connections to Seiberg-Witten theory (arising in N = 2 supersymmetric (susy) Yang-Mills (YM) theory) are discussed. There is also some conceptual background for such areas as susy, gauge theories, and renormalization, from both a physical and mathematical point of view.

Abstract: In the setting of a real Hilbert space H, we investigate the asymptotic behavior, as time t goes to infinity, of trajectories of second-order evolution equations ¨(t )+ γ ˙ u(t )+ ∇φ(u(t)) + A(u(t)) = 0, where ∇φ is the gradient operator of a convex differentiable potential function φ : H→ R, A : H→H is a maximal monotone operator which is assumed to be λ-cocoercive, and γ> 0i s a damping parameter. Potential and non-potential effects are associated respectively to ∇φ and A. Under condition λγ 2 > 1, it is proved that each trajectory asymptotically weakly converges to a zero of ∇φ + A. This condition, which only involves the non-potential operator and the damping parameter, is sharp and consistent with time rescaling. Passing from weak to strong convergence of the trajectories is obtained by introducing an asymptotically vanishing Tikhonov-like regularizing term. As special cases, we recover the asymptotic analysis of the heavy ball with friction dynamic attached to a convex potential, the second-order gradient-projection dynamic, and the second-order dynamic governed by the Yosida approximation of a general maximal monotone operator. The breadth and flexibility of the proposed framework is illustrated through applications in the areas of constrained optimization, dynamical approach to Nash equilibria for noncooperative games, and asymptotic stabilization in the case of a continuum of equilibria.

Abstract: We consider heat transport across a harmonic chain connected at its two ends to white-noise Langevin reservoirs at different temperatures. In the steady state of this system the heat Q flowing from one reservoir into the system in a finite time τ has a distribution P(Q, τ). We study the large time form of the corresponding moment generating function e − λQ ~ g(λ)eτμ(λ). Exact formal expressions, in terms of phonon Green's functions, are obtained for both μ(λ) and also the lowest order correction g(λ). We point out that, in general, a knowledge of both μ(λ) and g(λ) is required for finding the large deviation function associated with P(Q, τ). The function μ(λ) is known to be the largest eigenvector of an appropriate Fokker–Planck type operator and our method also gives the corresponding eigenvector exactly.

Abstract: Preface. 1. The Spin Operator and Spin Functions. 2. Genealogical Construction of Spin Eigenfunctions. 3. Serber Spin Functions. 4. Projected Spin Eigenfunctions. 5. Spin-Paired Spin Eigenfunctions. 6. The Symmetric Group. 7. Representations of SN Generated by Spin Eigenfunctions. 8. Combination of Spatial and Spin Functions. 9. Calculation of the Hamiltonian Matrix. 10. Spin-Coupled Functions. 11. Solutions to the Exercise Problems.

Abstract: The density operator of a quantum state can be represented as a complex joint probability of any two observables whose eigenstates have non-zero mutual overlap. Transformations to a new basis set are then expressed in terms of complex conditional probabilities that describe the fundamental relation between precise statements about the three different observables. Since such transformations merely change the representation of the quantum state, these conditional probabilities provide a state-independent definition of the deterministic relation between the outcomes of different quantum measurements. In this paper, it is shown how classical reality emerges as an approximation to the fundamental laws of quantum determinism expressed by complex conditional probabilities. The quantum mechanical origin of phase spaces and trajectories is identified and implications for the interpretation of quantum measurements are considered. It is argued that the transformation laws of quantum determinism provide a fundamental description of the measurement dependence of empirical reality.

Abstract: We give a complete characterization for extreme quantum observables, i.e. for normalized positive operator valued measures (POVMs) which are extremals in the convex set of all POVMs. The characterization is valid both in discrete and continuous cases, and also in the case of an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. We show that sharp POVMs are pre-processing clean, i.e. they cannot be irreversibly connected to other POVMs via quantum channels.

Abstract: We derive an extension of the standard time dependent WKB theory which can be applied to propagate coherent states and other strongly localised states for long times. It allows in particular to give a uniform description of the transformation from a localised coherent state to a delocalised Lagrangian state which takes place at the Ehrenfest time. The main new ingredient is a metaplectic operator which is used to modify the initial state in a way that standard time dependent WKB can then be applied for the propagation. We give a detailed analysis of the phase space geometry underlying this construction and use this to determine the range of validity of the new method. Several examples are used to illustrate and test the scheme and two applications are discussed: (i) For scattering of a wave packet on a barrier near the critical energy we can derive uniform approximations for the transition from reflection to transmission. (ii) A wave packet propagated along a hyperbolic trajectory becomes a Lagrangian state associated with the unstable manifold at the Ehrenfest time, this is illustrated with the kicked harmonic oscillator.