Physics

Abstract: Besides providing a possible explanation to the strong CP problem and dark matter, the QCD axion possesses a rich cosmology. For example, if PQ breaking occurs after inflation, then axion cosmic strings form. Near the QCD phase transition...

Abstract: We study 4d SU(N) pure Yang-Mills theory with a topological theta-angle. It has been a long standing problem to study the theta-dependence of the free energy, and to settle on the fate of the CP symmetry at theta=pi. In this talk we...

Abstract: We present an extensive study of the effects of neutrino transport in 3-dimensional general relativistic radiation hydrodynamics (GRHD) simulations of binary neutron star (BNS) mergers using our moment-based, energy-integrated  neutrino...

Abstract: The TTbar deformation is a holographic theory describing holography a finite distance in the bulk.   If this theory can be UV completed, it could be a model of nonperturbative bulk quantum gravity.  However, it seems to be a non-unitary...

Abstract: I use the method of images to derive the dilaton boundary term of the classical string action in a $Z_2$ orbifold (half space) with Neumann boundary conditions. The derivation is carried out to first order in alpha prime from the...

Abstract: In spite of tremendous progress in mean-field spin glass theory over the last forty years, “realistic” spin glass models with short-range interactions remain shrouded in mystery. I will talk about recent progress on this topic, proving a...

Abstract: We will discuss excitations with large spin and/or large particle number. For conformal theories this corresponds to investigating particular trajectories of heavy operators. 

We find trajectories with large approximate degeneracy and show...

Abstract: The Schwinger model of two-dimensional quantum electrodynamics is among the oldest and best-studied quantum field theories, and is attracting renewed interest in connection with simulations of quantum lattice Hamiltonians. I will discuss...

Abstract: I will review the status of the duality between type II string theory on $AdS_3 \times S^3 \times T^4$ and a specific N=(4,4) supersymmetric 2d CFT. I will begin by reviewing the understanding of this theory from the late '90s, from the...

Abstract: We study the partition function of 3D de Sitter gravity defined as the trace over the Hilbert space obtained by quantizing Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime. Motivated by the correspondence with double scaled SYK, we identify the...