Related papers: Semiglobal Alice Strings
Non-abelian (NA) topological string defects exist in QCD with the spontaneous chiral symmetry breaking $U(N_f)_L \times U(N_f)_R \to U(N_f)_V$. Anomaly effects lead to domain walls connected to these strings. In the framework of linear…
Symmetry breaking can produce ``Alice'' strings, which alter scattered charges and carry monopole number and charge when twisted into loops. Alice behavior arises algebraically, when a string's untraced Wilson loop obstructs unbroken…
We study the properties of a non-abelian gauge theory subjected to a gauge invariant constraint given by the classical equations of motion. The constraint is not imposed by hand, but appears naturally when we study a particular type of…
We present simple models which exhibit some of the remarkable features expected to hold for the as yet unknown non-perturbative formulation of string theories. Among these are: (a) the absence of a background or embedding space for the full…
It is shown that a model with a spontaneously broken global symmetry can support defects analogous to Alice strings, and a process analogous to Cheshire charge exchange can take place. A possible realization in superfluid He-3 is pointed…
We propose a hypothesis that all gauge theories are equivalent to a certain non-standard string theory. Different gauge groups are accounted for by weights ascribed to the world sheets of different topologies. The hypothesis is checked in…
It is proposed that a non-Abelian adjoint two-form in BF type theories transform inhomogeneously under the gauge group. The resulting restrictions on invariant actions are discussed. The auxiliary one-form which is required for maintaining…
We investigate the microphysics of cosmic strings in Nonabelian gauge theories with N=1 supersymmetry. We give the vortex solutions in a specific example and demonstrate that fermionic superconductivity arises because of the couplings and…
Topologically non-trivial gauge field configurations are an interesting aspect of non-abelian gauge theories. These become particularly important upon quantizing the theory, especially through their effect on the pseudo-scalar spectrum.…
In a model that supports both Abelian (Abrikosov-Nielsen-Olesen) and non-Abelian strings we analyze the parameter space to find examples in which these strings not only coexist but are degenerate in tension. We prove that both solutions are…
We study the stability properties of the twisted vortex solutions in the semilocal Abelian Higgs model with a global $\mathbf{SU}(2)$ invariance. This model can be viewed as the Weinberg-Salam theory in the limit where the non-Abelian gauge…
We define a nonabelian particle-vortex duality as a $3-$dimensional analogue of the usual $2-$dimensional worldsheet nonabelian T-duality. The transformation is defined in the presence of a global $SU(2)$ symmetry and, although derived from…
It is shown that a string carrying a field of harmonic type can have circular vorton states of a new "throbbing" kind, for which the worldsheet geometry is stationary but the internal structure undergoes periodic oscillation.
The three tachyon-free non-supersymmetric string theories in ten dimensions provide a handle on quantum gravity away from the supersymmetric lamppost. However, they have not been shown to be fully consistent; although local anomalies cancel…
Alice strings are cosmic strings that turn matter into antimatter. Although they arise naturally in many GUT's, it has long been believed that because of the monopole problem they can have no cosmological effects. We show this conclusion to…
We review the properties of static, higher dimensional black hole solutions in theories where non-abelian gauge fields are minimally coupled to gravity. It is shown that black holes with hyperspherically symmetric horizon topology do not…
It is shown that topologically stable cosmic strings can, in fact, appear to end or to break, even in theories without monopoles. This can occur whenever the spatial topology of the universe is nontrivial. For the case of Abelian-Higgs…
Topological phases in two dimensions support anyonic quasiparticle excitations that obey neither bosonic nor fermionic statistics. These anyon structures often carry global symmetries that relate distinct anyons with similar fusion and…
Superconductors are the only experimentally accessible systems with spontaneously broken gauge symmetries which support topologically nontrivial defects, namely string defects. We propose two experiments whose aim is the observation of the…
We study a semi-local Abelian Higgs sigma model with $\mathbb{CP}^2$-valued scalar fields coupled to gravity. We establish the conditions needed for self-duality in this system and obtain cosmic strings, both of self-dual character and out…