Mathematics Department
Theoretical Physics Seminars
For the current seminar schedule, see here. 

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  Mar. 22nd 2006, 1:15pm
  David Tong (Cambridge)
   "D-Branes in Field Theory"

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  Mar. 15th 2006, 1:15pm
  Thomas Mohaupt (Liverpool)
   "Black hole partition functions and duality"

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  Mar. 8th 2006, 1:15pm
  Mukund Rangamani (Durham)
   "Inflation in AdS / CFT"

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  Mar. 1st 2006
  TRIANGLE SEMINARS at Queen Mary College, room TBA

    3:00pm: Terry Gannon (Hamburg)
      "The classification of RCFTs"

Abstract: The classification of RCFT means different things to different people, 
but the most accessible, and perhaps the prettiest, aspect of it is the 
classification of modular invariant (torus) partition functions, which tell you 
the spectrum of the theory. I'll review the progress made recently on this problem, 
for the case where the chiral algebras come from affine Kac-Moody algebras (the 
so-called Wess-Zumino-Witten models). I'll also comment on the classification of 
cyclindrical partition functions (the so-called NIM-reps), which are more directly 
relevant for the framework of Fuchs-Runkel-Schweigert. 

    4:30pm: Carlos Nunez (Swansea)
      "Aspects of Gauge - Strings Duality"

Abstract: I will discuss interesting aspects of the duality of gauge theories and 
string theories in new scenarios.

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  Feb. 22nd 2006, 1:15pm
  Aninda Sinha (Cambridge)
   "Extremal single charge small black holes"

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  Feb. 15th 2006, 1:15pm
  Patrick Dorey (Durham)
   "g-functions and boundaries, at and away from criticality"

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  Feb. 8th 2006, 1:15pm
  Paul Saffin (Nottingham)
   "Cosmology and conifolds"

Abstract: We shall discuss aspects of how internal manifolds evolve during
cosmology, paying particular attention to the regions where the
manifold changes topology.

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  Feb. 1st 2006, 1:15pm
  Rodolfo Russo (Queen Mary)
   "Brane world effective actions for D-branes with fluxes"

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  Jan. 25th 2006
  TRIANGLE SEMINARS at King's College, room TBA

    3:00pm: Gleb Arutyunov (Utrecht)
      "Solving Strings on AdS-5 x S-5 in Truncated Sectors"

    4:30pm: Gabriele Travaglini (QMW)
      "From Trees to Loops and Back"

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  Jan. 18th 2006, 1:15pm
  Charles Young (York)
   "Sigma models on supermanifolds: Integrability and Conformal Invariance"

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  Jan. 11th 2006, 1:15pm
  Andre Lukas (Oxford)
   "Moduli Stabilization in Heterotic Flux Compactifications"

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---- CHRISTMAS BREAK ----- CHRISTMAS BREAK ----
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  Dec. 14th 2005, 1:15pm
  Nick Evans (Southampton)
   "Towards a Holographic Description of QCD"

Abstract: We review AdS/CFT Correspondence constructions of non-supersymmetric 
theories and include quarks using D7 brane probes. Such geometries provide a 
geometric decription of chiral symmetry breaking in the pattern of QCD. The 
meson masses of the theory can be computed and include a pion-like goldstone 
boson. Phenomenological models of QCD in this spirit surprisingly work at the 
10-15% level. Finally we address a major concern with such models - they have 
strongly coupled UV physics. We use ideas from perfect lattice actions to suggest 
a solution and show a toy example of the method in action.

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  Dec. 9th 2005, 1:15pm
  Fiorenzo Bastianelli (Bologna)
   "Worldline approach to vector and antisymmetric tensor fields"

Abstract: We study the quantization on the torus of the N=2 spinning particle
coupled to spacetime gravity to obtain a worldline representation of the
effective action of an arbitrary antisymmetric tensor field. This
representation contains on top of the usual proper time a new modular parameter
implementing the reduction to a single tensor field. Then we describe how to
use it: (i) to calculate the first few Seeley-DeWitt coefficients for
antisymmetric tensor fields of arbitrary rank in arbitrary dimensions, (ii) to
derive exact duality relations, and (iii) to compute some correlation
functions.

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 Dec. 7th 2005 
 TRIANGLE SEMINARS at King's College, room TBA

  3:00 pm: Michael Green
   "Exploring the M-theory effective action"

  4:30 pm: Ulf Lindstrom
   "Supersymmetric Non-linear Sigma Models and Generalized Complex Geometry"

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  Nov. 30th 2005, 1:15pm
  Sean Hartnoll (DAMTP)
   "What is the phase structure of N=4 SYM theory?"

Abstract: I will review recent results at strong and weak coupling 
in N=4 SYM theory at finite temperature. I will point out that 
retarded correlators have a qualitatively different analytic structure 
in the weak a strong coupling limits and will argue that this either 
necessitates a phase transition in the theory or requires that we 
revise our current understanding of weakly coupled plasmas.

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  Nov. 23th 2005, 1:15pm
  George Papadopoulos (King's College London)
   "Spinorial Geometry and the Heterotic String"

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  Nov. 16th 2005, 1:15pm
  Kelly Stelle (Imperial)
   "Generalized Holonomy for String and M-theory corrected spacetimes"

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 Nov. 9th 2005 
 TRIANGLE SEMINARS at Imperial College, room TBA

  3:00 pm: Veronika Hubeny (Durham)
   "Probing bulk spacetime with CFT correlators"

  4:30 pm: Nigel Hitchin (Oxford)
   "New aspects of generalized geometry"

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  Nov. 2nd 2005, 1:15pm
  Paul Heslop (DAMTP)
   "On the higher spin / gauge theory correspondence"

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  Oct. 26th 2005, 1:00pm
  Toni Mateos (Imperial)
   "Marginal deformations and Penrose limits with continuous spectrum"

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  Oct. 19th 2005, 1:00pm
  Fabio Riccioni (DAMTP)
   "10-forms in 10-dimensional supergravity theories"

Abstract: The IIB supersymmetry algebra in d=10 can be extended including 10-forms. One of these is the RR
10-form, which takes part in the tadpole cancellation mechanism of the type-I string. D9-branes are
electrically charged with respect to this 10-form. IIB supergravity possesses a global SL(2,R) symmetry, which
the quantum theory breaks to SL(2,Z). Even if 10-forms have no dynamics, since their field-strength vanishes
identically, it is possible to study their behaviour under SL(2,Z) transformations. We determine all the
possible independent 10-forms as representations of SL(2,Z), and in particular we show in which multiplet the
RR 10-form lies. Finally, we perform the same analysis for the IIA supersymmetry algebra, and interpret the
results in terms of T-duality.

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  Oct. 12th 2005, 1:00pm
  Ingo Runkel (KCL)
   "Matrix models and conformal field theory"

Abstract: In this seminar we will look at two places where two-dimensional conformal field theory is related
to the study of matrix models. The first is that a matrix model may be thought of as a statistical model on a
fluctuating lattice. In the continuum limit, that is in the limit of large matrix size N, this yields a c<1
CFT coupled to gravity. The second relation is that the matrix model can, even before the continuum limit, be
described in terms of free bosons. The free boson CFT turns out to be useful in understanding the large N
behaviour of the matrix model.

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 Oct. 5th 2005 
 TRIANGLE SEMINARS at Queen Mary College, room 3B20

  3:00 pm: Jose Figueroa-O'Farrill (Edinburgh)
   "Gauged sigma models and generalised geometry"

  4:30 pm: Sakura Schafer-Nameki (Hamburg)
   "Quantum corrections to spinning strings"

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  May 4th 2005 
  TRIANGLE SEMINARS at Imperial College, Lecture Theatre 3, Blackett Laboratory

  3:00 pm: Jose Barbon (Madrid, Autonoma University)
   "Aspects of chiral dynamics in AdS/CFT models" 

  4:30 pm: Katrin Wendland (Warwick University)
   "How to construct superconformal field theories associated to a 
    family of smooth quartic K3 surfaces"

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  Apr. 27th 2005, 1:15pm
  Neil Lambert (King's College)
   "Flux and Freund-Rubin Superpotentials in M-theory"

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  Apr. 13th 2005, 1:15 pm
  Dario Francia (Universita di Roma Tre)
   "Free geometry for higher spins: results and perspectives"

Abstract: The linearised curvatures of de Wit and Freedman for totally
symmetric gauge fields of any spin are shown to give rise to geometric
equations in which both fields and gauge parameters are not
constrained a priori. These equations, which are non local, reduce to
the traditional, local Fronsdal form by a suitable gauge fixing, and
on-shell degrees of freedom are just the physical ones. Developments
and generalisations of these results are discussed.

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  Mar. 23rd 2005, 1:15pm
  Andreas Brandhuber (Queen Mary College)
   "Loop Amplitudes in Gauge Theory from MHV Vertices"

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 Mar. 16th 2005 
 TRIANGLE SEMINARS at Queen Mary, room 410A

  3:00 pm: Boris Pioline (LPTHE, LPTENS)
   "Exact Degeneracies of Small Black Holes and the Topological String Amplitude"

Abstract:Recently, Ooguri, Strominger and Vafa have proposed to
identify the macroscopic Bekenstein-Hawking-Wald entropy of extremal
charged Black Holes in type II string compactified on a Calabi-Yau
threefold, with the all order microscopic entropy in a specific
statistical ensemble. We present a test of this conjecture in the case
of 'small' black holes (which have zero Bekenstein-Hawking entropy at
tree level, but obtain a non-zero entropy after quantum corrections)
using heterotic / type II duality. We find a remarkable agreement to
all orders in a class of N=2 and N=4 compactifications. Nevertheless,
the OSV proposal misses non-perturbative corrections which are
computable on the heterotic side. We comment on possible improvements
of this proposal.

  4:30 pm: Mukund Rangamani (UC, Berkeley and  LBL, Berkeley and  Santa Barbara, KITP)
   "String corrected black holes"

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  Mar. 9th 2005, 1:45 pm
  Paul Townsend (DAMTP)
   "The Jacobi principle and cosmological singularities"

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  Mar. 2nd 2005, 1:15 pm
  Maxim Zabzine (Queen Mary College)
   "Generalized complex structure and supersymmetry"

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  Feb. 23rd 2005, 1:15pm
  Sergei Alexandrov (Utrecht)
   "Non-perturbative effects in the c=1 matrix model"

Abstract: I present results on non-perturbative effects in the c=1
string theory. First, I describe a geometric picture found in the CFT
framework which gives an interpretation of D-branes in non-critical
strings in terms of a complex curve associated with any closed string
background. I show that its c=1 limit is degenerate and the degeneracy
can be removed by considering a condensation of tachyon modes. Using
the matrix model description, I calculate the leading as well as the
subleading non-perturbative corrections to the string partition
function. We find them by using the Toda integrable structure and from
the realization of 2D string theory in terms of free fermions. Both
methods give the same result which is also interpreted through
correlation functions of a bosonic field. The leading corrections can
be interpreted in terms of localized D-branes, whereas the sub-leading
ones do not have a simple D-brane description.

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  Feb. 16th 2005, 1:15pm
  Volker Schomerus (Saclay)
   "More curiosities at c=1"

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 Feb. 9th 2005 
 TRIANGLE SEMINARS at King's College, room 3B20

  3:00 pm: David Tong (DAMTP)
   "Splitting the Conifold Singularity"

  4:30 pm: Asad Naqvi (Amsterdam U.)
   "Topological G_2 Strings"



The talk shall present chosen aspects of a compact quantum-algebraic
description of D-brane geometry in WZW models, extending beyond the
semiclassical approximation of the original fuzzy matrix models. It
shall be argued that a class of unital algebras - the so-called
Reflection Algebras intimately related to Drinfeld-Jimbo algebras
captures certain essential features of stringy geometries, both
untwisted and twisted, in compact WZW models and their (simple
current) orbifolds, while giving rise to some well-known, and some
less so, noncommutative geometries (e.g. Podles sphere, quantum
projective plane).  

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Regular Seminar at KCL
Wed, 14 Jul 2004 at 13:15 in room 423
Sven Kerstan: 
Derivative Corrections from deformed superembeddings ( the D9-brane )
Abstract: We will illustrate some of the consequences of allowing for a 
fundamental length scale in
supersymmetric theories, in particular the world volume theory of the
D9-brane.
We will show how to construct kappa-symmetric derivative corrections
using superembeddings
and spinorial cohomology.

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Exceptional Seminar at KCL
Tue, 1 Jun 2004 at 11:00 in room 423
Qaisar Shafi: The Standard Model: Where does it come from ?
Abstract: Some attempts to go beyond the standard model will be 
reviewed, largely motivated by data from neutrino
experiments and the microwave anisotropy observations.
An attempt at a unified description will be discussed.

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Regular Seminar at KCL
Mon, 24 May 2004 at 15:15 in room 423
Clifford Johnson: 
A Stringy Laboratory for Closed Timelike Curves and Cosmological Singularities

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Informal Seminar at KCL
Mon, 10 May 2004 at 15:15 in room 423
Gabor Toth: On N=1 supersymmetric boundary bootstrap
Abstract: 
The general subject is factorized scattering theory for massive integrable 
field theories in 1+1 dimensions. The talk will be about boundary
supersymmetry, about a construction of supersymmetric scattering and
reflection matrices from non-supersymmetric ones, and about the
application of the construction to specific models (boundary sine-Gordon
model, boundary affine Toda theories) perhaps.

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Exceptional Seminar at KCL
Mon, 5 Apr 2004 at 15:15 in room 423
Igor Schnakenburg: Kac-Moody Symmetries of (Super)Gravity Theories
Abstract: 
A self-contained introduction to the idea of identifying Kac-Moody type
symmetries in all known gravity theories.

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Regular Seminar at KCL
Wed, 17 Mar 2004 at 13:15 in room 423
Jan Louis: 
String Compactifications on N=1 Calabi-Yau orientifolds with D-branes
and Background Flux 

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Wednesday, March 10th, 2004, at 1:15 pm in room 423.

An informal introduction to matrix theory,
Sanjaye Ramgoolam (Queen Mary College).

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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2004, at 1:15 pm in room 423.

  I o a n n i s   B a k a s  (University of Patras)

 "WZW models at critical level"

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Wednesday, February 25th, 2004 at 1:15 pm in room 423.

  D a v i d   B e r m a n  (Queen Mary College)

 "Aspects of M5 brane dynamics"


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Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 1:15 pm in room 423.

  E r i c   B e r g s h o e f f  (University of Groningen)

 "Transient Quintessence from Group Manifold Reductions
                            or
               how all roads lead to London"

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Wednesday, February 11, 2004, at 1:15 pm in room 423.

  D o u g l a s   S m i t h  (University of Durham)

"Giant Gravitons in Gauged Supergravity"

Abstract: I will review properties of giant gravitons and discuss some
aspects of their dual description (via the AdS/CFT correspondence) as
certain chiral primary operators in SYM. I will then describe some probe
calculations which show that giant gravitons exist in arbitrary
backgrounds of certain gauged supergravity theories, and are equivalent to
massive charged particles in the lower dimensional theory.

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Wednesday, November 12th, 2003 at 1:15 pm in room 423.

  U l f   G r a n  (KCL)

 "The Bianchi classification of maximal D=8 gauged supergravities"


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