Scientific Series

This talk will cover a number of fun topics related to studying and understanding the Cosmic Microwave Background, including where it came from, how it is like an inside-out star, CMB numerology, how much information it contains and how it is evolving in time.

The tt* equations define a flat connection on the moduli spaces of 2d, N=2 quantum field theories. For conformal theories with c=3d, which can be realized as nonlinear sigma models into Calabi-Yau d-folds, this flat connection is equivalent to special geometry for threefolds and to its analogs in other dimensions. I will show that the non-holomorphic content of the tt* equations in the cases d=1,2,3 is captured in terms of finitely many generators of special functions, which close under derivatives. The generators are understood as coordinates on a larger moduli space. This space parameterizes a freedom in choosing representatives of the chiral ring while preserving a constant topological metric. Geometrically, the freedom corresponds to a choice of forms on the target space respecting the Hodge filtration and having a constant pairing. Linear combinations of vector fields on that space are identified with generators of a Lie algebra. This Lie algebra replaces the anti-holomorphic derivatives of tt* and provides these with a finer and algebraic meaning. The generators of the differential rings of special functions are given by quasi-modular forms for d=1 and their generalizations in d=2,3. For d=3, this can be used to provide a purely Lie algebraic formulation of the higher genus topological string theory amplitudes and of the BCOV holomorphic anomaly equations which govern them.

We study a contracting universe composed of cold dark matter and radiation, and with a positive cosmological constant. Assuming that loop quantum cosmology captures the correct high-curvature dynamics of the space-time, we calculate the spectrum of scalar and tensor perturbations after the bounce, assuming initial quantum vacuum fluctuations. We find that the modes that exit the (sound) Hubble radius during matter-domination when the effective equation of state is slightly negative due to the cosmological constant will be nearly scale-invariant with a slight red tilt, in agreement with observations. The tensor perturbations are also nearly scale-invariant, and the predicted tensor-to-scalar ratio is small.  Finally, as this scenario predicts a positive running of the scalar index, it can be differentiated from inflationary models.

Symmetry protected topological (SPT) states are bulk gapped states with gapless edge excitations. The SPT phases in free fermion systems, like topological insulators, can be classified by K-theory. However, it is not yet known what SPT phases exist in general interacting systems. In this talk, I will first present a systematic way to construct SPT phases in interacting bosonic systems, which allows us to identify many new SPT phases. Just as group theory allows us to construct 230 crystal structures in three dimensions, we find that group cohomology theory allows us to construct many interacting bosonic SPT phases. In my talk, I shall show how topological terms in the path integral description of the system can be constructed from nontrivial group cohomology classes, giving rise to exactly soluble Hamiltonians with explicit ground state wavefunctions. Next, I will discuss the generalization of the classifying scheme to interacting fermionic systems and a new mathematical framework – group supercohomology theory, which predicts a fermionic SPT phase that can neither be realized in free fermionic nor interacting bosonic systems.

Finally, I will briefly mention the deep relationship between SPT phases and chiral anomalies in high energy physics.

We consider the one dimensional, periodic spin chain with $N$ sites, similar to the one studied by Haldane \cite{hal}, however in the opposite limit of very large anisotropy and small nearest neighbour, anti-ferromagnetic exchange coupling between the spins, which are of large magnitude $s$.  For a  chain with an even number of sites we show that actually the ground state is non degenerate and given by a superposition of the two Néel states, due to quantum spin tunnelling.  With an odd number of sites, the Néel state must necessarily contain a soliton. The position of the soliton is arbitrary thus the  ground state is $N$-fold degenerate.  This set of  states reorganizes into a band. We show that this occurs at order $2s$ in perturbation theory.  The ground state is non-degenerate for integer spin, but degenerate for half-odd integer spin as is required by Kramer's theorem \cite{kram}. arXiv:1404.6706 , Phys.Lett. A378 (2014) 3066-3069; arXiv:1304.3734 Phys.Rev. B88 (2013) 22, 220403 

In this talk, I will prove the Landau-Ginzburg mirror symmetry conjecture for general quasi-homogenous singularities, i.e., the FJRW theory (LG A-model) of such polynomials is equivalent to the Saito-Givental theory (LG B-model) of the mirror polynomial. This is joint work with Weiqiang He, Rachel Webb and Yefeng Shen. 

If dark matter is asymmetric, fermionic, and self-interacting, it may form black holes in pulsars at the galactic center. In this case, a measurable maximum attainable pulsar age would track the density of the dark matter halo, with the oldest pulsars being allowed in the least dense parts of the halo. This could explain a recent observation, that there are not as many pulsars in the galactic center as expected.

Models such as Natural Inflation that use Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons (PNGB's) as the inflaton are attractive for many reasons. However, they typically require trans-Planckian field excursions $\Delta \Phi>M_{\rm Pl}$, due to the need for an axion decay constant $f>M_{\rm Pl}$ to have both a sufficient number of e-folds {\em and} values of $n_s,\ r$ consistent with data.  Such excursions would in general require the addition of all other higher dimension operators consistent with symmetries, thus disrupting the required flatness of the potential and rendering the theory non-predictive. We show that in the case of Natural Inflation, the existence of spinodal instabilities (modes with tachyonic masses) can modify the inflaton equations of motion to the point that versions of the model with $f<M_{\rm Pl}$ can still inflate for the required number of e-folds. The instabilities naturally give rise to two separate phases of inflation with different values of the Hubble parameter $H$ one driven by the zero mode, the other by the unstable fluctuation modes. The values of $n_s$ and $r$ typically depend on the initial conditions for the zero mode, and, at least for those examined here, the values of $r$ tend to be unobservably small.

Everything around us, everything each of us has ever experienced, and virtually everything underpinning our technological society and economy is governed by quantum mechanics. Yet this most fundamental physical theory of nature often feels as if it is a set of somewhat eerie and counterintuitive ideas of no direct relevance to our lives. Why is this? One reason is that we cannot perceive the strangeness (and astonishing beauty) of the quantum mechanical phenomena all around us by using our own senses. I will describe the recent development of techniques that allow us to image electronic quantum matter directly at the atomic scale. As examples, we will visually explore the previously unseen and very beautiful forms of quantum matter making up electronic liquid crystals [1,2]; hybridized heavy-fermions [3,4]; topological-insulator surface states [5]; and high temperature superconductors [6,7]. We will discuss the implications for fundamental research, and also for advanced materials and new technologies, arising from the development and application of these novel techniques .

We explore the brightness frontier in time domain radio astronomy and its possible usefulness for cosmology.  It is argued that the brightest known source of emission, Crab nanoshots, are caused by Schwinger pair production.  The same mechanism may be the source of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) if this emission is form coalescing neutron stars.  It is then shown how using FRBs as triggers can extend the reach of gravitational radiation and neutrino telescopes.  Finally we discuss how combining FRB monitoring, large neutrino telescopes, combined with preexisting galaxy catalogs could provide an accurate cosmological distance estimator.

Generic binary black holes have spins that are misaligned with their orbital angular momentum. When the binary separation between the black holes is large compared to their gravitational radii, the timescale on which the spins precess is much shorter than the radiation-reaction time on which the orbital angular momentum decreases due to gravitational-wave emission. We use conservation of the total angular momentum and the projected effective spin on the precession time to derive an effective potential for BBH spin precession. This effective potential allows us to solve the orbit-averaged spin-precession equations analytically for arbitrary mass ratios and spins. These solutions are quasiperiodic functions of time: after a precessional period the spins return to their initial relative orientations. We classify black-hole spin precession into three distinct morphologies between which the black holes can transition during their inspiral. Our new solutions constitute fundamental progress in our understanding of black-hole spin precession and also have important applications to astrophysical black holes. We derive a precession-averaged evolution equation that can be numerically integrated on the radiation-reaction time, allowing us to statistically track black-hole spins from formation to merger. This will greatly help us predict the signatures of black-hole formation in the gravitational waves emitted near merger and the distributions of final spins and gravitational recoils.