A note on the Zassenhaus product formula

We provide a simple method for the calculation of the terms c_n in the Zassenhaus product $e^{a+b}=e^a e^b \prod_{n=2}^{\infty} e^{c_n}$ for non-commuting a and b. This method has been implemented in a computer program. Furthermore, we formulate a conjecture on how to translate these results into nested commutators. This conjecture was checked up to order n=17 using a computer

A constructive algorithm for the Cartan decomposition of SU(2^N)

We present an explicit numerical method to obtain the Cartan-Khaneja-Glaser decomposition of a general element G of SU(2^N) in terms of its `Cartan' and `non-Cartan' components. This effectively factors G in terms of group elements that belong in SU(2^n) with n<N, a procedure that can be iterated down to n=2. We show that every step reduces to solving the zeros of a matrix polynomial, obtained by truncation of the Baker-Campbell-Hausdorff formula, numerically. All computational tasks involved are straightforward and the overall truncation errors are well under control.Comment: 15 pages, no figures, matlab file at http://cam.qubit.org/users/jiannis

Manifolds with large isotropy groups

We classify all simply connected Riemannian manifolds whose isotropy groups act with cohomogeneity less than or equal to two.Comment: 21 page

A simple method for finite range decomposition of quadratic forms and Gaussian fields

We present a simple method to decompose the Green forms corresponding to a large class of interesting symmetric Dirichlet forms into integrals over symmetric positive semi-definite and finite range (properly supported) forms that are smoother than the original Green form. This result gives rise to multiscale decompositions of the associated Gaussian free fields into sums of independent smoother Gaussian fields with spatially localized correlations. Our method makes use of the finite propagation speed of the wave equation and Chebyshev polynomials. It improves several existing results and also gives simpler proofs.Comment: minor correction for t<

Exact solutions in Einstein-Yang-Mills-Dirac systems

We present exact solutions in Einstein-Yang-Mills-Dirac theories with gauge groups SU(2) and SU(4) in Robertson-Walker space-time $R \times S^3$, which are symmetric under the action of the group SO(4) of spatial rotations. Our approach is based on the dimensional reduction method for gauge and gravitational fields and relates symmetric solutions in EYMD theory to certain solutions of an effective dynamical system. We interpret our solutions as cosmological solutions with an oscillating Yang-Mills field passing between topologically distinct vacua. The explicit form of the solution for spinor field shows that its energy changes the sign during the evolution of the Yang-Mills field from one vacuum to the other, which can be considered as production or annihilation of fermions. Among the obtained solutions there is also a static sphaleron-like solution, which is a cosmological analogue of the first Bartnik-McKinnon solution in the presence of fermions.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX 2

Characteristic Dynkin diagrams and W-algebras

We present a classification of characteristic Dynkin diagrams for the $A_N$, $B_N$, $C_N$ and $D_N$ algebras. This classification is related to the classification of \cw(\cg,\ck) algebras arising from non-Abelian Toda models, and we argue that it can give new insight on the structure of $W$ algebras.Comment: 20 page

SU(5) grand unification on a domain-wall brane from an E_6-invariant action

An SU(5) grand unification scheme for effective 3+1-dimensional fields dynamically localised on a domain-wall brane is constructed. This is achieved through the confluence of the clash-of-symmetries mechanism for symmetry breaking through domain-wall formation, and the Dvali-Shifman gauge-boson localisation idea. It requires an E_6 gauge-invariant action, yielding a domain-wall solution that has E_6 broken to differently embedded SO(10) x U(1) subgroups in the two bulk regions on opposite sides of the wall. On the wall itself, the unbroken symmetry is the intersection of the two bulk subgroups, and contains SU(5). A 4+1-dimensional fermion family in the 27 of E_6 gives rise to localised left-handed zero-modes in the 5^* + 10 + 1 + 1 representation of SU(5). The remaining ten fermion components of the 27 are delocalised exotic states, not appearing in the effective 3+1-dimensional theory on the domain-wall brane. The scheme is compatible with the type-2 Randall-Sundrum mechanism for graviton localisation; the single extra dimension is infinite.Comment: 21 pages, 9 figures. Minor changes to text and references. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Quantum simulations under translational symmetry

We investigate the power of quantum systems for the simulation of Hamiltonian time evolutions on a cubic lattice under the constraint of translational invariance. Given a set of translationally invariant local Hamiltonians and short range interactions we determine time evolutions which can and those that can not be simulated. Whereas for general spin systems no finite universal set of generating interactions is shown to exist, universality turns out to be generic for quadratic bosonic and fermionic nearest-neighbor interactions when supplemented by all translationally invariant on-site Hamiltonians.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, references added, minor change

Oxidation = group theory

Dimensional reduction of theories involving (super-)gravity gives rise to sigma models on coset spaces of the form G/H, with G a non-compact group, and H its maximal compact subgroup. The reverse process, called oxidation, is the reconstruction of the possible higher dimensional theories, given the lower dimensional theory. In 3 dimensions, all degrees of freedom can be dualized to scalars. Given the group G for a 3 dimensional sigma model on the coset G/H, we demonstrate an efficient method for recovering the higher dimensional theories, essentially by decomposition into subgroups. The equations of motion, Bianchi identities, Kaluza-Klein modifications and Chern-Simons terms are easily extracted from the root lattice of the group G. We briefly discuss some aspects of oxidation from the E_{8(8)}/SO(16) coset, and demonstrate that our formalism reproduces the Chern-Simons term of 11-d supergravity, knows about the T-duality of IIA and IIB theory, and easily deals with self-dual tensors, like the 5-tensor of IIB supergravity.Comment: LaTeX, 8 pages, uses IOP style files; Talk given at the RTN workshop ``The quantum structure of spacetime and the geometric nature of fundamental interactions'', Leuven, September 200

Brownian Motions on Metric Graphs

Brownian motions on a metric graph are defined. Their generators are characterized as Laplace operators subject to Wentzell boundary at every vertex. Conversely, given a set of Wentzell boundary conditions at the vertices of a metric graph, a Brownian motion is constructed pathwise on this graph so that its generator satisfies the given boundary conditions.Comment: 43 pages, 7 figures. 2nd revision of our article 1102.4937: The introduction has been modified, several references were added. This article will appear in the special issue of Journal of Mathematical Physics celebrating Elliott Lieb's 80th birthda