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We study non-perturbative effects in supersymmetric U(N) gauge theories in eight dimensions realized by means of D(-1)/D7-brane systems with non-trivial world-volume fluxes turned on. Using an explicit string construction in terms of vertex operators, we derive the action for the open strings ending on the D(-1)-branes and exhibit its BRST structure. The space of vacua for these open strings is shown to be in correspondence with the moduli space of generalized ADHM gauge connections which trigger the non-perturbative corrections in the eight-dimensional theory. These corrections are computed via localization and turn out to depend on the curved background used to localize the integrals on the instanton moduli space, and vanish in flat space. Finally, we show that for specific choices of the background the instanton partition functions reduce to weighted sums of the solid partitions of the integers., Comment: 43 pages, 1 figure; typos fixed, matches the published version

We investigate epsilon-deformed N=2 superconformal gauge theories in four dimensions, focusing on the N=2* and Nf=4 SU(2) cases. We show how the modular anomaly equation obeyed by the deformed prepotential can be efficiently used to derive its non-perturbative expression starting from the perturbative one. We also show that the modular anomaly equation implies that S-duality is implemented by means of an exact Fourier transform even for arbitrary values of the deformation parameters, and then we argue that it is possible, perturbatively in the deformation, to choose appropriate variables such that it reduces to a Legendre transform., Comment: 30 pages, LeTeX2e. V2: references added, appendix B expanded, a few typos corrected

The role played by Deligne-Beilinson cohomology in establishing the relation between Chern-Simons theory and link invariants in dimensions higher than three is investigated. Deligne-Beilinson cohomology classes provide a natural abelian Chern-Simons action, non trivial only in dimensions $4l+3$, whose parameter $k$ is quantized. The generalized Wilson $(2l+1)$-loops are observables of the theory and their charges are quantized. The Chern-Simons action is then used to compute invariants for links of $(2l+1)$-loops, first on closed $(4l+3)$-manifolds through a novel geometric computation, then on $\mathbb{R}^{4l+3}$ through an unconventional field theoretic computation., Comment: 40 pages

Using the form of N=2 superconformal invariants we derive the explicit relation between the bottom and top components of the correlator of four stress-tensor multiplets in N=4 Super Yang-Mills. The result is given in terms of an eighth order differential operator acting on the function of two variables which characterises these correlators. It allows us to show a non-trivial consistency relation between the known results for the corresponding supergravity amplitudes on AdS5., Comment: 11 pages

We derive the classical type IIB supergravity solution describing fractional D3-branes transverse to a C^2/Gamma orbifold singularity, for Gamma any Kleinian ADE subgroup. This solution fully describes the N=2 gauge theory with appropriate gauge groups and matter living on the branes, up to non-perturbative instanton contributions., Comment: Latex, 6 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the RTN meeting ``The Quantum Structure of Spacetime and the Geometric Nature of Fundamental Interactions'', (Corfu, September 2001)

We investigate the classical geometry corresponding to a collection of fractional D3 branes in the orbifold limit of an ALE space. We discuss its interpretation in terms of the world-volume gauge theory on the branes, which is in general a non conformal N=2 Yang-Mills theory with matter. The twisted fields reproduce the perturbative behaviour of the gauge theory. We regulate the IR singularities for both twisted and untwisted fields by means of an enhancon mechanism qualitatively consistent with the gauge theory expectations. The five-form flux decreases logarithmically towards the IR with a coefficient dictated by the gauge theory beta-functions., Comment: LaTeX 2e, 27 pages, 4 figures

We review the boundary state description of D-branes in type I string theory and show that the only stable non-BPS configurations are the D-particle and the D-instanton. We also compute the gauge and gravitational interactions of the non-BPS D-particles and compare them with the interactions of the dual non-BPS states of the heterotic string, finding complete agreement., Comment: 8 pages, no figures, needs buckow.sty, contribution to the proceedings of the workshop "The quantum structure of spacetime and the geometric nature of fundamental interactions", Berlin, october 2000 Some references added

We review the boundary state description of the non-BPS D-branes in the type I string theory and show that the only stable configurations are the D-particle and the D-instanton. We also compute the gauge and gravitational interactions of the non-BPS D-particles and compare them with the interactions of the dual non-BPS particles of the heterotic string finding complete agreement. In this way we provide further dynamical evidence of the heterotic/type I duality., Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure.eps, JHEP.cls, talk given by A. Lerda at the TMR Conference "Quantum aspects of gauge theories, supersymmetry and unification", Paris, September 1999

We study the gauge and gravitational interactions of the stable non-BPS D-particles of the type I string theory. The gravitational interactions are obtained using the boundary state formalism while the SO(32) gauge interactions are determined by evaluating disk diagrams with suitable insertions of boundary changing (or twist) operators. In particular the gauge coupling of a D-particle is obtained from a disk with two boundary components produced by the insertion of two twist operators. We also compare our results with the amplitudes among the non-BPS states of the heterotic string which are dual to the D-particles. After taking into account the known duality and renormalization effects, we find perfect agreement, thus confirming at a non-BPS level the expectations based on the heterotic/type I duality., Comment: LaTeX File, 29 pages, 3 figures, two references added. Final version to be published in Nucl. Phys. B

A N=4 supersymmetric matrix KP hierarchy is proposed and a wide class of its reductions which are characterized by a finite number of fields are described. This class includes the one-dimensional reduction of the two-dimensional N=(2|2) superconformal Toda lattice hierarchy possessing the N=4 supersymmetry -- the N=4 Toda chain hierarchy -- which may be relevant in the construction of supersymmetric matrix models. The Lax pair representations of the bosonic and fermionic flows, corresponding local and nonlocal Hamiltonians, finite and infinite discrete symmetries, the first two Hamiltonian structures and the recursion operator connecting all evolution equations and the Hamiltonian structures of the N=4 Toda chain hierarchy are constructed in explicit form. Its secondary reduction to the N=2 supersymmetric alpha=-2 KdV hierarchy is discussed., Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX, a few misprints corrected

We use the boundary state formalism to study, from the closed string point of view, superpositions of branes and anti-branes which are relevant in some non-perturbative string dualities. Treating the tachyon instability of these systems as proposed by A. Sen, we show how to incorporate the effects of the tachyon condensation directly in the boundary state. In this way we manage to show explicitly that the D1 -- anti-D1 pair of Type I is a stable non-BPS D-particle, and compute its mass. We also generalize this construction to describe other non-BPS D-branes of Type I. By requiring the absence of tachyons in the open string spectrum, we find which configurations are stable and compute their tensions. Our classification is in complete agreement with the results recently obtained using the K-theory of space-time., Comment: 31 pages, plain LaTeX, final version to be published in Nucl. Phys. B

We propose a hamiltonian formulation of the $N=2$ supersymmetric KP type hierarchy recently studied by Krivonos and Sorin. We obtain a quadratic hamiltonian structure which allows for several reductions of the KP type hierarchy. In particular, the third family of $N=2$ KdV hierarchies is recovered. We also give an easy construction of Wronskian solutions of the KP and KdV type equations.

The Drinfeld-Sokolov construction of integrable hierarchies, as well as its generalizations, may be extended to the case of loop superalgebras. A sufficient condition on the algebraic data for the resulting hierarchy to be invariant under supersymmetry transformation is given. The method used is a construction of the hierarchies in superspace, where supersymmetry is manifest. Several examples are discussed., Comment: 25 pages, LaTeX file

Subject to some conditions, the input data for the Drinfeld-Sokolov construction of KdV type hierarchies is a quadruplet $(\A,\Lambda, d_1, d_0)$, where the $d_i$ are $\Z$-gradations of a loop algebra $\A$ and $\Lambda\in \A$ is a semisimple element of nonzero $d_1$-grade. A new sufficient condition on the quadruplet under which the construction works is proposed and examples are presented. The proposal relies on splitting the $d_1$-grade zero part of $\A$ into a vector space direct sum of two subalgebras. This permits one to interpret certain Gelfand-Dickey type systems associated with a nonstandard splitting of the algebra of pseudo-differential operators in the Drinfeld-Sokolov framework., Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX file

We present a new integrable extension of the a=-2, N=2 SKdV hierarchy, with the "small" N=4 superconformal algebra (SCA) as the second hamiltonian structure. As distinct from the previously known N=4 supersymmetric KdV hierarchy associated with the same N=4 SCA, the new system respects only N=2 rigid supersymmetry. We give for it both matrix and scalar Lax formulations and consider its various integrable reductions which complete the list of known SKdV systems with the N=2 SCA as the second hamiltonian structure. We construct a generalized Miura transformation which relates our system to the $\alpha = -2$, N=2 super Boussinesq hierarchy and, respectively, the ``small'' N=4 SCA to the N=2 W_3 superalgebra., Comment: 13 pages, LaTeX file, minor mistakes and misprints corrected

We give the formulation in extended superspace of an $N=2$ supersymmetric KP hierarchy using chirality preserving pseudo-differential operators. We obtain two quadratic hamiltonian structures, which lead to different reductions of the KP hierarchy. In particular we find two different hierarchies with the $N=2$ classical super-${\cal W}_n$ algebra as a hamiltonian structure. The relation with the formulation in $N=1$ superspace is carried out., Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX file, important reference added