Published April 2008
| Version v1
Journal article
Quantum foam and topological strings
- 1. Jefferson Physical Laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 (United States)
- 2. Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques, Bures-sur-Yvette, F-91440 (France)
- 3. Department of Mathematics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 (United States)
Description
We find an interpretation of the recent connection found between topological strings on Calabi-Yau threefolds and crystal melting: Summing over statistical mechanical configuration of melting crystal is equivalent to a quantum gravitational path integral involving fluctuations of Kaehler geometry and topology. We show how the limit shape of the melting crystal emerges as the average geometry and topology of the quantum foam at the string scale. The geometry is classical at large length scales, modified to a smooth limit shape dictated by mirror geometry at string scale and is a quantum foam at area scales ∼ gsα'
Availability note (English)
Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1126-6708/2008/04/011Additional details
Identifiers
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Journal of High Energy Physics
- Journal Volume
- 04
- Journal Issue
- 2008
- Journal Page Range
- p. 011
- ISSN
- 1126-6708
INIS
- Country of Publication
- Italy
- Country of Input or Organization
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- INIS RN
- 40071718
- Subject category
- S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
- Descriptors DEI
- CRYSTALS; GEOMETRY; MELTING; PATH INTEGRALS; QUANTUM MECHANICS; STRING THEORY; TOPOLOGY
- Descriptors DEC
- INTEGRALS; M-THEORY; MATHEMATICS; MECHANICS; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS