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/10.1088/1126-6708/2008/04/011

Additional details

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