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V. Mathai

Publications and source records attributed to V. Mathai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2020

Kinematics and dynamics of freely rising spheroids at high Reynolds numbers

We experimentally investigate the effect of geometrical anisotropy for buoyant ellipsoidal particles rising in a still fluid. All other parameters, such as the Galileo number $Ga \approx 6000$ and the particle density ratio $\Gamma \approx 0.53$ are kept constant. The geometrical aspect ratio, $\chi$, of the particle is varied systematically from $\chi$ = 0.2 (oblate) to 5 (prolate). Based on tracking all degrees of particle motion, we identify six regimes characterised by distinct rise dynamics. Firstly, for $0.83 \le \chi \le 1.20$, increased rotational dynamics are observed and the particle flips over semi-regularly in a "tumbling"-like motion. Secondly, for oblate particles with $0.29 \le \chi \le 0.75$, planar regular "zig-zag" motion is observed, where the drag coefficient is independent of $\chi$. Thirdly, for the most extreme oblate geometries ($\chi \le 0.25$) a "flutter"-like behaviour is found, characterised by precession of the oscillation plane and an increase in the drag coefficient. For prolate geometries, we observed two coexisting oscillation modes that contribute to complex trajectories: the first is related to oscillations of the pointing vector and the second corresponds to a motion perpendicular to the particle's symmetry axis. We identify a "longitudinal" regime ($1.33 \le \chi \le 2.5$), where both modes are active and a different one, the "broadside"-regime ($3 \le \chi\le 4$), where only the second mode is present. Remarkably, for the most prolate particles ($\chi = 5$), we observe an entirely different "helical" rise with completely unique features.

physics.flu-dyn↗
arXiv2017

T-duality in an H-flux: exchange of momentum and winding

Using our earlier proposal for Ramond-Ramond fields in an H-flux on loop space, we extend the Hori isomorphism of Bouwknegt-Evslin-Mathai from invariant differential forms, to invariant exotic differential forms such that the momentum and winding numbers are exchanged, filling in a gap in the literature. We also extend the compatibility of the action of invariant exact Courant algebroids on the T-duality isomorphism of Cavalcanti-Gualtieri, to the T-duality isomorphism on exotic invariant differential forms.

hep-th↗
arXiv2014

Spherical T-Duality

We introduce spherical T-duality, which relates pairs of the form $(P,H)$ consisting of a principal $SU(2)$-bundle $P\rightarrow M$ and a 7-cocycle $H$ on $P$. Intuitively spherical T-duality exchanges $H$ with the second Chern class $c_2(P)$. Unless $dim(M)\leq 4$, not all pairs admit spherical T-duals and the spherical T-duals are not always unique. Nonetheless, we prove that all spherical T-dualities induce a degree-shifting isomorphism on the 7-twisted cohomologies of the bundles and, when $dim(M)\leq 7$, also their integral twisted cohomologies and, when $dim(M)\leq 4$, even their 7-twisted K-theories. While spherical T-duality does not appear to relate equivalent string theories, it does provide an identification between conserved charges in certain distinct IIB supergravity and string compactifications.

hep-th↗
arXiv2010

Nonassociative strict deformation quantization of C*-algebras and nonassociative torus bundles

In this paper, we initiate the study of nonassociative strict deformation quantization of C*-algebras with a torus action. We shall also present a definition of nonassociative principal torus bundles, and give a classification of these as nonassociative strict deformation quantization of ordinary principal torus bundles. We then relate this to T-duality of principal torus bundles with $H$-flux. We also show that the Octonions fit nicely into our theory.

math.QA↗
arXiv2010

Parametrised strict deformation quantization of C*-bundles and Hilbert C*-modules

In this paper, we use the parametrised strict deformation quantization of C*-bundles obtained in a previous paper, and give more examples and applications of this theory. In particular, it is used here to classify H_3-twisted noncommutative torus bundles over a locally compact space. This is extended to the case of general torus bundles and their parametrised strict deformation quantization. Rieffel's basic construction of an algebra deformation can be mimicked to deform a monoidal category, which deforms not only algebras but also modules. As a special case, we consider the parametrised strict deformation quantization of Hilbert C*-modules over C*-bundles with fibrewise torus action.

math.QA↗
arXiv2008

The index of projective families of elliptic operators: the decomposable case

An index theory for projective families of elliptic pseudodifferential operators is developed when the twisting, i.e. Dixmier-Douady, class is decomposable. One of the features of this special case is that the corresponding Azumaya bundle can be realized in terms of smoothing operators. The topological and the analytic index of a projective family of elliptic operators both take values in the twisted K-theory of the parameterizing space. The main result is the equality of these two notions of index. The twisted Chern character of the index class is then computed by a variant of Chern-Weil theory.

math.DG↗
arXiv2007

D-branes, KK-theory and duality on noncommutative spaces

We present a new categorical classification framework for D-brane charges on noncommutative manifolds using methods of bivariant K-theory. We describe several applications including an explicit formula for D-brane charge in cyclic homology, a refinement of open string T-duality, and a general criterion for cancellation of global worldsheet anomalies.

hep-th↗
arXiv2007

C*-algebras in tensor categories

We define and systematically study nonassociative C*-algebras as C*-algebras internal to a topological tensor category. We also offer a concrete approach to these C*-algebras, as G-invariant, norm closed *-subalgebras of bounded operators on a G-Hilbert space, with deformed composition product. Our central results are those of stabilization and Takai duality for (twisted) crossed products in this context.

math.QA↗
arXiv2006

Flux Compactifications on Projective Spaces and The S-Duality Puzzle

We derive a formula for D3-brane charge on a compact spacetime, which includes torsion corrections to the tadpole cancellation condition. We use this to classify D-branes and RR fluxes in type II string theory on RP^3xRP^{2k+1}xS^{6-2k} with torsion H-flux and to demonstrate the conjectured T-duality to S^3xS^{2k+1}xS^{6-2k} with no flux. When k=1, H\neq 0 and so the K-theory that classifies fluxes is twisted. When k=2 the square of the H-flux yields an S-dual Freed-Witten anomaly which is canceled by a D3-brane insertion that ruins the K-theory classification. When k=3 the cube of H is nontrivial and so the D3 insertion may itself be inconsistent and the compactification unphysical. Along the way we provide a physical interpretation for the AHSS in terms of boundaries of branes within branes.

hep-th↗
arXiv2005

Quantum Hall Effect and Noncommutative Geometry

We study magnetic Schrodinger operators with random or almost periodic electric potentials on the hyperbolic plane, motivated by the quantum Hall effect in which the hyperbolic geometry provides an effective Hamiltonian. In addition we add some refinements to earlier results. We derive an analogue of the Connes-Kubo formula for the Hall conductance via the quantum adiabatic theorem, identifying it as a geometric invariant associated to an algebra of observables that turns out to be a crossed product algebra. We modify the Fredholm modules defined in [CHMM] in order to prove the integrality of the Hall conductance in this case.

math.OA↗
arXiv2005

Arithmetic properties of eigenvalues of generalized Harper operators on graphs

Let $\Qbar$ denote the field of complex algebraic numbers. A discrete group $G$ is said to have the $σ$-multiplier algebraic eigenvalue property, if for every matrix $A$ with entries in the twisted group ring over the complex algebraic numbers $M_d(\Qbar(G,σ))$, regarded as an operator on $l^2(G)^d$, the eigenvalues of $A$ are algebraic numbers, where $σ$ is an algebraic multiplier. Such operators include the Harper operator and the discrete magnetic Laplacian that occur in solid state physics. We prove that any finitely generated amenable, free or surface group has this property for any algebraic multiplier $σ$. In the special case when $σ$ is rational ($σ^n$=1 for some positive integer $n$) this property holds for a larger class of groups, containing free groups and amenable groups, and closed under taking directed unions and extensions with amenable quotients. Included in the paper are proofs of other spectral properties of such operators.

math.SP↗
arXiv2004

L^2 torsion without the determinant class condition and extended L^2 cohomology

We associate determinant lines to objects of the extended abelian category built out of a von Neumann category with a trace. Using this we suggest constructions of the combinatorial and the analytic L^2 torsions which, unlike the work of the previous authors, requires no additional assumptions; in particular we do not impose the determinant class condition. The resulting torsions are elements of the determinant line of the extended L^2 cohomology. Under the determinant class assumption the L^2 torsions of this paper specialize to the invariants studied in our previous work. Applying a recent theorem of D. Burghelea, L. Friedlander and T. Kappeler we obtain a Cheeger - Muller type theorem stating the equality between the combinatorial and the analytic L^2 torsions.

math.DG↗
arXiv2004

Equivalence of spectral projections in semiclassical limit and a vanishing theorem for higher traces in K-theory

In this paper, we study a refined L2 version of the semiclassical approximation of projectively invariant elliptic operators with invariant Morse type potentials on covering spaces of compact manifolds. We work on the level of spectral projections (and not just their traces) and obtain an information about classes of these projections in K-theory in the semiclassical limit as the coupling constant goes to zero. An important corollary is a vanishing theorem for the higher traces in cyclic cohomology for the spectral projections. This result is then applied to the quantum Hall effect. We also give a new proof that there are arbitrarily many gaps in the spectrum of the operators under consideration in the semiclassical limit.

math.DG↗
arXiv2004

Fractional analytic index

For a finite rank projective bundle over a compact manifold, so associated to a torsion, Dixmier-Douady, 3-class, w, on the manifold, we define the ring of differential operators `acting on sections of the projective bundle' in a formal sense. In particular, any oriented even-dimensional manifold carries a projective spin Dirac operator in this sense. More generally the corresponding space of pseudodifferential operators is defined, with supports sufficiently close to the diagonal, i.e. the identity relation. For such elliptic operators we define the numerical index in an essentially analytic way, as the trace of the commutator of the operator and a parametrix and show that this is homotopy invariant. Using the heat kernel method for the twisted, projective spin Dirac operator, we show that this index is given by the usual formula, now in terms of the twisted Chern character of the symbol, which in this case defines an element of K-theory twisted by w; hence the index is a rational number but in general it is not an integer.

math.DG↗
arXiv2003

Type I D-branes in an H-flux and twisted KO-theory

Witten has argued that charges of Type I D-branes in the presence of an H-flux, take values in twisted KO-theory. We begin with the study of real bundle gerbes and their holonomy. We then introduce the notion of real bundle gerbe KO-theory which we establish is a geometric realization of twisted KO-theory. We examine the relation with twisted K-theory, the Chern character and provide some examples. We conclude with some open problems.

hep-th↗
arXiv2003

T-Duality: Topology Change from H-flux

T-duality acts on circle bundles by exchanging the first Chern class with the fiberwise integral of the H-flux, as we motivate using E_8 and also using S-duality. We present known and new examples including NS5-branes, nilmanifolds, Lens spaces, both circle bundles over RP^n, and the AdS^5 x S^5 to AdS^5 x CP^2 x S^1 with background H-flux of Duff, Lu and Pope. When T-duality leads to M-theory on a non-spin manifold the gravitino partition function continues to exist due to the background flux, however the known quantization condition for G_4 fails. In a more general context, we use correspondence spaces to implement isomorphisms on the twisted K-theories and twisted cohomology theories and to study the corresponding Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch theorem. Interestingly, in the case of decomposable twists, both twisted theories admit fusion products and so are naturally rings.

hep-th↗
arXiv2001

Approximating Spectral invariants of Harper operators on graphs

We study Harper operators and the closely related discrete magnetic Laplacians (DML) on a graph with a free action of a discrete group, as defined by Sunada. A main result in this paper is that the spectral density function of DMLs associated to rational weight functions on graphs with a free action of an amenable discrete group, can be approximated by the average spectral density function of the DMLs on a regular exhaustion, with either Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. This then gives a criterion for the existence of gaps in the spectrum of the DML, as well as other interesting spectral properties of such DMLs. The technique used incorporates some results of algebraic number theory.

math.FA↗