Scientific Series

During multi-field Inflation, the curvature perturbation can evovlve on superhorizon scales and will develop non-gaussianity due to non-linear interactions. In this talk I will discuss the calculation of this effect for models of inflation with two scalar fields.

We argue that four-dimensional quantum gravity may be essentially renormalizable provided one relaxes the assumption of metricity of the theory. We work with Plebanski formulation of general relativity in which the metric (tetrad), the connection as well as the curvature are all independent variables and the usual relations among these quantities are only on-shell. One of the Euler-Lagrange equations of this theory guarantees its metricity. We show that quantum corrections generate a counterterm that destroys this metricity property, and that there are no other counterterms, at least at the one-loop level. There is a new coupling constant that controls the non-metric character of the theory. Its beta-function can be computed and is negative, which shows that the non-metricity becomes important in the infra red. The new IR-relevant term in the action is akin to a curvature dependent cosmological ``constant\'\' and may provide a mechanism for naturally small ``dark energy\'\'.

We explore the role of rotational symmetry of quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols in their security. Specifically, in the first part of the talk, we consider a generalized QKD protocol with discrete rotational symmetry. Note that, before our work, each QKD protocol seems to have a different security proof. Given that the techniques of those proofs are similar, it will be interesting to have a unified proof for QKD protocols with symmetry (e.g., the BB84 protocol and the SARG04 protocol). This is exactly what we achieve in our work. We show that rotational symmetry plays an important role in the unified security proof of QKD protocols with symmetry, leading to simple and structural security relations. In the second part, we consider a QKD protocol that does not possess rotational symmetry and analyze its security. Interestingly, even without any rotational symmetry, this protocol can still be proven secure. However, the security relation is not as simple as those in the first part, due to the lack of symmetry. Therefore, although rotational symmetry is not required in a QKD protocol to ensure its security, rotational symmetry does provide significant simplification in the security analysis, leading to simple security relations.

A nonrotating black hole placed in a tidal environment (that is, subjected to the gravitational interactions produced by other nearby bodies) is not described by the Schwarzschild solution to the Einstein field equations. Instead, its metric is given by a perturbed version of this exact solution, and the spacetime is no longer stationary nor spherically symmetric. After reviewing the situation in Newtonian theory, I shall describe how the metric of a tidally distorted black hole is calculated. Special attention will be placed on the general description of the tidal environment, the choice of a good coordinate system to describe the perturbed black hole, and the consequences on the structure of the event horizon

Modified gravity models seem to have classical instabilities, ghosts degrees of freedom and superluminal modes. Besides these constraints new dynamical bounds have found to be typical of these models. The cosmological nature of all these constraints is discussed.

Existence of dark energy and nonzero nu mass are two most exciting discoveries of recent years. More excitingly, the similarity between the energy scales of these two raise the question: "Are they related?" I will explore how such connection could be there in nature and its cosmological consequences mainly in structure formation.

The exact boundary states for the rolling D-brane solution in two-dimensional black hole systems will be presented.I will study the physical significance of the solution in relation to the ``tachyon-radion correspondence\" and the ``black hole - string transition\". When the alpha\' corrections become larger, when at the same time the Hawking temperature coincide with the Hagedorn temperature, the phase transition occurs and the physics changes drastically. It also suggests the universal feature of the decaying D-brane and its failure in the strong quantum regime. The talk is based on my series of works hep-th/0605013, hep-th/0507040 in collaboration with Soo-jong Rey (SNU) and Yuji Sugawara (Tokyo).

We have previously isolated and characterized a multipotent precursor cell (termed SKPs for SKin-derived Precursors) from both rodent and human skin, and have shown that these stem cells share many characteristics with a multipotent stem cell that is found in the embryo termed a neural crest stem cell. Here I will discuss our current work with regard to the basic biology of these stem cells, with a focus on the “what, where and why”, and on their therapeutic potential with specific regard to the nervous system.