We construct maximal supergravity in four dimensions with local scaling symmetry as deformation of the original Cremmer-Julia theory. The different theories which include the standard gaugings are parametrized by an embedding tensor carrying 56 + 912 parameters. We determine the form of the possible gauge groups and work out the complete set of field equations. As a result we obtain the most general couplings compatible with N = 8 supersymmetry in four dimensions. A particular feature of these theories is the absence of an action and an additional positive contribution to the effective cosmological constant. Moreover, these gaugings are generically dyonic, i.e. involve simultaneously electric and magnetic vector fields.

We present a systematic account of supergravity theories in which the global scaling symmetry is gauged. This generalizes the standard gaugings of non-abelian off-shell symmetries. A particular feature of these theories is an additional positive contribution to the effective cosmological constant. As the scaling symmetry is an on-shell symmetry, the resulting gaugings do no longer possess an action. We develop the algebraic framework for the maximal theories in various dimensions and construct explicit solutions to the algebraic consistency constraints — related to “pure-spinor-like” structures for the exceptional groups. As an example, we explicitly work out the modified supersymmetry transformation rules and equations of motion in three dimensions. Finally, we speculate about the role of these theories from the perspective of very extended Kac–Moody algebras.

Submitted for the MAR07 Meeting of The American Physical Society Cavity QED in the mesoscopic regime PASCAL DEGIOVANNI, ENS Lyon and Boston University, VALENTIN BONZOM, HICHEM BOUZIDI, ARNAUD LE DIFFON, CLEMENT RUEF, ENS Lyon, TRISTAN MEUNIER, Kavli Institute for Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, JEAN-MICHEL RAIMOND, Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Ecole Normale Supérieure — We report on a recent study of the behavior of N atoms resonantly coupled to a single electromagnetic field mode sustained by a high-Q cavity, containing a mesoscopic coherent field. Using a simple effective Hamiltonian model, we show that the strong coupling between the cavity and N atoms/qubits produces an atom-field entangled state, involving N+1 nearly coherent components slowly rotating at different paces in the phase plane. The periodic overlap of these components results in a complex collapse and revival pattern for the Rabi oscillation. Decoherence induced by cavity relaxation, qubit relaxation and dephasing are taken into account. We propose a simple model based on the stochastic quantum trajectories approach. Its results are successfully compared to numerical simulations. Explicit predictions for Rydberg atoms and circuit QED experiments are obtained and suggest that these effects may be observable in the near future. Pascal Degiovanni ENS Lyon and Boston University Date submitted: 05 Dec 2006 Electronic form version 1.4

We investigate the behavior of N atoms resonantly coupled to a single electromagnetic field mode sustained by a high quality cavity, containing a mesoscopic coherent field. We show with a simple effective Hamiltonian model that the strong coupling between the cavity and the atoms produces an atom-field entangled state, involving N+1 nearly coherent components slowly rotating at different paces in the phase plane. The periodic overlap of these components results in a complex collapse and revival pattern for the Rabi oscillation. We study the influence of decoherence due to the finite cavity quality factor. We propose a simple analytical model, based on the Monte Carlo approach to relaxation. We compare its predictions with exact calculations and show that these interesting effects could realistically be observed on a two or three atoms sample in a 15 photon field with circular Rydberg atoms and superconducting cavities.