We describe a class of holographic models that may the physics certain four-dimensional big-bang / big-crunch cosmologies. The construction involves pair 3D Euclidean CFTs each on homogeneous and isotropic space $M$ coupled at either end an interval ${\cal I}$ to 4D CFT $M \times {\cal with many fewer local degrees freedom. argue in some cases, when size is much greater than length I}$, theory ...

We propose to use the different kinds of vacua of the gauge theories coupled to matter as a laboratory to test confinement ideas of pure Yang-Mills theories. In particular, the very poor overlap of the Wilson loop with the broken string states supports the 't Hooft and Mandelstam confinement criteria. However in the Z2 gauge-Higgs model we use as a guide we find that the condensation of monopol...

The infrared behavior of Yang-Mills theory at finite temperature provides access to the role of confinement. In this review recent results on this topic from lattice calculations and especially Dyson–Schwinger studies are discussed. These indicate persistence of a residual confinement even in the high–temperature phase. The confinement mechanism is very similar to the one in the vacuum for the ...

We analyze the effect of carrier confinement on the charge-transport properties of organic field-effect transistors. Confinement is achieved experimentally by the use of semiconductors of which the active layer is only one molecule thick. The two-dimensional confinement of charge carriers provides access to a previously unexplored charge-transport regime and is reflected by a reduced temperatur...

The confinement of a nonneutral plasma in a magnetic-surface, or stellarator, configuration is explored. The fluid equilibrium equations are derived and are found to be fundamentally different from previous results. Diocotron modes are predicted to be stable. The collisional confinement time can be very long. Possible applications include positron trapping and confinement of positron-electron p...