Conformal field theory construction for nonabelian hierarchy wave functions

The fractional quantum Hall effect is the paradigmatic example of topologically ordered phases. One of its most fascinating aspects is the large variety of different topological orders that may be realized, in particular nonabelian ones. Here we analyze a class of nonabelian fractional quantum Hall model states which are generalizations of the abelian Haldane-Halperin hierarchy. We derive their topological properties and show that the quasiparticles obey nonabelian fusion rules of type su(q)_k. For a subset of these states we are able to derive the conformal field theory description that makes the topological properties - in particular braiding - of the state manifest. The model states we study provide explicit wave functions for a large variety of interesting topological orders, which may be relevant for certain fractional quantum Hall states observed in the first excited Landau level.Comment: extended introduction, added reference

D-brane effective action and tachyon condensation in topological minimal models

We study D-brane moduli spaces and tachyon condensation in B-type topological minimal models and their massive deformations. We show that any B-type brane is isomorphic with a direct sum of `minimal' branes, and that its moduli space is stratified according to the type of such decompositions. Using the Landau-Ginzburg formulation, we propose a closed formula for the effective deformation potential, defined as the generating function of tree-level open string amplitudes in the presence of D-branes. This provides a direct link to the categorical description, and can be formulated in terms of holomorphic matrix models. We also check that the critical locus of this potential reproduces the D-branes' moduli space as expected from general considerations. Using these tools, we perform a detailed analysis of a few examples, for which we obtain a complete algebro-geometric description of moduli spaces and strata.Comment: 36 page

N=2 higher-derivative couplings from strings

We consider the Calabi-Yau reduction of the Type IIA eight derivative one-loop stringy corrections focusing on the couplings of the four dimensional gravity multiplet with vector multiplets and a tensor multiplet containing the NS two-form. We obtain a variety of higher derivative invariants generalising the one-loop topological string coupling, $F_1$, controlled by the lowest order Kahler potential and two new non-topological quantities built out of the Calabi-Yau Riemann curvature.Comment: 43 page

Geometric Langlands Twists of N = 4 Gauge Theory from Derived Algebraic Geometry

We develop techniques for describing the derived moduli spaces of solutions to the equations of motion in twists of supersymmetric gauge theories as derived algebraic stacks. We introduce a holomorphic twist of N=4 supersymmetric gauge theory and compute the derived moduli space. We then compute the moduli spaces for the Kapustin-Witten topological twists as its further twists. The resulting spaces for the A- and B-twist are closely related to the de Rham stack of the moduli space of algebraic bundles and the de Rham moduli space of flat bundles, respectively. In particular, we find the unexpected result that the moduli spaces following a topological twist need not be entirely topological, but can continue to capture subtle algebraic structures of interest for the geometric Langlands program.Comment: 55 pages; minor correction

Equivariant semi-topological K-homology and a theorem of Thomason

We generalize several comparison results between algebraic, semi-topological and topological K-theories to the equivariant case with respect to a finite group.Comment: Corrects error found by referee in Theorem 4.1. Final version, to appear in J. of K-theor

On Classification of QCD defects via holography

We discuss classification of defects of various codimensions within a holographic model of pure Yang-Mills theories or gauge theories with fundamental matter. We focus on their role below and above the phase transition point as well as their weights in the partition function. The general result is that objects which are stable and heavy in one phase are becoming very light (tensionless) in the other phase. We argue that the $\theta$ dependence of the partition function drastically changes at the phase transition point, and therefore it correlates with stability properties of configurations. Some possible applications for study the QCD vacuum properties above and below phase transition are also discussed.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figure