Exploring the Moduli Space of (0,2) Strings

We use an exactly solvable (0,2) supersymmetric conformal field theory with gauge group SO(10) to investigate the superpotential of the corresponding classical string vacuum. We provide evidence that the rational point lies in the Landau-Ginzburg phase of the linear sigma-model and calculate exactly all three- and four-point functions of the gauge singlets. These couplings already put severe constraints on the possible flat directions of the superpotential. Finally, we contemplate about the flat direction related to Kahler deformations of the underlying linear sigma-model.Comment: 19 pages, plain TeX, 2 postscript figures, epsf include

D-Branes in Landau-Ginzburg Models and Algebraic Geometry

We study topological D-branes of type B in N=2 Landau-Ginzburg models, focusing on the case where all vacua have a mass gap. In general, tree-level topological string theory in the presence of topological D-branes is described mathematically in terms of a triangulated category. For example, it has been argued that B-branes for an N=2 sigma-model with a Calabi-Yau target space are described by the derived category of coherent sheaves on this space. M. Kontsevich previously proposed a candidate category for B-branes in N=2 Landau-Ginzburg models, and our computations confirm this proposal. We also give a heuristic physical derivation of the proposal. Assuming its validity, we can completely describe the category of B-branes in an arbitrary massive Landau-Ginzburg model in terms of modules over a Clifford algebra. Assuming in addition Homological Mirror Symmetry, our results enable one to compute the Fukaya category for a large class of Fano varieties. We also provide a (somewhat trivial) counter-example to the hypothesis that given a closed string background there is a unique set of D-branes consistent with it.Comment: 51 pages, AMS latex; two eps figures. v2: a physical derivation of Kontsevich's proposal is give

Single State Supermultiplet in 1+1 Dimensions

We consider multiplet shortening for BPS solitons in N=1 two-dimensional models. Examples of the single-state multiplets were established previously in N=1 Landau-Ginzburg models. The shortening comes at a price of loosing the fermion parity $(-1)^F$ due to boundary effects. This implies the disappearance of the boson-fermion classification resulting in abnormal statistics. We discuss an appropriate index that counts such short multiplets. A broad class of hybrid models which extend the Landau-Ginzburg models to include a nonflat metric on the target space is considered. Our index turns out to be related to the index of the Dirac operator on the soliton reduced moduli space (the moduli space is reduced by factoring out the translational modulus). The index vanishes in most cases implying the absence of shortening. In particular, it vanishes when there are only two critical points on the compact target space and the reduced moduli space has nonvanishing dimension. We also generalize the anomaly in the central charge to take into account the target space metric.Comment: LaTex, 42 pages, no figures. Contribution to the Michael Marinov Memorial Volume, ``Multiple facets of quantization and supersymmetry'' (eds. M.Olshanetsky and A. Vainshtein, to be publish by World Scientific). The paper is drastically revised compared to the first version. We add sections treating the following issues: (i) a new index counting one-state supermultiplets; (ii) analysis of hybrid models of general type; (iii) generalization of the anomaly in the central charge accounting for the target space metri

N=2 Boundary conditions for non-linear sigma models and Landau-Ginzburg models

We study N=2 nonlinear two dimensional sigma models with boundaries and their massive generalizations (the Landau-Ginzburg models). These models are defined over either Kahler or bihermitian target space manifolds. We determine the most general local N=2 superconformal boundary conditions (D-branes) for these sigma models. In the Kahler case we reproduce the known results in a systematic fashion including interesting results concerning the coisotropic A-type branes. We further analyse the N=2 superconformal boundary conditions for sigma models defined over a bihermitian manifold with torsion. We interpret the boundary conditions in terms of different types of submanifolds of the target space. We point out how the open sigma models correspond to new types of target space geometry. For the massive Landau-Ginzburg models (both Kahler and bihermitian) we discuss an important class of supersymmetric boundary conditions which admits a nice geometrical interpretation.Comment: 48 pages, latex, references and minor comments added, the version to appear in JHE

3D two-color QCD at finite temperature and baryon density

We study the phase diagram for two-color QCD in three-dimensional spacetime, as a function of temperature and baryon chemical potential, using the low-energy effective Lagrangian approach. We show one-loop renormalizability at zero temperature, and then use the one-loop effective Lagrangian at finite temperature and chemical potential to show that at low temperature there is a critical line separating the normal and diquark phase, with this critical line ending at a tricritical point. This phase structure is qualitatively similar to that found recently by Splittorff et al for two-color QCD in four-dimensional spacetime, although the details are quite different, due to the different symmetries and the different loop and infrared properties of three-dimensional spacetime.Comment: 14 pp, 1 fi

Matrix Factorizations and Kauffman Homology

The topological string interpretation of homological knot invariants has led to several insights into the structure of the theory in the case of sl(N). We study possible extensions of the matrix factorization approach to knot homology for other Lie groups and representations. In particular, we introduce a new triply graded theory categorifying the Kauffman polynomial, test it, and predict the Kauffman homology for several simple knots.Comment: 45 pages, harvma