Supersymmetry with non-geometric fluxes, or a beta-twist in Generalized Geometry and Dirac operator

We study ten-dimensional supersymmetric vacua with NSNS non-geometric fluxes, in the framework of \beta-supergravity. We first provide expressions for the fermionic supersymmetry variations. Specifying a compactification ansatz to four dimensions, we deduce internal Killing spinor equations. These supersymmetry conditions are then reformulated in terms of pure spinors, similarly to standard supergravity vacua admitting an SU(3)xSU(3) structure in Generalized Complex Geometry. The standard d-H acting on the pure spinors is traded for a generalized Dirac operator D, depending here on the non-geometric fluxes. Rewriting it with an exponential of the bivector \beta leads us to discuss the geometrical characterisation of the vacua in terms of a \beta-twist, in analogy to the standard twist by the b-field. Thanks to D, we also propose a general expression for the superpotential to be obtained from standard supergravities or \beta-supergravity, and verify its agreement with formulas of the literature. We finally comment on the Ramond-Ramond sector, and discuss a possible relation to intermediate or dynamical SU(2) structure solutions

T-duality in the weakly curved background

We consider the closed string propagating in the weakly curved background which consists of constant metric and Kalb-Ramond field with infinitesimally small coordinate dependent part. We propose the procedure for constructing the T-dual theory, performing T-duality transformations along coordinates on which the Kalb-Ramond field depends. The obtained theory is defined in the non-geometric double space, described by the Lagrange multiplier $y_\mu$ and its $T$-dual $\tilde{y}_\mu$. We apply the proposed T-duality procedure to the T-dual theory and obtain the initial one. We discuss the standard relations between T-dual theories that the equations of motion and momenta modes of one theory are the Bianchi identities and the winding modes of the other

Duality Invariant M-theory: Gauged supergravities and Scherk-Schwarz reductions

We consider the reduction of the duality invariant approach to M-theory by a U-duality group valued Scherk-Schwarz twist. The result is to produce potentials for gauged supergravities that are normally associated with non-geometric compactifications. The local symmetry reduces to gauge transformations with the gaugings exactly matching those of the embedding tensor approach to gauged supergravity. Importantly, this approach now includes a nontrivial dependence of the fields on the extra coordinates of the extended space.Comment: 22 pages Latex; v2: typos corrected and references adde

Novel Branches of (0,2) Theories

We show that recently proposed linear sigma models with torsion can be obtained from unconventional branches of conventional gauge theories. This observation puts models with log interactions on firm footing. If non-anomalous multiplets are integrated out, the resulting low-energy theory involves log interactions of neutral fields. For these cases, we find a sigma model geometry which is both non-toric and includes brane sources. These are heterotic sigma models with branes. Surprisingly, there are massive models with compact complex non-Kahler target spaces, which include brane/anti-brane sources. The simplest conformal models describe wrapped heterotic NS5-branes. We present examples of both types.Comment: 36 pages, LaTeX, 2 figures; typo in Appendix fixed; references added and additional minor change

Matrix theory origins of non-geometric fluxes

We explore the origins of non-geometric fluxes within the context of M theory described as a matrix model. Building upon compactifications of Matrix theory on non-commutative tori and twisted tori, we formulate the conditions which describe compactifications with non-geometric fluxes. These turn out to be related to certain deformations of tori with non-commutative and non-associative structures on their phase space. Quantization of flux appears as a natural consequence of the framework and leads to the resolution of non-associativity at the level of the unitary operators. The quantum-mechanical nature of the model bestows an important role on the phase space. In particular, the geometric and non-geometric fluxes exchange their properties when going from position space to momentum space thus providing a duality among the two. Moreover, the operations which connect solutions with different fluxes are described and their relation to T-duality is discussed. Finally, we provide some insights on the effective gauge theories obtained from these matrix compactifications.Comment: 1+31 pages, reference list update

Gauged Double Field Theory

We find necessary and sufficient conditions for gauge invariance of the action of Double Field Theory (DFT) as well as closure of the algebra of gauge symmetries. The so-called weak and strong constraints are sufficient to satisfy them, but not necessary. We then analyze compactifications of DFT on twisted double tori satisfying the consistency conditions. The effective theory is a Gauged DFT where the gaugings come from the duality twists. The action, bracket, global symmetries, gauge symmetries and their closure are computed by twisting their analogs in the higher dimensional DFT. The non-Abelian heterotic string and lower dimensional gauged supergravities are particular examples of Gauged DFT.Comment: Minor changes, references adde

Membrane Sigma-Models and Quantization of Non-Geometric Flux Backgrounds

We develop quantization techniques for describing the nonassociative geometry probed by closed strings in flat non-geometric R-flux backgrounds M. Starting from a suitable Courant sigma-model on an open membrane with target space M, regarded as a topological sector of closed string dynamics in R-space, we derive a twisted Poisson sigma-model on the boundary of the membrane whose target space is the cotangent bundle T^*M and whose quasi-Poisson structure coincides with those previously proposed. We argue that from the membrane perspective the path integral over multivalued closed string fields in Q-space is equivalent to integrating over open strings in R-space. The corresponding boundary correlation functions reproduce Kontsevich's deformation quantization formula for the twisted Poisson manifolds. For constant R-flux, we derive closed formulas for the corresponding nonassociative star product and its associator, and compare them with previous proposals for a 3-product of fields on R-space. We develop various versions of the Seiberg-Witten map which relate our nonassociative star products to associative ones and add fluctuations to the R-flux background. We show that the Kontsevich formula coincides with the star product obtained by quantizing the dual of a Lie 2-algebra via convolution in an integrating Lie 2-group associated to the T-dual doubled geometry, and hence clarify the relation to the twisted convolution products for topological nonassociative torus bundles. We further demonstrate how our approach leads to a consistent quantization of Nambu-Poisson 3-brackets.Comment: 52 pages; v2: references adde

New families of interpolating type IIB backgrounds

We construct new families of interpolating two-parameter solutions of type IIB supergravity. These correspond to D3-D5 systems on non-compact six-dimensional manifolds which are T^2 fibrations over Eguchi-Hanson and multi-center Taub-NUT spaces, respectively. One end of the interpolation corresponds to a solution with only D5 branes and vanishing NS three-form flux. A topology changing transition occurs at the other end, where the internal space becomes a direct product of the four-dimensional surface and the two-torus and the complexified NS-RR three-form flux becomes imaginary self-dual. Depending on the choice of the connections on the torus fibre, the interpolating family has either N=2 or N=1 supersymmetry. In the N=2 case it can be shown that the solutions are regular.Comment: 20 page

Ramond-Ramond Cohomology and O(D,D) T-duality

In the name of supersymmetric double field theory, superstring effective actions can be reformulated into simple forms. They feature a pair of vielbeins corresponding to the same spacetime metric, and hence enjoy double local Lorentz symmetries. In a manifestly covariant manner --with regard to O(D,D) T-duality, diffeomorphism, B-field gauge symmetry and the pair of local Lorentz symmetries-- we incorporate R-R potentials into double field theory. We take them as a single object which is in a bi-fundamental spinorial representation of the double Lorentz groups. We identify cohomological structure relevant to the field strength. A priori, the R-R sector as well as all the fermions are O(D,D) singlet. Yet, gauge fixing the two vielbeins equal to each other modifies the O(D,D) transformation rule to call for a compensating local Lorentz rotation, such that the R-R potential may turn into an O(D,D) spinor and T-duality can flip the chirality exchanging type IIA and IIB supergravities.Comment: 1+37 pages, no figure; Structure reorganized, References added, To appear in JHEP. cf. Gong Show of Strings 2012 (http://wwwth.mpp.mpg.de/members/strings/strings2012/strings_files/program/Talks/Thursday/Gongshow/Lee.pdf