881 research outputs found
The Breakdown of Topology at Small Scales
We discuss how a topology (the Zariski topology) on a space can appear to
break down at small distances due to D-brane decay. The mechanism proposed
coincides perfectly with the phase picture of Calabi-Yau moduli spaces. The
topology breaks down as one approaches non-geometric phases. This picture is
not without its limitations, which are also discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure
Solitons in Seiberg-Witten Theory and D-branes in the Derived Category
We analyze the "geometric engineering" limit of a type II string on a
suitable Calabi-Yau threefold to obtain an N=2 pure SU(2) gauge theory. The
derived category picture together with Pi-stability of B-branes beautifully
reproduces the known spectrum of BPS solitons in this case in a very explicit
way. Much of the analysis is particularly easy since it can be reduced to
questions about the derived category of CP1.Comment: 20 pages, LaTex2
C^2/Z_n Fractional branes and Monodromy
We construct geometric representatives for the C^2/Z_n fractional branes in
terms of branes wrapping certain exceptional cycles of the resolution. In the
process we use large radius and conifold-type monodromies, and also check some
of the orbifold quantum symmetries. We find the explicit Seiberg-duality which
connects our fractional branes to the ones given by the McKay correspondence.
We also comment on the Harvey-Moore BPS algebras.Comment: 34 pages, v1 identical to v2, v3: typos fixed, discussion of
Harvey-Moore BPS algebras update
Twistfield Perturbations of Vertex Operators in the Z_2-Orbifold Model
We apply Kadanoff's theory of marginal deformations of conformal field
theories to twistfield deformations of Z_2 orbifold models in K3 moduli space.
These deformations lead away from the Z_2 orbifold sub-moduli-space and hence
help to explore conformal field theories which have not yet been understood. In
particular, we calculate the deformation of the conformal dimensions of vertex
operators for p^2<1 in second order perturbation theory.Comment: Latex2e, 19 pages, 1 figur
Quantum symmetries and exceptional collections
We study the interplay between discrete quantum symmetries at certain points
in the moduli space of Calabi-Yau compactifications, and the associated
identities that the geometric realization of D-brane monodromies must satisfy.
We show that in a wide class of examples, both local and compact, the monodromy
identities in question always follow from a single mathematical statement. One
of the simplest examples is the Z_5 symmetry at the Gepner point of the
quintic, and the associated D-brane monodromy identity
Partition Functions, Duality, and the Tube Metric
The partition function of type IIA and B strings on R^6xK3, in the T^4/Z_2
orbifold limit, is explicitly computed as a modular invariant sum over spin
strutures required by perturbative unitarity in order to extend the analysis to
include type II strings on R^6 x W4, where W4 is associated with the tube
metric conformal field theory, given by the degrees of freedom transverse to
the Neveu-Schwarz fivebrane solution. This generates partition functions and
perturbative spectra of string theories in six space-time dimensions,
associated with the modular invariants of the level k affine SU(2) Kac-Moody
algebra. These theories provide a conformal field theory (i.e. perturbative)
probe of non-perturbative (fivebrane) vacua. We contrast them with theories
whose N=(4,4) sigma-model action contains n_H=k+2 hypermultiplets as well as
vector supermultiplets, and where k is the level just mentioned. In Appendix B
we also give a D=6, N=(1,1) `free fermion' string model which has a different
moduli space of vacua from the 81 parameter space relevant to the above
examples.Comment: 24 pages, TE
Mirror Symmetry, Mirror Map and Applications to Calabi-Yau Hypersurfaces
Mirror Symmetry, Picard-Fuchs equations and instanton corrected Yukawa
couplings are discussed within the framework of toric geometry. It allows to
establish mirror symmetry of Calabi-Yau spaces for which the mirror manifold
had been unavailable in previous constructions. Mirror maps and Yukawa
couplings are explicitly given for several examples with two and three moduli.Comment: 59 pages. Some changes in the references, a few minor points have
been clarifie
Gauging and symplectic blowing up in nonlinear sigma-models: I. point singularities
In this paper a two dimensional non-linear sigma model with a general
symplectic manifold with isometry as target space is used to study symplectic
blowing up of a point singularity on the zero level set of the moment map
associated with a quasi-free Hamiltonian action. We discuss in general the
relation between symplectic reduction and gauging of the symplectic isometries
of the sigma model action. In the case of singular reduction, gauging has the
same effect as blowing up the singular point by a small amount. Using the
exponential mapping of the underlying metric, we are able to construct
symplectic diffeomorphisms needed to glue the blow-up to the global reduced
space which is regular, thus providing a transition from one symplectic sigma
model to another one free of singularities.Comment: 32 pages, LaTex, THEP 93/24 (corrected and expanded(about 5 pages)
version
Calabi-Yau Duals of Torus Orientifolds
We study a duality that relates the T^6/Z_2 orientifold with N=2 flux to
standard fluxless Calabi-Yau compactifications of type IIA string theory. Using
the duality map, we show that the Calabi-Yau manifolds that arise are abelian
surface (T^4) fibrations over P^1. We compute a variety of properties of these
threefolds, including Hodge numbers, intersection numbers, discrete isometries,
and H_1(X,Z). In addition, we show that S-duality in the orientifold
description becomes T-duality of the abelian surface fibers in the dual
Calabi-Yau description. The analysis is facilitated by the existence of an
explicit Calabi-Yau metric on an open subset of the geometry that becomes an
arbitrarily good approximation to the actual metric (at most points) in the
limit that the fiber is much smaller than the base.Comment: 39 pages; uses harvmac.tex, amssym.tex; v4: minor correction
Heterotic-Type II duality in the hypermultiplet sector
We revisit the duality between heterotic string theory compactified on K3 x
T^2 and type IIA compactified on a Calabi-Yau threefold X in the hypermultiplet
sector. We derive an explicit map between the field variables of the respective
moduli spaces at the level of the classical effective actions. We determine the
parametrization of the K3 moduli space consistent with the Ferrara-Sabharwal
form. From the expression of the holomorphic prepotential we are led to
conjecture that both X and its mirror must be K3 fibrations in order for the
type IIA theory to have an heterotic dual. We then focus on the region of the
moduli space where the metric is expressed in terms of a prepotential on both
sides of the duality. Applying the duality we derive the heterotic
hypermultiplet metric for a gauge bundle which is reduced to 24 point-like
instantons. This result is confirmed by using the duality between the heterotic
theory on T^3 and M-theory on K3. We finally study the hyper-Kaehler metric on
the moduli space of an SU(2) bundle on K3.Comment: 27 pages; references added, typos correcte
- …