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

Quivers from Matrix Factorizations

We discuss how matrix factorizations offer a practical method of computing the quiver and associated superpotential for a hypersurface singularity. This method also yields explicit geometrical interpretations of D-branes (i.e., quiver representations) on a resolution given in terms of Grassmannians. As an example we analyze some non-toric singularities which are resolved by a single CP1 but have "length" greater than one. These examples have a much richer structure than conifolds. A picture is proposed that relates matrix factorizations in Landau-Ginzburg theories to the way that matrix factorizations are used in this paper to perform noncommutative resolutions.Comment: 33 pages, (minor changes

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

On the Matrix Description of Calabi-Yau Compactifications

We point out that the matrix description of M-theory compactified on Calabi-Yau threefolds is in many respects simpler than the matrix description of a $T^6$ compactification. This is largely because of the differences between D6 branes wrapped on Calabi-Yau threefolds and D6 branes wrapped on six-tori. In particular, if we define the matrix theory following the prescription of Sen and Seiberg, we find that the remaining degrees of freedom are decoupled from gravity.Comment: 12 pages, harvmac big; comment on 4d N=1 theories change

Topological Field Theory and Rational Curves

We analyze the superstring propagating on a Calabi-Yau threefold. This theory naturally leads to the consideration of Witten's topological non-linear sigma-model and the structure of rational curves on the Calabi-Yau manifold. We study in detail the case of the world-sheet of the string being mapped to a multiple cover of an isolated rational curve and we show that a natural compactification of the moduli space of such a multiple cover leads to a formula in agreement with a conjecture by Candelas, de la Ossa, Green and Parkes.Comment: 20 page

Kaluza-Klein electrically charged black branes in M-theory

We present a class of Kaluza-Klein electrically charged black p-brane solutions of ten-dimensional, type IIA superstring theory. Uplifting to eleven dimensions these solutions are studied in the context of M-theory. They can be interpreted either as a p+1 extended object trapped around the eleventh dimension along which momentum is flowing or as a boost of the following backgrounds: the Schwarzschild black (p+1)-brane or the product of the (10-p)-dimensional Euclidean Schwarzschild manifold with the (p+1)-dimensional Minkowski spacetime.Comment: 16 pages, uses latex and epsf macro, figures include

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

Defect Perturbations in Landau-Ginzburg Models

Perturbations of B-type defects in Landau-Ginzburg models are considered. In particular, the effect of perturbations of defects on their fusion is analyzed in the framework of matrix factorizations. As an application, it is discussed how fusion with perturbed defects induces perturbations on boundary conditions. It is shown that in some classes of models all boundary perturbations can be obtained in this way. Moreover, a universal class of perturbed defects is constructed, whose fusion under certain conditions obey braid relations. The functors obtained by fusing these defects with boundary conditions are twist functors as introduced in the work of Seidel and Thomas.Comment: 46 page

Global Properties of Topological String Amplitudes and Orbifold Invariants

We derive topological string amplitudes on local Calabi-Yau manifolds in terms of polynomials in finitely many generators of special functions. These objects are defined globally in the moduli space and lead to a description of mirror symmetry at any point in the moduli space. Holomorphic ambiguities of the anomaly equations are fixed by global information obtained from boundary conditions at few special divisors in the moduli space. As an illustration we compute higher genus orbifold Gromov-Witten invariants for C^3/Z_3 and C^3/Z_4.Comment: 34 pages, 3 figure

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