1,041 research outputs found
Nongeometry, Duality Twists, and the Worldsheet
In this paper, we use orbifold methods to construct nongeometric backgrounds,
and argue that they correspond to the spacetimes discussed in \cite{dh,wwf}.
More precisely, we make explicit through several examples the connection
between interpolating orbifolds and spacetime duality twists. We argue that
generic nongeometric backgrounds arising from duality twists will not have
simple orbifold constructions and then proceed to construct several examples
which do have a consistent worldsheet description.Comment: v2-references added; v3-minor correction (eqn. 4.17
Generalised Geometry for M-Theory
Generalised geometry studies structures on a d-dimensional manifold with a
metric and 2-form gauge field on which there is a natural action of the group
SO(d,d). This is generalised to d-dimensional manifolds with a metric and
3-form gauge field on which there is a natural action of the group .
This provides a framework for the discussion of M-theory solutions with flux. A
different generalisation is to d-dimensional manifolds with a metric, 2-form
gauge field and a set of p-forms for either odd or even on which there is a
natural action of the group . This is useful for type IIA or IIB
string solutions with flux. Further generalisations give extended tangent
bundles and extended spin bundles relevant for non-geometric backgrounds.
Special structures that arise for supersymmetric backgrounds are discussed.Comment: 31 page
Compactifications of Heterotic Theory on Non-Kahler Complex Manifolds: I
We study new compactifications of the SO(32) heterotic string theory on
compact complex non-Kahler manifolds. These manifolds have many interesting
features like fewer moduli, torsional constraints, vanishing Euler character
and vanishing first Chern class, which make the four-dimensional theory
phenomenologically attractive. We take a particular compact example studied
earlier and determine various geometrical properties of it. In particular we
calculate the warp factor and study the sigma model description of strings
propagating on these backgrounds. The anomaly cancellation condition and
enhanced gauge symmetry are shown to arise naturally in this framework, if one
considers the effect of singularities carefully.
We then give a detailed mathematical analysis of these manifolds and
construct a large class of them. The existence of a holomorphic (3,0) form is
important for the construction. We clarify some of the topological properties
of these manifolds and evaluate the Betti numbers. We also determine the
superpotential and argue that the radial modulus of these manifolds can
actually be stabilized.Comment: 75 pages, Harvmac, no figures; v2: Some new results added, typos
corrected and references updated. Final version to appear in JHE
Towards Minkowski Vacua in Type II String Compactifications
We study the vacuum structure of compactifications of type II string theories
on orientifolds with SU(3)xSU(3) structure. We argue that generalised geometry
enables us to treat these non-geometric compactifications using a supergravity
analysis in a way very similar to geometric compactifications. We find
supersymmetric Minkowski vacua with all the moduli stabilised at weak string
coupling and all the tadpole conditions satisfied. Generically the value of the
moduli fields in the vacuum is parametrically controlled and can be taken to
arbitrarily large values.Comment: 33 pages; v2 minor corrections, references added, version to appear
in JHE
Heterotic String Compactifications on Half-flat Manifolds II
In this paper, we continue the analysis of heterotic string compactifications
on half-flat mirror manifolds by including the 10-dimensional gauge fields. It
is argued, that the heterotic Bianchi identity is solved by a variant of the
standard embedding. Then, the resulting gauge group in four dimensions is still
E6 despite the fact that the Levi-Civita connection has SO(6) holonomy. We
derive the associated four-dimensional effective theories including matter
field terms for such compactifications. The results are also extended to more
general manifolds with SU(3) structure.Comment: 31 page
Nongeometric Flux Compactifications
We investigate a simple class of type II string compactifications which
incorporate nongeometric "fluxes" in addition to "geometric flux" and the usual
H-field and R-R fluxes. These compactifications are nongeometric analogues of
the twisted torus. We develop T-duality rules for NS-NS geometric and
nongeometric fluxes, which we use to construct a superpotential for the
dimensionally reduced four-dimensional theory. The resulting structure is
invariant under T-duality, so that the distribution of vacua in the IIA and IIB
theories is identical when nongeometric fluxes are included. This gives a
concrete framework in which to investigate the possibility that generic string
compactifications may be nongeometric in any duality frame. The framework
developed in this paper also provides some concrete hints for how mirror
symmetry can be generalized to compactifications with arbitrary H-flux, whose
mirrors are generically nongeometric.Comment: 26 pages, JHEP3. v3: references, minor corrections, and
clarifications added. v4: sign correcte
New Supersymmetric String Compactifications
We describe a new class of supersymmetric string compactifications to 4d
Minkowski space. These solutions involve type II strings propagating on
(orientifolds of) non Calabi-Yau spaces in the presence of background NS and RR
fluxes. The simplest examples have descriptions as cosets, generalizing the
three-dimensional nilmanifold. They can also be thought of as twisted tori. We
derive a formula for the (super)potential governing the light fields, which is
generated by the fluxes and certain ``twists'' in the geometry. Detailed
consideration of an example also gives strong evidence that in some cases,
these exotic geometries are related by smooth transitions to standard
Calabi-Yau or G2 compactifications of M-theory.Comment: 43 pages, harvmac bi
N=2 Super-Higgs, N=1 Poincare' Vacua and Quaternionic Geometry
In the context of N=2 supergravity we explain the occurrence of partial
super-Higgs with vanishing vacuum energy and moduli stabilization in a model
suggested by superstring compactifications on type IIB orientifolds with 3-form
fluxes.
The gauging of axion symmetries of the quaternionic manifold, together with
the use of degenerate symplectic sections for special geometry, are the
essential ingredients of the construction.Comment: 18 page
Curvatures and potential of M-theory in D=4 with fluxes and twist
We give the curvatures of the free differential algebra (FDA) of M--theory
compactified to D=4 on a twisted seven--torus with the 4--form flux switched
on. Two formulations are given, depending on whether the 1--form field
strengths of the scalar fields (originating from the 3--form gauge field
) are included or not in the FDA. We also give the bosonic
equations of motion and discuss at length the scalar potential which emerges in
this type of compactifications. For flat groups we show the equivalence of this
potential with a dual formulation of the theory which has the full \rE_{7(7)}
symmetry.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX source, typos correcte
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