11D supergravity at O(l3){\cal O}(l^3)

We compute certain spinorial cohomology groups controlling possible supersymmetric deformations of eleven-dimensional supergravity up to order $l^3$ in the Planck length. At ${\cal O}(l)$ and ${\cal O}(l^2)$ the spinorial cohomology groups are trivial and therefore the theory cannot be deformed supersymmetrically. At ${\cal O}(l^3)$ the corresponding spinorial cohomology group is generated by a nontrivial element. On an eleven-dimensional manifold $M$ such that $p_1(M)\neq 0$, this element corresponds to a supersymmetric deformation of the theory, which can only be redefined away at the cost of shifting the quantization condition of the four-form field strength.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure. v2: references adde

Seismogeological Features of the Crust in Romania

The Romanian area consists of old consolidated units of pre-Alpine age (the Moesian, Moldavian and Scythian platforms) and Alpine orogenic units (the Carpathian arc and North-Dobrudjan orogen). General seismogeological peculiarities of the pre-Alpine tectonic units are presented, as well as some structural characteristics of the Transylvanian Basin and the Pannonian Depression. Both shallow and deep seismic reflection/refraction data as well as log information and some potential field data were used for the investigation of the crustal structure. The varibility in the seismogeological pattern and crustal thickness shown by the different tectonic units is due to the differences in structure and lithology as well as to differences in crustal age. Some general characteristics are presented as an overall seismogeological image

Quantization of the Chern-Simons Coupling Constant

We investigate the quantum consistency of p-form Maxwell-Chern-Simons electrodynamics in 3p+2 spacetime dimensions (for p odd). These are the dimensions where the Chern--Simons term is cubic, i.e., of the form FFA. For the theory to be consistent at the quantum level in the presence of magnetic and electric sources, we find that the Chern--Simons coupling constant must be quantized. We compare our results with the bosonic sector of eleven dimensional supergravity and find that the Chern--Simons coupling constant in that case takes its corresponding minimal allowed value.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, JHEP3.cls. Equation (8.6) corrected and perfect agreement with previous results is obtaine

Domain Walls on Singularities

We describe domain walls that live on $A_2$ and $A_3$ singularities. The walls are BPS if the singularity is resolved and non--BPS if it is deformed and fibered. We show that these domain walls may interpolate between vacua that support monopoles and/or vortices.Comment: 16 pages in phyzzx.te

The Spectral Curve of the Lens Space Matrix Model

Following hep-th/0211098 we study the matrix model which describes the topological A-model on T^{*}(S^{3}/\ZZ_p). We show that the resolvent has square root branch cuts and it follows that this is a p cut single matrix model. We solve for the resolvent and find the spectral curve. We comment on how this is related to large N transitions and mirror symmetry.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figures, typos corrected, comments adde

Prepotentials for local mirror symmetry via Calabi-Yau fourfolds

In this paper, we first derive an intrinsic definition of classical triple intersection numbers of K_S, where S is a complex toric surface, and use this to compute the extended Picard-Fuchs system of K_S of our previous paper, without making use of the instanton expansion. We then extend this formalism to local fourfolds K_X, where X is a complex 3-fold. As a result, we are able to fix the prepotential of local Calabi-Yau threefolds K_S up to polynomial terms of degree 2. We then outline methods of extending the procedure to non canonical bundle cases.Comment: 42 pages, 7 figures. Expanded, reorganized, and added a theoretical background for the calculation

Fractional two-branes, toric orbifolds and the quantum McKay correspondence

We systematically study and obtain the large-volume analogues of fractional two-branes on resolutions of orbifolds C^3/Z_n. We study a generalisation of the McKay correspondence proposed in hep-th/0504164 called the quantum McKay correspondence by constructing duals to the fractional two-branes. Details are explicitly worked out for two examples -- the crepant resolutions of C^3/Z_3 and C^3/Z_5.Comment: 34 pages, 2 figures, LaTeX (JHEP3 style); (v2) typos corrected; (v3) sec 3 reorganise

The Ruled Vertex and Nontoric del Pezzo Surfaces

We construct the topological partition function of local nontoric del Pezzo surfaces using the ruled vertex formalism.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Meta-Stable Dynamical Supersymmetry Breaking Near Points of Enhanced Symmetry

We show that metastable supersymmetry breaking is generic near certain enhanced symmetry points of gauge theory moduli spaces. Our model consists of two sectors coupled by a singlet and combines dynamical supersymmetry breaking with an O'Raifeartaigh mechanism in terms of confined variables. All relevant mass parameters, including the supersymmetry breaking scale, are generated dynamically. The metastable vacua appear as a result of a balance between non-perturbative and perturbative quantum effects along a pseudo-runaway direction.Comment: 27 pages, harvmac, 6 figure

BPS branes in discrete torsion orbifolds

We investigate D-branes in a Z_3xZ_3 orbifold with discrete torsion. For this class of orbifolds the only known objects which couple to twisted RR potentials have been non-BPS branes. By using more general gluing conditions we construct here a D-brane which is BPS and couples to RR potentials in the twisted and in the untwisted sectors.Comment: 20 pages, LaTe