334 research outputs found
Gauge Threshold Corrections for Local Orientifolds
We study gauge threshold corrections for systems of fractional branes at
local orientifold singularities and compare with the general Kaplunovsky-Louis
expression for locally supersymmetric N=1 gauge theories. We focus on branes at
orientifolds of the C^3/Z_4, C^3/Z_6 and C^3/Z_6' singularities. We provide a
CFT construction of these theories and compute the threshold corrections. Gauge
coupling running undergoes two phases: one phase running from the bulk winding
scale to the string scale, and a second phase running from the string scale to
the infrared. The first phase is associated to the contribution of N=2 sectors
to the IR beta functions and the second phase to the contribution of both N=1
and N=2 sectors. In contrast, naive application of the Kaplunovsky-Louis
formula gives single running from the bulk winding mode scale. The discrepancy
is resolved through 1-loop non-universality of the holomorphic gauge couplings
at the singularity, induced by a 1-loop redefinition of the twisted blow-up
moduli which couple differently to different gauge nodes. We also study the
physics of anomalous and non-anomalous U(1)s and give a CFT description of how
masses for non-anomalous U(1)s depend on the global properties of cycles.Comment: 44 page
A toy model of fractal glioma development under RF electric field treatment
A toy model for glioma treatment by a radio frequency electric field is
suggested. This low-intensity, intermediate-frequency alternating electric
field is known as the tumor-treating-field (TTF). In the framework of this
model the efficiency of this TTF is estimated, and the interplay between the
TTF and the migration-proliferation dichotomy of cancer cells is considered.
The model is based on a modification of a comb model for cancer cells, where
the migration-proliferation dichotomy becomes naturally apparent. Considering
glioma cancer as a fractal dielectric composite of cancer cells and normal
tissue cells, a new effective mechanism of glioma treatment is suggested in the
form of a giant enhancement of the TTF. This leads to the irreversible
electroporation that may be an effective non-invasive method of treating brain
cancer.Comment: Submitted for publication in European Physical Journal
D-Terms from Generalized NS-NS Fluxes in Type II
Orientifolds of type II string theory admit a certain set of generalized
NS-NS fluxes, including not only the three-form field strength H, but also
metric and non-geometric fluxes, which are related to H by T-duality. We
describe in general how these fluxes appear as parameters of an effective N=1
supergravity theory in four dimensions, and in particular how certain
generalized NS-NS fluxes can act as charges for R-R axions, leading to D-term
contributions to the effective scalar potential. We illustrate these phenomena
in type IIB with the example of a certain orientifold of T^6/Z_4.Comment: 31+1 pages, uses utarticle.cls; v2: references adde
Non-geometric flux vacua, S-duality and algebraic geometry
The four dimensional gauged supergravities descending from non-geometric
string compactifications involve a wide class of flux objects which are needed
to make the theory invariant under duality transformations at the effective
level. Additionally, complex algebraic conditions involving these fluxes arise
from Bianchi identities and tadpole cancellations in the effective theory. In
this work we study a simple T and S-duality invariant gauged supergravity, that
of a type IIB string compactified on a orientifold with
O3/O7-planes. We build upon the results of recent works and develop a
systematic method for solving all the flux constraints based on the algebra
structure underlying the fluxes. Starting with the T-duality invariant
supergravity, we find that the fluxes needed to restore S-duality can be simply
implemented as linear deformations of the gauge subalgebra by an element of its
second cohomology class. Algebraic geometry techniques are extensively used to
solve these constraints and supersymmetric vacua, centering our attention on
Minkowski solutions, become systematically computable and are also provided to
clarify the methods.Comment: 47 pages, 10 tables, typos corrected, Accepted for Publication in
Journal of High Energy Physic
AdS Vacua, Attractor Mechanism and Generalized Geometries
We consider flux vacua attractor equations in type IIA string theory
compactified on generalized geometries with orientifold projections. The
four-dimensional N=1 superpotential in this compactification can be written as
the sum of the Ramond-Ramond superpotential and a term described by
(non)geometric flux charges. We exhibit a simple model in which supersymmetric
AdS and Minkowski solutions are classified by means of discriminants of the two
superpotentials. We further study various configurations without Ramond-Ramond
flux charges. In this case we find supersymmetric AdS vacua both in the case of
compactifications on generalized geometries with SU(3) x SU(3) structures and
on manifolds with an SU(3)-structure without nongeometric flux charges. In the
latter case, we have to introduce correction terms into the prepotential in
order to realize consistent vacua.Comment: 35 pages, accepted version in JHE
Moduli Redefinitions and Moduli Stabilisation
Field redefinitions occur in string compactifications at the one loop level.
We review arguments for why such redefinitions occur and study their effect on
moduli stabilisation and supersymmetry breaking in the LARGE volume scenario.
For small moduli, although the effect of such redefinitions can be larger than
that of the corrections in both the K\"ahler and scalar potentials,
they do not alter the structure of the scalar potential. For the less well
motivated case of large moduli, the redefinitions can dominate all other terms
in the scalar potential. We also study the effect of redefinitions on the
structure of supersymmetry breaking and soft terms.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures; v2. references adde
Froggatt-Nielsen models from E8 in F-theory GUTs
This paper studies F-theory SU(5) GUT models where the three generations of
the standard model come from three different curves. All the matter is taken to
come from curves intersecting at a point of enhanced E8 gauge symmetry. Giving
a vev to some of the GUT singlets naturally implements a Froggatt-Nielsen
approach to flavour structure. A scan is performed over all possible models and
the results are filtered using phenomenological constraints. We find a unique
model that fits observations of quark and lepton masses and mixing well. This
model suffers from two drawbacks: R-parity must be imposed by hand and there is
a doublet-triplet splitting problem.Comment: 42 pages; v2:journal version; v3:corrected typo in neutrino masse
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