41 research outputs found
Worldsheet Realization of the Refined Topological String
A worldsheet realization of the refined topological string is proposed in
terms of physical string amplitudes that compute generalized N=2 F-terms of the
form F_{g,n} W^{2g}Y^{2n} in the effective supergravity action. These terms
involve the chiral Weyl superfield W and a superfield Y defined as an N=2
chiral projection of a particular anti-chiral T-bar vector multiplet. In
Heterotic and Type I theories, obtained upon compactification on the
six-dimensional manifold K3xT2, T is the usual K\"ahler modulus of the T2
torus. These amplitudes are computed exactly at the one-loop level in string
theory. They are shown to reproduce the correct perturbative part of the
Nekrasov partition function in the field theory limit when expanded around an
SU(2) enhancement point of the string moduli space. The two deformation
parameters epsilon_- and epsilon_+ of the Omega-supergravity background are
then identified with the constant field-strength backgrounds for the
anti-self-dual graviphoton and self-dual gauge field of the T-bar vector
multiplet, respectively.Comment: 35 pages, typos corrected, published in NP
Asymmetric Orbifolds, Non-Geometric Fluxes and Non-Commutativity in Closed String Theory
In this paper we consider a class of exactly solvable closed string flux
backgrounds that exhibit non-commutativity in the closed string coordinates.
They are realized in terms of freely-acting asymmetric Z_N-orbifolds, which are
themselves close relatives of twisted torus fibrations with elliptic
Z_N-monodromy (elliptic T-folds). We explicitly construct the modular invariant
partition function of the models and derive the non-commutative algebra in the
string coordinates, which is exact to all orders in {\alpha}'. Finally, we
relate these asymmetric orbifold spaces to inherently stringy Scherk-Schwarz
backgrounds and non-geometric fluxes.Comment: 30 page
Massless D-strings and moduli stabilization in type I cosmology
We consider the cosmological evolution induced by the free energy F of a gas
of maximally supersymmetric heterotic strings at finite temperature and weak
coupling in dimension D>=4. We show that F, which plays the role of an
effective potential, has minima associated to enhanced gauge symmetries, where
all internal moduli can be attracted and dynamically stabilized. Using the fact
that the heterotic/type I S-duality remains valid at finite temperature and can
be applied at each instant of a quasi-static evolution, we find in the dual
type I cosmology that all internal NS-NS and RR moduli in the closed string
sector and the Wilson lines in the open string sector can be stabilized. For
the special case of D=6, the internal volume modulus remains a flat direction,
while the dilaton is stabilized. An essential role is played by light D-string
modes wrapping the internal manifold and whose contribution to the free energy
cannot be omitted, even when the type I string is at weak coupling. As a
result, the order of magnitude of the internal radii expectation values on the
type I side is (lambda_I alpha')^{1/2}, where lambda_I is the ten-dimensional
string coupling. The non-perturbative corrections to the type I free energy can
alternatively be described as effects of "thermal E1-instantons", whose
worldsheets wrap the compact Euclidean time cycle.Comment: 39 pages, 1 figur