K\"ahler Moduli Space of a D-Brane at Orbifold Singularities

We develop a method to analyze systematically the configuration space of a D-brane localized at the orbifold singular point of a Calabi--Yau $d$-fold of the form ${\Bbb C}^d/\Gamma$ using the theory of toric quotients. This approach elucidates the structure of the K\"ahler moduli space associated with the problem. As an application, we compute the toric data of the $\Gamma$-Hilbert scheme.Comment: 41 pages (double spacing version

Exceptional String: Instanton Expansions and Seiberg-Witten Curve

We investigate instanton expansions of partition functions of several toric E-string models using local mirror symmetry and elliptic modular forms. We also develop a method to obtain the Seiberg--Witten curve of E-string with arbitrary Wilson lines with the help of elliptic functions.Comment: 71 pages, three Wilson line

Residues and Topological Yang-Mills Theory in Two Dimensions

A residue formula which evaluates any correlation function of topological $SU_n$ Yang-Mills theory with arbitrary magnetic flux insertion in two dimensions are obtained. Deformations of the system by two form operators are investigated in some detail. The method of the diagonalization of a matrix valued field turns out to be useful to compute various physical quantities. As an application we find the operator that contracts a handle of a Riemann surface and a genus recursion relation.Comment: 23 pages, some references added, to appear in Rev.Math.Phy

Algebra of Kodaira–Spencer gravity and deformation of Calabi–Yau manifold

We study the algebraic structure of the configuration space of the Kodaira–Spencer gravity theory on a Calabi–Yau threefold. We then investigate the deformation problem of the Kodaira–Spencer gravity at the classical level using the algebraic tools obtained here

D-Branes and Quotient Singularities of Calabi-Yau Fourfolds

We investigate a (0,2) gauge theory realized on the world volume of the type IIB D1-brane at the singular point of a Calabi-Yau fourfold. It is argued that the gauge anomaly can be canceled via coupling to the R-R chiral bosons in bulk IIB string. We find that for a generic choice of the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameters on the world volume, the Higgs moduli space is a smooth fourfold birational to the original Calabi-Yau fourfold, but is not necessarily a Calabi-Yau manifold.Comment: 24 pages, version 2.1, to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Geometry of (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg Orbifolds

Several aspects of (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg orbifolds are investigated. Especially the elliptic genera are computed in general and, for a class of models recently invented by Distler and Kachru, they are compared with the ones from (0,2) sigma models. Our formalism gives an easy way to calculate the generation numbers for lots of Distler-Kachru models even if they are based on singular Calabi-Yau spaces. We also make some general remarks on the Born-Oppenheimer calculation of the ground states elucidating its mathematical meaning in the untwisted sector. For Distler-Kachru models based on non-singular Calabi-Yau spaces we show that there exist `residue' type formulas of the elliptic genera as well.Comment: 30 pages, LaTeX, KEK-TH 389 ( a reference added

Duality Between String Junctions and D-Branes on Del Pezzo Surfaces

We revisit local mirror symmetry associated with del Pezzo surfaces in Calabi-Yau threefolds in view of five-dimensional N=1 E_N theories compactified on a circle. The mirror partner of singular Calabi-Yau with a shrinking del Pezzo four-cycle is described as the affine 7-brane backgrounds probed by a D3-brane. Evaluating the mirror map and the BPS central charge we relate junction charges to RR charges of D-branes wrapped on del Pezzo surfaces. This enables us to determine how the string junctions are mapped to D-branes on del Pezzo surfaces.Comment: 35 pages, Latex, 1 figure; typos corrected, references update