Theory of K\"ahler Gravity

In this paper we discuss the connection on a space of $N=2$ TCFT's that appears in the context of background (in)dependence. We formulate a family of {\it target space field theories} with a similar connection on it. Each theory is a gauge theory (with the gauge group being ${\cal SD}iff$ in the case of $3$-fold). It describes deformations of K\"ahler structures much like Kodaira Spencer theory describes deformations of the complex structures. It is manifestly background independent. It appears to be a target space field theory for supersymmetric quantum mechanics

Large N limit of orbifold field theories

We consider certain orbifoldization of the ${\cal N}=4$ field theories that leads to ${\cal N}=2,1,0$ field theories in 4 dimensions. These theories were recently analyzed using the string theory perturbation technique. It was found that in the large $N$ limit all correlation functions of the orbifold theories coincide with those of ${\cal N}=4$, modulo the rescaling of the gauge coupling constant. In this paper we repeat the same analysis using the field theoretical language.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, harvmac. Minor change

Small Instantons, del Pezzo Surfaces and Type I' theory

Small instantons of exceptional groups arise geometrically by a collapsing del Pezzo surface in a CY. We use this to explain the physics of a 4-brane probe in Type I' compactification to 9 dimensions.Comment: 21 pages, minor change

On Four-Dimensional Compactifications of F-Theory

Branches of moduli space of F-theory in four dimensions are investigated. The transition between two branches is described as a 3-brane-instanton transition on a 7-brane. A dual heterotic picture of the transition is presented and the F-theory - heterotic theory map is given. The F-theory data - complex structure of the Calabi-Yau fourfold and the instanton bundle on the 7-brane is mapped to the heterotic bundle on the elliptic Calabi-Yau threefold CY_3. The full moduli space has a web structure which is also found in the moduli space of semi-stable bundles on $CY_3$. Matter content of the four-dimensional theory is discussed in both F-theory and heterotic theory descriptions.Comment: 40 pages, TeX, references added, minor changes in Section

A Unifying Topological Action for Heterotic and Type II Superstring Theories

The heterotic and type II superstring actions are identified in different anomaly-free decompositions of a single topological sigma-model action depending on bosonic and fermionic coordinates, $X^\mu$ and \r^A respectively, and of their topological ghosts. This model results from gauge-fixing the topological gauge symmetry $\delta X^\mu = \epsilon^\mu (z,\bar z)$ ($\mu =1,2,\dots, 10$) and \delta \r^\alpha= \epsilon^\alpha (z,\bar z). ($\alpha=1,2.\dots, 16$). From another viewpoint the heterotic and type II superstring actions emerge as two different gauge-fixings of the same closed two-form. Comments are also made concerning the possibility of relating $\rho^\alpha$ to a Majorana-Weyl space-time spinor superpartner of $X^\mu$.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, no figure

String Expansion as Large N Expansion of Gauge Theories

We consider string perturbative expansion in the presence of D-branes imbedded in orbifolded space-time. In the regime where the string coupling is weak and $\alpha'\to 0$, the string perturbative expansion coincides with `t Hooft's large N expansion. We specifically concentrate on theories with d=4 and ${\cal N}=0,1,2,4$, and use world-sheet orbifold techniques to prove vanishing theorems for the field theory beta functions to all orders in perturbation theory in the large N limit. This is in accord with recent predictions.Comment: 18 pages, harvmac, minor corrections and additional reference