Boundary Inflation

Inflationary solutions are constructed in a specific five-dimensional model with boundaries motivated by heterotic M-theory. We concentrate on the case where the vacuum energy is provided by potentials on those boundaries. It is pointed out that the presence of such potentials necessarily excites bulk Kaluza-Klein modes. We distinguish a linear and a non-linear regime for those modes. In the linear regime, inflation can be discussed in an effective four-dimensional theory in the conventional way. We lift a four-dimensional inflating solution up to five dimensions where it represents an inflating domain wall pair. This shows explicitly the inhomogeneity in the fifth dimension. We also demonstrate the existence of inflating solutions with unconventional properties in the non-linear regime. Specifically, we find solutions with and without an horizon between the two boundaries. These solutions have certain problems associated with the stability of the additional dimension and the persistence of initial excitations of the Kaluza-Klein modes.Comment: 35 pages, Latex, one eps-figur

Moduli Spaces of Fivebranes on Elliptic Calabi-Yau Threefolds

We present a general method for calculating the moduli spaces of fivebranes wrapped on holomorphic curves in elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau threefolds, in particular, in the context of heterotic M theory. The cases of fivebranes wrapped purely on a fiber curve, purely on a curve in the base and, generically, on a curve with components both in the fiber and the base are each discussed in detail. The number of irreducible components of the fivebrane and their properties, such as their intersections and phase transitions in moduli space, follow from the analysis. Even though generic curves have a large number of moduli, we show that there are isolated curves that have no moduli associated with the Calabi-Yau threefold. We present several explicit examples, including cases which correspond to potentially realistic three family models with grand unified gauge group SU(5).Comment: 56 pages, latex2e with amsmath and epsfig, 9 postscript figure

Five--Branes and Supersymmetry Breaking in M--Theory

Supersymmetry breaking via gaugino condensation is studied in vacua of heterotic M-theory with five-branes. We show that supersymmetry is still broken by a global mechanism and that the non-perturbative superpotential takes the standard form. When expressed in terms of low energy fields, a modification arises due to a threshold correction in the gauge kinetic function that depends on five-brane moduli. We also determine the form of the low energy matter field Kahler potential. These results are used to discuss the soft supersymmetry breaking parameters, in particular the question of universality.Comment: 28 pages, Late

Higher-Derivative Gravitation in Bosonic and Superstring Theories

A discussion of the number of degrees of freedom, and their dynamical properties, in higher-derivative gravitational theories is presented. The complete non-linear sigma model for these degrees of freedom is exhibited using the method of auxiliary fields. As a by-product we present a consistent non-linear coupling of a spin-2 tensor to gravitation. It is shown that non-vanishing $(C_{\mu\nu\alpha\beta})^{2}$ terms arise in $N=1$, $D=4$ superstring Lagrangians due to one-loop radiative corrections with light field internal lines.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX2e and AMS-LaTeX 1.2, Talk presented at SUSY'95, Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau, Palaiseau, France, May 15-19, 199

Non-Perturbative Vacua and Particle Physics in M-Theory

In this letter, we introduce a general theory for the construction of particle physics theories, with three families and realistic gauge groups, within the context of heterotic M-theory. This is achieved using semi-stable holomorphic gauge bundles over elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau three-folds. Construction of realistic theories is facilitated by the appearance of non-perturbative five-branes in the vacuum. The complete moduli space of these five-branes is computed and their worldvolume gauge theory discussed. It is shown, within the context of holomorphic gauge bundles, how grand unified gauge groups can be spontaneously broken to the gauge group of the standard model. These ideas are illustrated in an explicit SU(5) three-family example.Comment: 16 pages, Latex 2e with amsmath, some typos correcte

Holomorphic Vector Bundles and Non-Perturbative Vacua in M-Theory

We review the spectral cover formalism for constructing both U(n) and SU(n) holomorphic vector bundles on elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau three-folds which admit a section. We discuss the allowed bases of these three-folds and show that physical constraints eliminate Enriques surfaces from consideration. Relevant properties of the remaining del Pezzo and Hirzebruch surfaces are presented. Restricting the structure group to SU(n), we derive, in detail, a set of rules for the construction of three-family particle physics theories with phenomenologically relevant gauge groups. We show that anomaly cancellation generically requires the existence of non-perturbative vacua containing five-branes. We illustrate these ideas by constructing four explicit three-family non-perturbative vacua.Comment: 44 pages, Latex 2e with amsmath, typos correcte

Standard Model Vacua in Heterotic M-Theory

We present a class of N=1 supersymmetric ``standard'' models of particle physics, derived directly from heterotic M-theory, that contain three families of chiral quarks and leptons coupled to the gauge group SU(3)_C X SU(2)_L X U(1)_Y. These models are a fundamental form of ``brane world'' theories, with an observable and hidden sector each confined, after compactification on a Calabi--Yau threefold, to a BPS three-brane separated by a higher dimensional bulk space with size of the order of the intermediate scale. The requirement of three families, coupled to the fundamental conditions of anomaly freedom and supersymmetry, constrains these models to contain additional five-branes located in the bulk space and wrapped around holomorphic curves in the Calabi--Yau threefold.Comment: 10 pages, Latex file, no figures. Talk given at STRINGS'99, Potsdam, Germany, July 19-24, 199