The new vertices and canonical quantization

We present two results on the recently proposed new spin foam models. First, we show how a (slightly modified) restriction on representations in the EPRL model leads to the appearance of the Ashtekar-Barbero connection, thus bringing this model even closer to LQG. Second, we however argue that the quantization procedure used to derive the new models is inconsistent since it relies on the symplectic structure of the unconstraint BF theory.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure; added subsection on ordering of Casimir operators, more details on imposing simplicity constraint

c-map as c=1 string

We show the existence of a duality between the c-map space describing the universal hypermultiplet at tree level and the matrix model description of two-dimensional string theory compactified at a self-dual radius and perturbed by a sine-Liouville potential. It appears as a particular case of a general relation between the twistor description of four-dimensional quaternionic geometries and the Lax formalism for Toda hierarchy. Furthermore, we give an evidence that the instanton corrections to the c-map metric coming from NS5-branes can be encoded into the Baker-Akhiezer function of the integrable hierarchy.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figure

Bi-gravity with a single graviton

We analyze a bi-gravity model based on the first order formalism, having as fundamental variables two tetrads but only one Lorentz connection. We show that on a large class of backgrounds its linearization agrees with general relativity. At the non-linear level, additional degrees of freedom appear, and we reveal the mechanism hiding them around the special backgrounds. We further argue that they do not contain a massive graviton, nor the Boulware-Deser ghost. The model thus propagates only one graviton, whereas the nature of the additional degrees of freedom remains to be investigated. We also present a foliation-preserving deformation of the model, which keeps all symmetries except time diffeomorphisms and has three degrees of freedom.Comment: 29 page

Non-perturbative scalar potential inspired by type IIA strings on rigid CY

Motivated by a class of flux compactifications of type IIA strings on rigid Calabi-Yau manifolds, preserving N=2 local supersymmetry in four dimensions, we derive a non-perturbative potential of all scalar fields from the exact D-instanton corrected metric on the hypermultiplet moduli space. Applying this potential to moduli stabilization, we find a discrete set of exact vacua for axions. At these critical points, the stability problem is decoupled into two subspaces spanned by the axions and the other fields (dilaton and Kahler moduli), respectively. Whereas the stability of the axions is easily achieved, numerical analysis shows instabilities in the second subspace.Comment: 38 pages; some changes in presentatio

Theta series, wall-crossing and quantum dilogarithm identities

Motivated by mathematical structures which arise in string vacua and gauge theories with N=2 supersymmetry, we study the properties of certain generalized theta series which appear as Fourier coefficients of functions on a twisted torus. In Calabi-Yau string vacua, such theta series encode instanton corrections from $k$ Neveu-Schwarz five-branes. The theta series are determined by vector-valued wave-functions, and in this work we obtain the transformation of these wave-functions induced by Kontsevich-Soibelman symplectomorphisms. This effectively provides a quantum version of these transformations, where the quantization parameter is inversely proportional to the five-brane charge $k$. Consistency with wall-crossing implies a new five-term relation for Faddeev's quantum dilogarithm $\Phi_b$ at $b=1$, which we prove. By allowing the torus to be non-commutative, we obtain a more general five-term relation valid for arbitrary $b$ and $k$, which may be relevant for the physics of five-branes at finite chemical potential for angular momentum.Comment: 26 pages; v2: added discussion on relation to complex Chern-Simons, misprints correcte