Branes at Generalized Conifolds and Toric Geometry

We use toric geometry to investigate the recently proposed relation between a set of D3 branes at a generalized conifold singularity and type IIA configurations of D4 branes stretched between a number of relatively rotated NS5 branes. In particular we investigate how various resolutions of the singularity corresponds to moving the NS branes and how Seiberg's duality is realized when two relatively rotated NS-branes are interchanged.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures; v2: references added, clarifying footnote on Seiberg's duality adde

Naturalness and Chaotic Inflation in Supergravity from Massive Vector Multiplets

We study the embedding of the quadratic model of chaotic inflation into the 4D, N=1 minimal theories of supergravity by the use of massive vector multiplets and investigate its robustness against higher order corrections. In particular, we investigate the criterion of technical naturalness for the inflaton potential. In the framework of the new-minimal formulation the massive vector multiplet is built in terms of a real linear multiplet coupled to a vector multiplet via the 4D analog of the Green-Schwarz term. This theory gives rise to a single-field quadratic model of chaotic inflation, which is protected by an shift symmetry which naturally suppresses the higher order corrections. The embedding in the old-minimal formulation is again achieved in terms of a massive vector multiplet and also gives rise to single-field inflation. Nevertheless in this case there is no obvious symmetry to protect the model from higher order corrections.Comment: 15 pages, version accepted in JHE

Constraints on Higher Derivative Operators in Maximally Supersymmetric Gauge Theory

Following the work of Dine and Seiberg for SU(2), we study the leading irrelevant operators on the moduli space of N=4 supersymmetric SU(N) gauge theory. These operators are argued to be one-loop exact, and are explicitly computed.Comment: 6 pages, harvmac. Note added. (Only a subset of the leading irrelevant operators have been shown to be one-loop exact.

Charged black holes in compactified spacetimes

We construct and investigate a compactified version of the four-dimensional Reissner-Nordstrom-NUT solution, generalizing the compactified Schwarzschild black hole that has been previously studied by several workers. Our approach to compactification is based on dimensional reduction with respect to the stationary Killing vector, resulting in three-dimensional gravity coupled to a nonlinear sigma model. Using that the original non-compactified solution corresponds to a target space geodesic, the problem can be linearized much in the same way as in the case of no electric nor NUT charge. An interesting feature of the solution family is that for nonzero electric charge but vanishing NUT charge, the solution has a curvature singularity on a torus that surrounds the event horizon, but this singularity is removed when the NUT charge is switched on. We also treat the Schwarzschild case in a more complete way than has been done previously. In particular, the asymptotic solution (the Levi-Civita solution with the height coordinate made periodic) has to our knowledge only been calculated up to a determination of the mass parameter. The periodic Levi-Civita solution contains three essential parameters, however, and the remaining two are explicitly calculated here.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures. v2: Typo corrected, reference adde

Hyperkahler quotients and algebraic curves

We develop a graphical representation of polynomial invariants of unitary gauge groups, and use it to find the algebraic curve corresponding to a hyperkahler quotient of a linear space. We apply this method to four dimensional ALE spaces, and for the A_k, D_k, and E_6 cases, derive the explicit relation between the deformations of the curves away from the orbifold limit and the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameters in the corresponding quotient construction. We work out the orbifold limit of E_7, E_8, and some higher dimensional examples.Comment: Two typos corrected--Journal version; 23 pages, 13 figures, harvma

Superspace Higher Derivative Terms in Two Dimensions

We study $(2,2)$ and $(4,4)$ supersymmetric theories with superspace higher derivatives in two dimensions. A characteristic feature of these models is that they have several different vacua, some of which break supersymmetry. Depending on the vacuum, the equations of motion describe different propagating degrees of freedom. Various examples are presented which illustrate their generic properties. As a by-product we see that these new vacua give a dynamical way of generating non-linear realizations. In particular, our 2D $(4,4)$ example is the dimensional reduction of a 4D $N=2$ model, and gives a new way for the spontaneous breaking of extended supersymmetry.Comment: 23 pages, v3: comments added, published versio

A potential for Generalized Kahler Geometry

We show that, locally, all geometric objects of Generalized Kahler Geometry can be derived from a function K, the "generalized Kahler potential''. The metric g and two-form B are determined as nonlinear functions of second derivatives of K. These nonlinearities are shown to arise via a quotient construction from an auxiliary local product (ALP) space.Comment: 12 pages, contribution to "Handbook of pseudo-Riemannian Geometry and Supersymmetry