F-theory with hyperelliptic fibrations

We discuss the role of hyperelliptic fibrations in F-theory. For each even integer $n$ we give a noncompact Calabi--Yau threefold $X$ containing a hyperelliptically fibered surface $Y$, such that $X$ and $Y$ are homotopy equivalent and $c_2(X) = n$. We investigate two distinct cases depending on the position of the hyperelliptic fibration. First, we propose to extend F-theory considering hyperelliptic fibrations, giving an identification between the determinant of the period matrix and the axio-dilaton. Such an identification requires that the curve satisfies an appropriate criterium which we describe. Our explicit examples have split Jacobian, preserve the same number of degrees of freedom of usual F-theory, while allowing for the appearance of a greater variety of singularities. Second, when the hyperelliptic fibration is contained in the base of a Calabi--Yau fourfold, we show that tadpole cancellation conditions are satisfied for arbitrarily large values of $c_2(X)$.