On the String Landscape Without Hypermultiplets
Abstract
In this work we study interesting corners of the quantum gravity landscape with 8 supercharges pushing the boundaries of our current understanding. Calabi-Yau threefolds compactifications of F/M/type II theories to 6, 5 and 4 dimensions are the most prominent examples of this class, and these always lead to a universal hypermultiplet coming from the volume/string coupling constant. We find that there are asymmetric orbifold constructions which have no hypermultiplets in 4 or 5 dimensions and no neutral hypers in 6d. We argue that these theories can also be obtained by going to strong coupling/small volume regions of geometric constructions where a new Coulomb branch opens up and moving in this direction freezes the volume/string coupling constant. Interestingly we find that the Kodaira condition encountered in geometric limits of F-theory compactifications to 6 dimensions is violated in these corners of the landscape due to strong quantum corrections. We also construct a theory in 3 dimensions which if it were to arise by toroidal compactifications from 5d, it would have to come from pure supergravity with no massless scalar fields.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2309.15152,
title = {On the String Landscape Without Hypermultiplets},
author = {Zihni Kaan Baykara and Yuta Hamada and Houri-Christina Tarazi and Cumrun Vafa},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2309.15152},
year = {2023}
}
Comments
46 pages, 1 figure