English

Small-Instanton Transitions in F-theory

High Energy Physics - Theory 2020-07-03 v2

Abstract

We study the phase transition between G-instantons and D3-branes. A G-instanton is a classical solution to the self-dual equation of the M/F-theory four-form field strength G in the complex fourfold. This phase transition is dual to that between small instantons and 5-branes in the heterotic string. Using G as a background gauge flux, we may dynamically control the gauge symmetry breaking, connect between different vacua of F-theory and understand D3-branes in terms of group-theoretical quantities. We also discuss the resulting chirality change and preservation of anomaly freedom.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1911.12846,
  title  = {Small-Instanton Transitions in F-theory},
  author = {Stephen Angus and Kang-Sin Choi},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1911.12846},
  year   = {2020}
}

Comments

27 pages; Added discussion on chirality change

R2 v1 2026-06-23T12:30:26.340Z