Related papers: Spectral asymmetry for manifolds of special holono…
We consider some infinitesmal and global deformations of G_2 structures on 7-manifolds. We discover a canonical way to deform a G_2 structure by a vector field in which the associated metric gets "twisted" in some way by the vector cross…
We investigate hetrotic string theory on special holonomy manifolds including exceptional holonomy G_2 and Spin(7) manifolds. The gauge symmetry is F_4 in a G_2 manifold compactification, and so(9) in a Spin(7) manifold compactification. We…
In this survey, we describe invariants that can be used to distinguish connected components of the moduli space of holonomy G_2 metrics on a closed 7-manifold, or to distinguish G_2-manifolds that are homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic. We…
We define new Riemannian structures on 7-manifolds by a differential form of mixed degree which is the critical point of a (possibly constrained) variational problem over a fixed cohomology class. The unconstrained critical points…
We show how certain diffeomorphism-invariant functionals on differential forms in dimensions 6,7 and 8 generate in a natural way special geometrical structures in these dimensions: metrics of holonomy G2 and Spin(7), metrics with weak…
We present a construction of superconformal field theories for manifolds with Spin(7) holonomy. Geometrically these models correspond to the realization of Spin(7) manifolds as anti-holomorphic quotients of Calabi-Yau fourfolds. Describing…
We exhibit examples of closed Riemannian 7-manifolds with holonomy G_2 such that the underlying manifolds are diffeomorphic but whose associated G_2-structures are not homotopic. This is achieved by defining two invariants of certain…
We study mirror symmetry of type II strings on manifolds with the exceptional holonomy groups $G_2$ and Spin(7). Our central result is a construction of mirrors of Spin(7) manifolds realized as generalized connected sums. In parallel to…
We study Ricci-flat metrics on non-compact manifolds with the exceptional holonomy $Spin(7), G_2$. We concentrate on the metrics which are defined on ${\bf R} \times G/H$. If the homogeneous coset spaces $G/H$ have weak $G_2$, SU(3)…
A Hadwiger-type theorem for the exceptional Lie groups $G_2$ and $Spin(7)$ is proved. The algebras of $G_2$ or $Spin(7)$ invariant, translation invariant continuous valuations are both of dimension 10. Geometrically meaningful bases are…
This paper investigates the geometric structures and properties of 8-dimensional manifolds with Spin(7)-holonomy. We focus on the characterization and implications of 4-planes within these manifolds, which are endowed with an almost…
The exceptional holonomy groups are G2 in 7 dimensions, and Spin(7) in 8 dimensions. Riemannian manifolds with these holonomy groups are Ricci-flat. This is a survey paper on exceptional holonomy, in two parts. Part I introduces the…
We describe the different classes of $\mathrm{Spin(7)}$ structures in terms of spinorial equations. We relate them to the spinorial description of $\mathrm{G}_2$ structures in some geometrical situations. Our approach enables us to analyze…
Starting from the superconformal algebras associated with $G_2$ manifolds, I extend the algebra to the manifolds with spin(7) holonomy. I show how the mirror symmetry in manifolds with spin(7) holonomy arises as the automorphism in the…
We show that the $G_2$-manifolds and certain ${\rm Spin}(7)$-manifolds are endowed with natural Riemannian twistorial structures. Along the way, the exceptional holonomy representations are reviewed and other related facts are considered.
We use classical obstruction theory \`{a} la Eilenberg-Steenrod to obtain a homotopy classification of $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-structures on compact $8$-manifolds with abelian fundamental group. As an application, we show that a compact,…
We construct new explicit metrics on complete non-compact Riemannian 8-manifolds with holonomy Spin(7). One manifold, which we denote by A_8, is topologically R^8 and another, which we denote by B_8, is the bundle of chiral spinors over…
The main purpose of this paper is to give a mathematical definition of ``mirror symmetry'' for Calabi-Yau and G_2 manifolds. More specifically, we explain how to assign a G_2 manifold (M,\phi,\Lambda), with the calibration 3-form \phi and…
The algebras of valuations on $S^6$ and $S^7$ invariant under the actions of $\mathrm G_2$ and $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$ are shown to be isomorphic to the algebra of translation-invariant valuations on the tangent space at a point invariant under…
Using D2-brane probes, we study various properties of M-theory on singular, non-compact manifolds of G_2 and Spin(7) holonomy. We derive mirror pairs of N=1 supersymmetric three-dimensional gauge theories, and apply this technique to…