Related papers: BKM Lie superalgebra for the Z_5 orbifolded CHL st…

We consider an open-string realisation of $\mathcal{N}=2\to \mathcal{N}=0$ spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry in four-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. It is based on type IIB orientifold theory compactified on $T^2\times…

We define a very general class of CHL-models associated with any string theory (bosonic or supersymmetric) compactified on an internal CFT C x T^d. We take the orbifold by a pair (g,\delta), where g is a (possibly non-geometric) symmetry of…

We study Z2-orbifolds of 11-dimensional M-theory on tori of various dimensions. The most interesting model (besides the known S1/Z2 case) corresponds to T5/Z2, for which we argue that the resulting six-dimensional theory is equivalent to…

We consider M-theory in the presence of M parallel M5-branes probing a transverse A_{N-1} singularity. This leads to a superconformal theory with (1,0) supersymmetry in six dimensions. We compute the supersymmetric partition function of…

Moduli stabilisation in superstring compactifications on Calabi-Yau orientifolds remains a key challenge in the search for realistic string vacua. In particular, odd moduli arising from the reduction of 2-forms $(B_2,C_2)$ in type IIB are…

In this thesis, we explore two approaches to string phenomenology. In the first half of the work, we investigate M-theory compactifications on spaces with co-dimension four, orbifold singularities. We construct M-theory on C^2/Z_N by…

Brane tilings provide the most general framework in string and M-theory for matching toric Calabi-Yau singularities probed by branes with superconformal fixed points of quiver gauge theories. The brane tiling data consists of a bipartite…

We realize the simple Lie superalgebra G(3) as supersymmetry of various geometric structures, most importantly super-versions of the Hilbert-Cartan equation (SHC) and Cartan's involutive PDE system that exhibit G(2) symmetry. We provide the…

We construct a general class of chiral four-dimensional string models with Scherk--Schwarz supersymmetry breaking, involving freely acting orbifolds. The basic ingredient is to combine an ordinary supersymmetry-preserving Z_N projection…

Any simple elliptic singularity of type $\tilde{D}_5$ can be obtained by taking the intersection of the nilpotent variety and the 4-dimensional "good slices" in the semi-simple Lie algebra ${\frak sl}(2, {\mathbb C}) \oplus {\frak sl}(2,…

The dynamics of a stack of M5 branes probing a transverse multi-centered Taub-NUT space are described by a class of 6d $\mathcal{N}=(1,0)$ superconformal field theories known as the M-string orbifold SCFTs. We determine the equivariant…

We study a class of Little String Theories (LSTs) of A type, described by $N$ parallel M5-branes spread out on a circle and which in the low energy regime engineer supersymmetric gauge theories with $U(N)$ gauge group. The BPS states in…

We associate a Jacobi form over a rank s lattice to N=2, D=4 heterotic string compactifications which have s Wilson lines at a generic point in the vector multiplet moduli space. Jacobi forms of index m=1 and m=2 have appeared earlier in…

We show that B-model topological strings on local Calabi-Yau threefolds are large N duals of matrix models, which in the planar limit naturally give rise to special geometry. These matrix models directly compute F-terms in an associated N=1…

We discuss a set of heterotic and type II string theory compactifications to 1+1 dimensions that are characterized by factorized internal worldsheet CFTs of the form $V_1\otimes \bar V_2$, where $V_1, V_2$ are self-dual (super) vertex…

We construct freely acting asymmetric $\mathbb{Z}_4$ orbifolds of type IIB string theory on $T^5$ preserving 24,16 or 8 supercharges in five dimensions. We show that these models are well-defined if the SO(8) lattice is chosen, instead of…

We study the ground states and left-excited states of the A_{k-1} N=(2,0) little string theory. Via a theorem by Atiyah [1], these sectors can be captured by a supersymmetric nonlinear sigma model on CP^1 with target space the based loop…

We analyse the symmetries of a class of A-type little string theories that are engineered by $N$ parallel M5-branes with M2-branes stretched between them. This paper deals with the so-called reduced free energy, which only receives…

Following arXiv:1005.3291 [hep-th], we discuss certain lightlike deformations of $AdS_5\times X^5$ in Type IIB string theory sourced by a lightlike dilaton $\Phi(x^+)$ dual to the N=4 super Yang-Mills theory with a lightlike varying gauge…

We explore the stringy structure of 1/2-BPS bound states of NS fivebranes carrying momentum or fundamental string charge, in the decoupling limits leading to little string theory and to AdS3/CFT2 duality. We develop an exact worldsheet…