Related papers: BKM Lie superalgebra for the Z_5 orbifolded CHL st…
In this paper, we develop the mathematical formulation of metric string structures. These play a crucial role in the formulation of certain six-dimensional superconformal field theories and we believe that they also underlie potential…
We describe the construction of string theory models with semirealistic spectrum in a sector of (anti) D3-branes located at an orbifold singularity at the bottom of a highly warped throat geometry, which is a generalisation of the…
We consider compactifications of the matrix model of M-theory on $S^1/Z_2\times T^d$ for $d>0$, and interpret them as orbifolds of the supersymmetric U(N) Yang-Mills theory on $R\times T^{d+1}$. The orbifold group acts both on the gauge…
In any string theory there is a hidden, twisted superconformal symmetry algebra, part of which is made up by the BRST current and the anti-ghost. We investigate how this algebra can be systematically constructed for strings with $N\!-\!2$…
We extend the dictionary between the BPS spectrum of Heterotic strings and the one of F-/M-theory compactifications on $K3$ fibered Calabi-Yau 3-folds to cases with higher rank non-Abelian gauge groups and in particular to dual pairs…
We propose examples, which involve orbifolds by elements of the U-duality group, with M-theory moduli fixed at the eleven-dimensional Planck scale. We begin by reviewing asymmetric orbifold constructions in perturbative string theory, which…
This thesis is almost entirely devoted to studying string theory backgrounds characterized by simple geometrical and integrability properties. The archetype of this type of system is given by Wess-Zumino-Witten models, describing string…
We study Little String Theories (LST) with ${\cal N}=(1,0)$ supersymmetry arising, in a suitable double scaling limit, from 5-branes in heterotic string theory or in the heterotic-like type II/$(-)^{F_L}\times {\rm shift}$. The limit in…
F-theory on appropriately fibered Spin(7) holonomy manifolds is defined to arise as the dual of M-theory on the same space in the limit of a shrinking fiber. A class of Spin(7) orbifolds can be constructed as quotients of elliptically…
We study orbifolds by permutations of two identical N=2 minimal models within the Gepner construction of four dimensional heterotic strings. This is done using the new N=2 supersymmetric permutation orbifold building blocks we have recently…
We consider double scaled little string theory on $K3$. These theories are labelled by a positive integer $k \ge 2$ and an $ADE$ root lattice with Coxeter number $k$. We count BPS fundamental string states in the holographic dual of this…
We consider a class of heterotic N=2 -> 0 super no-scale Z_2-orbifold models. An appropriate stringy Scherk-Schwarz supersymmetry breaking induces tree level masses to all massless bosons of the twisted hypermultiplets and therefore…
We apply the modular approach to computing the topological string partition function on non-compact elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau 3-folds with higher Kodaira singularities in the fiber. The approach consists in making an ansatz for the…
It has been known that D=5 simple supergravity resembles D=11 supergravity in many respects. We present their further resemblances in (1) the duality groups upon dimensional reduction, and (2) the worldsheet structure of the solitonic…
We uncover higher algebraic structures on Noether currents and BPS charges. It is known that equivalence classes of conserved currents form a Lie algebra. We show that at least for target space symmetries of higher parameterized WZW-type…
We construct a coupled wire model for a sequence of non-Abelian quantum Hall states occurring at filling factors $\nu=2/(2M+q)$ with integers $M$ and even(odd) integers $q$ for fermionic(bosonic) states. They are termed $Z_2 \times Z_2$…
In this dissertation, we study various aspects of type IIB string theory compactified on freely acting orbifolds. We focus particularly on asymmetric orbifolds, which are examples of non-geometric string compactifications and constitute an…
Recently, an attractive model of GUT breaking has been proposed in which a 5 dimensional supersymmetric SU(5) gauge theory on an S^1/(Z_2\times Z_2') orbifold is broken down to the 4d MSSM by SU(5)-violating boundary conditions. Motivated…
We construct a novel orientifold of type IIB string theory that breaks all supersymmetries. It is a closed string theory without open sector and it can be understood as a Scherk-Schwarz deformation in which supersymmetry is restored at…
Three-dimensional string models with half-maximal supersymmetry are believed to be invariant under a large U-duality group which unifies the S and T dualities in four dimensions. We propose an exact, U-duality invariant formula for…