Related papers: $G_2$-instantons over twisted connected sums: an e…

We compute the gravitational coupling $F_1$ for IIA string theory on $K3 \times T^2$ and use string-string duality to deduce the corresponding term for heterotic string on $T^6$. The latter is an infinite sum of gravitational instanton…

We completely determine the mod $2$ Seiberg-Witten invariants for any spin structure on any closed, oriented, smooth $4$-manifold $X$. Our computation confirms the validity of the simple type conjecture mod $2$ for spin structures. Our…

We study the moduli spaces of self-dual instantons on CP^2 in a simple group G. When G is a classical group, these instanton solutions can be realised using ADHM-like constructions which can be naturally embedded into certain three…

For two nearby disjoint coassociative submanifolds C and C' in a G_2-manifold, we construct thin instantons with boundaries lying on C and C' from regular J-holomorphic curves in C. We explain their relationship with the Seiberg-Witten…

The 1/8 BPS $D^6\mathcal{R}^4$ coupling in type II string theory compactified on $T^2$ receives contributions from worldsheet instantons and anti-instantons wrapping the $T^2$, up to genus three in string perturbation theory. These involve…

We prove a closed formula counting semistable twisted Higgs bundles of fixed rank and degree over a smooth projective curve defined over a finite field. We also prove a formula for the Donaldson-Thomas invariants of the moduli spaces of…

We introduce new obstructions to topological knot concordance. These are obtained from amenable groups in Strebel's class, possibly with torsion, using a recently suggested $L^2$-theoretic method due to Orr and the author. Concerning…

Let $X$ be a K3 surface, let $C$ be a smooth curve of genus $g$ on $X$, and let $A$ be a base point free and primitive line bundle $g_d^r$ on $C$ with $d\geq4$ and $r\geq\sqrt{\frac{d}{2}}$. In this paper, we prove that if $g>2d-3+(r-1)^2$,…

We introduce and study a notion of invariant intrinsic torsion geometry which appears, for instance, in connection with the Bryant-Salamon metric on the spinor bundle over S^3. This space is foliated by six-dimensional hypersurfaces, each…

We give the exact construction of Riemannian (or stringy) instantons, which are classical solutions of 2d Yang-Mills theories that interpolate between initial and final string configurations. They satisfy the Hitchin equations with special…

We construct explicit BPS and non-BPS solutions of the U(2k) Yang-Mills equations on the noncommutative space R^{2n}_\theta x S^2 with finite energy and topological charge. By twisting with a Dirac multi-monopole bundle over S^2, we reduce…

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…

Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group and let $P$ be a principal $G$-bundle over $K$. The gauge group of $P$ is the topological group of automorphisms of $P$. For fixed $G$ and $K$, consider all principal $G$-bundles $P$ over $K$. It is…

D-instantons are used to probe the near-horizon geometry of D3-branes systems on orbifold spaces. For fractional D3-branes, D-instanton calculus correctly reproduces the gauge beta-function and U(1)_R anomaly of the corresponding N=2…

A new dynamic SU(3)-structure solution in type-IIA is found by T-dualising a deformation of the Maldacena-Nastase solution along an SU(2) isometry. It is argued that this is dual to a quiver gauge theory with multiple Chern-Simons levels. A…

This is the second in a series of papers discussing in the framework of gerbe theory canonical and geometric aspects of the 2d nonlinear sigma model in the presence of conformal defects in the worldsheet. Employing the formal tools worked…

In string theory, the concept of T-duality between two principal U(1)-bundles E_1 and E_2 over the same base space B, together with cohomology classes $h_1\in H^3(E_1)$ and $h_2\in H^3(E_2)$, has been introduced. One of the main virtues of…

Instantons, emerged in particle physics, have been intensely studied since the 1970's and had an enormous impact in mathematics since then. In this paper, we focus on one particular way in which mathematical physics has guided the…

Using co-homogeneity one symmetries, we construct a two-parameter family of non-abelian $G_2$-instantons on every member of the asymptotically locally conical $\mathbb{B}_7$-family of $G_2$-metrics on $S^3 \times \mathbb{R}^4 $, and…

We present a construction of a canonical G_2 structure on the unit sphere tangent bundle S_M of any given orientable Riemannian 4-manifold M. Such structure is never geometric or 1-flat, but seems full of other possibilities. We start by…