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This thesis studies meta- and exactly stable supersymmetry breaking mechanisms in heterotic and type IIB string theories and constructs an F-theory Grand Unified Theory model for neutrino physics in which neutrino mass is determined by the…

We consider 4d N=1 theories arising from F-theory compactifications on elliptically-fibered Calabi-Yau four-folds and investigate the non-perturbative structure of their scalar field space beyond the large volume/large complex structure…

We study type I compactification on a 4-torus, with a non-trivial discrete background RR 4-form field. By using string dualities and recent insights for gauge theories on tori, we find that a non-trivial background for the RR 4-form is…

A major problem in discussing heterotic string models is the stabilisation of the many vector bundle moduli via the superpotential generated by world-sheet instantons. In arXiv:1110.6315 we have discussed the method to make a discrete twist…

In this report, we present a concise review on the various moduli stabilisation schemes proposed in the context of type IIB superstring compactifications using Calabi-Yau orientifolds. We discuss the details of the known schemes by…

We review an approach for computing non-perturbative, exact superpotentials for Type II strings compactified on Calabi-Yau manifolds, with extra fluxes and D-branes on top. The method is based on an open string generalization of mirror…

In this thesis we study string compactifications on manifolds equipped with a $G$-structure, placing a special emphasis on the interplay between geometry and physics. We follow two complementary approaches. In the first part of the thesis…

We study the moduli-dependent prefactor of M5-instanton corrections to the superpotential in four-dimensional F-theory compactifications. In light of the M-theory and type IIb limits and also heterotic duality, we propose that the explicit…

We investigate quantum corrections to the hypermultiplet moduli space M in Calabi-Yau compactifications of type II string theories, with particular emphasis on instanton effects from Euclidean NS5-branes. Based on the consistency of D- and…

An interesting feature of type IIB flux compactifications is the natural presence of strongly warped regions or `throats'. These regions allow for a 5d Randall-Sundrum model interpretation with a large hierarchy between the UV and IR brane.…

We develop methods to study the singularities of certain $G_2$ cones related to toric hyperkahler spaces and Einstein selfdual orbifolds. This allows us to determine the low energy gauge groups of chiral N=1 compactifications of M-theory on…

In this article, which is based on the first part of my PhD thesis, I review the statistics of the open string sector in T^6/(Z_2xZ_2) orientifold compactifications of the type IIA string. After an introduction to the orientifold setup, I…

Relations between the global structure of the gauge group in elliptic F-theory compactifications, fractional null string junctions, and the Mordell-Weil lattice of rational sections are discussed. We extend results in the literature, which…

We present a framework for de Sitter model building in type IIA string theory, illustrated with specific examples. We find metastable dS minima of the potential for moduli obtained from a compactification on a product of two Nil…

We study moduli stabilization for type IIB orientifold compactifications on Calabi-Yau three-folds with (non-)geometric fluxes. For this setting it is possible to stabilize all closed-string moduli classically without the need for…

We argue that the following three statements cannot all be true: (i) our vacuum is a type IIB / F-theory vacuum at moderate-to-large $h^{1,1}$, (ii) the $\alpha'$-expansion is controlled via the supergravity approximation, \`a la the KKLT…

We continue the development of axion monodromy inflation, focussing in particular on the backreaction of complex structure moduli. In our setting, the shift symmetry comes from a partial large complex structure limit of the underlying type…

Anomalous U(1)'s are ubiquitous in 4D chiral string models. Their presence crucially affects the process of moduli stabilisation and cannot be neglected in realistic set-ups. Their net effect in the 4D effective action is to induce a matter…

We investigate the Hilbert complex of elasticity involving spaces of symmetric tensor fields. For the involved tensor fields and operators we show closed ranges, Friedrichs/Poincare type estimates, Helmholtz type decompositions, regular…

We derive stability conditions for the critical points of the no-scale scalar potential governing the dynamics of the complex structure moduli and the axio-dilaton in compactifications of type IIB string theory on Calabi-Yau three-folds. We…