Related papers: The M-Theory Three-Form and Singular Geometries
Recent scenarios of phenomenologically realistic string compactifications involve the existence of gauge sectors localized on D-branes at singular points of Calabi-Yau threefolds. The spectrum and interactions in these gauge sectors are…
Deformations of maximal supergravity theories induced by gauging non-abelian subgroups of the duality group reveal the presence of charged M-theory degrees of freedom that are not necessarily contained in supergravity. The relation with…
We revisit the singular IIB supergravity solution describing M fractional 3-branes on the conifold [hep-th/0002159]. Its 5-form flux decreases, which we explain by showing that the relevant \NN=1 SUSY SU(N+M)xSU(N) gauge theory undergoes…
We consider F-theory and M-theory compactifications on singular Calabi-Yau fourfolds with an SU(5) singularity. On the M-theory side this realizes three-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric gauge theories with matter, and compactification on a…
Scalar fields with masses protected by global shift symmetries, commonly referred to as axions, are abundantly used in effective field theories in cosmology and particle physics. However, global symmetries cannot be expected to be protected…
M(atrix) theory compactified on an orbifold ${\bf T}_9/{\bf Z}_2$ is studied. Via zero-brane parton scattering we find that each of the $2^9 = 512$ orbifold fixed points carry $-1/32$ units of zero-brane charge. The anomalous flux is…
A bubble of nothing is a spacetime instability where a compact dimension collapses. After nucleation, it expands at the speed of light, leaving "nothing" behind. We argue that the topological and dynamical mechanisms which could protect a…
We discuss the structure of charged matter couplings in 4-dimensional F-theory compactifications. Charged matter is known to arise from M2-branes wrapping fibral curves on an elliptic or genus-one fibration Y. If a set of fibral curves…
Four-form flux in F-theory compactifications not only stabilizes moduli, but gives rise to ensembles of string vacua, providing a scientific basis for a stringy notion of naturalness. Of particular interest in this context is the ability to…
Deformations of the original F-theory background are proposed. These lead to multiple new dualities and physical phenomena. We concentrate on one model where we let seven-branes wrap a multi-centered Taub-NUT space instead of R4. This…
Vacuum compactifications may suffer from instabilities under small perturbations or tunnel effects; both are difficult to analyze. In this paper we consider the issue from a higher-dimensional perspective. We first look at how stability…
In this paper we discuss decomposition in the context of three-dimensional Chern-Simons theories. Specifically, we argue that a Chern-Simons theory with a gauged noneffectively-acting one-form symmetry is equivalent to a disjoint union of…
A fully realistic and systematic effective field theory model of a 3-brane universe is constructed. It consists of a six-dimensional gravitating spacetime, containing several, approximately parallel (3+1)-dimensional defects, or…
We investigate the classical geometry corresponding to a collection of fractional D3 branes in the orbifold limit of an ALE space. We discuss its interpretation in terms of the world-volume gauge theory on the branes, which is in general a…
We study the reduction of 11- dimensional M-theory to (3 +1) dimensions with four conserved supersymmetric charges by following the work of B. Acharya and E. Witten [arXiv:hep-th/0109152]. We first review the various 10D superstrings…
We describe a general method for deducing T-dualities of little string theories, which are dualities between these theories that arise when they are compactified on circle. The method works for both untwisted and twisted circle…
We study a class of extremal transitions between topological distinct Calabi--Yau manifolds which have an interpretation in terms of the special massless states of a type II string compactification. In those cases where a dual heterotic…
We systematically analyze a broad class of dual heterotic and F-theory models that give four-dimensional supergravity theories, and compare the geometric constraints on the two sides of the duality. Specifically, we give a complete…
We disclose the mathematical structure underlying the gauge field sector of the recently constructed non-abelian superconformal models in six spacetime dimensions. This is a coupled system of 1-form, 2-form, and 3-form gauge fields. We show…
We consider compactifications of M-theory and type IIA string theory to four dimensions. For Minkowski space-time, a supergravity no-go theorem forbids flux supported in the internal space. We show how to evade this no-go theorem by…