Related papers: M-theory on $S^1\vee S^1$ as Type 0A
We investigate compactifications of M-theory from $11\to 5\to 4$ dimensions and discuss geometrical properties of 4-d moduli fields related to the structure of 5-d theory. We study supersymmetry breaking by compactification of the fifth…
We study the spacetime decay to nothing in string theory and M-theory. First we recall a nonsupersymmetric version of heterotic M-theory, in which bubbles of nothing -- connecting the two E_8 boundaries by a throat -- are expected to be…
Pure N=1 super Yang-Mills theory can be realised as a certain low energy limit of M theory near certain singularities in $G_2$-holonomy spaces. For SU(n) and SO(2n) gauge groups these $M$ theory backgrounds can be regarded as strong…
We argue that all conjectured dualities involving various string, M- and F- theory compactifications can be `derived' from the conjectured duality between type I and SO(32) heterotic string theory, T-dualities, and the definition of M- and…
Superstring theories in the critical dimension D=10 are connected to one another by a well-explored web of dualities. In this paper we use closed-string tachyon condensation to connect the supersymmetric moduli space of the critical…
We examine the possibility that the strong CP problem is solved by string-theoretic axions in strong-coupling limit of the E_8 x E_8 heterotic string theory (M-theory). We first discuss some generic features of gauge kinetic functions in…
While M- and F-theory compactifications describe a much larger class of vacua than perturbative string compactifications, they typically need singularities to generate non-abelian gauge fields and charged matter. The physical explanation…
Type II compactifications with varying string coupling can be described elegantly in F-theory/M-theory as compactifications on U - manifolds. Using a similar approach to describe Super Yang-Mills with a varying coupling constant, we argue…
The connection between IIA superstring theory compactified on a circle of radius R and IIB theory compactified on a circle of radius 1/R is reexamined from the perspective of N=2, D=9 space-time supersymmetry. We argue that the consistency…
In the strong coupling limit type IIA superstring theory develops an eleventh dimension that is not apparent in perturbation theory. This suggests the existence of a consistent 11d quantum theory, called M theory, which is approximated by…
We discuss some aspects of closed superstrings in Melvin-type magnetic backgrounds. A 2-parameter family of such NS-NS backgrounds are exactly solvable as weakly coupled string models with the spectrum containing tachyonic modes. Magnetic…
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 discuss stability of non-supersymmetric compactification of M-theory and string theory of the form AdS * X, and their dual non-supersymmetric interacting conformal field theories. We argue some of the difficulties in controlling…
We consider Scherk-Schwarz compactifications of M-theory (toroidal compactifications with a non-trivial spin structure) in various dimensions and find isolated critical points of the potential on the moduli space. We demonstrate this by…
Geometric structures and dualities arise naturally in quantum field theories and string theory. In fact, these tools become very useful when studying strong coupling effects, where standard perturbative techniques can no longer be used. In…
Superstring/M-theory compactified on compact Ricci flat manifolds have recently been conjectured to exhibit instabilities whenever the metrics do not have special holonomy. We use worldsheet conformal field theory to investigate…
It is well-established that compactifying type I string theory on a circle \( S^{(1)} \) transforms the theory under T-duality into type I' theory, the compactification of type IIA string theory on the orbifold \(…
The nature of M-theory on K3 X I, where I is a line interval, is considered, with a view towards formulating a `matrix theory' representation of that situation. Various limits of this compactification of M-theory yield a number of well…
Duality transformations involving compactifications on timelike as well as spacelike circles link M-theory, the 10+1-dimensional strong coupling limit of IIA string theory, to other 11-dimensional theories in signatures 9+2 and 6+5 and to…
Motivated by the work of Polchinski and Strominger on type IIA theory, where the effect of non-trivial field strengths for p-form potentials on a Calabi-Yau space was discussed, we study four-dimensional heterotic string theory in the…