Related papers: Discrete Torsion
Recently M. Kontsevich found a combinatorial formula defining a star-product of deformation quantization for any Poisson manifold. Kontsevich's formula has been reinterpreted physically as quantum correlation functions of a topological…
In the Lagrangian approach to 2-dimensional sigma models, B-fields and D-branes contribute topological terms to the action of worldsheets of both open and closed strings. We show that these terms naturally fit into a 2-dimensional, smooth…
In this paper we continue our investigation of the global categorical symmetries that arise when gauging finite higher groups and their higher subgroups with discrete torsion. The motivation is to provide a common perspective on the…
We investigate the effective dynamics of an arbitrary Dirichlet p-brane, in a path-integral formalism, by incorporating the massless excitations of closed string modes in open bosonic string theory. It is shown that the closed string…
Recently, it has been established that the discrete star Laplace and the discrete Dirac operator, i.e. the discrete versions of their continuous counterparts when working on the standard grid, are rotation-invariant. This was done starting…
We consider toroidal compactifications of bosonic string theory with particular regard to the phases (cocycles) necessary for a consistent definition of the vertex operators, the boundary states and the T-duality rules. We use these…
It is shown how two-dimensional states corresponding to D-branes arise in orbifolds of topologically massive gauge and gravity theories. Brane vertex operators naturally appear in induced worldsheet actions when the three-dimensional gauge…
We discuss some Z_N^L x Z_N^R orbifold compactifications of the type IIB superstring to D= 4,6 dimensions and their type I descendants. Although the Z_N^L x Z_N^R generators act asymmetrically on the chiral string modes, they result into…
We discuss novel properties of the string field and the Open String Field Theory action arising in a system with multiple D-branes, then use the level truncation scheme to study marginal deformations and tachyon condensation in a system…
We study string theory on a non-singular time-dependent orbifold of flat space, known as the `null-brane'. The orbifold group, which involves only space-like identifications, is obtained by a combined action of a null Lorentz transformation…
Four-dimensional compactifications of string theory provide a controlled set of possible gauge representations accounting for BSM particles and dark sector components. In this review, constraints from perturbative Type II string…
Horava--Witten M theory -- heterotic string duality poses special problems for the twisted sectors of heterotic orbifolds. In [1] we explained how in M theory the twisted states couple to gauge fields apparently living on M9 branes at both…
We obtain the bosonic D-brane description of toroidally compactified non-trivial M2-branes with the unique property of having a purely discrete supersymmetric regularized spectrum with finite multiplicity. As a byproduct, we generalize the…
Let $A$ be either a simplicial complex $K$ or a small category $\mathcal C$ with $V(A)$ as its set of vertices or objects. We define a twisted structure on $A$ with coefficients in a simplicial group $G$ as a function $$ \delta\colon…
We determine the role of torsion in the local and global geometrical description of M2-branes with fluxes and parabolic monodromies. The monodromy corresponds to a representation of the fundamental group of the base manifold into the…
We analyse in detail the language of partially non-abelian Deligne cohomology and of twisted differential K-theory, in order to describe the geometry of type II superstring backgrounds with D-branes. This description will also provide the…
We define analytic torsion for the twisted de Rham complex, consisting of the spaces of differential forms on a compact oriented Riemannian manifold X valued in a flat vector bundle E, with a differential given by a flat connection on E…
In this note we observe that, contrary to the usual lore, string orbifolds do not describe strings on quotient spaces, but rather seem to describe strings on objects called quotient stacks, a result that follows from simply unraveling…
This paper begins with a theoretical explanation of why spacetime is discrete. The derivation shows that there exists an elementary length which is essentially Planck's length. We then show how the existence of this length affects time…
We study the world volume action of fractional Dp-branes of type IIA string theory compactified on the orbifold T^4/Z_2. The geometric relation between these branes and wrapped branes is investigated using conformal techniques. In…