Related papers: Rational Conformal Field Theories With G_2 Holonom…
We develop a powerful new analytic method to construct complete non-compact G2-manifolds, i.e. Riemannian 7-manifolds (M,g) whose holonomy group is the compact exceptional Lie group G2. Our construction starts with a complete non-compact…
We argue that two four-dimensional strongly coupled superconformal field theories, on the Higgs branch in certain large N limits, become respectively (2,0) theory and (1,1) little string theory in six dimensions. We identify the spectrum of…
We study perturbative compactifications of Type II string theory that rely on a fibration structure of the extra dimensions a la SYZ. Non-geometric spaces are obtained by using T-dualities as monodromies. These vacua generically preserve…
We analyse the geometry of generic Minkowski $\mathcal{N}=1$, $D=4$ flux compactifications in string theory, the default backgrounds for string model building. In M-theory they are the natural string theoretic extensions of $\mathrm{G}_2$…
We identify type IIA orientifolds that are dual to M-theory compactifications on manifolds with G_2-holonomy. We then discuss the construction of crosscap states in Gepner models. (Based on a talk presented by S.G. at PASCOS 2003 held at…
We construct the T duals of certain type IIA brane configurations with one compact dimension (elliptic models) which contain orientifold planes. These configurations realize four-dimensional $\NN=2$ finite field theories. For elliptic…
After orientifold projection, the conifold singularity in hypermultiplet moduli space of Calabi-Yau compactifications cannot be avoided by geometric deformations. We study the non-perturbative fate of this singularity in a local model…
We give a new construction of compact Riemannian 7-manifolds with holonomy $G_2$. Let $M$ be a torsion-free $G_2$-manifold (which can have holonomy a proper subgroup of $G_2$) such that $M$ admits an involution $\iota$ preserving the…
This Ph.D. thesis investigates effective field and string theories in which supersymmetry is realized and broken in various ways. Chapter 1 addresses effective theories with nonlinearly realized supersymmetry, constructed using the…
We define the two-dimensional $O(n)$ conformal field theory as a theory that includes the critical dilute and dense $O(n)$ models as special cases, and depends analytically on the central charge. For generic values of $n\in\mathbb{C}$, we…
We construct several new G(2) holonomy metrics that play an important role in recent studies of geometrical transitions in compactifications of M-theory to four dimensions. In type IIA string theory these metrics correspond to D6 branes…
We discuss the analogy between collapsing Conformal Field Theories and measured Gromov-Hausdorff limit of Riemannian manifolds with non-negative Ricci curvature. Motivated by this analogy we propose the notion of non-commutative…
The goal of this paper is the construction of a compact manifold with G$_2$ holonomy and nodal singularities along circles using twisted connected sum method. This paper finds matching building blocks by solving the Calabi conjecture on…
We show that 4--dimensional conformal field theory is most naturally formulated on Kulkarni 4--folds, i. e. real 4--folds endowed with an integrable quaternionic structure. This leads to a formalism that parallels very closely that of…
We introduce a finite-dimensional algebra that controls the possible boundary conditions of a conformal field theory. For theories that are obtained by modding out a Z_2 symmetry (corresponding to a so-called D_odd-type, or half-integer…
In this paper D-brane boundary states constructed in Gepner models are used to analyze some aspects of the dynamics of D0-branes in Calabi-Yau compactifications of type II theories to four dimensions. It is shown that the boundary states…
In this thesis we study two-dimensional conformal field theories with Virasoro algebra symmetry, following the conformal bootstrap approach. Under the assumption that degenerate fields exist, we provide an extension of the analytic…
Localization properties of fields in compact extra dimensions are crucial ingredients for string model building, particularly in the framework of orbifold compactifications. Realistic models often require a slight deviation from the…
We review the construction of regular p-brane solutions of M-theory and string theory with less than maximal supersymmetry whose transverse spaces have metrics with special holonomy, and where additional fluxes allow for brane resolutions…
We consider N=2 four dimensional field theories compactified on a two torus in the presence of a U(1) magnetic field. We discuss the restrictions leading to theories with (2,2) supersymmetry or (0,2) supersymmetry in two dimensions. The…