Related papers: Summing up Open String Instantons and N=1 String A…

We describe a new class of N=2 topological amplitudes that compute a particular class of BPS terms in the low energy effective supergravity action. Specifically they compute the coupling F^2(\lambda\lambda)^{g-2}(d\phi)^2 where F, \lambda…

Hypermultiplet couplings in type IIA string theory on a Calabi-Yau space can be quantum corrected by D2-brane instantons wrapping special Lagrangian cycles. On the other hand, hypermultiplet couplings in the heterotic string on a K3 surface…

We propose a formalism inspired by matrix models to compute open and closed topological string amplitudes in the B-model on toric Calabi-Yau manifolds. We find closed expressions for various open string amplitudes beyond the disk, and in…

We determine the units and numerical values for a class of couplings in the effective theory of perturbative heterotic string vacua, with the emphasis on the correct translation between the canonical gauge coupling g and Planck scale…

In this lecture we summarize some recent work on the understanding of instanton effects in string theories with 16 supersymmetries. In particular, we consider F^4 couplings using the duality between the heterotic string on T^4 and type IIA…

In this work, we study a class of higher derivative couplings in the string effective action arising at the junction of topological string theory and supersymmetric gauge theories in the $\Omega$-background. They generalise a series of…

I use the universal instanton formalism to discuss quantum effects in the open-closed topological string theory of a Calabi-Yau A-model, in the presence of a multiply-wrapped `Floer' D-brane. This gives a precise meaning (up to the issue of…

We show that modularity and the gap condition make the holomorphic anomaly equation completely integrable for non-compact Calabi-Yau manifolds. This leads to a very efficient formalism to solve the topological string on these geometries in…

We revisit the holomorphic anomaly equations satisfied by the topological string amplitude from the perspective of the 4D-5D lift, in the context of ''magic'' N=2 supergravity theories. In particular, we interpret the Gopakumar-Vafa…

In these lecture notes duality tests and instanton effects in supersymmetric vacua of string theory are discussed. A broad overview of BPS-saturated terms in the effective actions is first given. Their role in testing the consistency of…

Many quantum field theories in one, two and four dimensions possess remarkable limits in which the instantons are present, the anti-instantons are absent, and the perturbative corrections are reduced to one-loop. We analyze the…

We review the duality between heterotic and F--theory string vacua with N=1 space-time supersymmetry in eight, six and four dimensions. In particular, we discuss two chains of four-dimensional F--theory/heterotic dual string pairs, where…

We describe a new class of instanton effects in string compactifications that preserve only N=1 supersymmetry in four dimensions. As is well-known, worldsheet or brane instantons in such a background can sometimes contribute to an effective…

We present a new method to solve the holomorphic anomaly equations governing the free energies of type B topological strings. The method is based on direct integration with respect to the non-holomorphic dependence of the amplitudes, and…

We show that certain heterotic string amplitudes are given in terms of correlators of the twisted topological (2,0) SCFT, corresponding to the internal sector of the N=1 spacetime supersymmetric background. The genus g topological partition…

Using instanton calculus we check, in the weak coupling region, the nonperturbative relation $$ <\Tr\phi^2>=i\pi\left(\cf-{a\over 2} {\partial\cf\over\partial a}\right)$$ obtained for a N=2 globally supersymmetric gauge theory. Our…

We use the polynomial formulation of the holomorphic anomaly equations governing perturbative topological string theory to derive the free energies in a scaling limit to all orders in perturbation theory for any Calabi-Yau threefold. The…

We explain and illustrate how to compute string-loop amplitudes in Calabi-Yau orientifold compactification in the large volume limit with the help of the patch-by-patch description of string field theory. We compute the one-loop partition…

Computation of the holomorphic $F_1$-function describing one-loop gravitational couplings of vectormultiplets is shown to confirm string-string duality of the proposed dual pair consisting of the heterotic string on $K3\times T^2$ with…

We show that a general solution to the extended holomorphic anomaly equations for the open topological string on D-branes in a Calabi-Yau manifold, recently written down by Walcher in arXiv:0705.4098, is obtained from the general solution…