Related papers: Duality Invariant Effective String Actions and Min…
We study the heterotic string compactified on K3 x T^2 near the line T=U, where the effective action becomes singular due to an SU(2) gauge symmetry enhancement. By `integrating in' the light W^\pm vector multiplets we derive a quantum…
We study the construction of the minimal supersymmetric standard model from the $Z_8$ orbifold models. We use a target-space duality anomaly cancellation and a unification of gauge couplings as constraints. It is shown that some models…
We discuss four dimensional effective actions of string theory flux compactifications. These effective actions describe four dimensional gravity coupled to overall Kahler modulus of the compactification manifold. We demonstrate the…
In this dissertation, we study various aspects of type IIB string theory compactified on freely acting orbifolds. We focus particularly on asymmetric orbifolds, which are examples of non-geometric string compactifications and constitute an…
We discuss a duality of (0,2) heterotic string vacua which implies that certain pairs of (0,2) Calabi-Yau compactifications on topologically distinct target manifolds yield identical string theories. Some complex structure moduli in one…
We generalize to the case of compactified superstrings a construction given previously for critical superstrings of finite one loop amplitudes that are well-defined for all external momenta. The novel issues that arise for compactified…
We investigate compactifications with duality twists and their relation to orbifolds and compactifications with fluxes. Inequivalent compactifications are classified by conjugacy classes of the U-duality group and result in gauged…
On compactification to six spacetime dimensions, the fundamental heterotic string admits as a soliton a dual string whose effective worldsheet action couples to the background fields of the dual formulation of six-dimensional supergravity.…
We derive the moduli dependent threshold corrections to gauge couplings in toroidal orbifold compactifications. The underlying six dimensional torus lattice of the heterotic string theory is not assumed ---as in previous calculations--- to…
We revisit the question of gauge coupling unification at the string scale in orbifold compactifications of the heterotic string for the supersymmetric Standard Model. In the presence of discrete Wilson lines threshold corrections with…
The symmetry properties of the bosonic string effective action under Poisson-Lie duality transformations are investigated. A convenient and simple formulation of these duality transformations is found, that allows the reduction of the…
We present a duality procedure that relates conventional four-dimensional matter-coupled N=1 supergravities to dual formulations in which auxiliary fields are replaced by field-strengths of gauge three-forms. The duality promotes specific…
We review extensions by integer spin simple currents in two-dimensional conformal field theories and their applications in string theory. In particular, we study the problem of resolving the fixed points of a simple current and apply the…
I review our recent attempts toward obtaining the MSSM from string orbifold compactification. The required constraints are the existence of three families and R parity, vectorlike exotics, one pair of Higgs doublets, and the SU(5)$'$ hidden…
The R^4 terms in the effective action for M-theory compactified on a two-torus are motivated by combining one-loop results in type II superstring theories with the Sl(2,Z) duality symmetry. The conjectured expression reproduces precisely…
I discuss several aspects of strings as unified theories. After recalling the difficulties of the simplest supersymmetric grand unification schemes I emphasize the distinct features of string unification. An important role in constraining…
The low-energy effective theories describing string compactifications in the presence of fluxes are so-called gauged supergravities: deformations of the standard abelian supergravity theories. The deformation parameters can be identified…
The effective action for type II string theory compactified on a six torus is $N=8$ supergravity, which is known to have an $E_{7}$ duality symmetry. We show that this is broken by quantum effects to a discrete subgroup, $E_7(\Z)$, which…
We use freely acting asymmetric orbifolds of type IIB string theory to construct a class of theories in four dimensions with eight supercharges. Their low energy effective field theories resemble $STU$ models, but have different duality…
Double Field Theory is a manifestly T-duality invariant formulation of string theory in which the effective theory at any order of $\alpha'$ is invariant under global $O(D,D)$ transformations and ought to be invariant under gauge…