Related papers: Topological Mirrors and Quantum Rings
If $X$ and $Y$ are a mirror pair of Calabi--Yau threefolds, mirror symmetry should extend to an isomorphism between the type IIA string theory compactified on $X$ and the type IIB string theory compactified on $Y$, with all nonperturbative…
Motivated by the recent work of Kachru-Vafa in string theory, we study in Part A of this paper, certain identities involving modular forms, hypergeometric series, and more generally series solutions to Fuchsian equations. The identity which…
It is argued that every Calabi-Yau manifold $X$ with a mirror $Y$ admits a family of supersymmetric toroidal 3-cycles. Moreover the moduli space of such cycles together with their flat connections is precisely the space $Y$. The mirror…
We give some simple examples of mirror Calabi-Yau fourfolds in Type II string theory. These are realised as toroidal orbifolds. Motivated by the Strominger, Yau, Zaslow argument we give explicitly the mirror transformation which maps Type…
These notes are aimed at mathematicians working on topics related to mirror symmetry, but are unfamiliar with the physical origins of this subject. We explain the physical concepts that enable this surprising duality to exist, using the…
We review various constructions of mirror symmetry in terms of Landau-Ginzburg orbifolds for arbitrary central charge $c$ and \CY\ hypersurfaces and complete intersections in toric varieties. In particular it is shown how the different…
Duality transformations with respect to rotational isometries relate supersymmetric with non-supersymmetric backgrounds in string theory. We find that non-local world-sheet effects have to be taken into account in order to restore…
This review talk focusses on some of the interesting developments in the area of superstring compactification that have occurred in the last couple of years. These include the discovery that ``mirror symmetric" pairs of Calabi--Yau spaces,…
We describe some recent progress in understanding and formulating string theory which is based on extensive studies of strings in lower (D=2) dimension. At the center is a large $W_{\infty}$ symmetry that appears most simply in the matrix…
We review the status of duality symmetries in superstring theories. These discrete symmetries mark the striking differences between theories of pointlike objects and theories of extended objects. They prove to be very helpful in…
We show that there are two different dualities of two dimensional gauge theories with N=(2,2) supersymmetry. One is basically a consequence of 3d mirror symmetry. The non-linear sigma model with Calabi-Yau target space on the Higgs branch…
We give a mathematical account of a recent string theory calculation which predicts the number of rational curves on the generic quintic threefold. Our account involves the interpretation of Yukawa couplings in terms of variations of Hodge…
String theories with two dimensional space-time target spaces are characterized by the existence of a ``ground ring'' of operators of spin $(0,0)$. By understanding this ring, one can understand the symmetries of the theory and illuminate…
The gauged sigma-model argument that string backgrounds related by T-dual give equivalent quantum theories is revisited, taking careful account of global considerations. The topological obstructions to gauging sigma-models give rise to…
We discuss different formulations and approaches to string theory and $ 2d$ quantum gravity. The generic idea to get a unique description of {\it many} different string vacua altogether is demonstrated on the examples in $ 2d$ conformal,…
We revisit the backgrounds of type IIB on manifolds with $SU(4)$-structure and discuss two sets of solutions arising from internal geometries that are complex and symplectic respectively. Both can be realized in terms of generalized complex…
We examine various properties of double field theory and the doubled string sigma model in the context of geometric quantisation. In particular we look at T-duality as the symplectic transformation related to an alternative choice of…
In this lecture we review some of the recent developments in string theory on an introductory and qualitative level. In particular we focus on S-T-U dualities of toroidally compactified ten-dimensional string theories and outline the…
In this note I review the role played by dualities in the Supermembrane Theory compactified on a torus. Supermembrane theory realize S, T, so U-duality, as exact symmetries of the theory. There are two well defined sectors: with and without…
Geometric Langlands duality can be understood from statements of mirror symmetry that can be formulated in purely topological terms for an oriented two-manifold $C$. But understanding these statements is extremely difficult without picking…