Related papers: Stable Singularities in String Theory
We consider string theory in a time dependent orbifold with a null singularity. The singularity separates a contracting universe from an expanding universe, thus constituting a big crunch followed by a big bang. We quantize the theory both…
A review article submitted to Physics Report: Target space duality and discrete symmetries in string theory are reviewed in different settings.
We study and extend the duality web unifying different decoupling limits of type II superstring theories and M-theory. We systematically build connections to different corners, such as Matrix theories, nonrelativistic string and M-theory,…
This is a survey article on the recent development of "stringy geometry and topology of orbifolds", a new subject of mathematics motivated by orbifold string theory.
We analyze the behavior of the heterotic string near an A-D-E singularity without small instantons. This problem is governed by a strongly coupled worldsheet conformal field theory, which, by a combination of O(alpha') corrections and…
I discuss the role of spacetime supersymmetry in the interplay between strong/weak coupling duality and target space duality in string theory which arises in string/string duality. This can be seen via the construction of string soliton…
We deform the standard four dimensional $\N=1$ superspace by making the odd coordinates $\theta$ not anticommuting, but satisfying a Clifford algebra. Consistency determines the other commutation relations of the coordinates. In particular,…
We investigate the following three consistency conditions for constructing string theories on orbifolds: i) the invariance of the energy-momentum tensors under twist operators, ii) the duality of amplitudes and iii) modular invariance of…
We will show how the study of randomly triangulated surfaces merges with the study of open/closed string dualities. In particular we will discuss the Conformal Field Theory which arises in the open string sector and its implications.
String theory appears to admit a group of discrete field transformations -- called $S$ dualities -- as exact non-perturbative quantum symmetries. Mathematically, they are rather analogous to the better-known $T$ duality symmetries, which…
Conformal boundary conditions in two-dimensional conformal field theories are still mostly an uncharted territory. Even less is known about the relevant boundary deformations that connect them. A natural approach to the problem is via…
Motivated by string gas cosmology, we investigate the stability of moduli fields coming from compactifications of string gas on torus with background flux. It was previously claimed that moduli are stabilized only at a single fixed point in…
We study anomalies of discrete internal global symmetry $G$ in two-dimensional rational conformal field theories based on twisted torus partition functions. The anomaly of $G$ can be seen from the noncommutativity of two symmetry lines…
The nature of duality symmetries is explored in closed bosonic string theory, particularly in the case of a four-dimensional target space admitting a one-parameter isometry. It appears that the S-duality of string theory behaves analogously…
Unstable coalgebras over the Steenrod algebra form a natural target category for singular homology with prime field coefficients. The realization problem asks whether an unstable coalgebra is isomorphic to the homology of a topological…
New relations of correlation functions are found in topological string theory; one for each second cohomology class of the target space. They are close cousins of the Deligne-Dijkgraaf-Witten's puncture and dilaton equations. When combined…
In this paper we analyze discrete torsion in perturbative heterotic string theory. In previous work we have given a purely mathematical explanation of discrete torsion as the choice of orbifold group action on a B field, in the case that d…
We present a classical conformal field theory on an arbitrary two-dimensional spacetime background. The dynamical object is a space-filling string, and the evolution may be thought as occurring on the manifold of the conformal group. The…
String backgrounds are described as purely geometric objects related to moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces, in the spirit of Segal's definition of a conformal field theory. Relations with conformal field theory, topological field theory and…
While intersection cohomology is stable under small resolutions, both ordinary and intersection cohomology are unstable under smooth deformation of singularities. For complex projective algebraic hypersurfaces with an isolated singularity,…