Related papers: Enhanced Gauge Symmetry in M-Theory
Modulated symmetries are internal symmetries that act in a non-uniform, spatially modulated way and are generalizations of, for example, dipole symmetries. In this paper, we systematically study the gauging of finite Abelian modulated…
In a recent paper, Polchinski and Strassler found a string theory dual of a gauge theory with reduced supersymmetry. Motivated by their approach, we perturb the $\N=8$ theory living on a set of N M2 branes to $\N=2$, by adding fermion mass…
We review and elaborate on certain aspects of the connections between instanton counting in maximally supersymmetric gauge theories and the computation of enumerative invariants of smooth varieties. We study in detail three instances of…
We review some aspects of moduli in string theory. We argue that one should focus on {\it approximate moduli spaces}, and that there is evidence that such spaces exist non-perturbatively. We ask what it would mean for string theory to…
We propose a method for constructing pairs of nonsupersymmetric gauge theories related by S-duality. Starting from a known S-duality of supersymmetric theories realized on the worldvolume of D3 branes in type IIB string theory, a new…
Potentially realistic string models often contain additional abelian gauge factors besides the standard model group. The consequences of such extended gauge structure are manifold both for theory and phenomenology as I show focussing in the…
We consider the probem of gauging discrete symmetries. All valid constraints on such symmetries can be understood in the low energy theory in terms of instantons. We note that string perturbation theory often exhibits global discrete…
We propose and give strong evidence for a duality relating Type II theories on Calabi-Yau spaces and heterotic strings on $K3 \times T^2$, both of which have $N=2$ spacetime supersymmetry. Entries in the dictionary relating the dual…
This is a pedagogical review article surveying the various approaches towards understanding gauge coupling unification within string theory. As is well known, one of the major problems confronting string phenomenology has been an apparent…
We investigate certain fixed points in the boundary conformal field theory representation of type IIA D-branes on Gepner points of K3. They correspond geometrically to degenerate brane configurations, and physically lead to enhanced gauge…
We detail the construction of the exceptional sigma model, which describes a string propagating in the "extended spacetime" of exceptional field theory. This is to U-duality as the doubled sigma model is to T-duality. Symmetry specifies the…
A type IIA string (or F-theory) compactified on a Calabi-Yau threefold is believed to be dual to a heterotic string on a K3 surface times a 2-torus (or on a K3 surface). We consider how the resulting moduli space of hypermultiplets is…
A large class of gapped phases of matter can be described by topological finite group gauge theories. In this paper we show how such gauge theories possess a higher-group global symmetry, which we study in detail. We derive the $d$-group…
A brief review of the status of duality symmetries in string theory is presented. The evidence is accumulating rapidly that an enormous group of duality symmetries, including perturbative T dualities and non-perturbative S-dualities,…
We begin the process of classifying all supersymmetric theories with quantum modified moduli. We determine all theories based on a single SU or Sp gauge group with quantum modified moduli. By flowing among theories we have calculated the…
Nonlinear sigma models arise in supergravity theories with or without matter couplings in various dimensions and they are important in understanding the duality symmetries of M-theory. With this motivation in mind, we review the salient…
Differential systems of pure Gaussian type are examples of D-modules on the complex projective line with an irregular singularity at infinity, and as such are subject to the Stokes phenomenon. We employ the theory of enhanced ind-sheaves…
In this paper we discuss quantum modified moduli spaces in supergravity. We examine a model suggested by Izawa and Yanagida and by Intriligator and Thomas that breaks global supersymmetry by a quantum deformation of the classical moduli…
In this article we will examine a "generalized topological sigma model." This so-called "generalized topological sigma model" is the M-Theoretic analog of the standard topological sigma model of string theory. We find that the observables…
We consider the reduction of the duality invariant approach to M-theory by a U-duality group valued Scherk-Schwarz twist. The result is to produce potentials for gauged supergravities that are normally associated with non-geometric…