Related papers: Wrapping the M Theory Five-Brane on K3
We show that the conformal anomaly for N M5-branes grows like $N^3$. The method we employ relates Coulomb branch interactions in six dimensions to interactions in four dimensions using supersymmetry. This leads to a relation between the…
If one begins with the assertion that the type IIA string compactified on a K3 surface is equivalent to the heterotic string on a four-torus one may try to find a statement about duality in ten dimensions by decompactifying the four-torus.…
In this thesis, the emerging field of higher gauge theory will be discussed, particularly in relation to problems arising in M-theory, such as selfdual strings and the so-called (2,0) theory. This thesis will begin with a Nahm-like…
We study $\textrm{AdS}_2\times S^4 \times S^2 \times \Sigma_2$ solutions in type IIB string theory arising from D1 -- D3 -- NS5 brane intersections. These backgrounds enjoy sixteen supercharges and the corresponding internal geometry is…
We study ${\cal N}=2$ compactifications of heterotic string theory on the CHL orbifold $(K3\times T^2)/\mathbb{Z}_N$ with $N= 2, 3, 5, 7$. $\mathbb{Z}_N$ acts as an involution on $K3$ together with a shift of $1/N$ along one of the circles…
We present a new construction of four dimensional $\mathcal N=3$ theories, given by M5 branes wrapping a $T^2$ in an M-theory U-fold background. The resulting setup generalizes the one used in the usual class $\mathcal S$ construction of…
We present an ADHMN-like construction which generates self-dual string solutions to the effective M5-brane worldvolume theory from solutions to the Basu-Harvey equation. Our construction finds a natural interpretation in terms of gerbes,…
We propose a complete, d=6 covariant and kappa-symmetric, action for an M-theory five-brane propagating in D=11 supergravity background.
Geometric transitions between Calabi-Yau manifolds have proven to be a powerful tool in exploring the intricate and interconnected vacuum structure of string compactifications. However, their role in N=1, 4-dimensional string…
We study a five-dimensional field theory which contains a monopole (string) solution with chiral fermion zero modes. This monostring solution is a close analog of the fivebrane solution of M-theory. The cancellation of normal bundle…
Heterotic $M$-theory consists of a five-dimensional manifold of the form $S^1/\mathbf{Z}_2 \times M_{4}$. It has been shown that one of the two orbifold planes, the "observable" sector, can have a low energy particle spectrum which is…
The near-horizon geometry of parallel NS5-branes is described by an exact superconformal 2d field theory based on K^10 = W(k)^4 x M^6, with M^6 a flat 5+1 space time and W(k)^4 =U(1) x SU(2)(k), a four dimensional background with…
We argue for the existence of phase transitions in $3+1$ dimensions associated with the appearance of tensionless strings. The massless spectrum of this theory does not contain a graviton: it consists of one $N=2$ vector multiplet and one…
Type II compactifications with varying string coupling can be described elegantly in F-theory/M-theory as compactifications on U - manifolds. Using a similar approach to describe Super Yang-Mills with a varying coupling constant, we argue…
A key open problem in M-theory is the mechanism of "gauge enhancement", which supposedly makes M-branes exhibit the nonabelian gauge degrees of freedom that are seen perturbatively in the limit of 10d string theory. In fact, since only the…
We construct vacua of M-theory on S^1/Z_2 associated with Calabi-Yau three-folds. These vacua are appropriate for compactification to N=1 supersymmetry theories in both four and five dimensions. We allow for general E_8 x E_8 gauge bundles…
We show that there exist two 27 and one 27bar of E6, net one chiral supermultiplet as zero modes localized on the intersecting 5-branes in the E8 x E8 heterotic string theory. A heterotic background is constructed by the standard embedding…
We discuss the low energy effective theory of an M5-brane wrapped on a smooth holomorphic four-cycle of K3 x T^2, including the special case of T^6. In particular we give the lowest order equations of motion and resolve a puzzle concerning…
We examine the D-3 brane from the point of view of the double dimensionally reduced M theory 5 brane on a torus. M-theory, IIB identifications are explicitly constructed and a possible reformulation of the D-3 brane is discussed. The…
Compactifications of heterotic M-theory are shown to provide solutions to the weak- and axion-scale hierarchy problems as a consequence of warped large extra dimensions. They allow a description that is reminiscent of the so-called…