Related papers: Heterotic/Type-I Duality in D<10 Dimensions, Thres…
Horava--Witten M theory -- heterotic string duality poses special problems for the twisted sectors of heterotic orbifolds. In [1] we explained how in M theory the twisted states couple to gauge fields apparently living on M9 branes at both…
The nature of M-theory on K3 X I, where I is a line interval, is considered, with a view towards formulating a `matrix theory' representation of that situation. Various limits of this compactification of M-theory yield a number of well…
We propose a nonperturbative framework for the O(32) type I open and closed string theory. The short distance degrees of freedom are bosonic and fermionic hermitian matrices belonging respectively to the adjoint and fundamental…
We address the nonperturbative structure of topological strings and c=1 matrix models, focusing on understanding the nature of instanton effects alongside with exploring their relation to the large-order behavior of the 1/N expansion. We…
We discuss the duality between two type I compactifications to four dimensions and an heterotic construction with spontaneous breaking of the N=4 supersymmetry to N=2. This duality allows us to gain insight into the non-perturbative…
This talk is based on the recent work in collaboration with M. Azreg-A\"{\i}nou and G. Cl\'ement devoted to extremal instantons in the one-vector truncation of the Euclidean $\mathcal{N}=4,\, D=4$ theory. Extremal solutions satisfying the…
We introduce a method of using the a dual type IIA string to compute alpha'-corrections to the moduli space of heterotic string compactifications. In particular we study the hypermultiplet moduli space of a heterotic string on a K3 surface.…
We compute certain one-loop corrections to F^4 couplings of the heterotic string compactified on T^2, and show that they can be characterized by holomorphic prepotentials. We then discuss how some of these couplings can be obtained in…
We study ${\cal F}^4$-threshold corrections in an eight dimensional S-dual pair of string theories, as a prototype of dual string vacua with sixteen supercharges. We show that the orbifold CFT description of D-string instantons gives rise…
We describe a new class of instanton effects in string compactifications that preserve only N=1 supersymmetry in four dimensions. As is well-known, worldsheet or brane instantons in such a background can sometimes contribute to an effective…
We derive the fivebrane instanton corrections to the hypermultiplet moduli space $M_H$ of Calabi-Yau string vacua using S-duality symmetry of the type IIB formulation. The result is given in terms of a set of holomorphic functions on the…
We show that the resolution of moduli space of ideal instantons parameterizes the instantons on non-commutative $\IR^{4}$. This moduli space appears as a Higgs branch of the theory of $k$ $D0$-branes bound to $N$ $D4$-branes by the…
We consider geodesics of infinite length and constant 4d dilaton in the (classical) hypermultiplet moduli space of type II Calabi-Yau compactifications. When approaching such infinite distance points, a large amount of D-instantons develop…
We use D-instantons to probe the geometry of Misner universe, and calculate the world volume field theory action, which is of the 1+0 dimensional form and highly non-local. Turning on closed string tachyons, we see from the deformed moduli…
The heterotic string occurs as a soliton of the type I superstring in ten dimensions, supporting the conjecture that these two theories are equivalent. The conjecture that the type IIB string is self-dual, with the strong coupling dynamics…
It has been proposed by Sen that the D-instanton effects in string theory can be systematically determined through the framework of open-closed string field theory. We apply the latter formalism to analyze the D-instanton corrections to the…
Four-graviton couplings in the low energy effective action of type II string vacua compactified on tori are strongly constrained by supersymmetry and U-duality. While the $R^4$ and $D^4 R^4$ couplings are known exactly in terms of…
The moduli space of toroidal type I vacua, which are consistent at the non-perturbative level, consists of independent branches characterized by the number (0, 16 or 32) of rigid branes sitting on top of orientifold planes. This structure…
Non-perturbative features of the derivative expansion of the effective action of a single D3-brane are obtained by considering scattering amplitudes of open and closed strings. This motivates expressions for the coupling constant dependence…
We introduce the coupled instanton equations for a metric, a spinor, a three-form, and a connection on a bundle, over a spin manifold. Special solutions in dimensions $6$ and $7$ arise, respectively, from the Hull--Strominger and the…