Generalized unitarity and one-loop amplitudes in N=4 super-Yang-Mills

Finding the exact, quantum corrected metric on the hypermultiplet moduli space in Type II string compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds still poses an outstanding open problem. We address this issue by relating the quaternionic-Kahler metric on the hypermultiplet moduli space to the complex contact geometry on its twistor space. In this framework, Euclidean D-brane instanton contributions are captured by contact transformations between different locally flat patches. We derive those by recasting the previously known A-type D2-instanton corrections in the language of contact geometry, covariantizing the result under electro-magnetic duality, and using mirror symmetry. As a result, we are able to express the effects of all D-instantons in Type II compactifications concisely as a sum of dilogarithm functions. We conclude with some comments on the relation to microscopic degeneracies of four-dimensional BPS black holes and to the wall-crossing formula of Kontsevich and Soibelman, and on the form of the yet unknown NS5-brane instanton contributions.

https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/42645/jhep032009044.pdf;sequence=1

D-instantons and twistors

We review recent progress in determining the effects of d-brane instantons in supersymmetric compactifications of Type II string theory to four dimensions. We describe the abstract d-brane instanton calculus for holomorphic couplings such as the superpotential, the gauge kinetic function, and higher fermionic F-terms, and we briefly discuss the implications of background fluxes for the instanton sector. We then summarize the concrete consequences of stringy d-brane instantons for the construction of semirealistic models of particle physics or supersymmetry breaking in compact and noncompact geometries.

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.nucl.010909.083113

d-Brane Instantons in Type II Orientifolds

One-loop gauge theory amplitudes in N=4 super Yang-Mills from MHV vertices

We review recent progress in determining the effects of D-brane instantons in N=1 supersymmetric compactifications of Type II string theory to four dimensions. We describe the abstract D-brane instanton calculus for holomorphic couplings such as the superpotential, the gauge kinetic function and higher fermionic F-terms. This includes a discussion of multi-instanton effects and the implications of background fluxes for the instanton sector. Our presentation also highlights, but is not restricted to the computation of D-brane instanton effects in quiver gauge theories on D-branes at singularities. We then summarize the concrete consequences of stringy D-brane instantons for the construction of semi-realistic models of particle physics or SUSY-breaking in compact and non-compact geometries.

D-brane Instantons in Type II String Theory

Using constraints from supersymmetry and string perturbation theory, we determine the string loop corrections to the hypermultiplet moduli space of type II strings compactified on a generic Calabi-Yau threefold. The corresponding quaternion-Kahler manifolds are completely encoded in terms of a single function. The latter receives a one-loop correction and, using superspace techniques, we argue for the existence of a non-renormalization theorem excluding higher loop contributions.

String loop corrected hypermultiplet moduli spaces

In a recent paper, Witten proposed a surprising connection between perturbative gauge theory and a certain topological model in twistor space. In particular, he showed that gluon amplitudes are localized on holomorphic curves. In this note we present some preliminary considerations on the possibility of having a similar localization for gravity amplitudes.

A note on twistor gravity amplitudes

A Note on Twistor Gravity Amplitudes

We use mirror symmetry to determine and sum up a class of membrane instanton corrections to the hypermultiplet moduli space metric arising in Calabi-Yau threefold compactifications of type IIA strings. These corrections are mirror to the D1 and D(-1)-brane instantons on the IIB side and are given explicitly in terms of a single function in projective superspace. The corresponding four-dimensional effective action is completely fixed by the Euler number and the genus zero Gopakumar-Vafa invariants of the mirror Calabi-Yau.

Membrane instantons from mirror symmetry

https://www.intlpress.com/site/pub/files/_fulltext/journals/cntp/2007/0001/0004/CNTP-2007-0001-0004-a003.pdf

Daniel Robles-Llana

Papers

String loop corrected hypermultiplet moduli spaces

A note on twistor gravity amplitudes

A Note on Twistor Gravity Amplitudes

Membrane instantons from mirror symmetry

Membrane instantons from mirror symmetry