Showing papers on "Calabi–Yau manifold published in 2005"

Systematics of moduli stabilisation in Calabi-Yau flux compactifications

Abstract: We study the large volume limit of the scalar potential in Calabi-Yau flux compactifications of type IIB string theory. Under general circumstances there exists a limit in which the potential approaches zero from below, with an associated non-supersymmetric AdS minimum at exponentially large volume. Both this and its de Sitter uplift are tachyon-free, thereby fixing all K?hler and complex structure moduli. Also, for the class of vacua described in this paper, the gravitino mass is independent of the flux discretuum, whereas the ratio of the string scale to the 4d Planck scale is hierarchically small but flux dependent. The inclusion of ?' corrections plays a crucial role in the structure of the potential. We illustrate these ideas through explicit computations for a particular Calabi-Yau manifold.

The Spectrum of $BPS$ Branes on a Noncompact Calabi-Yau

Abstract: We begin the study of the spectrum of BPS branes and its variation on lines of marginal stability on 2(?3), a Calabi-Yau ALE space asymptotic to 3/3. We show how to get the complete spectrum near the large volume limit and near the orbifold point, and find a striking similarity between the descriptions of holomorphic bundles and BPS branes in these two limits. We use these results to develop a general picture of the spectrum. We also suggest a generalization of some of the ideas to the quintic Calabi-Yau.

Supersymmetry Breaking from a Calabi-Yau Singularity

Abstract: We conjecture a geometric criterion for determining whether supersymmetry is spontaneously broken in certain string backgrounds. These backgrounds contain wrapped branes at Calabi-Yau singularites with obstructions to deformation of the complex structure. We motivate our conjecture with a particular example: the Y2,1 quiver gauge theory corresponding to a cone over the first del Pezzo surface, dP1. This setup can be analyzed using ordinary supersymmetric field theory methods, where we find that gaugino condensation drives a deformation of the chiral ring which has no solutions. We expect this breaking to be a general feature of any theory of branes at a singularity with a smaller number of possible deformations than independent anomaly-free fractional branes.

Supersymmetric backgrounds from generalized Calabi‐Yau manifolds

Abstract: We show that the supersymmetry transformations for type II string theories on six-manifolds can be written as differential conditions on a pair of pure spinors, the exponentiated Kahler form eiJ and the holomorphic form O. The equations are explicitly symmetric under exchange of the two pure spinors and a choice of even or odd-rank RR field. This is mirror symmetry for manifolds with torsion. Moreover, RR fluxes affect only one of the two equations: eiJ is closed under the action of the twisted exterior derivative in IIA theory, and similarly O is closed in IIB. This means that supersymmetric SU(3)-structure manifolds are always complex in IIB while they are twisted symplectic in IIA. Modulo a different action of the B-field, these are all generalized Calabi-Yau manifolds, as defined by Hitchin.

Topological string amplitudes, complete intersection Calabi-Yau spaces and threshold corrections

Abstract: We present the most complete list of mirror pairs of Calabi-Yau complete intersections in toric ambient varieties and develop the methods to solve the topological string and to calculate higher genus amplitudes on these compact Calabi-Yau spaces. These symplectic invariants are used to remove redundancies in examples. The construction of the B-model propagators leads to compatibility conditions, which constrain multi-parameter mirror maps. For K3 fibered Calabi-Yau spaces without reducible fibers we find closed formulas for all genus contributions in the fiber direction from the geometry of the fibration. If the heterotic dual to this geometry is known, the higher genus invariants can be identified with the degeneracies of BPS states contributing to gravitational threshold corrections and all genus checks on string duality in the perturbative regime are accomplished. We find, however, that the BPS degeneracies do not uniquely fix the non-perturbative completion of the heterotic string. For these geometries we can write the topological partition function in terms of the Donaldson-Thomas invariants and we perform a non-trivial check of S-duality in topological strings. We further investigate transitions via collapsing D5 del Pezzo surfaces and the occurrence of free 2 quotients that lead to a new class of heterotic duals.

Stable D-branes, calibrations and generalized Calabi-Yau geometry

Abstract: We introduce generalized calibrations that take into account the gauge field on the D-brane so that calibrated submanifolds minimize the Dirac-Born-Infeld energy. We establish the calibration bound and show that the calibration form is closed in a supersymmetric background with non-vanishing NS-NS 3-form H and dilaton ?. We show that the calibration conditions are equivalent to the existence of unbroken supersymmetry on the D-brane. We study the problem of supersymmetric D-branes in the presence of H ? 0 also from the world-sheet approach and find exactly the same conditions. Finally, we show that our notion of generalized calibrations is equivalent to the calibrations math.DG/0401221.

Supersymmetry Breaking from a Calabi-Yau Singularity

Abstract: We conjecture a geometric criterion for determining whether supersymmetry is spontaneously broken in certain string backgrounds. These backgrounds contain wrapped branes at Calabi-Yau singularites with obstructions to deformation of the complex structure. We motivate our conjecture with a particular example: the $Y^{2,1}$ quiver gauge theory corresponding to a cone over the first del Pezzo surface, $dP_1$. This setup can be analyzed using ordinary supersymmetric field theory methods, where we find that gaugino condensation drives a deformation of the chiral ring which has no solutions. We expect this breaking to be a general feature of any theory of branes at a singularity with a smaller number of possible deformations than independent anomaly-free fractional branes.

Systematics of Moduli Stabilisation in Calabi-Yau Flux Compactifications

Abstract: We study the large volume limit of the scalar potential in Calabi-Yau flux compactifications of type IIB string theory. Under general circumstances there exists a limit in which the potential approaches zero from below, with an associated non-supersymmetric AdS minimum at exponentially large volume. Both this and its de Sitter uplift are tachyon-free, thereby fixing all Kahler and complex structure moduli, which has been difficult to achieve in the KKLT scenario. Also, for the class of vacua described in this paper, the gravitino mass is independent of the flux discretuum, whereas the ratio of the string scale to the 4d Planck scale is hierarchically small but flux dependent. The inclusion of alpha' corrections plays a crucial role in the structure of the potential. We illustrate these ideas through explicit computations for a particular Calabi-Yau manifold.

D-branes on Calabi-Yau manifolds

Abstract: In this review we study BPS D-branes on Calabi-Yau threefolds. Such D-branes naturally divide into two sets called A-branes and B-branes which are most easily understood from topological field theory. The main aim of this paper is to provide a self-contained guide to the derived category approach to B-branes and the idea of Pi-stability. We argue that this mathematical machinery is hard to avoid for a proper understanding of B-branes. A-branes and B-branes are related in a very complicated and interesting way which ties in with the ``homological mirror symmetry'' conjecture of Kontsevich. We motivate and exploit this form of mirror symmetry. The examples of the quintic 3-fold, flops and orbifolds are discussed at some length. In the latter case we describe the role of McKay quivers in the context of D-branes. These notes are to be submitted to the proceedings of TASI03.

The effective action of type II Calabi-Yau orientifolds†

Abstract: This article first reviews the calculation of the N = 1 effective action for generic type IIA and type IIB Calabi-Yau orientifolds in the presence of background fluxes by using a Kaluza-Klein reduction. The Kahler potential, the gauge kinetic functions and the flux-induced superpotential are determined in terms of geometrical data of the Calabi-Yau orientifold and the background fluxes. As a new result, it is shown that the chiral description directly relates to Hitchin's generalized geometry encoded by special odd and even forms on a threefold, whereas a dual formulation with several linear multiplets makes contact to the underlying N = 2 special geometry. In type IIB setups, the flux-potentials can be expressed in terms of superpotentials, D-terms and, generically, a massive linear multiplet. The type IIA superpotential depends on all geometric moduli of the theory. It is reviewed, how type IIA orientifolds arise as a special limit of M-theory compactified on specific G2 manifolds by matching the effective actions. In a similar spirit type IIB orientifolds are shown to descend from F-theory on a specific class of Calabi-Yau fourfolds. In addition, mirror symmetry for Calabi-Yau orientifolds is briefly discussed and it is shown that the N = 1 chiral coordinates linearize the appropriate instanton actions.

Tables of Calabi-Yau equations

Abstract: The main part of this paper is a big table (see Appendix A) containing what we believe to be a complete list of all fourth order equations of Calabi–Yau type known so far. In the text preceding the tables we explain what a differential equation of Calabi–Yau type is and we briefly discuss how we found these equations. We also describe an electronic version of this list.

Mirror Symmetry and Integral Variations of Hodge Structure Underlying One Parameter Families of Calabi-Yau Threefolds

Abstract: This proceedings note introduces aspects of the authors' work relating mirror symmetry and integral variations of Hodge structure. The emphasis is on their classification of the integral variations of Hodge structure which can underly families of Calabi-Yau threefolds over the thrice-punctured sphere with b^3 = 4, or equivalently h^{2,1} = 1, and the related issues of geometric realization of these variations. The presentation parallels that of the first author's talk at the BIRS workshop.

On uniform estimate in Calabi-Yau theorem

Abstract: We show that the uniform estimate in the Calabi-Yau theorem easily follows from the local stability of the complex Monge-Ampere equation.

Generalized calabi–yau structures, k3 surfaces, and b-fields

Abstract: Generalized Calabi–Yau structures, a notion recently introduced by Hitchin, are studied in the case of K3 surfaces. We show how they are related to the classical theory of K3 surfaces and to moduli spaces of certain SCFT as studied by Aspinwall and Morrison. It turns out that K3 surfaces and symplectic structures are both special cases of this general notion. The moduli space of generalized Calabi–Yau structures admits a canonical symplectic form with respect to which the moduli space of symplectic structures is Lagrangian. The standard theory of K3 surfaces implies surjectivity of the period map and a weak form of the Global Torelli theorem.

Derivation of Calabi-Yau crystals from Chern-Simons gauge theory

Abstract: We derive new crystal melting models from Chern-Simons theory on the three-sphere. Via large N duality, these models compute amplitudes for A-model on the resolved conifold. The crystal is bounded by two walls whose distance corresponds to the Kahler modulus of the geometry. An interesting phenomenon is found where the Kahler modulus is shifted by the presence of non-compact D-branes. We also discuss the idea of using the crystal models as means of proving more general large N dualities to all order in g(s).

Integral cohomology and mirror symmetry for Calabi-Yau 3-folds

Abstract: In this paper, we compute the integral cohomology groups for all examples of Calabi-Yau 3-folds obtained from hypersurfaces in 4-dimensional Gorenstein toric Fano varieties. Among 473 800 776 families of Calabi-Yau 3-folds $X$ corresponding to 4-dimensional reflexive polytopes there exist exactly 32 families having non-trivial torsion in $H^*(X, \Z)$. We came to an interesting observation that the torsion subgroups in $H^2$ and $H^3$ are exchanged by the mirror symmetry involution, i.e. the torsion subgroup in the Picard group of $X$ is isomorphic to the Brauer group of the mirror $X^*$

Modular Calabi-Yau Threefolds

Abstract: Arithmetic on Calabi-Yau threefolds Fibre products of elliptic surfaces Quintics in $\mathbb{P}^4$ Double octics Other examples Tables, correspondences, conclusions Arrangements of eight planes Modular double octics Tables of weight two and weight four newforms Bibliography Index.

Massless D-Branes on Calabi–Yau Threefolds and Monodromy

Abstract: We analyze the link between the occurrence of massless B-type D-branes for specific values of moduli and monodromy around such points in the moduli space. This allows us to propose a classification of all massless B-type D-branes at any point in the moduli space of Calabi–Yau’s. This classification then justifies a previous conjecture due to Horja for the general form of monodromy. Our analysis is based on using monodromies around points in moduli space where a single D-brane becomes massless to generate monodromies around points where an infinite number become massless. We discuss the various possibilities within the classification.

On Deformations of Generalized Complex Structures: the Generalized Calabi-Yau Case

Abstract: We prove an analog of the Tian-Todorov theorem for twisted generalized Calabi-Yau manifolds; namely, we show that the moduli space of generalized complex structures on a compact twisted generalized Calabi-Yau manifold is unobstructed and smooth. We also construct the extended moduli space and study its Frobenius structure. The physical implications are also discussed.

Curves in Calabi-Yau threefolds and topological quantum field theory

Abstract: We continue our study of the local Gromov-Witten invariants of curves in Calabi-Yau threefolds. We define relative invariants for local theory which give rise to a (1+1)-dimensional topological quantum field theory (TQFT) taking values in the ring $\mathbb{Q}[[t]]$. The associated Frobenius algebra over $\mathbb{Q}[[t]]$ is semisimple. Consequently, we obtain a structure result for the local invariants. As an easy consequence of our structure formula, we recover the closed formulas for the local invariants in the case where either the target genus or the degree equals 1.

The effective action of D‐branes in Calabi‐Yau orientifold compactifications

Abstract: In this review article 1 we study type IIB superstring compactifications in the presence of space-time filling D-branes while preserving N = 1 supersymmetry in the effective four-dimensional theory. This amount of unbroken supersymmetry and the requirement to fulfill the consistency conditions imposed by the space-time filling D-branes lead to Calabi-Yau orientifold compactifications. For a generic Calabi-Yau orientifold theory with space-time filling D3- or D7-branes we derive the low-energy spectrum. In a second step we compute the effective N = 1 supergravity action which describes in the low-energy regime the massless open and closed string modes of the underlying type IIB Calabi-Yau orientifold string theory. These N = 1 supergravity theories are analyzed and in particular spontaneous supersymmetry breaking induced by non-trivial background fluxes is studied. For D3-brane scenarios we compute soft-supersymmetry breaking terms resulting from bulk background fluxes whereas for D7-brane systems we investigate the structure of D- and F-terms originating from worldvolume D7-brane background fluxes. Finally we relate the geometric structure of D7-brane Calabi-Yau orientifold compactifications to N = 1 special geometry.

Stable D-branes, calibrations and generalized Calabi-Yau geometry

Abstract: We introduce generalized calibrations that take into account the gauge field on the D-brane so that calibrated submanifolds minimize the Dirac-Born-Infeld energy. We establish the calibration bound and show that the calibration form is closed in a supersymmetric background with non-vanishing NS-NS 3-form H and dilaton. We show that the calibration conditions are equivalent to the existence of unbroken supersymmetry on the D-brane. We study the problem of supersymmetric D-branes in the presence of non-vanishing H also from the world-sheet approach and find exactly the same conditions. Finally, we show that our notion of generalized calibrations is equivalent to the calibrations introduced in the context of generalized Calabi-Yau geometry in math.DG/0401221.

On Calabi-Yau supermanifolds

Abstract: We study when Calabi-Yau supermanifolds M 1|2 with one complex bosonic coordinate and two complex fermionic coordinates are super Ricci-flat, and find that if the bosonic manifold is compact, it must have constant scalar curvature.

Generalized Hodge metrics and BCOV torsion on Calabi-Yau moduli

Abstract: We establish an unexpected relation among the Weil-Petersson metric, the generalized Hodge metrics and the BCOV torsion. Using this relation, we prove that certain kind of moduli spaces of polarized Calabi-Yau manifolds do not admit complete subvarieties. That is, there is no complete family for certain class of polarized Calabi-Yau manifolds. We also give an estimate of the complex Hessian of the BCOV torsion using the relation. After establishing a degenerate version of the Schwarz Lemma of Yau, we prove that the complex Hessian of the BCOV torsion is bounded by the Poincare metric.

Mirror symmetry of Calabi-Yau supermanifolds

Abstract: We study super Landau–Ginzburg mirrors of the weighted projective superspace WCP3|2 which is a Calabi–Yau supermanifold and appeared in hep-th/0312171 in the topological B-model. One of them is an elliptic fibration over the complex plane whose coordinate is given in terms of two bosonic and two fermionic variables as well as Kahler parameter of WCP3|2. The other is some patch of a degree-3 Calabi–Yau hypersurface in CP2 fibered by the complex plane whose coordinate depends on both the above four variables and Kahler parameter but its dependence behaves quite differently.

Toric Calabi–Yau supermanifolds and mirror symmetry

Abstract: We study mirror symmetry of supermanifolds constructed as fermionic extensions of compact toric varieties. We mainly discuss the case where the linear sigma A-model contains as many fermionic fields as there are U(1) factors in the gauge group. In the mirror super-Landau-Ginzburg B-model, focus is on the bosonic structure obtained after integrating out all the fermions. Our key observation is that there is a relation between the super-Calabi-Yau conditions of the A-model and quasi-homogeneity of the B-model, and that the degree of the associated superpotential in the B-model is given in terms of the determinant of the fermion charge matrix of the A-model.