Lie groups, Calabi-Yau threefolds, and F-theory
The F-theory vacuum constructed from an elliptic Calabi-Yau threefold with section yields an effective six-dimensional theory. The Lie algebra of the gauge sector of this theory and its representation on the space of massless hypermultiplets are shown to be determined by the intersection theory of the homology of the Calabi-Yau threefold. (Similar statements hold for M-theory and the type IIA string compactified on the threefold, where there is also a dependence on the expectation values of the Ramond-Ramond fields.) We describe general rules for computing the hypermultiplet spectrum of any F-theory vacuum, including vacua with non-simply-laced gauge groups. The case of monodromy acting on a curve of Aeven singularities is shown to be particularly interesting and leads to some unexpected rules for how 2-branes are allowed to wrap certain 2-cycles. We also review the peculiar numerical predictions for the geometry of elliptic Calabi-Yau threefolds with section which arise from anomaly cancellation in six dimensions.
Duke Scholars
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Nuclear & Particles Physics
- 5107 Particle and high energy physics
- 4902 Mathematical physics
- 0206 Quantum Physics
- 0105 Mathematical Physics
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Nuclear & Particles Physics
- 5107 Particle and high energy physics
- 4902 Mathematical physics
- 0206 Quantum Physics
- 0105 Mathematical Physics