Topology and Flux of T-Dual Manifolds with Circle Actions

We present an explicit formula for the topology and H-flux of the T-dual of a general type II, compactification, significantly generalizing earlier results. Our results apply to T-dualities with respect to any circle action on spacetime X. As before, T-duality exchanges type IIA and type IIB string theories. A new consequence is that the T-dual spacetime is a singular space when the fixed point set ${X^\mathbb{T}}$ is non-empty; the singularities correspond to Kaluza-Klein monopoles. We propose that the Ramond-Ramond charges of type II string theories on the singular dual are classified by twisted equivariant cohomology groups. We also discuss the K-theory approach.     

Dynamical models of hadrons based on the string model and the behavior of strongly interacting matter at high density

We propose dynamical models of hadrons, the nucleation model and the free-decay model, in which results of the string model are used to represent interactions. The string model is examined by comparing its predictions with experimental data and parameters are fitted. The equilibrium properties of hadrons at high density are investigated in terms of the nucleation model; we find a singular behavior at energy density 3–5 GeV/fm³, where hadrons coalesce and create highly excited states. We argue that this singular behavior corresponds to the phase transition to quark-gluon plasma. The possibility of observing the production of high-density strongly interacting matter in collider experiments is discussed using the free-decay model, which produces pion distributions as decay products of resonances. We show that our free-decay model recovers features of hadron distributions obtained in hadron collison experiments. Finally, perspectives and extensions of the models are discussed.     

Generalized states in SFT

The search for analytic solutions in open string fields theory à la Witten often meets with singular expressions, which need an adequate mathematical formalism to be interpreted. In this paper we discuss this problem and propose a way to resolve the related ambiguities. Our claim is that a correct interpretation requires a formalism similar to distribution theory in functional analysis. To this end we concretely construct a locally convex space of test string states together with the dual space of functionals. We show that the above suspicious expressions can be identified with well defined elements of the dual.     

String orbifolds and quotient stacks

In this note we observe that, contrary to the usual lore, string orbifolds do not describe strings on quotient spaces, but rather seem to describe strings on objects called quotient stacks, a result that follows from simply unraveling definitions, and is further justified by a number of results. Quotient stacks are very closely related to quotient spaces; for example, when the orbifold group acts freely, the quotient space and the quotient stack are homeomorphic. We explain how sigma models on quotient stacks naturally have twisted sectors, and why a sigma model on a quotient stack would be a nonsingular CFT even when the associated quotient space is singular. We also show how to understand twist fields in this language, and outline the derivation of the orbifold Euler characteristic purely in terms of stacks. We also outline why there is a sense in which one naturally finds B≠0 on exceptional divisors of resolutions. These insights are not limited to merely understanding existing string orbifolds: we also point out how this technology enables us to understand orbifolds in M-theory, as well as how this means that string orbifolds provide the first example of an entirely new class of string compactifications. As quotient stacks are not a staple of the physics literature, we include a lengthy tutorial on quotient stacks, describing how one can perform differential geometry on stacks.     

Dual models as saddle point approximations to Polyakov's quantized string

We show that if the metric becomes singular on the boundary, then Polyakov's quantized string theory has a saddle point. This leads to an off-shell Green function, the S-matrix of which is the standard dual (Veneziano) model.     

Flux vacua statistics for two‐parameter Calabi‐Yau's

We study the number of flux vacua for type IIB string theory on an orientifold of the Calabi‐Yau expressed as a hypersurface in WCP ⁴[1,1,2,2,6] by evaluating a suitable integral over the complex‐structure moduli space as per the conjecture of Douglas and Ashok. We show that away from the singular conifold locus, one gets a power law, and that the (neighborhood) of the conifold locus indeed acts as an attractor in the (complex structure) moduli space. In the process, we evaluate the periods near the conifold locus. We also study (non)supersymmetric solutions near the conifold locus, and show that supersymmetric solutions near the conifold locus do not support fluxes.     

Polylogarithms,multiple zeta values and superstring amplitudes

A formalism is provided to calculate tree amplitudes in open superstring theory for any multiplicity at any order in the inverse string tension. We point out that the underlying world‐sheet disk integrals share substantial properties with color‐ordered tree amplitudes in Yang‐Mills field theories. In particular, we closely relate world‐sheet integrands of open‐string tree amplitudes to the Kawai‐Lewellen‐Tye representation of supergravity amplitudes. This correspondence helps to reduce the singular parts of world‐sheet disk integrals – including their string corrections – to lower‐point results. The remaining regular parts are systematically addressed by polylogarithm manipulations.     

Gravity beyond quantum theory: Electron as a closed heterotic string

The observable gravitational and electromagnetic parameters of an electron determine that its background should be the Kerr-Newman (KN) solution of the rotating black hole without horizons. This metric has a topological defect—the Kerr singular ring which, as we show, is a closed heterotic string of the Compton radius a = ?/(2m). We show that the Dirac equation emerges as a consequence of the underlying KN gravity and string theory. Regularization of the KN solution leads to a model of gravitating soliton of the oscillon type, in which the closed heterotic string is positioned on the edge rim of a disklike vacuum bubble. It is suggested that the string-like core of the electron should be experimentally observable by the novel methods of the “Deeply Virtual (nonforward) Compton scattering”.     

Curvature-corrected dilatonic black holes and black hole—string transition

We investigate extremal charged black hole solutions in the four-dimensional string frame Gauss-Bonnet gravity with the Maxwell field and the dilaton. Without curvature corrections, the extremal electrically charged dilatonic black holes have singular horizon and zero Bekenstein entropy. When the Gauss-Bonnet term is switched on, the horizon radius expands to a finite value provided curvature corrections are strong enough. Below a certain threshold value of the Gauss-Bonnet coupling the extremal black hole solutions cease to exist. Since decreasing Gauss-Bonnet coupling corresponds to decreasing string coupling g _s , the situation can tentatively be interpreted as classical indication on the black hole—string transition. Previously the extremal dilaton black holes were studied in the Einstein-frame version of the Gauss-Bonnet gravity. Here we work in the string frame version of the theory with the S-duality symmetric dilaton function as required by the heterotic string theory. The article is published in the original.     

Discrete Torsion Phases as Topological Actions

In this paper, we show that discrete torsion phases in string orbifold partition functions, and membrane discrete torsion phases, are topological actions on the simplicial manifolds associated to orbifold group actions. For this purpose, we introduce an integration theory of smooth Deligne cohomology on a general simplicial manifold, and prove that the integration induces a well-defined paring between the smooth Deligne cohomology and the singular cycles.     

Letter: On the Back Reaction of Gravitational and Particle Emission and Absorption from Straight Thick Cosmic Strings: A Toy Model

The emission and absorption of gravitationalwaves and massless particles of an infinitely longstraight cosmic string with finite thickness arestudied. It is shown in a general term that the backreaction of the emission and absorption always makes thesymmetry axis of the string singular. The singularity isa scalar singularity and cannot be removed.     

M‐strings,elliptic genera and N = 4 string amplitudes

We study mass‐deformed N = 2 gauge theories from various points of view. Their partition functions can be computed via three dual approaches: firstly, (p,q)‐brane webs in type II string theory using Nekrasov's instanton calculus, secondly, the (refined) topological string using the topological vertex formalism and thirdly, M theory via the elliptic genus of certain M‐strings configurations. We argue for a large class of theories that these approaches yield the same gauge theory partition function which we study in detail. To make their modular properties more tangible, we consider a fourth approach by connecting the partition function to the equivariant elliptic genus of ℂ² through a (singular) theta‐transform. This form appears naturally as a specific class of one‐loop scattering amplitudes in type II string theory on T², which we calculate explicitly.     

Collisions of strings with Y junctions

We study the dynamics of Nambu-Goto strings with junctions at which three strings meet. In particular, we exhibit one simple exact solution and examine the process of intercommuting of two straight strings in which they exchange partners but become joined by a third string. We show that there are important kinematical constraints on this process. The exchange cannot occur if the strings meet with very large relative velocity. This may have important implications for the evolution of cosmic superstring networks and non-Abelian string networks.     

Destruction of a metastable string by particle collisions

We calculate the probability of destruction of a metastable string by collisions of the Goldstone bosons, corresponding to the transverse waves on the string. We find a general formula that allows to determine the probability of the string breakup by a collision of arbitrary number of the bosons. We find that the destruction of a metastable string takes place only in collisions of even number of the bosons, and we explicitly calculate the energy dependence of such process in a two-particle collision for an arbitrary relation between the energy and the largest infrared scale in the problem, the length of the critical gap in the string.     

Geometric singularities and spectra of Landau-Ginzburg models

Some mathematical and physical aspects of superconformal string compactification in weighted projective space are discussed. In particular, we recast the path integral argument establishing the connection between Landau-Ginzburg conformal theories and Calabi-Yau string compactification in a geometric framework. We then prove that the naive expression for the vanishing of the first Chern class for a complete intersection (adopted from the smooth case) is sufficient to ensure that the resulting variety, which is generically singular, can be resolved to a smooth Calabi-Yau space. This justifies much analysis which has recently been expended on the study of Landau-Ginzburg models. Furthermore, we derive some simple formulae for the determination of the Witten index in these theories which are complimentary to those derived using semiclassical reasoning by Vafa. Finally, we also comment on the possible geometrical significance ofunorbifolded Landau-Ginzburg theories.     

Gravitational waves as string vacua I

Recent results on the role of gravitational waves in string theory are reviwed. Motivations for the research and an organic view of the topic are furnished. Short exposition of the elements of string theory in the Polyakov formalism is provided, with particular emphasis on the evaluation of the Weyl and super-Weyl anomalies. Relevant results on the plane wave solutions of the Einstein equations are listed and a way of solving a quantum field theory in such backgrounds is presented. The results obtained for theS-matrix of the field theory and (singular) expectation values of its energy momentum tensor will be linked to string physics in subsequent parts of this review.This review article is based on the PhD thesis of the author defended in 1989 at SISSA, Trieste. It is divided into three parts with independent abstracts and tables of contents.     

Is a classical description of stable non-BPS D-branes possible?

We study the classical geometry produced by a stack of stable (i.e., tachyon-free) non-BPS D-branes present in K3 compactifications of type II string theory. This classical representation is derived by solving the equations of motion describing the low-energy dynamics of the supergravity fields which couple to the non-BPS state. Differently from what expected, this configuration displays a singular behaviour: the space–time geometry has a repulson-like singularity. This fact suggests that the simplest setting, namely a set of coinciding non-interacting D-branes, is not acceptable. We finally discuss the possible existence of other acceptable configurations corresponding to more complicated bound states of these non-BPS branes.     

Discrete Spectrum of the Deficit Angle and the Differential Structure of a Cosmic String

Differential properties of Klein-Gordon and electromagnetic fields on the space-time of a straight cosmic string are studied with the help of methods of the differential space theory. It is shown that these fields are smooth in the interior of the cosmic string space-time and that they loose this property at the singular boundary except for the cosmic string space-times with the following deficit angles: Δ=2π(1−1/n), n=1,2,… . A connection between smoothness of fields at the conical singularity and the scalar and electromagnetic conical bremsstrahlung is discussed. It is also argued that the smoothness assumption of fields at the singularity is equivalent to the Aliev and Gal’tsov “quantization” condition leading to the above mentioned discrete spectrum of the deficit angle.     

Dark matter and non-newtonian gravity from general relativity coupled to a fluid of strings

An exact solution of Einstein's field equations for a point mass surrounded by a static, spherically symmetric fluid of strings is presented. The solution is singular at the origin. Near the string cloud limit there is a 1/r correction to Newton's force law. It is noted that at large distances and small accelerations, this law coincides with the phenomenological force law invented by Milgrom in order to explain the flat rotation curves of galaxies without introducing dark matter. When interpreted in the context of a cosmological model with a string fluid, the new solution naturally explains why the critical acceleration of Milgrom is of the same order of magnitude as the Hubble parameter.