Daniel Robbins

Toroidal Orientifolds in IIA with General NS-NS Fluxes

Type IIA toroidal orientifolds offer a promising toolkit for model builders, especially when one includes not only the usual fluxes from NS-NS and R-R field strengths, but also fluxes that are T-dual to the NS-NS three-form flux. These new ingredients are known as metric fluxes and non-geometric fluxes, and can help stabilize moduli or can lead to other new features. In this paper we study two approaches to these constructions, by effective field theory or by toroidal fibers twisted over a toroidal base. Each approach leads us to important observations, in particular the presence of D-terms in the four-dimensional effective potential in some cases, and a more subtle treatment of the quantization of the general NS-NS fluxes. Though our methods are general, we illustrate each approach on the example of an orientifold of T6/4.

A barren landscape? - Metastable de Sitter vacua are nongeneric in string theory

We consider the generation of a nonperturbative superpotential in F-theory compactifications with flux. We derive a necessary condition for the generation of such a superpotential in F theory. For models with a single volume modulus, we show that the volume modulus is never stabilized by either Abelian instantons or gaugino condensation. We then comment on how our analysis extends to a larger class of compactifications. From our results, it appears that among large volume string compactifications, metastable de Sitter vacua (should any exist) are nongeneric.

A Matrix model for the null-brane

The null-brane background is a simple smooth 1/2 BPS solution of string theory. By tuning a parameter, this background develops a big crunch/big bang type singularity. We construct the DLCQ description of this space-time in terms of a Yang-Mills theory on a time-dependent space-time. Our dual Matrix description provides a non-perturbative framework in which the fate of both (null) time, and the string S-matrix can be studied.

Toward the end of time

The null-brane space-time provides a simple model of a big crunch/big bang singularity. A non-perturbative definition of M-theory on this space-time was recently provided using matrix theory. We derive the fermion couplings for this matrix model and study the leading quantum effects. These effects include particle production and a time-dependent potential. Our results suggest that as the null-brane develops a big crunch singularity, the usual notion of space-time is replaced by an interacting gluon phase. This gluon phase appears to constitute the end of our conventional picture of space and time.

D-terms from generalized NS-NS fluxes in type II

Orientifolds of type II string theory admit a certain set of generalized NS-NS fluxes, including not only the three-form field strength H, but also metric and non-geometric fluxes, which are related to H by T-duality. We describe in general how these fluxes appear as parameters of an effective = 1 supergravity theory in four dimensions, and in particular how certain generalized NS-NS fluxes can act as charges for R-R axions, leading to D-term contributions to the effective scalar potential. We illustrate these phenomena in type IIB with the example of a certain orientifold of T6/4.

Higher derivative brane couplings from T-duality

The Wess-Zumino coupling on D-branes in string theory is known to receive higher derivative corrections which couple the Ramond-Ramond potential to terms involving the square of the spacetime curvature tensor. Consistency with T-duality implies that the branes should also have four-derivative couplings that involve the NS-NS B-field. We use T-duality to predict some of these couplings. We then confirm these results with string worldsheet computations by evaluating disc amplitudes with insertions of one R-R and two NS-NS vertex operators.

Scalar-vector bootstrap

A bstractWe work out all of the details required for implementation of the conformal bootstrap program applied to the four-point function of two scalars and two vectors in an abstract conformal field theory in arbitrary dimension. This includes a review of which tensor structures make appearances, a construction of the projectors onto the required mixed symmetry representations, and a computation of the conformal blocks for all possible operators which can be exchanged. These blocks are presented as differential operators acting upon the previously known scalar conformal blocks. Finally, we set up the bootstrap equations which implement crossing symmetry. Special attention is given to the case of conserved vectors, where several simplifications occur.

Time-dependent warping, fluxes, and NCYM

We describe the supergravity solutions dual to D6-branes with both time-dependent and time-independent B-fields. These backgrounds generalize the Taub-NUT metric in two key ways: they have asymmetric warp factors and background fluxes. In the time-dependent case, the warping takes a novel form. Kaluza-Klein reduction in these backgrounds is unusual, and we explore some of the new features. In particular, we describe how a localized gauge-field emerges with an analogue of the open string metric and coupling. We also describe a gravitational analogue of the Seiberg-Witten map. This provides a framework in supergravity both for studying non-commutative gauge theories, and for constructing novel warped backgrounds.

Four-derivative brane couplings from string amplitudes

A bstractWe evaluate the string theory disc amplitude of one Ramond-Ramond field C(p−3) and two Neveu-Schwarz B-fields in the presence of a single Dp-brane in type II string theory. From this amplitude we extract the four-derivative (or equivalently order α′2) part of the Dp-brane action involving these fields. We show that the new couplings are invariant under R-R and NS-NS gauge transformations and compatible with linear T-duality.

The α′ expansion on a compact manifold of exceptional holonomy

A bstractIn the approximation corresponding to the classical Einstein equations, which is valid at large radius, string theory compactification on a compact manifold M of G2 or Spin(7) holonomy gives a supersymmetric vacuum in three or two dimensions. Do α′ corrections to the Einstein equations disturb this statement? Explicitly analyzing the leading correction, we show that the metric of M can be adjusted to maintain supersymmetry. Beyond leading order, a general argument based on low energy effective field theory in spacetime implies that this is true exactly (not just to all finite orders in α′). A more elaborate field theory argument that includes the massive Kaluza-Klein modes matches the structure found in explicit calculations. In M-theory compactification on a manifold M of G2 or Spin(7) holonomy, similar results hold to all orders in the inverse radius of M — but not exactly. The classical moduli space of G2 metrics on a manifold M is known to be locally a Lagrangian submanifold of H3(M,