We study a supersymmetric field theory in six dimensions compactified on the orbifold T^2/Z_2 with two Wilson lines. After supersymmetry breaking, the Casimir energy fixes the shape moduli at fixed points in field space where the symmetry of the torus lattice is enhanced. Localized Fayet-Iliopoulos terms stabilize the volume modulus at a size much smaller than the inverse supersymmetry breaking scale. All moduli masses are smaller than the gravitino mass.
We study a four-dimensional effective theory of the five-dimensional (5D) gauged supergravity with a universal hypermultiplet and perturbative superpotential terms at the orbifold fixed points. The class of models we consider includes the 5D heterotic M-theory and the supersymmetric Randall-Sundrum model as special limits of the gauging parameters. We analyse the vacuum structure of the models, especially the nature of the moduli stabilization, from the viewpoint of the effective theory.
We compute the one-loop Casimir energy of gravity and matter fields, obeying various boundary conditions, in 5-dimensional S^1/Z_2 and 6-dimensional T^2/Z_k orbifolds. We discuss the role of the Casimir energy in possible radius stabilization mechanisms and show that the presence of massive as well as massless fields can lead to minima with zero cosmological constant. In the 5-d orbifold, we also consider the case where kinetic terms localized at the fixed points are not small. We take into account their contribution to the Casimir energy and show that localized kinetic terms can also provide …
We consider the model with the dilaton and twisted moduli fields, which is inspired by type I string models. Stabilization of their vacuum expectation values is studied. We find the stabilization of the twisted moduli field has different aspects from the dilaton stabilization.
We study Kähler moduli stabilization in IIB superstring theory. We propose a new moduli stabilization mechanism by the supersymmetry-braking chiral superfield which is coupled to Kähler moduli in Kähler potential. We also study uplifting of the Large Volume Scenario (LVS) by it. In both cases, the form of superpotential is crucial for moduli stabilization. We confirm that our uplifting mechanism does not destabilize the vacuum of the LVS drastically.
We study moduli stabilization in combination with inflation in heterotic orbifold compactifications in the light of a large Hubble scale and the favored tensor-to-scalar ratio $r \approx 0.05$. To account for a trans-Planckian field range we implement aligned natural inflation. Although there is only one universal axion in heterotic constructions, further axions from the geometric moduli can be used for alignment and inflation. We argue that such an alignment is rather generic on orbifolds, since all non-perturbative terms are determined by modular weights of the involved fields and the Dedeki…
We study Kähler moduli stabilizations in semi-realistic magnetized D-brane models based on $ Z_2\times Z_2'$ toroidal orbifolds. In type IIB compactifications, 3-form fluxes can stabilize the dilaton and complex structure moduli fields, but there remain some massless closed string moduli fields, Kähler moduli. The magnetic fluxes generate Fayet-Iliopoulos terms, which can fix ratios of Kähler moduli. On top of that, we consider D-brane instanton effects to stabilize them in concrete D-brane models and investigate the brane configurations to confirm that the moduli fields can be stabilized succ…
In this paper we discuss the issues of supersymmetry breaking and moduli stabilization within the context of E_8 x E_8 heterotic orbifold constructions and, in particular, we focus on the class of "mini-landscape" models. In the supersymmetric limit, these models admit an effective low energy field theory with a spectrum of states and dimensionless gauge and Yukawa couplings very much like that of the MSSM. These theories contain a non-Abelian hidden gauge sector which generates a non-perturbative superpotential leading to supersymmetry breaking and moduli stabilization. We demonstrate this ef…
We study the problem of moduli stabilisation in explicit heterotic orbifold compactifications, whose spectra contain the MSSM plus some vector-like exotics that can be decoupled. Considering all the bulk moduli, we obtain the 4D low energy effective action for the compactification, which has contributions from various, computable, perturbative and non-perturbative effects. Hidden sector gaugino condensation and string worldsheet instantons result in a combination of racetrack, KKLT and cusp-form contributions to the superpotential, which lift all the bulk moduli directions. We point out the pr…
We propose a new type of moduli stabilization scenario where the supersymmetric and supersymmetry-breaking minima are degenerate at the leading level. The inclusion of the loop-corrections originating from the matter fields resolves this degeneracy of vacua. Light axions are predicted in one of our models.
We study the back-reaction of moduli fields on the inflaton potential in generic models of F-term inflation. We derive the moduli corrections as a power series in the ratio of Hubble scale and modulus mass. The general result is illustrated with two examples, hybrid inflation and chaotic inflation. We find that in both cases the decoupling of moduli dynamics and inflation requires moduli masses close to the scale of grand unification. For smaller moduli masses the CMB observables are strongly affected.
We present a stringy realization of the ISS metastable SUSY breaking model with moduli stabilization. The mass moduli of the ISS model is stabilized by gauging of a U(1) symmetry and its D-term potential. The SUSY is broken both by F-terms and D-terms. It is possible to obtain de-Sitter vacua with a vanishingly small cosmological constant by an appropriate fine-tuning of flux parameters.
Recent developments on large scale string moduli stabilization via non-geometric fluxes are reviewed. In the framework of type IIB orientifolds on fluxed Calabi-Yau manifolds, the existence of so-called flux-scaling minima provides a good starting point for the realization of parametrically controlled models of F-term axion monodromy inflation.
We consider the stabilization of string moduli and resulting soft supersymmetry-breaking terms in heterotic string orbifolds. Among the results obtained are: formulae for the scalar interaction soft terms without integrating out the hidden sector gaugino condensate, which reduce to standard expressions in the usual "truncated" limit; an expression for the modular transformation of A-terms; a study of the minima of the scalar potential in the Kaehler modulus direction; and a discussion of the implications for CP violation phenomenology. Some closely related results have appeared in a recent pap…
The matter sector of four-dimensional effective supergravity models obtained from the weakly coupled heterotic string contains many moduli. In particular, flat directions of the D-term part of the scalar potential in the presence of an anomalous U(1) give rise to massless chiral multiplets which have been referred to elsewhere as D-moduli. The stabilization of these moduli is necessary for the determination of the large vacuum expectation values of complex scalar fields induced by the corresponding Fayet-Illiopoulos term. This stabilization is of phenomenological importance since these backgro…
We review moduli stabilization in type IIB string theory compactification with fluxes. We focus on the KKLT and Large Volume Scenario (LVS). We show that the predicted soft SUSY breaking terms in KKLT model are not phenomenological viable. In LVS, the following result for scalar mass, gaugino mass, and trilinear term is obtained: $m_0 =m_{1/2}= - A_0=m_{3/2}$, which may account for Higgs mass limit if $m_{3/2} \sim {\cal O}(1.5)$ TeV. However, in this case the relic abundance of the lightest neutralino can not be consistent with the measured limits. We also study the cosmological consequences …
We revisit the issue of moduli stabilization in a class of N=1 four dimensional supergravity theories which are low energy descriptions of standard perturbative heterotic string vacua compactified on Calabi-Yau spaces. In particular, we show how it is possible to stabilize the universal dilaton and Kahler moduli in a de Sitter/Minkowski vacuum with low energy supersymmetry breaking by means of non-perturbative gauge dynamics, including recent results by Intriligator, Seiberg and Shih. The non-SUSY vacua are meta-stable but sufficiently long-lived.
In the context of brane gas cosmology in superstring theory, we show why it is impossible to simultaneously stabilize the dilaton and the radion with a general gas of strings (including massless modes) and D-branes. Although this requires invoking a different mechanism to stabilize these moduli fields, we find that the brane gas can still play a crucial role in the early universe in assisting moduli stabilization. We show that a modest energy density of specific types of brane gas can solve the overshoot problem that typically afflicts potentials arising from gaugino condensation.
We examine the effects of anomalous U(1)_A gauge symmetry on soft supersymmetry breaking terms while incorporating the stabilization of the modulus-axion multiplet responsible for the Green-Schwarz (GS) anomaly cancellation mechanism. In case of the KKLT stabilization of the GS modulus, soft terms are determined by the GS modulus mediation, the anomaly mediation and the U(1)_A mediation which are generically comparable to each other, thereby yielding the mirage mediation pattern of superparticle masses at low energy scale. Independently of the mechanism of moduli stabilization and supersymmetr…
The absence, so far, of any graviton signatures at the LHC imposes severe constraints on the Randall-Sundrum scenario. Although a generalization to higher dimensions with nested warpings has been shown to avoid these constraints, apart from incorporating several other phenomenologically interesting features, moduli stabilization in such models has been an open question. We demonstrate here how both the moduli involved can be stabilized, employing slightly different mechanisms for the two branches of the theory. This also offers a dynamical mechanism to generate and stabilize the scale for the …
We examine the stabilization of the two typical moduli, the length $ρ$ of the eleventh segment and the volume $V$ of the internal six manifold, in compactified heterotic $M$-theory. It is shown that, under certain conditions, the phenomenologically favored vacuum expectation values of $ρ$ and $V$ can be obtained by the combined effects of multi-gaugino condensations on the hidden wall and the membrane instantons wrapping the three cycle of the internal six manifold.
We describe the duality group $Γ=SU(3,3,Z)$ for the Narain lattice of the $T^6/Z_3$ orbifold and its action on the corresponding moduli space. A symplectic embedding of the momenta and winding numbers allows us to connect the orbifold lattice to the special geometry of the moduli space. As an application, a formal expression for an automorphic function, which is a candidate for a non--perturbative superpotential, is given.
The role of moduli stabilization in predictions for CP violation is examined in the context of four-dimensional effective supergravity models obtained from the weakly coupled heterotic string. We point out that while stabilization of compactification moduli has been studied extensively, the determination of background values for other scalars by dynamical means has not been subjected to the same degree of scrutiny. These other complex scalars are important potential sources of CP violation and we show in a simple model how their background values (including complex phases) may be determined fr…
We reconsider the ingredients of moduli stabilization in heterotic M-theory. On this line we close a gap in the literature deriving the Kaehler potential dependence on vector bundle moduli and charged matter. Crucial in this derivation is our superspace formulation of 5d heterotic M-theory taking into account the Bianchi identities modified by brane terms. Likewise, we obtain the Fayet-Iliopolous terms due to brane localised anomalous U(1)'s. After assembling perturbative and non-perturbative contributions to the superpotential, we study supersymmetric (adS) vacua. It is found that the susy co…
A maximally supersymmetric configuration of super Yang-Mills living on a noncommutative torus corresponds to a constant curvature connection. On a noncommutative toroidal orbifold there is an additional constraint that the connection be equivariant. We study moduli spaces of (equivariant) constant curvature connections on noncommutative even-dimensional tori and on toroidal orbifolds. As an illustration we work out the cases of Z_{2} and Z_{4} orbifolds in detail. The results we obtain agree with a commutative picture describing systems of branes wrapped on cycles of the torus and branes stuck…
We investigate the time evolution of the background spacetime during the moduli stabilization process, which is assumed to occur in the radiation dominated era. The setup is basically the Salam-Sezgin model, but we add a potential term for the dilaton in order to stabilize the moduli completely. We numerically solve the higher-dimensional background field equations, including a case that the stabilization process cannot be described within the 4D effective theory. In contrast to the conventional 4D effective theory analysis, we find that when the mass scale of the stabilization is larger than …
We study moduli stabilization with F-term uplifting. As a source of uplifting F-term, we consider spontaneous supersymmetry breaking models, e.g. the Polonyi model and the Intriligator-Seiberg-Shih model. We analyze potential minima by requiring almost vanishing vacuum energy and evaluate the size of modulus F-term. We also study soft SUSY breaking terms. In our scenario, the mirage mediation is dominant in gaugino masses. Scalar masses can be comparable with gaugino masses or much heavier, depending on couplings with spontaneous supersymmetry breaking sector.
We examine the recently found point of intersection between the Z_2 and Z_4 orbifold subvarieties in the K3 moduli space more closely. First we give an explicit identification of the coordinates of the respective Z_2 and Z_4 orbifold theories at this point. Secondly we construct the explicit identification of conformal field theories at this point and show the orthogonality of the two subvarieties.
It is an important question in string compactification whether complex structure moduli stabilization inevitably ends up with a vacuum expectation value of the superpotential < W > of the order of the Planck scale cubed. Any thoughts on volume stabilization and inflation in string theory, as well as on phenomenology of supersymmetric Standard Models, will be affected by the answer to this question. In this work, we follow an idea for making < W > $\simeq$ 0 where the internal manifold has a vacuum complex structure with arithmetic characterization, and address Calabi--Yau fourfold compactifica…
Target space duality symmetries, which acts on Kähler and continuous Wilson line moduli, of a ${\bf Z}_N$ ($N\not=2$) 2-dimensional subspace of the moduli space of orbifold compactification are modified to include twisted moduli. These spaces described by the cosets $SU(n,1)\over SU(n)\times U(1)$ are $special$ Kähler, a fact which is exploited in deriving the extension of tree level duality transformation to include higher orders of the twisted moduli. Also, restrictions on these higher order terms are derived.
We study the one loop effective potential for the radion superfield in the supersymmetric Randall-Sundrum scenario with detuned brane tensions. At the classical level the distance between the branes is stabilized while the VEV of the fifth component of the graviphoton is a flat direction which breaks supersymmetry. At the quantum level a potential is generated. This leads to a toy model of a supersymmetric compactification with all the moduli stabilized perturbatively.
We propose a new type of Kähler moduli stabilization mechanisms in type IIB superstring theory on Calabi-Yau manifolds with the positive Euler number. The overall Kähler modulus can be perturbatively stabilized by radiative corrections due to sparticles. Its minimum is the anti-de Sitter vacuum, where supersymmetry is broken. We can uplift it to the de Sitter vacuum by introducing anti-D-branes, keeping the modulus stabilized. Although our numerical results depend on the choice of the cutoff scale and degeneracies of sparticles, at any rate there exist the parameter spaces where the masses of …
We study D-branes transverse to an abelian orbifold C^3/Z_n Z_n. The moduli space of the gauge theory on the D-branes is analyzed by combinatorial calculation based on toric geometry. It is shown that the calculation is related to a problemto count the number of ground states of an antiferromagnetic Ising model. The lattice on which the Ising model is defined is a triangular one defined on the McKay quiver of the orbifold.
We study the cosmological inflation from the viewpoint of the moduli stabilization. We study the scenario that the superpotential has a large value during the inflation era enough to stabilize moduli, but it is small in the true vacuum. This scenario is discussed by using a simple model, one type of hybrid models.
Based on the T-dual constructions of supersymmetric intersecting D6-models on Z_2 x Z_2 orientifolds, whose electroweak sector is parallel with the orientifold planes with Sp(2f)_L x Sp(2f)_R gauge symmetry (hep-th/0407178), we derive and classify Standard Model-like vacua with RR and NSNS fluxes, which stabilize toroidal complex structure moduli and the dilaton. We find consistent four-family (f=4) and two-family (f=2) models with one- and two-units of the quantized flux, respectively. Such models typically possess additional gauge group factors with negative beta functions and may lead, via …
We develop a method to analyze systematically the configuration space of a D-brane localized at the orbifold singular point of a Calabi--Yau $d$-fold of the form ${\Bbb C}^d/Γ$ using the theory of toric quotients. This approach elucidates the structure of the Kähler moduli space associated with the problem. As an application, we compute the toric data of the $Γ$-Hilbert scheme.
We study a four-dimensional effective theory of the five-dimensional (5D) gauged supergravity with a universal hypermultiplet and perturbative superpotential terms at the orbifold fixed points. Among eight independent isometries of the scalar manifold, we focus on three directions for gauging by the graviphoton. The class of models we consider includes the 5D heterotic M-theory and the supersymmetric Randall-Sundrum model as special limits of the gauging parameters. We analyze the vacuum structure of such models, especially the nature of moduli stabilization, from the viewpoint of the effectiv…
We study the effect of adding charged matter fields to both D3 and D7 branes in type IIB string theory compactification with fluxes. Generically, charged matter fields induce additional terms to the Kahler form, the superpotential and the D-terms. These terms allow for minima with positive or zero cosmological constants, even in the absence of non-perturbative effects. We show this result first by decoupling the dilaton field along the lines of the KKLT, and second by reincorporating it in the action with the Kahler moduli.
Stabilization of closed string moduli in toroidal orientifold compactifications of type IIB string theory are studied using constant internal magnetic fields on D-branes and 3-form fluxes that preserve N=1 supersymmetry in four dimensions. Our analysis corrects and extends previous work by us, and indicates that charged scalar VEV's need to be turned on, in addition to the fluxes, in order to construct a consistent supersymmetric model. As an explicit example, we first show the stabilization of all Kahler class and complex structure moduli by turning on magnetic fluxes on different sets of D9-…
Aiming at improving our knowledge of the low-energy limit of heterotic orbifold compactifications, we determine at lowest order the Kahler potential of matter fields in the case where more than three bulk Kahler moduli appear. Interestingly, bulk matter fields couple to more than one Kahler modulus, a subtle difference with models with only three Kahler moduli that may provide a tool to address the question of moduli stabilization in these models.
We study Fayet-Iliopoulos (FI) terms of six-dimensional supersymmetric Abelian gauge theory compactified on a $T^2/Z_2$ orbifold. Such orbifold compactifications can lead to localized FI-terms and instability of bulk zero modes. We study 1-loop correction to FI-terms in more general geometry than the previous works. We find induced FI-terms depend on the complex structure of the compact space. We also find the complex structure of the torus can be stabilized at a specific value corresponding to a self-consistent supersymmetric minimum of the potential by such 1-loop corrections, which is appli…
In the recent years, phenomenological models of moduli stabilization were proposed, where the dynamics of the stabilization is essentially supersymmetric, whereas an O'Rafearthaigh supersymmetry breaking sector is responsible for the "uplift" of the cosmological constant to zero. We investigate the case where the uplift is provided by a Fayet-Iliopoulos sector. We find that in this case the modulus contribution to supersymmetry breaking is larger than in the previous models. A first consequence of this class of constructions is for gauginos, which are heavier compared to previous models. In so…
We study properties of moduli stabilization in the four dimensional N = 1 supergravity theory with heavy moduli and would-be saxion-axion multiplets including light string-theoretic axions. We give general formulation for the scenario that heavy moduli and saxions are stabilized while axions remain light, assuming that moduli are stabilized near the supersymmetric solution. One can find stable vacuum, i.e. non-tachyonic saxions, in the non-supersymmetric Minkowski vacua. We also discuss the cases, where the moduli are coupled to the supersymmetry breaking sector and/or moduli have contribution…
We discuss the role of F-term uplifting in stabilizing moduli within the framework of heterotic string theory. It turns out that the uplifting sector plays an important role in fixing the volume modulus at one of the self-dual points of a modular invariant potential. For the volume modulus stabilized at a self-dual point, the F-term uplifting leads to the dilation stabilization which can naturally yield the mirage mediation pattern of soft supersymmetry breaking terms. Generalizing to the case with anomalous U(1) gauge symmetry, we also find that the U(1) sector generically gives a contributio…
We calculate and explore the moduli potential for M-Theory compactified on G_2-manifolds in which the superpotential is dominated by a single membrane instanton term plus one from an asymptotically free hidden sector gauge interaction. We show that all moduli can be stabilized and that hidden sector gauge symmetries can be Higgsed at a high scale. We then compute the spectrum of superpartner masses at the GUT scale and evolve it to the electroweak scale. We find a spectrum which is very similar to the G_2-MSSM with light gauginos - accessible at the LHC - and a neutral wino dark matter candida…
We classify orbifold geometries which can be interpreted as moduli spaces of four-dimensional $\mathcal{N}\geq 3$ superconformal field theories up to rank 2 (complex dimension 6). The large majority of the geometries we find correspond to moduli spaces of known theories or discretely gauged version of them. Remarkably, we find 6 geometries which are not realized by any known theory, of which 3 have an $\mathcal{N}=2$ Coulomb branch slice with a non-freely generated coordinate ring, suggesting the existence of new, exotic $\mathcal{N}=3$ theories.
The values of the $T$ and $U$ moduli are studied for those ${\bf Z}_N $ Coxeter orbifolds with the property that some of the twisted sectors have fixed planes for which the six-torus ${\bf T}^6 $ can not be decomposed into a direct sum ${\bf T}^2\bigoplus {\bf T}^4 $ with the fixed plane lying in ${\bf T}^2 $. Such moduli in general transform under a subgroup of the modular group $SL(2,Z).$ The moduli are determined by minimizing the effective potential derived from a duality invariant gaugino condensate.
Starting from the non-supersymmetric, tachyon-free orientifold of type 0 string theory, we construct four-dimensional brane world models with D6-branes intersecting at angles on internal tori. They support phenomenologically interesting gauge theories with chiral fermions. Despite the theory being non-supersymmetric the perturbative scalar potential induced at leading order is shown to stabilize geometric moduli, leaving only the dilaton tadpole uncanceled. As an example we present a three generation model with gauge group and fermion spectrum close to a left-right symmetric extension of the S…
Boundary flow in the $c=1$ 2d CFT of a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ orbifold of a free boson on a circle is considered. Adding a bulk marginal operator to the $c=1$ orbifold branch induces a boundary flow. We show that this flow is consistent for any bulk marginal operator and known initial given boundary condition. The supersymmetric $c=3/2$ case is also mentioned. The supersymmetric $c=3/2$ case is also mentioned. For the circle branch of the moduli space this has been shown in arXiv:hep-th/0609034v2. The ground state multiplicity ($g_b$) is calculated and it is shown that it does indeed decrease.
In the context of a recently proposed method for computing exactly string loop corrections regularized in the infra-red, we determine and calculate the universal moduli-dependent part of the threshold corrections to the gauge couplings for the symmetric $Z_2\times Z_2$ orbifold model. We show that these corrections decrease the unification scale of the underlying effective field theory. We also comment on the relation between this infra-red regularization scheme and other proposed methods.
We derive the four point correlation function involving four twist fields for arbitrary even dimensional Z_N x Z_M orbifold compactifications. Using techniques from the conformal field theory the three point correlation functions with twist fields are determined. Both the choice of the modular background (compatible with the twists) and of the (higher) twisted sectors involved are fully general. Our results turn out to be target space duality invariant.
We elucidate the structure of D terms in N=1 orientifold compactifications with fluxes. As a case study, we consider a simple orbifold of the type-IIA theory with D6-branes at angles, O6-planes and general NSNS, RR and Scherk-Schwarz geometrical fluxes. We examine in detail the emergence of D terms, in their standard supergravity form, from an appropriate limit of the D-brane action. We derive the consistency conditions on gauged symmetries and general fluxes coming from brane-localized Bianchi identities, and their relation with the Freed-Witten anomaly. We extend our results to other N=1 com…
The Abelian and non-Abelian vortices on orbifolds are investigated based on the moduli matrix approach, which is a powerful method to deal with the BPS equation. The moduli space and the vortex collision are discussed through the moduli matrix as well as the regular space. It is also shown that a quiver structure is found in the Kahler quotient, and a half of ADHM is obtained for the vortex theory on the orbifolds as the case before orbifolding.
We study the effect of anomalous U(1) gauge groups in string theory compactification with fluxes. We find that, in a gauge invariant formulation, consistent AdS vacua appear breaking spontaneously supergravity. Non vanishing D-terms from the anomalous symmetry act as an uplifting potential and could allow for de Sitter vacua. However, we show that in this case the gravitino is generically (but not always) much heavier than the electroweak scale. We show that alternative uplifting scheme based on corrections to the Kahler potential can be compatible with a gravitino mass in the TeV range.
The three point correlation functions with twist fields are determined for bosonic $Z_N$ orbifolds. Both the choice of the modular background (compatible with the twist) and of the (higher) twisted sectors involved are fully general. We point out a necessary restriction on the set of instantons contributing to twist field correlation functions not obtained in previous calculations. Our results show that the theory is target space duality invariant.
We discuss type IIB orientifolds with D-branes, and NSNS and RR field strength fluxes, with D-brane sectors leading to open string spectra with non-abelian gauge symmetry and charged chiral fermions. The closed string field strengths generate a scalar potential stabilizing most moduli. Hence the models combine the advantages of leading to phenomenologically interesting (and even semirealistic) chiral open string spectra, and of stabilizing the dilaton and most geometric moduli. We describe the explicit construction of two classes of non-supersymmetric models on $\IT^6$ and orbifolds/orientifol…
In theories beyond the Standard Model, in particular in theories with extra spatial dimensions such as superstring theory, there are a large number of scalar fields which appear in the low energy effective action. These moduli fields must be stabilized. Often, moduli stabilization involves a stage during which the moduli fields oscillatte coherently about their ground state value. Here, we study moduli and graviton production during the period during which the background modulus field is oscillating, assuming that this period takes place in the radiation phase. We find a resonant production of…
