To illustrate the general results of the previous paper, we discuss here a large concrete example of the orbifold-string theories of permutation-type. For each of the many subexamples, we focus on evaluation of the \emph{target space-time dimension} $\hat{D}_j(σ)$, the \emph{target space-time signature} and the \emph{target space-time symmetry} of each cycle $j$ in each twisted sector $σ$. We find in particular a gratifying \emph{space-time symmetry enhancement} which naturally matches the space-time symmetry of each cycle to its space-time dimension. Although the orbifolds of $\Z_{2}$-permutation-type are naturally Lorentzian, we find that the target space-times associated to larger permutation groups can be Lorentzian, Euclidean and even null (\hat{D}_{j}(σ)=0), with varying space-time dimensions, signature and symmetry in a single orbifold.
Recently the operator algebra, including the twisted affine primary fields, and a set of twisted KZ equations were given for the WZW permutation orbifolds. In the first part of this paper we extend this operator algebra to include the so-called orbifold Virasoro algebra of each WZW permutation orbifold. These algebras generalize the orbifold Virasoro algebras (twisted Virasoro operators) found some years ago in the cyclic permutation orbifolds. In the second part, we discuss the reducibility of the twisted affine primary fields of the WZW permutation orbifolds, obtaining a simpler set of singl…
Symmetric product orbifolds, i.e. permutation orbifolds of the full symmetric group S_{n} are considered by applying the general techniques of permutation orbifolds. Generating functions for various quantities, e.g. the torus partition functions and the Klein-bottle amplitudes are presented, as well as a simple expression for the discrete torsion coefficients.
Explicit formulae describing the genus one characters and modular transformation properties of permutation orbifolds of arbitrary Rational Conformal Field Theories are presented, and their relation to the theory of covering surfaces is investigated.
The theory of permutation orbifolds is reviewed and applied to the study of symmetric product orbifolds and the congruence subgroup problem. The issue of discrete torsion, the combinatorics of symmetric products, the Galois action and questions related to the classification of RCFTs are also discussed.
We study out-of-time-ordered correlation functions in permutation orbifolds at large central charge. We show that they do not decay at late times for arbitrary choices of low-dimension operators, indicating that permutation orbifolds are non-chaotic theories. This is in agreement with the fact they are free discrete gauge theories and should be integrable rather than chaotic. We comment on the early-time behaviour of the correlators as well as the deformation to strong coupling.
The torus and the Klein bottle amplitude coefficients are computed in permutation orbifolds of RCFT-s in terms of the same quantities in the original theory and the twist group. An explicit expression is presented for the number of self conjugate primaries in the orbifold as a polynomial of the total number of primaries and the number of self conjugate ones in the parent theory. The formulae in the $Z_2$ orbifold illustrate the general results.
A general theory of permutation orbifolds is developed for arbitrary twist groups. Explicit expressions for the number of primaries, the partition function, the genus one characters, the matrix elements of modular transformations and for fusion rule coefficients are presented, together with the relevant mathematical concepts, such as Lambda-matrices and twisted dimensions. The arithmetic restrictions implied by the theory for the allowed modular representations in CFT are discussed. The simplest nonabelian example with twist group S_3 is described to illustrate the general theory.
The hypothesis that every theory of quantum gravity in AdS_3 is a dimensional reduction of string/M-theory leads to a natural conjecture for the density of states of two dimensional CFTs with a large central charge limit. We prove this conjecture for 2D CFTs which are orbifolds by permutation groups. In particular, we characterize those permutation groups which give CFTs with well-defined large N limits and can thus serve as holographic duals to bulk gravity theories in AdS_3. We then show that the holographic dual of a permutation orbifold will have a Hagedorn spectrum in the large N limit. T…
We carry out a systematic study of primary operators in the conformal field theory of a free Weyl fermion. Using SO(4,2) characters we develop counting formulas for primaries constructed using a fixed number of fermion fields. By specializing to particular classes of primaries, we derive very explicit formulas for the generating functions for the number of primaries in these classes. We present a duality map between primary operators in the fermion field theory and polynomial functions. This allows us to construct the primaries that were counted. Next we show that these classes of primary fiel…
The connection between the theory of permutation orbifolds, covering surfaces and uniformization is investigated, and the higher genus partition functions of an arbitrary permutation orbifold are expressed in terms of those of the original theory.
To illustrate our recent discussions of the target space-times in general orbifold-string theories of permutation-type, we return here to a detailed analysis of some simple examples of this type, namely an explicit set of orientation-orbifold string systems. These orientation-orbifold string systems provide twisted, multisector generalizations of ordinary critical open-closed bosonic string systems -- each such system exhibiting a unique graviton. Furthermore, each sector $σ$ of these string systems shows the following properties: a) 26 effective degrees of freedom, b) a Lorentzian space-time …
We continue our discussion of the general bosonic prototype of the new orbifold-string theories of permutation type. Supplementing the extended physical-state conditions of the previous paper, we construct here the extended Virasoro generators with cycle central charge $\hat{c}_j(σ)=26f_j(σ)$, where $f_j(σ)$ is the length of cycle $j$ in twisted sector $σ$. We also find an equivalent, reduced formulation of each physical-state problem at reduced cycle central charge $c_j(σ)=26$. These tools are used to begin the study of the target space-time dimension $\hat{D}_j(σ)$ of cycle $j$ in sector $σ$…
We investigate some aspects of the relationship between matrix string theory and light-cone string field theory by analysing the correspondence between the two-loop thermal partition function of DLCQ strings in flat space and the integrated two-point correlator of twist fields in a symmetric product orbifold conformal field theory at one-loop order. This is carried out by deriving combinatorial expressions for generic twist field correlation functions in permutation orbifolds using the covering surface method, by deriving the one-loop modification of the twist field interaction vertex, and by …
We resume our discussion of the new orbifold-string theories of permutation-type, focusing in the present series on the algebraic formulation of the general bosonic prototype and especially the target space-times of the theories. In this first paper of the series, we construct one twisted BRST system for each cycle $j$ in each twisted sector $σ$ of the general case, verifying in particular the previously-conjectured algebra $[Q_{i}(σ),Q_{j}(σ)]_{+} =0$ of the BRST charges. The BRST systems then imply a set of extended physical-state conditions for the matter of each cycle at cycle central char…
The space of permutation orbifolds is a simple landscape of two dimensional CFTs, generalizing the well-known symmetric orbifolds. We consider constraints which a permutation orbifold with large central charge must obey in order to be holographically dual to a weakly coupled (but possibly stringy) theory of gravity in AdS. We then construct explicit examples of permutation orbifolds which obey these constraints. In our constructions the spectrum remains finite at large N, but differs qualitatively from that of symmetric orbifolds. We also discuss under what conditions the correlation functions…
I consider the $\mathbb{Z}_λ,$ $λ$ prime free-bosonic permutation orbifolds as interacting physical string systems at $\hat{c} = 26λ$. As a first step, I introduce twisted tree diagrams which confirm at the interacting level that the physical spectrum of each twisted sector is equivalent to that of an ordinary $c=26$ closed string. The untwisted sectors are surprisingly more difficult to understand, and there are subtleties in the sewing of the loops, but I am able to propose provisional forms for the full modular-invariant cosmological constants and one-loop diagrams with insertions.
We consider the application of permutation orbifold constructions towards a new possible understanding of the genus zero property in Monstrous and Generalized Moonshine. We describe a theory of twisted Hecke operators in this setting and conjecture on the form of Generalized Moonshine replication formulas.
We summarize the results obtained in the last few years about permutation orbifolds in two-dimensional conformal field theories, their application to string theory and their use in the construction of four-dimensional heterotic string models.
Two dimensional conformal field theories with large central charge and a sparse low-lying spectrum are expected to admit a classical string holographic dual. We construct a large class of such theories employing permutation orbifold technology. In particular, we describe the group theoretic constraints on permutation groups to ensure a (stringy) holographic CFT. The primary result we uncover is that in order for the degeneracy of states to be finite in the large central charge limit, the groups of interest are the so-called oligomorphic permutation groups. Further requiring that the low-lying …
We find a formula for the resolution of fixed points in extensions of permutation orbifold conformal field theories by its (half-)integer spin simple currents. We show that the formula gives a unitary and modular invariant S matrix.
We give the full set of $S$ matrices for extensions of $D(n)_1$ permutation orbifolds, extending our previous work to the yet unknown case of integer spin spinor currents. The main tool is triality of SO(8). We also provide fixed point resolution matrices for spinor currents of $D(n)_1$ permutation orbifolds with $n$ even and not multiple of four, where the spinor currents have half-integer spin.
We find new duality transformations which allow us to construct the stress tensors of all the twisted sectors of any orbifold A(H)/H, where A(H) is the set of all current-algebraic conformal field theories with a finite symmetry group H \subset Aut(g). The permutation orbifolds with H = Z_λand H = S_3 are worked out in full as illustrations but the general formalism includes both simple and semisimple g. The motivation for this development is the recently-discovered orbifold Virasoro master equation, whose solutions are identified by the duality transformations as sectors of the permutation or…
We study the spectrum of permutation orbifolds of 2d CFTs. We find examples where the light spectrum grows faster than Hagedorn, which is different from known cases such as symmetric orbifolds. We also describe how to compute their partition functions using a generalization of Hecke operators.
We show that the Bagger-Lambert-Gustavsson (BLG) theory with two pairs of negative norm generators is derived from the scaling limit of an orbifolded Aharony-Bergman-Jafferis-Maldacena (ABJM) theory. The BLG theory with many Lorentzian pairs is known to be reduced to the Dp-brane theory via Higgs mechanism, so our scaling procedure can be used to derive Dp-branes directly from M2-branes in the field theory language. In this paper, we focus on the D3-brane case and investigate the scaling limits of various quiver Chern-Simons theories obtained from different orbifolding actions. Remarkably, in …
Using the Polya Enumeration Theorem, we count with particular attention to C^3/Gamma up to C^6/Gamma, abelian orbifolds in various dimensions which are invariant under cycles of the permutation group S_D. This produces a collection of multiplicative sequences, one for each cycle in the Cycle Index of the permutation group. A multiplicative sequence is controlled by its values on prime numbers and their pure powers. Therefore, we pay particular attention to orbifolds of the form C^D/Gamma where the order of Gamma is p^alpha. We propose a generalization of these sequences for any D and any p.
This is the first in a series of papers in which I investigate the orbifolds of permutation-type as candidates for {\it new physical string systems} at multiples of critical closed-string central charges. Examples include the bosonic orientation orbifolds, the bosonic permutation orbifolds and others, as well as superstring extensions. In this paper I use the extended (twisted) Virasoro algebras of these orbifolds to construct the corresponding extended action formulations of the twisted open- and closed-string sectors of all the bosonic orbifolds at $\hatc=26K$. The extended actions exhibit a…
In this paper we apply the previously derived formalism of permutation orbifold conformal field theories to N=2 supersymmetric minimal models. By interchanging extensions and permutations of the factors we find a very interesting structure relating various conformal field theories that seems not to be known in literature. Moreover, unexpected exceptional simple currents arise in the extended permuted models, coming from off-diagonal fields. In a few situations they admit fixed points that must be resolved. We determine the complete CFT data with all fixed point resolution matrices for all simp…
We review extensions by integer spin simple currents in two-dimensional conformal field theories and their applications in string theory. In particular, we study the problem of resolving the fixed points of a simple current and apply the formalism to the permutation orbifold. In terms of string compactifications, we construct permutations of N=2 minimal models and use them as building blocks in heterotic Gepner models.
We consider properties of solitons in general orbifolds in the algebraic quantum field theory framework and constructions of solitons in affine and permutation orbifolds. Under general conditions we show that our construction gives all the twisted representations of the fixed point subnet. This allows us to prove a number of conjectures: in the affine orbifold case we clarify the issue of ``fixed point resolutions''; in the permutation orbifold case we determine all irreducible representations of the orbifold, and we also determine the fusion rules in a nontrivial case, which imply an integral…
We study orbifolds by permutations of two identical N=2 minimal models within the Gepner construction of four dimensional heterotic strings. This is done using the new N=2 supersymmetric permutation orbifold building blocks we have recently developed. We compare our results with the old method of modding out the full string partition function. The overlap between these two approaches is surprisingly small, but whenever a comparison can be made we find complete agreement. The use of permutation building blocks allows us to use the complete arsenal of simple current techniques that is available …
In this fourth paper of the series, I clarify the somewhat mysterious relation between the large class of {\it orientation orbifolds} (with twisted open-string CFT's at $\hat c=52$) and {\it orientifolds} (with untwisted open strings at $c=26$), both of which have been associated to division by world-sheet orientation-reversing automorphisms. In particular -- following a spectral clue in the previous paper -- I show that, even as an {\it interacting string system}, a certain half-integer-moded orientation orbifold-string system is in fact equivalent to the archetypal orientifold. The subtitle …
We revisit the classical dynamics of fundamental strings in BTZ black holes with NSNS flux. We analyse probe strings in the black hole background and determine their classical energy using a Nambu-Goto action. Three-dimensional gravity has a non-local effect on the metric surrounding a massive object which can be measured by winding strings. We also study the behaviour of short and long strings in the Wess-Zumino-Witten orbifold and show that their energy matches the long string probe analysis. In the process, we fix subtleties in the Lorentzian choice of NSNS flux. In Euclidean signature, we …
We determine the simple currents and fixed points of the orbifold theory $CFT\otimes CFT/\mathbb{Z}_2$, given the simple currents and fixed point of the original $CFT$. We see in detail how this works for the $SU(2)_k$ WZW model, focusing on the field content (i.e. $h$-spectrum of the primary fields) of the theory. We also look at the fixed point resolution of the simple current extended orbifold theory and determine the $S^J$ matrices associated to each simple current for $SU(2)_2$ and for the $B(n)_1$ and $D(n)_1$ series.
We investigate the large $N$ limit of permutation orbifolds of vertex operator algebras. To this end, we introduce the notion of nested oligomorphic permutation orbifolds and discuss under which conditions their fixed point VOAs converge. We show that if this limit exists, then it has the structure of a vertex algebra. Finally, we give an example based on $\mathrm{GL}(N,q)$ for which the fixed point VOA limit is also the limit of the full permutation orbifold VOA.
This is the second in a series of papers which consider the orbifolds of permutation-type as candidates for new physical string systems at higher central charge. In the first paper, I worked out the extended actions of the twisted sectors of these orbifolds -- which exhibit new permutation-twisted world-sheet gravities and correspondingly extended diffeomorphism groups. In this paper I begin the study of these systems as operator string theories, limiting the discussion for simplicity to the strings with ${\hat c} = 52$ matter (which are those governed by ${\mathbb Z}_2$-twisted permutation gr…
We prove the first nontrivial reconstruction theorem for modular tensor categories: the category associated to any twisted Drinfeld double of any finite group, can be realised as the representation category of a completely rational conformal net. We also show that any twisted double of a solvable group is the category of modules of a completely rational vertex operator algebra. In the process of doing this, we identify the 3-cocycle twist for permutation orbifolds of holomorphic conformal nets: unexpectedly, it can be nontrivial, and depends on the value of the central charge modulo 24. In add…
The characteristic property of the $Z_2\times Z_2$ orbifold is its cyclic permutation symmetry. It is argued that this property may be instrumental in explaining simultaneously the fermion mass hierarchy and the squark mass degeneracy. Detailed studies in free fermionic models that preserve the cyclic permutation symmetry of anomalous U(1) charges of the three generations are discussed.
We analyze the spectrum of the bosonic and superstring on the orbifold of the space-time by a boost, leading to the cosmological singularity. We show that the modular invariance leads to the spectrum where the twisted sector tachyon, together with all other twisted sector fields, present in the Euclidean version of the orbifold, is absent. This makes impossible to resolve the singularity by a marginal deformation of the worldsheet CFT. We also establish a relation between the resolution of rotational orbifolds in Euclidean and Lorentzian setups, and quantum groups. The analysis confirms the im…
Large N coherent state methods are used to study the relation between U(N) gauge theories containing adjoint representation matter fields and their orbifold projections. The classical dynamical systems which reproduce the large N limits of the quantum dynamics in parent and daughter orbifold theories are compared. We demonstrate that the large N dynamics of the parent theory, restricted to the subspace invariant under the orbifold projection symmetry, and the large N dynamics of the daughter theory, restricted to the untwisted sector invariant under "theory space'' permutations, coincide. This…
In the second paper of this series, I obtained the twisted BRST systems and extended physical-state conditions of all twisted open and closed $\hat{c} = 52$ strings. In this paper, I supplement the extended physical-state conditions with the explicit form of the extended (twisted) Virasoro generators of all $\hat{c} = 52$ strings, which allows us to discuss the physical spectra of these systems. Surprisingly, all the $\hat{c}=52$ spectra admit an equivalent description in terms of generically-unconventional Virasoro generators at $c=26$. This description strongly supports our prior conjecture …
We use the permutation symmetry between the product of several group manifolds in combination with orbifolds and T-duality to construct new classes of symmetry breaking branes on products of group manifolds. The resulting branes mix the submanifolds and break part of the diagonal chiral algebra of the theory. We perform a Langrangian analysis as well as a boundary CFT construction of these branes and find agreement between the two methods.
We investigate maximally symmetric backgrounds in nonsupersymmetric string vacua with D-branes and O-planes localized in the compact space. We find a class of solutions with a perturbative string coupling constant in all regions of spacetime. Depending on the particular model, we find either a time evolution with a big-bang type singularity or a space dependent background with generically orbifold singularities. We show that the result can be interpreted as a supersymmetric bulk with some symmetries broken by the boundaries. We also discuss an interesting connection to Lorentzian and Euclidian…
It is well-known that the space group selection rule constrains the interactions of closed strings on orbifolds. For some examples, this rule has been described by an effective Abelian symmetry that combines with a permutation symmetry to a non-Abelian flavor symmetry like $D_4$ or $Δ(54)$. However, the general case of the effective Abelian symmetries was not yet fully understood. In this work, we formalize the computation of the Abelian symmetry that results from the space group selection rule by imposing two conditions only: (i) well-defined discrete charges and (ii) their conservation. The …
We study orbifolding by the $\mathbb{Z}_2^{\rm (per)}$ permutaion of $T^2_1 \times T^2_2$ with magnetic fluxes and its twisted orbifolds. We classify the possible three generation models which lead to non-vanishing Yukawa couplings on the magnetized $T^2_1 \times T^2_2$ and orbifolds including the $\mathbb{Z}_2^{\rm (per)}$ permutation and $\mathbb{Z}_2^{\rm (t)}$ twist. We also study the modular symmetry on such orbifold models. As an illustrating model, we examine the realization of quark masses and mixing angles.
Misner space, also known as the Lorentzian orbifold $R^{1,1}/boost$, is one of the simplest examples of a cosmological singularity in string theory. In this lecture, we review the semi-classical propagation of closed strings in this background, with a particular emphasis on the twisted sectors of the orbifold. Tree-level scattering amplitudes and the one-loop vacuum amplitude are also discussed.
Recently the operator algebra and twisted vertex operator equations were given for each sector of all WZW orbifolds, and a set of twisted KZ equations for the WZW permutation orbifolds were worked out as a large example. In this companion paper we report two further large examples of this development. In the first example we solve the twisted vertex operator equations in an abelian limit to obtain the twisted vertex operators and correlators of a large class of abelian orbifolds. In the second example, the twisted vertex operator equations are applied to obtain a set of twisted KZ equations fo…
String propagation on a three-dimensional Lorentzian string orbifold with a null singularity has been studied by Horowitz and Steif, and more recently by Liu, Moore and Seiberg. We analyze the target space as a classical gravitational background. The singularity becomes spacelike when an arbitrarily small amount of matter is thrown at the singularity. This can be seen directly by studying the null singularity as a limit of the M=0, J=0 BTZ black hole metric.
We are considering the class of heterotic $\mathcal{N}=(2,2)$ Landau-Ginzburg orbifolds with 9 fields corresponding to $A_1^9$ Gepner models. We classify all of its Abelian discrete quotients and obtain 152 inequivalent models closed under mirror symmetry with $\mathcal{N}=1,2$ and $4$ supersymmetry in 4D. We compute the full massless matter spectrum at the Fermat locus and find a universal relation satisfied by all models. In addition we give prescriptions of how to compute all quantum numbers of the 4D states including their discrete R-symmetries. Using mirror symmetry of rigid geometries we…
An important issue in supersymmetry phenomenology is the suppression of squarks contributions to Flavor Changing Neutral Currents (FCNC). Recently it was noted that in some free fermionic three generation models the anomalous U(1) is family universal. It was further shown that if the $D$--term of the $U(1)_A$ is the dominant source of supersymmetry breaking, the squark masses are indeed approximately degenerate. In this paper I discuss the properties of the superstring models that give rise to the flavor universal anomalous U(1). The root cause for the universal $U(1)_A$ is the cyclic permutat…
Arguably the simplest model of a cosmological singularity in string theory, the Lorentzian orbifold $\Real^{1,1}/boost$ is known to lead to severe divergences in scattering amplitudes of untwisted states, indicating a large backreaction toward the singularity. In this work we take a first step in investigating whether condensation of twisted states may remedy this problem and resolve the spacelike singularity. By using the formal analogy with charged open strings in an electric field, we argue that, contrary to earlier claims, twisted sectors do contain physical scattering states, which can be…
We study Matrix Quantum Mechanics on the Euclidean time orbifold $S_1/\mathbb{Z}_2$. Upon Wick rotation to Lorentzian time and taking the double-scaling limit this theory provides a toy model for a big-bang/big crunch universe in two dimensional non-critical string theory where the orbifold fixed points become cosmological singularities. We derive the MQM partition function both in the canonical and grand canonical ensemble in two different formulations and demonstrate agreement between them. We pinpoint the contribution of twisted states in both of these formulations either in terms of bi-loc…
We study in detail the structure of Grand Unified Theories derived as the low-energy limit of orbifold four-dimensional strings. To this aim, new techniques for building level-two symmetric orbifold theories are presented. New classes of GUTs in the context of symmetric orbifolds are then constructed. The method of permutation modding is further explored and SO(10) GUTs with both $45$ or $54$-plets are obtained. SU(5) models are also found through this method. It is shown that, in the context of symmetric orbifold $SO(10)$ GUTs, only a single GUT-Higgs, either a $54$ or a $45$, can be present …
Explicit construction of states in orbifolds of products of $N=2$ Superconformal ADE Minimal models
Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems（哈尔凯维奇信息传输问题研究所）；Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics（朗道理论物理研究所）；Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology（莫斯科物理技术学院）
We study D-branes in a two-dimensional Lorentzian orbifold R^{1,1}/Γwith a discrete boost Γ. This space is known as Misner or Milne space, and includes big crunch/big bang singularity. In this space, there are D0-branes in spiral orbits and D1-branes with or without flux on them. In particular, we observe imaginary parts of partition functions, and interpret them as the rates of open string pair creation for D0-branes and emission of winding closed strings for D1-branes. These phenomena occur due to the time-dependence of the background. Open string 2 -> 2 scattering amplitude on a D1-brane is…
We consider a picture in which the transition from a big crunch to a big bang corresponds to the collision of two empty orbifold planes approaching each other at a constant non-relativistic speed in a locally flat background space-time, a situation relevant to recently proposed cosmological models. We show that $p$-brane states which wind around the extra dimension propagate smoothly and unambiguously across the orbifold plane collision. In particular we calculate the quantum mechanical production of winding M2-branes extending from one orbifold to the other. We find that the resulting density…
