We analyse a new ${\cal N}=1$ string tree level correction at ${\cal O}(α'^2)$ to the Kähler potential of the volume moduli of type IIB Calabi-Yau flux compactification found recently by Grimm, Savelli and Weissenbacher~\cite{Grimm:2013gma} and its impact on the moduli potential. We find that it imposes a strong lower bound the Calabi-Yau volume in the Large Volume Scenario of moduli stabilisation. For KKLT-like scenarios we find that consistency of the action imposes an upper bound on the flux superpotential $|W_0|\lesssim 10^{-3}$, while parametrically controlled survival of the KKLT minimum needs extreme tuning of $W_0$ close to zero. We also analyse the Kähler uplifting mechanism showing that it can operate on Calabi-Yau manifolds where the new correction is present and dominated by the 4-cycle controlling the overall volume if the volume is stabilised at values $\mathcal{V} \gtrsim 10^3$. We discuss the phenomenological implication of these bounds on $\mathcal{V}$ in the various scenarios.
We consider the Type IIB string theory in the presence of various extra $7/\bar 7$-brane pairs compactified on a warped Calabi-Yau threefold that admits a conifold singularity. We demonstrate that the volume modulus can be stabilized perturbatively at a non-supersymmetric $AdS_4/dS_4$ vacuum by the effective potential that includes the stringy $(α^\prime)^3$ correction obtained by Becker {\it et al.} together with a combination of positive tension and anomalous negative tension terms generated by the additional 7-brane-antibrane pairs.
Non-perturbative corrections and modular properties of four-dimensional type IIB Calabi-Yau orientifolds are discussed. It is shown that certain non-perturbative alpha' corrections survive in the large volume limit of the orientifold and periodically correct the Kahler potential. These corrections depend on the NS-NS two form and have to be completed by D-instanton contributions to transform covariantely under symmetries of the type IIB orientifold background. It is shown that generically also the D-instanton superpotential depends on the two-form moduli as well as on the complex dilaton. Thes…
We study gauge threshold corrections for local GUT models in IIB/F-theory. Consistency with holomorphy requirements of supergravity and the Kaplunovsky-Louis formula implies that the unification scale is enhanced by the bulk radius R from the string scale to M_X =RM_S. We argue that the stringy interpretation of this is via a locally uncancelled tadpole sourced by the hypercharge flux. This sources closed string modes propagating into the bulk; equivalently open string gauge coupling running up to the winding scale M_X. The enhancement to R M_s is tied to GUT breaking by a globally trivial hyp…
We construct a Lie 3-algebra extended model of the IIB matrix model. It admits any Lie 3-algebra and possesses the same supersymmetry as the original matrix model, and thus as type IIB superstring theory. We examine dynamics of the model by taking minimal Lie 3-algebra that includes u(N) Lie algebra as an example. There are two phases in the minimally extended model at least classically. The extended action reduces to that of the IIB matrix model in one phase. In other phase, it reduces to a more simple action, which is rather easy to analyze.
We study the behaviour of the string loop corrections to the N=1 4D supergravity Kaehler potential that occur in flux compactifications of IIB string theory on general Calabi-Yau three-folds. We give a low energy interpretation for the conjecture of Berg, Haack and Pajer for the form of the loop corrections to the Kaehler potential. We check the consistency of this interpretation in several examples. We show that for arbitrary Calabi-Yaus, the leading contribution of these corrections to the scalar potential is always vanishing, giving an "extended no-scale structure". This result holds as lon…
We classify under some assumptions the IIB black hole horizons with 5-form flux preserving more than 2 supersymmetries. We find that the spatial horizon sections with non-vanishing flux preserving 4 supersymmetries are locally isometric either to S^1 * S^3 * T^4 or to S^1 * S^3 * K_3 and the associated near horizon geometries are locally isometric to AdS_3 * S^3 * T^4 and AdS_3 * S^3 * K_3$, respectively. The near horizon geometries preserving more than 4 supersymmetries are locally isometric to R^{1,1} * T^8.
We discuss string theory alpha' corrections to charged near-extremal black 3-branes/black holes in type IIB supergravity. We find that supersymmetric global AdS_5 x S^5 geometry is not corrected to leading order in alpha', while charged or non-extremal black 3-branes/black hole geometries receive alpha' corrections. Following gauge theory-string theory correspondence the thermodynamics of these geometries is mapped to the thermodynamics of large-n_c N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory at finite (large) 't Hooft coupling with the U(1)_R-charge chemical potential. We use holographic renormaliza…
We present a concrete and consistent procedure to generate one kind of non-perturbative superpotential, including the gaugino condensation corrections and poly-instanton corrections, in type IIB orientifold compactification with four Kahler Moduli. Then we use this kind of superpotential as well as the alphaprime-corrections to Kahler potential to fix all of the four Kahler moduli on a general Calabi-Yau manifold with typical K3-fibred volume form. In our construction, the considered Calabi-Yau threefolds are K3-fibred and admit at least one del Pezzo surface and one W-surface. Searching throu…
We obtain the exact non-perturbative thresholds of $R^4$ terms in IIB string theory compactified to eight and seven dimensions. These thresholds are given by the perturbative tree-level and one-loop results together with the contribution of the D-instantons and of the (p,q)-string instantons. The invariance under U-duality is made manifest by rewriting the sum as a non-holomorphic modular function of the corresponding discrete U-duality group. In the eight-dimensional case, the threshold is the sum of a order-1 Eisenstein series for SL(2,Z) and a order-3/2 Eisenstein series for SL(3,Z). The se…
We propose a four-point effective action for the graviton, antisymmetric two-forms, dilaton and axion of type IIB superstring in ten dimensions. It is explicitly SL(2,Z)-invariant and reproduces the known tree-level results. Perturbatively, it has only one-loop corrections for the NS-NS sector, generalizing the non-renormalization theorem of the R^4 term. Finally, the non-perturbative corrections are of the expected form, namely, they can be interpreted as arising from single D-instantons of multiple charge.
We evaluate string one-loop contributions to the Einstein-Hilbert term in toroidal minimally supersymmetric type IIB orientifolds with D-branes. These have potential applications to the determination of quantum corrections to the moduli Kahler metric in these models.
In a string calculation to order $α'^3$, we compute an eight-derivative four-dilaton term in the type IIB effective action. Following the AdS prescription, we compute the order $(g_{YM}^2N_c)^{-3/2}$ correction to the four-point correlation function involving the operator $tr F^2$ in four dimensional N=4 super Yang-Mills using the string corrected type IIB action extending the work of Freedman et al. (hep-th/9808006). In the limit where two of the Yang-Mills operators approach each other, we find that our correction to the four-point correlation functions develops a logarithmic singularity. We…
This article represents the author's PhD thesis which is focused on moduli stabilisation in type IIB Calabi-Yau flux compactifications and its applications to cosmology. I derive the topological conditions on an arbitrary Calabi-Yau to give rise to the very promising LARGE Volume Scenario. After a systematic study of the behaviour of string loop corrections for general type IIB compactifications, I show how they play a crucial role to achieve full moduli stabilisation. I then apply these results to cosmology showing how, in the case of K3-fibrations, string loop corrections give rise naturally…
In this note we study the mass spectrum of type IIB flux compactifications. We first give a general discussion of the mass matrix for F-term vacua in four-dimensional N=1 supergravity theories and then specialize to type IIB Calabi-Yau orientifold compactifications in the presence of geometric and non-geometric fluxes. F-term vacua in this setting are in general AdS$_4$ vacua for which we compute the conformal dimensions of operators dual to the scalar fields. For the mirror-dual of the DGKT construction we find that one-loop corrections to the complex-structure moduli space lead to real-value…
We revisit the classical theory of ten-dimensional two-derivative gravity coupled to fluxes, scalar fields, D-branes, anti D-branes and Orientifold-planes. We show that such set-ups do not give rise to a four-dimensional positive curvature spacetime with the isometries of de Sitter spacetime. We further argue that a de Sitter solution in type IIB theory may still be achieved if the higher-order curvature corrections are carefully controlled. Our analysis relies on the derivation of the de Sitter condition from an explicit background solution by going beyond the supergravity limit of type IIB t…
The zero mode structure for the generation of poly-instanton corrections for Euclidian D3-branes wrapping complex surfaces in Type IIB orientifolds with O7- and O3-planes is analyzed. Working examples of such surfaces and explicit embeddings into compact Calabi-Yau threefolds are presented, with special emphasis on geometries capable of realizing the LARGE volume scenario.
We compute all three and four point couplings of BPS $D_{p}$-branes for all different nonzero $p$-values on the entire world volume and transverse directions. We start finding out all four point function supersymmetric Wess-Zumino (WZ) actions of one closed string Ramond-Ramond (RR) field with two fermions, either with the same (IIB) or different chirality (IIA) as well as their all order $α'$ corrections. The closed form of S-matrices of two closed string RR in both IIB, IIA, including their all order $α'$ corrections have also been addressed. Our results confirm that, not only the structures…
The IKKT matrix model was proposed to be a non-perturbative formulation of type IIB superstring theory. One of its important consistency criteria is that the leading one-loop $1/r^8$ effective interaction between a cluster of type IIB D-objects should not receive any corrections from higher loop effects for it to describe accurately the type IIB supergravity results. In analogy with the BFSS matrix model {\it versus} the eleven-dimensional supergravity example, we show in this work that the one-loop effective potential in the IKKT matrix model is also not renormalized at the two-loop order.
In a recent paper, we derived the leading alpha' corrections to the Kahler potentials for moduli in (0,2) heterotic compactifications. In the same spirit as the LARGE volume stabilization scenario for type IIB orientifolds, we examine whether these quantum corrections, together with a combination of tree-level and non-perturbative superpotentials, are sufficient to stabilize the overall volume modulus at large values. This is not a priori obvious, since the corrections we found are of a lower order than those used in the type IIB setting. Nevertheless, we find that stabilizing the volume at (e…
We give a complete account of the Schrödinger representation approach to the calculation of the Weyl anomaly of ${\cal N}=4$ SYM from the AdS/CFT correspondence. On the AdS side, the $1/N^2$ correction to the leading order result receives contributions from all the fields of Type IIB Supergravity, the contribution of each field being given by a universal formula. The correct matching with the CFT result is thus a highly non-trivial test of the correspondence.
We perform a Kaluza-Klein reduction of IIB supergravity including purely gravitational $α'^3$-corrections on a Calabi-Yau threefold, and perform the orientifold projection accounting for the presence of $O3/O7$-planes. We consider infinitesimal Kähler deformations of the Calabi-Yau background and derive the complete set of four-derivative couplings quadratic in these fluctuations coupled to gravity. In particular, we find four-derivative couplings of the Kähler moduli fields in the four-dimensional effective supergravity theory, which are referred to as friction couplings in the context of inf…
A geometrical approach in the non-symmetric connection framework is employed to examine the issue of higher order $α'$ corrections to D=10 type IIB superstring backgrounds with a covariantly constant null Killing isometry and non-zero Ramond-Ramond field content. These describe generalized supersymmetric string waves and were obtained recently by us through the S-duality transformation of purely NS-NS plane wave backgrounds. We find that the backgrounds are exact subject to the existence of certain field redefinitions and provided certain restrictive conditions are satisfied.
We compute the asymmetric and symmetric correlation functions of a four point amplitude of a gauge field, a scalar field and a closed string Ramond-Ramond (RR) for different non-vanishing BPS branes. All world volume, Taylor and pull-back couplings and their all order $α'$ corrections have also been explored. Due to various symmetry structures, different restricted BPS Bianchi identities have also been constructed. The prescription of exploring all the corrections of two closed string RR couplings in type IIB is given. We obtain the closed form of the entire S-matrix elements of two closed str…
A natural SL(2,Z) invariant generalization of the Veneziano amplitude in type IIB superstring theory is investigated. It includes certain perturbative and non-perturbative (D-instanton) contributions, and it reduces to the correct expressions in different limits. The singularities are poles in the $s$-$t$-$u$ channels, corresponding to the exchange of particles with a mass spectrum coinciding with that of $(p,q)$ string states. We describe the general structure of the associated perturbative corrections to the effective action.
We consider Z2, freely acting orbifolds of the type IIB string with 16 parallel D5-branes. When the string is compactified on T2 X T4 and the D5-branes are wrapped on T2, these systems possess N=2 supersymmetry, originating from the spontaneous, partial breaking of N=4. Extended supersymmetry allows us to investigate the duality with certain heterotic and type I constructions, and to obtain informations about their non-perturbative regime.
In this paper we extend to the case of IIB superstring sigma models the method proposed in hep-th/10023500 to derive the pure spinor approach for type IIA sigma models. In particular, starting from the (Free) Differential Algebra and superspace parametrization of type IIB supergravity, extended to include the BRST differential and all the ghosts, we derive the BRST transformations of fields and ghosts as well as the standard pure spinor constraints for the ghosts $λ$ related to supersymmetry. Moreover, using the method first proposed by us, we derive the pure spinor action for type IIB superst…
We analyse a recently constructed class of local solutions of type IIB supergravity that consist of a warped product of AdS_3 with a seven-dimensional internal space. In one duality frame the only other non-vanishing fields are the NS three-form and the dilaton. We analyse in detail how these local solutions can be extended to globally well-defined solutions of type IIB string theory, with the internal space having topology S^3 x S^3 x S^1 and with properly quantised three-form flux.
We determine one-loop string corrections to Kahler potentials in type IIB orientifold compactifications with either N=1 or N=2 supersymmetry, including D-brane moduli, by evaluating string scattering amplitudes.
The origin of our four-dimensional space-time has been pursued through the dynamical aspects of the IIB matrix model via the improved mean field approximation. Former works have been focused on the specific choice of configurations as ansatz which preserve SO(d) rotational symmetry. In this report, an extended ansatz is proposed and examined up to 3rd order of approximation which includes both SO(4) ansatz and SO(7) ansatz in their respective limits. From the solutions of self-consistency condition represented by the extrema of free energy of the system, it is found that a part of solutions fo…
The rôle of string loop corrections on the existence of de Sitter vacua and the moduli stabilization problem is examined in type IIB effective theories. The fundamental building blocks are a minimum of three intersecting D7 brane stacks, three Kähler moduli, and a novel Einstein-Hilbert term associated with higher derivative terms of the 10-dimensional effective action. It was shown in previous works that loop corrections appear which induce novel logarithmic volume-dependent terms in the effective potential. When D-term contributions are considered, all Kähler moduli are stabilized and de Sit…
A scenario for stabilization of axionic moduli fields in the context of type IIB Calabi-Yau flux compactifications is discussed in detail. We consider the case of a Calabi-Yau orientifold with h^{1,1}_- \neq 0 which allows for the presence of B_2 and C_2-moduli. In an attempt to generalize the KKLT and the Large Volume Scenario, we show that these axions can also be stabilized - some already at tree level, and others when we include perturbative α'-corrections to the Kaehler potential K and nonperturbative D3-instanton contributions to the superpotential W. At last, we comment on the possible …
We explore the closed form of the correlation function of four spin operators (including one closed string Ramond-Ramond (RR) and two open string fermions) and one current in ten dimensions, to be able to find the complete and the closed form of the amplitude of one closed string Ramond-Ramond, one gauge field and two fermionic strings (with the same chirality) to all orders in $α'$ in IIB superstring theory. In particular we use a special gauge fixing to the amplitude and apply fermions' equations of motion to $<V_{C} V_{A}V_{\barψ}V_ψ >$ correlator. String amplitude induced that neither ther…
We construct an explicit solution of type-IIB supergravity describing the strong coupling regime of a non-supersymmetric gauge theory. The latter has a running coupling with an ultraviolet stable fixed point corresponding to the N=4 SU(N) super-Yang-Mills theory at large N. The running coupling has a power law behaviour, argued to be universal, that is consistent with holography. Around the critical point, our solution defines an asymptotic expansion for the gauge coupling beta-function. We also calculate the first correction to the Coulombic quark-antiquark potential.
The complete form of the amplitude of one closed string Ramond-Ramond (RR), two fermionic strings and one scalar field in IIB superstring theory has been computed in detail. Deriving $<V_{C}V_{\barψ}V_ψ V_ϕ>$ by using suitable gauge fixing, we discover some new vertices and their higher derivative corrections. We investigate both infinite gauge and scalar $u-$channel poles of this amplitude. In particular, by using the fact that the kinetic term of fermion fields has no correction, employing Born-Infeld action, the Wess-Zumino terms and their higher derivative corrections, we discover all infi…
We consider the present absence of 31 out of 32 supersymmetric solutions in supergravity i.e., of solutions describing BPS preons. A recent result indicates that (bosonic) BPS preonic solutions do not exist in type IIB supergravity. We reconsider this analysis by using the G-frame method, extend it to the IIA supergravity case, and show that there are no (bosonic) preonic solutions for type IIA either. For the classical D=11 supergravity no conclusion can be drawn yet, although the negative IIA results permit establishing the conditions that preonic solutions would have to satisfy. For supergr…
We examine the boundary conditions associated with extended supersymmetric Maxwell theory in 5-dimensional anti-De Sitter space. Excitations on the boundary are identical to those of ordinary 4-dimensional conformal invariant super electrodynammics. Extrapolations of these excitations give rise to a 5-dimensional topological gauge theory of the singleton type. The possibility of a connection of this phenomenon to the world volume theory of 3-branes in IIB string theory is discussed.
In the present paper, we reexamine the moduli stabilization problem of the Type IIB orientifolds with one complex structure modulus in a modified two-step procedure. The full superpotential including both the 3-form fluxes and the non-perturbative corrections is used to yield a F-term potential. This potential is simplified by using one optimization condition to integrate the dilaton field out. It is shown that having a locally stable supersymmetric Anti-deSitter vacuum is not inevitable for these orientifolds, which depend strongly upon the details of the flux parameters. For those orientifol…
By dealing with the evaluation of string theory correlators of $<V_C V_T V_{\barΨ} V_Ψ>$, the complete and closed form of the amplitude of two fermion fields, one tachyon and one closed string Ramond-Ramond field in type IIB superstring theory is found. Specifically by comparing infinite tachyon poles in field theory amplitude with infinite tachyon poles of the S-matrix of string amplitude (for $p+1=n$ case), all the infinite higher derivative corrections of two tachyons and two fermions (in type IIB) to all orders of $α'$ have been discovered. Using these new couplings, we are able to produce…
We propose a new mechanism of (geometric) moduli stabilisation in type IIB/F-theory four-dimensional compactifications on Calabi-Yau manifolds, in the presence of 7-branes, that does not rely on non-perturbative effects. Complex structure moduli and the axion-dilaton system are stabilised in the standard way, without breaking supersymmetry, using 3-form internal fluxes. Kähler class moduli stabilisation utilises perturbative string loop corrections, together with internal magnetic fields along the D7-branes world-volume leading to Fayet-Iliopoulos D-terms in the effective supergravity action. …
We study limits of infinite distance in the moduli space of 4d $\mathcal{N} = 2$ string compactifications, in which instanton effects dominate. We first consider trajectories in the hypermultiplet moduli space of type IIB Calabi-Yau compactifications. We observe a correspondence between towers of D-brane instantons and D-brane 4d strings, such that the lighter the string the more relevant the instanton effects are. The dominant instantons modify the classical trajectory such that the lightest D-brane string becomes tensionless even faster, while the other strings are prevented to go below the …
The properties of the effective scalar potential are studied in the framework of type IIB string theory, taking into account perturbative and non-perturbative corrections. The former modify the Kähler potential and include $α'$ and logarithmic corrections generated when intersecting D7 branes are part of the internal geometric configuration. The latter add exponentially suppressed Kähler moduli dependent terms to the fluxed superpotential. The possibility of partial elimination of such terms which may happen for particular choices of world fluxes is also taken into account. That being the case…
We compute the O(alpha'^3) corrections to the AdS_5 Black hole metric in type IIB string theory. Contrary to previous work in this direction we keep the Black Hole radius finite. Thus the topology of the boundary is S^3 x S^1. We find the corrections to the free energy and the critical temperature of the phase transition.
We consider certain supersymmetric Born-Infeld couplings to the D3 brane action and show that they give rise to massless and massive KK excitations of type IIB on $AdS_5\times S_5$, in terms of singleton Yang-Mills superfields.
We study the central charges and levels of 2d $\mathcal{N}=(0,4)$ superconformal field theories that are dual to four- and five-dimensional BPS black holes in compactifications of type IIB string theory on a K3 surface. They arise from wrapping a D3-brane on a curve $C$ inside K3 and have transverse space either an ALE or ALF space. These D3-branes have an AdS$_3 \times \mathrm{S}^3/ Γ$ near horizon geometry where $Γ$ is a discrete subgroup of $SU(2)$. We compute the central charges and levels of the 2d SCFTs both in the microscopic picture and from six-dimensional $\mathcal{N}=(2,0)$ supergra…
We study models of stabilization near large complex structure in type IIB O3/O7 flux compactifications. We consider a special family of examples with a single nonvanishing Yukawa coupling in the large complex structure limit, which allows us to study all possible stable vacua of the tree-level no-scale potential very explicitly. We find that, by tuning fluxes, both supersymmetric and nonsupersymmetric vacua can be realized at almost any point in the large complex structure moduli space of one-, two-, and three-parameter models. We also consider the effects of stringy corrections on tree-level …
In this work we analyze the role of $α'$-corrections to type IIB orientifold compactifications in Kähler moduli stabilization and inflation. In particular, we propose a model independent scenario to achieve non-supersymmetric Minkowski and de Sitter vacua for geometric backgrounds with positive Euler-characteristic and generic number of Kähler moduli. The vacua are obtained by a tuning of the flux superpotential. Moreover, in the one-modulus case we argue for a mechanisms to achieve model independent slow-roll.
Moduli stabilisation in superstring compactifications on Calabi-Yau orientifolds remains a key challenge in the search for realistic string vacua. In particular, odd moduli arising from the reduction of 2-forms $(B_2,C_2)$ in type IIB are largely unexplored despite their relevance for inflationary model building. This article provides novel insights into the general structure of 4D $\mathcal{N}=1$ $F$-term scalar potentials at higher orders in the $α^{\prime}$ and $g_{s}$ expansion for arbitrary Hodge numbers. We systematically examine superpotential contributions with distinct moduli dependen…
We find the D(-1) and D1-brane instanton contributions to the hypermultiplet moduli space of type IIB string compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds. These combine with known perturbative and worldsheet instanton corrections into a single modular invariant function that determines the hypermultiplet low-energy effective acction.
We show that a generalised reduction of D=10 IIB supergravity leads, in a certain limit, to a maximally extended SO(2) gauged supergravity in D=9. We show the scalar potential of this model allows both Minkowski and a new type of domain wall solution to the Bogomol'nyi equations. We relate these vacua to type IIB D-branes.
It was recently shown that IIB supergravity on AdS$_5\times$S$^5$ enjoys 10d conformal symmetry and that superstring theory on this background can be described using a 10d scalar effective field theory. In this paper we adapt these two complementary approaches to correlators of hypermultiplets in AdS$_2\times$S$^2$. In particular, we show that 4-point correlators of $1/2$-BPS operators in the 1d boundary can be computed using 4d conformal symmetry and a 4d effective action in the bulk. The 4d conformal symmetry is realised by acting with Casimirs of $SU(1,1|2)$, and is generically broken by hi…
We revisit the SL(5) U-duality manifest action constructed by Berman and Perry in an extended spacetime. Upon choosing a four-dimensional solution to the section condition constraint, the theory reduces to a four-dimensional truncation of eleven-dimensional supergravity. In this paper, we show that the theory contains more than this M-theory reduction. The section condition also admits an SL(5) inequivalent three-dimensional solution, upon which the action directly reduces to a three-dimensional truncation of type IIB supergravity. We also discuss the reduction to IIB$^*$ supergravity.
We consider supersymmetric compactifications of type IIB and the weakly coupled heterotic string with G resp.H-flux and gaugino condensation in a hidden sector included. We point out that proper inclusion of the non-perturbative effects changes the Hodge structure of the allowed fluxes in type IIB significantly. In the heterotic theory it is known that, in contrast to the potential read off from dimensional reduction, the effective four-dimensional description demands for consistency a non-vanishing H^{2,1} component if a H^{3,0} component is already present balancing the condensate. The H^{2,…
We propose a mechanism for the natural inflation with and without modulation in the framework of type IIB string theory on toroidal orientifold or orbifold. We explicitly construct the stabilization potential of complex structure, dilaton and Kähler moduli, where one of the imaginary component of complex structure moduli becomes light which is identified as the inflaton. The inflaton potential is generated by the gaugino-condensation term which receives the one-loop threshold corrections determined by the field value of complex structure moduli and the axion decay constant of inflaton is enhan…
