We propose a new class of sigma models based on Courant sigma models. We refer to these models as gauged Courant sigma models (GCSMs). By introducing additional gauge symmetries, such as those associated with a Lie group, a Lie groupoid (or Lie algebroid), and a Courant algebroid on the target space, Courant sigma models are extended to gauged sigma models of AKSZ type. The consistency of the theory is ensured by identities among geometric quantities on Lie algebroids and Courant algebroids, such as curvatures and torsions, which can be interpreted as flatness conditions on the target space. We also analyze geometric structures of GCSMs in the presence of fluxes and boundaries.
The Courant sigma model is a 3-dimensional topological sigma model of AKSZ type which has been used for the systematic description of closed strings in non-geometric flux backgrounds. In particular, the expression for the fluxes and their Bianchi identities coincide with the local form of the axioms of a Courant algebroid. On the other hand, the axioms of a Courant algebroid also coincide with the conditions for gauge invariance of the Courant sigma model. In this paper we embed this interplay between background fluxes of closed strings, gauge (or more precisely BRST) symmetries of the Courant…
We study aspects of two-dimensional nonlinear sigma models with Wess-Zumino term corresponding to a nonclosed 3-form, which may arise upon dimensional reduction in the target space. Our goal in this paper is twofold. In a first part, we investigate the conditions for consistent gauging of sigma models in the presence of a nonclosed 3-form. In the Abelian case, we find that the target of the gauged theory has the structure of a contact Courant algebroid, twisted by a 3-form and two 2-forms. Gauge invariance constrains the theory to (small) Dirac structures of the contact Courant algebroid. In t…
Courant sigma-models encode the geometric and non-geometric fluxes of compactified closed string theory as generalized Wess-Zumino terms and exhibit their relation to Courant algebroids. In recent work, we proposed a doubled membrane sigma-model that establishes the corresponding connection to double field theory and its algebroid structure. The strategy is to consider a "large" Courant sigma-model over a doubled target spacetime and identify a suitable projection that leads to a sigma-model for doubled fields. In this note, we provide further details for this construction. Starting from the B…
We investigate geometric aspects of double field theory (DFT) and its formulation as a doubled membrane sigma-model. Starting from the standard Courant algebroid over the phase space of an open membrane, we determine a splitting and a projection to a subbundle that sends the Courant algebroid operations to the corresponding operations in DFT. This describes precisely how the geometric structure of DFT lies in between two Courant algebroids and is reconciled with generalized geometry. We construct the membrane sigma-model that corresponds to DFT, and demonstrate how the standard T-duality orbit…
This is a survey article for the mathematical theory of Witten's Gauged Linear Sigma Model, as developed recently by the authors. Instead of developing the theory in the most general setting, in this paper we focus on the description of the moduli.
We show that in analogy to the introduction of Poisson structures twisted by a closed 3-form by Park and Klimcik-Strobl, the study of three dimensional sigma models with Wess-Zumino term leads in a likewise way to twisting of Courant algebroid structures by closed 4-forms H. The presentation is kept pedagogical and accessible to physicists as well as to mathematicians, explaining in detail in particular the interplay of field transformations in a sigma model with the type of geometrical structures induced on a target. In fact, as we also show, even if one does not know the mathematical concept…
In this note, we gauge the rigid vectorial supersymmetry of the two-dimensional Poisson sigma model presented in arXiv:1503.05625. We show that the consistency of the construction does not impose any further constraints on the differential Poisson algebra geometry than those required for the ungauged model. We conclude by proposing that the gauged model provides a first-quantized framework for higher spin gravity.
We construct a mathematical theory of Witten's Gauged Linear Sigma Model (GLSM). Our theory applies to a wide range of examples, including many cases with non-Abelian gauge group. Both the Gromov-Witten theory of a Calabi-Yau complete intersection X and the Landau-Ginzburg dual (FJRW-theory) of X can be expressed as gauged linear sigma models. Furthermore, the Landau-Ginzburg/Calabi-Yau correspondence can be interpreted as a variation of the moment map or a deformation of GIT in the GLSM. This paper focuses primarily on the algebraic theory, while a companion article will treat the analytic th…
We construct a topological sigma model and a current algebra based on a Courant algebroid structure on a Poisson manifold. In order to construct models, we reformulate the Poisson Courant algebroid by supergeometric construction on a QP-manifold. A new duality of Courant algebroids which transforms H-flux and R-flux is proposed, where the transformation is interpreted as a canonical transformation of a graded symplectic manifold.
Using the symmetry properties of two-dmensional sigma models, we introduce a notion of the Beltrami-Courant differential, so that there is a natural homotopy Gerstenhaber algebra related to it. We conjecture that the generalized Maurer-Cartan equation for the corresponding $L_{\infty}$ subalgebra gives solutions to the Einstein equations.
We give a detailed exposition of the Alexandrov-Kontsevich-Schwarz- Zaboronsky superfield formalism using the language of graded manifolds. As a main illustarting example, to every Courant algebroid structure we associate canonically a three-dimensional topological sigma-model. Using the AKSZ formalism, we construct the Batalin-Vilkovisky master action for the model.
We discuss a natural extension of the AKSZ construction to the case where the source is given by a supermanifold with a chosen integral form. We then focus on the special case with the target given by a Courant algebroid. In the simplest case this leads to the BV version of the super Chern-Simons theory, as developed by Grassi-Maccaferri and Cremonini-Grassi. In the case of exact Courant algebroids we derive the 2-dimensional $\mathcal N=(1,1)$ sigma model on the boundary, together with the Wess-Zumino term, paralleling the approach of Ševera in the bosonic case.
We show a constrained Hamiltonian system and a gauged sigma model have a structure of a momentum section and a Hamiltonian Lie algebroid theory recently introduced by Blohmann and Weinstein. We propose a generalization of a momentum section on a pre-multisymplectic manifold by considering gauged sigma models on a higher dimensional manifold.
We study an N=(4,4) supersymmetric gauged linear sigma model which gives rise to the nonlinear sigma model for multi-centered KK-monopoles. We find a new T-duality transformation of the model even in the presence of F-terms. Performing T-duality, we find the gauged linear sigma model whose IR limit describes the exotic 522-brane with B-field.
We define a gauged non-linear sigma model for a 2-sphere valued field and a $SU(2)$ connection on an arbitrary Riemann surface whose energy functional reduces to that for critically coupled magnetic skyrmions in the plane, with arbitrary Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, for a suitably chosen gauge field. We use the interplay of unitary and holomorphic structures to derive a general solution of the first order Bogomol'nyi equation of the model for any given connection. We illustrate this formula with examples, and also point out applications to the study of impurities
Soliton modes in a gauged sigma model with interpolating potential have been investigated. Numerical solutions using a fourth order Runge -- Kutta method are discussed. By tuning the interpolation parameter the transition from symmetrybreaking to the symmetric phase is highlighted.
We discuss the N=2 supersymmetric extension of the gauged O(3) sigma model in (2+1) dimensions with an abelian Chern-Simons term. It is shown that the self-dual potential and the Bogomolny relations naturally appear as consequences of extended supersymmetry.
We formulate a gauged linear sigma model on a supermanifold. The structure of classical vacua is investigated and one-loop corrections are calculated for an auxiliary D-field. We find out a constraint for the one-loop divergence to vanish, which is consistent with a Ricci flatness condition for the supermanifold. Two types of D-branes are obtained by analysing supersymmetric boundary conditions. We also provide extensions to a non-abelian gauged linear sigma model and a (0,2) supersymmetric model.
We consider a (2+1) dimensional nonlinear O(3) sigma model with its U(1) subgroup gauged along with the inclusion of a self-interaction having symmetry breaking minima.The gauge field dynamics is governed by the Maxwell term.The model is shown to support topologically stable purely magnetic self-dual vortices.
We consider Chern-Simons gauged nonlinear sigma model with boundary which has a manifest bulk diffeomorphism invariance. We find that the Gauss's law can be solved explicitly when the nonlinear sigma model is defined on the Hermitian symmetric space, and the original bulk theory completely reduces to a boundary nonlinear sigma model with the target space of Hermitian symmetric space. We also study the symplectic structure, compute the diffeomorphism algebra on the boundary, and find an (enlarged) Virasoro algebra with classical central term.
We show that the degeneracy of topological solitons in the gauged O(3) non-linear sigma model with Chern-Simons term may be removed by chosing a self-interaction potential with symmetry - breaking minima. The topological solitons in the model has energy,charge,flux and angular momentum quantised in each topological sector.
The gauging of isometries in general sigma-models which include fermionic terms which represent the interaction of strings with background Yang-Mills fields is considered. Gauging is possible only if certain obstructions are absent. The quantum gauge anomaly is discussed, and the (1,0) supersymmetric generalisation of the gauged action given.
We describe supersymmetric A-branes and B-branes in open N=(2,2) dynamically gauged nonlinear sigma models (GNLSM), placing emphasis on toric manifold target spaces. For a subset of toric manifolds, these equivariant branes have a mirror description as branes in gauged Landau-Ginzburg models with neutral matter. We then study correlation functions in the topological A-twisted version of the GNLSM, and identify their values with open Hamiltonian Gromov-Witten invariants. Supersymmetry breaking can occur in the A-twisted GNLSM due to nonperturbative open symplectic vortices, and we canonically B…
We study some aspects of Gauged Linear Sigma Models corresponding to orbifold singularities of the form $\BC^r/Γ$, for $r=2,3$ and $Γ= \BZ_n$ and $\BZ_n\times \BZ_m$. These orbifolds might be tachyonic in general. We compute expressions for the multi parameter sigma model Lagrangians for these orbifolds, in terms of their toric geometry data. Using this, we analyze some aspects of the phases of generic orbifolds of $\BC^r$.
We construct supersymmetric deformations of general, locally supersymmetric, nonlinear sigma models in three spacetime dimensions, by extending the pure supergravity theory with a Chern-Simons term and gauging a subgroup of the sigma model isometries, possibly augmented with R-symmetry transformations. This class of models is shown to include theories with standard Yang-Mills Lagrangians, with optional moment interactions and topological mass terms. The results constitute a general classification of three-dimensional gauged supergravities.
We study the supersymmetric extension of the gauged $ O(3) $ sigma model in $ 2+1 $ dimensions and find the supersymmetry algebra. We also discuss soliton solutions in case the Maxwell term is replaced by the Born-Infeld term. We show that by appropriate choice of the potential, the self-dual equations in the Born-Infeld case coincide with those of the Maxwell's case.
Recently, a gauged linear sigma model was proposed by Berkovits and Vafa which can be used to describe the AdS_5xS^5 superstring at finite and zero radius. In this paper we show that the model is classically integrable by constructing its first non-local conserved charge and a superspace Lax "quartet". Quantum conservation of the non-local charge follows easily from superspace rules.
We consider gauged sigma-models from a Riemann surface into a Kaehler and hamiltonian G-manifold X. The supersymmetric N=2 theory can always be twisted to produce a gauged A-model. This model localizes to the moduli space of solutions of the vortex equations and computes the Hamiltonian Gromov-Witten invariants. When the target is equivariantly Calabi-Yau, i.e. when its first G-equivariant Chern class vanishes, the supersymmetric theory can also be twisted into a gauged B-model. This model localizes to the Kaehler quotient X//G.
Worldsheet (0,2) gauged linear sigma models are often used to study supersymmetric heterotic string compactifications with non-trivial vector bundles. We make use of supersymmetric localization techniques to determine their one-loop partition functions. In particular we derive conditions which ensure that the full partition function is modular invariant and we propose a method to determine the massless and massive target space matter spectrum.
The geometry of (2,1) supersymmetric sigma-models with isometry symmetries is discussed. The gauging of such symmetries in superspace is then studied. We find that the coupling to the (2,1) Yang-Mills supermultiplet can be achieved provided certain geometric conditions are satisfied. We construct the general gauged action, using an auxiliary vector to generate the full non-polynomial structure.
We study systems of multiple localized closed string tachyons and the phenomena associated with their condensation, in C3/ZN nonsupersymmetric noncompact orbifold singularities using gauged linear sigma model constructions, following hep-th/0406039. Our study reveals close connections between the combinatorics of nonsupersymmetric flip transitions (between topologically distinct resolutions of the original singularity), the physics of tachyons of different degrees of relevance and the singularity structure of the corresponding residual endpoint geometries. This in turn can be used to study the…
The $O(3)$ nonlinear sigma model with its $U(1)$ subgroup gauged, where the gauge field dynamics is solely governed by a Chern-Simons term, admits both topological as well as nontopological self-dual soliton solutions for a specific choice of the potential. It turns out that the topological solitons are infinitely degenerate in any given sector.
We introduce the self-dual abelian gauged $O(3)$ sigma models where the Maxwell and Chern-Simons terms constitute the kinetic terms for the gauge field. These models have quite rich structures and various limits. Our models are found to exhibit both symmetric and broken phases of the gauge group. We discuss the pure Chern-Simons limit in some detail and study rotationally symmetric solitons.
Recently, we have studied the general Virasoro construction at one loop in the background of the general non-linear sigma model. Here, we find the action formulation of these new conformal field theories when the background sigma model is itself conformal. In this case, the new conformal field theories are described by a large class of new spin-two gauged sigma models. As examples of the new actions, we discuss the spin-two gauged WZW actions, which describe the conformal field theories of the generic affine-Virasoro construction, and the spin-two gauged g/h coset constructions. We are able to…
We study soliton solutions in 1+1 dimensional gauged sigma models, obtained by dimensional reduction from its 2+1 dimensional counterparts. We show that the Bogomol'nyi bound of these models can be expressed in terms of two conserved charges in a similar way to that of the BPS dyons in 3+1 dimensions. Purely magnetic vortices of the 2+1 dimensional completely gauged sigma model appear as charged solitons in the corresponding 1+1 dimensional theory. The scale invariance of these solitons is also broken because of the dimensional reduction. We obtain exact static soliton solutions of these model…
We propose an effective action for the eleven-dimensional (bosonic) Kaluza-Klein monopole solution. The construction of the action requires that the background fields admit an Abelian isometry group. The corresponding sigma-model is gauged with respect to this isometry. The gauged sigma-model is the source for the monopole solution. A direct (double) dimensional reduction of the action leads to the effective action of a 10-dimensional D-6-brane (IIA Kaluza-Klein monopole). We also show that the effective action of the 10-dimensional heterotic Kaluza-Klein monopole (which is a truncation of the…
Nonlinear sigma models arise in supergravity theories with or without matter couplings in various dimensions and they are important in understanding the duality symmetries of M-theory. With this motivation in mind, we review the salient features of gauged and ungauged nonlinear sigma models with or without Wess-Zumino terms for general target spaces in a minimal as well as lifted formulation. Relevant to the question of finding interesting vacua of gauged supergravity theories is the highly constrained potential which arises naturally in these theories. Motivated by this fact, we derive a gene…
The gauged sigma-model argument that string backgrounds related by T-dual give equivalent quantum theories is revisited, taking careful account of global considerations. The topological obstructions to gauging sigma-models give rise to obstructions to T-duality, but these are milder than those for gauging: it is possible to T-dualise a large class of sigma-models that cannot be gauged. For backgrounds that are torus fibrations, it is expected that T-duality can be applied fibrewise in the general case in which there are no globally-defined Killing vector fields, so that there is no isometry sy…
We describe a topological field theory that studies the moduli space of solutions of the symplectic vortex equations. It contains as special cases the topological sigma-model and topological Yang-Mills over Kahler surfaces. The correlation functions of the theory are closely related to the recently introduced Hamiltonian Gromov-Witten invariants.
Vector $SO(3)$ gauged $O(4)$ sigma models on $\R_3$ are presented. The topological charge supplying the lower bound on the energy and rendering the soliton stable coincides with the Baryon number of the Skyrmion. These solitons have vanishing magnetic monopole flux. To exhibit the existence of such solitons, the equations of motion of one of these models is integrated numerically. The structure of the conserved Baryon current is briefly discussed.
We find the conditions under which a Riemannian manifold equipped with a closed three-form and a vector field define an on--shell N=(2,2) supersymmetric gauged sigma model. The conditions are that the manifold admits a twisted generalized Kaehler structure, that the vector field preserves this structure, and that a so--called generalized moment map exists for it. By a theorem in generalized complex geometry, these conditions imply that the quotient is again a twisted generalized Kaehler manifold; this is in perfect agreement with expectations from the renormalization group flow. This method ca…
We consider a U(1) Gauged Linear Sigma Model (GLSM) with (2,2) supersymmetry, leading to a susy vacua of the resolved conifold. It possesses the non-Abelian global symmetry SU(2)xSU(2). A non-Abelian T-duality can be constructed which can be described by gauging the global non-Abelian symmetry. This leads to a dual action, in terms of the dual model Kaehler and superpotential terms, which include twisted chiral superfields dependence. Comparing the effective potentials for the U(1) fields on the original and the dual models we determine the instanton corrections to the dual action. We obtain t…
We study both A-type and B-type D-branes in the gauged linear sigma model by considering worldsheets with boundary. The boundary conditions on the matter and vector multiplet fields are first considered in the large-volume phase/non-linear sigma model limit of the corresponding Calabi-Yau manifold, where we also find that we need to add a contact term on the boundary. These considerations enable to us to derive the boundary conditions in the full gauged linear sigma model, including the addition of the appropriate boundary contact terms, such that these boundary conditions have the correct non…
Gauging the M-2-brane effective action with respect to an Abelian isometry in such a way that the invariance under gauge transformations of the 3-form potential is maintained (slightly modified) we obtain a fully covariant action with 11-dimensional target space that gives the massive D-2-brane effective action upon dimensional reduction in the direction of the gauged isometry.
By gauging a higher-moment polynomial degree global symmetry and a discrete charge conjugation (i.e., particle-hole) symmetry coupled to matter fields (two symmetries mutually non-commutative), we derive a new class of higher-rank tensor non-abelian gauge field theory with dynamically gauged fractonic matter fields: Non-abelian gauged fractons interact with a hybrid class of higher-rank (symmetric or generic non-symmetric) tensor gauge theory and anti-symmetric tensor topological field theory, generalizing [arXiv:1909.13879, 1911.01804]. We also apply a quantum phase transition similar to that…
The (2+1) dimensional gauged O(3) nonlinear sigma model with Chern-Simons term is canonically quantized. Furthermore, we study a nonminimal coupling in this model implemented by means of a Pauli-type term. It is shown that the set of constraints of the model is modified by the introduction of the Pauli coupling. Moreover, we found that the quantum commutator relations in the nominimal case is independent of the Chern-Simons coefficient, in contrast to the minimal one.
We have performed a complete study of self-dual configurations in a $CPT$-odd and Lorentz-violating gauged $O(3)$ nonlinear sigma model. We have consistently implemented the Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) formalism and obtained the correspondent differential first-order equations describing electrically charged self-dual configurations. The total energy and magnetic flux of the vortices, besides being proportional to the winding number, also depend explicitly on the Lorentz-violating coefficients belonging to the sigma sector. The total electrical charge is proportional to the magnetic f…
We develop the duality transformation rules in two-dimensional theories in the superfield formalism. Even if the chiral superfield which we dualize involves an F-term, we can dualize it by virtue of the property of chiral superfields. We apply the duality transformation rule of the neutral chiral superfield to the ${\cal N}=(4,4)$ gauged linear sigma model for five-branes. We also investigate the duality transformation rule of the charged chiral superfield in the ${\cal N} = (4,4)$ gauged linear sigma model for the $A_1$-type ALE space. In both cases we obtain the dual Lagrangians in the super…
We consider nonlinear gauged sigma-models with Kahler domain and target. For a special choice of potential these models admit Bogomolny (or self-duality) equations -- the so-called vortex equations. We find the moduli space and energy spectrum of the solutions of these equations when the gauge group is a torus T^n, the domain is compact, and the target is C^n or CP^n. We also obtain a large family of solutions when the target is a compact Kahler toric manifold.
We gauge the (2,2) supersymmetric non-linear sigma model whose target space has bihermitian structure (g, B, J_{\pm}) with noncommuting complex structures. The bihermitian geometry is realized by a sigma model which is written in terms of (2,2) semi-chiral superfields. We discuss the moment map, from the perspective of the gauged sigma model action and from the integrability condition for a Hamiltonian vector field. We show that for a concrete example, the SU(2) x U(1) WZNW model, as well as for the sigma models with almost product structure, the moment map can be used together with the corres…
We determine all the terms that are gauge-invariant up to a total spacetime derivative ("semi-invariant terms") for gauged non-linear sigma models. Assuming that the isotropy subgroup $H$ of the gauge group is compact or semi-simple, we show that (non-trivial) such terms exist only in odd dimensions and are equivalent to the familiar Chern-Simons terms for the subgroup $H$. Various applications are mentioned, including one to the gauging of the Wess-Zumino-Witten terms in even spacetime dimensions. Our approach is based on the analysis of the descent equation associated with semi-invariant ter…
