Moduli in General $SU(3)$-Structure Heterotic Compactifications

Abstract

In this thesis, we study moduli in compactifications of ten-dimensional heterotic supergravity. We consider supersymmetric compactifications to four-dimensional maximally symmetric space, commonly referred to as the Strominger system. The compact part of space-time $X$ is a six-dimensional manifold of what we refer to as a heterotic $SU(3)$-structure. We show that this system can be put in terms of a holomorphic operator $\bar D$ on a bundle $\mathcal{Q}=T^*X\oplus\mathrm{End}(TX)\oplus\mathrm{End}(V)\oplus TX$, defined by a series of extensions. We proceed to compute the infinitesimal deformation space of this structure, given by $T\mathcal{M}=H^{(0,1)}(\mathcal{Q})$, which constitutes the infinitesimal spectrum of the four-dimensional theory. In doing so, we find an over counting of moduli by $H^{(0,1)}(\mathrm{End}(TX))$, which can be reinterpreted as $\mathcal{O}(\alpha')$ field redefinitions. We next consider non-maximally symmetric domain wall compactifications of the form $M_{10}=M_3\times Y$, where $M_3$ is three-dimensional Minkowski space, and $Y=\mathbb{R}\times X$ is a seven-dimensional non-compact manifold with a $G_2$-structure. Here $X$ is a six dimensional compact space of half-flat $SU(3)$-structure, non-trivially fibered over $\mathbb{R}$. By focusing on coset compactifications, we show that the compact space $X$ can be endowed with non-trivial torsion, which can be used in a combination with $\alpha'$-effects to stabilise all geometric moduli. The domain wall can further be lifted to a maximally symmetric AdS vacuum by inclusion of non-perturbative effects. Finally, we consider domain wall compactifications where $X$ is a Calabi-Yau. We show that by considering such compactifications, one can evade the usual no-go theorems for flux in Calabi-Yau compactifications, allowing flux to be used as a tool in such compactifications, even when $X$ is K\"ahler.