arXiv subjects

Alexander D. Popov

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander D. Popov.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Orbifold instantons, moment maps and Yang-Mills theory with sources

We revisit the problem of constructing instantons on ADE orbifolds R^4/Γand point out some subtle relations with the complex structure on the orbifold. We consider generalized instanton equations on R^4/Γwhich are BPS equations for the Yang-Mills equations with an external current. The relation between level sets of the moment maps in the hyper-Kaehler quotient construction of the instanton moduli space and sources in the Yang-Mills equations is discussed. We describe two types of spherically-symmetric Γ-equivariant connections on complex V-bundles over R^4/Γwhich are tailored to the way in which the orbifold group acts on the fibres. Some explicit abelian and nonabelian SU(2)-invariant solutions to the nstanton equations on the orbifold are worked out.

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arXiv2012

Integrable vortex-type equations on the two-sphere

We consider the Yang-Mills instanton equations on the four-dimensional manifold S^2xSigma, where Sigma is a compact Riemann surface of genus g>1 or its covering space H^2=SU(1,1)/U(1). Introducing a natural ansatz for the gauge potential, we reduce the instanton equations on S^2xSigma to vortex-type equations on the sphere S^2. It is shown that when the scalar curvature of the manifold S^2xSigma vanishes, the vortex-type equations are integrable, i.e. can be obtained as compatibility conditions of two linear equations (Lax pair) which are written down explicitly. Thus, the standard methods of integrable systems can be applied for constructing their solutions. However, even if the scalar curvature of S^2xSigma does not vanish, the vortex equations are well defined and have solutions for any values of the topological charge N. We show that any solution to the vortex equations on S^2 with a fixed topological charge N corresponds to a Yang-Mills instanton on S^2xSigma of charge (g-1)N.

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arXiv2012

Instantons on the six-sphere and twistors

We consider the six-sphere S^6=G_2/SU(3) and its twistor space Z=G_2/U(2) associated with the SU(3)-structure on S^6. It is shown that a Hermitian Yang-Mills connection (instanton) on a smooth vector bundle over S^6 is equivalent to a flat partial connection on a vector bundle over the twistor space Z. The relation with Tian's tangent instantons on R^7 and their twistor description are briefly discussed.

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arXiv2012

Instantons on Special Holonomy Manifolds

We consider cones over manifolds admitting real Killing spinors and instanton equations on connections on vector bundles over these manifolds. Such cones are manifolds with special (reduced) holonomy. We generalize the scalar ansatz for a connection proposed by Harland and Nolle in such a way that instantons are parameterized by constrained matrix-valued functions. Our ansatz reduces instanton equations to a matrix model equations which can be further reduced to Newtonian mechanics with particle trajectories obeying first-order gradient flow equations. Generalizations to Kaehler-Einstein manifolds and resolved Calabi-Yau cones are briefly discussed. Our construction allows one to associate quiver gauge theories with special holonomy manifolds.

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arXiv2012

Nearly Kähler heterotic compactifications with fermion condensates

We revisit AdS_4 heterotic compactifications on nearly Kähler manifolds in the presence of H-flux and certain fermion condensates. Unlike previous studies, we do not assume the vanishing of the supersymmetry variations. Instead we determine the full equations of motion originating from the ten-dimensional action, and subsequently we provide explicit solutions to them on nearly Kähler manifolds at first order in alpha'. The Bianchi identity is also taken into account in order to guarantee the absence of all anomalies. In the presence of H-flux, which is identified with the torsion of the internal space, as well as of fermion condensates in the gaugino and dilatino sectors, new solutions are determined. These solutions provide a full classification of consistent backgrounds of heterotic supergravity under our assumptions. All the new solutions are non-supersymmetric, while previously known supersymmetric ones are recovered too. Our results indicate that fully consistent (supersymmetric or not) heterotic vacua on nearly Kähler manifolds are scarce, even on AdS_4, and they can be completely classified.

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arXiv2012

Yang-Mills fields in flux compactifications on homogeneous manifolds with SU(4)-structure

The SU(4)-instanton equations are natural BPS equations for instantons on 8-manifolds. We study these equations on nearly Kaehler and Calabi-Yau torsion manifolds of the form M x G/H, with G/H a coset space and M a product of a torus with Euclidean space. By imposing G-invariance the instanton equations reduce to interesting equations on M; for example, equations used by Kapustin and Witten in the geometric Langlands program arise in this way. We carry out reductions in a number of examples, and where possible present simple solutions.

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arXiv2012

Heterotic string plus five-brane systems with asymptotic AdS3

We present NS1+NS5-brane solutions of heterotic supergravity on curved geometries. They interpolate between a near horizon AdS3 x X^k x T^{7-k} region and R^{1,1} x c(X^k) x T^{7-k}, where X^k (with k = 3,5,6,7) is a k-dimensional geometric Killing spinor manifold, c(X^k) its Ricci-flat cone and T^{7-k} a (7-k)-torus. The solutions require first order alpha'-corrections to the field equations, and special point-like instantons play an important role, whose singular support is a calibrated submanifold wrapped by the NS5-brane. It is also possible to add a gauge anti-5-brane. We determine the super isometries of the near horizon geometry which are supposed to appear as symmetries of the holographically dual two-dimensional conformal field theory.

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arXiv2012

Double quiver gauge theory and nearly Kahler flux compactifications

We consider G-equivariant dimensional reduction of Yang-Mills theory with torsion on manifolds of the form MxG/H where M is a smooth manifold, and G/H is a compact six-dimensional homogeneous space provided with a never integrable almost complex structure and a family of SU(3)-structures which includes a nearly Kahler structure. We establish an equivalence between G-equivariant pseudo-holomorphic vector bundles on MxG/H and new quiver bundles on M associated to the double of a quiver Q, determined by the SU(3)-structure, with relations ensuring the absence of oriented cycles in Q. When M=R^2, we describe an equivalence between G-invariant solutions of Spin(7)-instanton equations on MxG/H and solutions of new quiver vortex equations on M. It is shown that generic invariant Spin(7)-instanton configurations correspond to quivers Q that contain non-trivial oriented cycles.

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arXiv2011

Yang-Mills instantons on cones and sine-cones over nearly Kähler manifolds

We present a unified eight-dimensional approach to instanton equations on several seven-dimensional manifolds associated to a six-dimensional homogeneous nearly Kähler manifold. The cone over the sine-cone on a nearly Kähler manifold has holonomy group Spin(7) and can be foliated by submanifolds with either holonomy group G_2, a nearly parallel G_2-structure or a cocalibrated G_2-structure. We show that there is a G_2-instanton on each of these seven-dimensional manifolds which gives rise to a Spin(7)-instanton in eight dimensions. The well-known octonionic instantons on R^7 and R^8 are contained in our construction as the special cases of an instanton on the cone and on the cone over the sine-cone, both over the six-sphere, respectively.

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arXiv2011

Chern-Simons flows on Aloff-Wallach spaces and Spin(7)-instantons

Due to their explicit construction, Aloff-Wallach spaces are prominent in flux compactifications. They carry G_2-structures and admit the G_2-instanton equations, which are natural BPS equations for Yang-Mills instantons on seven-manifolds and extremize a Chern-Simons-type functional. We consider the Chern-Simons flow between different G_2-instantons on Aloff-Wallach spaces, which is equivalent to Spin(7)-instantons on a cylinder over them. For a general SU(3)-equivariant gauge connection, the generalized instanton equations turn into gradient-flow equations on C^3 x R^2, with a particular cubic superpotential. For the simplest member of the Aloff-Wallach family (with 3-Sasakian structure) we present an explicit instanton solution of tanh-like shape.

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arXiv2010

Heterotic compactifications on nearly Kähler manifolds

We consider compactifications of heterotic supergravity on anti-de Sitter space, with a six-dimensional nearly K"ahler manifold as the internal space. Completing the model proposed by Frey and Lippert with the particular choice of SU(3)/U(1)xU(1) for the internal manifold, we show that it satisfies not only the supersymmetry constraints but also the equations of motion with string corrections of order alpha'. Furthermore, we present a non-supersymmetric model. In both solutions we find confirmed a recent result of Ivanov on the connection used for anomaly cancellation. Interestingly, the volume of the internal space is fixed by the supersymmetry constraints and/or the equations of motion.

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arXiv2010

Yang-Mills flows on nearly Kaehler manifolds and G_2-instantons

We consider Lie(G)-valued G-invariant connections on bundles over spaces G/H, RxG/H and R^2xG/H, where G/H is a compact nearly Kaehler six-dimensional homogeneous space, and the manifolds RxG/H and R^2xG/H carry G_2- and Spin(7)-structures, respectively. By making a G-invariant ansatz, Yang-Mills theory with torsion on RxG/H is reduced to Newtonian mechanics of a particle moving in a plane with a quartic potential. For particular values of the torsion, we find explicit particle trajectories, which obey first-order gradient or hamiltonian flow equations. In two cases, these solutions correspond to anti-self-dual instantons associated with one of two G_2-structures on RxG/H. It is shown that both G_2-instanton equations can be obtained from a single Spin(7)-instanton equation on R^2xG/H.

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arXiv2010

Non-Abelian Vortices, Super-Yang-Mills Theory and Spin(7)-Instantons

We consider a complex vector bundle E endowed with a connection A over the eight-dimensional manifold R^2 x G/H, where G/H = SU(3)/U(1)xU(1) is a homogeneous space provided with a never integrable almost complex structure and a family of SU(3)-structures. We establish an equivalence between G-invariant solutions A of the Spin(7)-instanton equations on R^2 x G/H and general solutions of non-Abelian coupled vortex equations on R^2. These vortices are BPS solitons in a d=4 gauge theory obtained from N=1 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in ten dimensions compactified on the coset space G/H with an SU(3)-structure. The novelty of the obtained vortex equations lies in the fact that Higgs fields, defining morphisms of vector bundles over R^2, are not holomorphic in the generic case. Finally, we introduce BPS vortex equations in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory and show that they have the same feature.

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arXiv2009

Hermitian-Yang-Mills equations and pseudo-holomorphic bundles on nearly Kaehler and nearly Calabi-Yau twistor 6-manifolds

We consider the Hermitian-Yang-Mills (HYM) equations for gauge potentials on a complex vector bundle E over an almost complex manifold X^6 which is the twistor space of an oriented Riemannian manifold M^4. Each solution of the HYM equations on such X^6 defines a pseudo-holomorphic structure on the bundle E. It is shown that the pull-back to X^6 of any anti-self-dual gauge field on M^4 is a solution of the HYM equations on X^6. This correspondence allows us to introduce new twistor actions for bosonic and supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories. As examples of X^6 we consider homogeneous nearly Kaehler and nearly Calabi-Yau manifolds which are twistor spaces of S^4, CP^2 and B_4, CB_2 (real 4-ball and complex 2-ball), respectively. Various explicit examples of solutions to the HYM equations on these spaces are provided. Applications in flux compactifications of heterotic strings are briefly discussed.

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arXiv2009

Integrability of Vortex Equations on Riemann Surfaces

The Abelian Higgs model on a compact Riemann surface Σof genus g is considered. We show that for g > 1 the Bogomolny equations for multi-vortices at critical coupling can be obtained as compatibility conditions of two linear equations (Lax pair) which are written down explicitly. These vortices correspond precisely to SO(3)-symmetric Yang-Mills instantons on the (conformal) gravitational instanton Σ\times S^2 with a scalar-flat Kahler metric. Thus, the standard methods of constructing solutions and studying their properties by using Lax pairs (twistor approach, dressing method etc.) can be applied to the vortex equations on Σ. In the twistor description, solutions of the integrable vortex equations correspond to rank-2 holomorphic vector bundles over the complex 3-dimensional twistor space of Σ\times S^2. We show that in the general (nonintegrable) case there is a bijection between the moduli spaces of solutions to vortex equations on Σand of pseudo-holomorphic bundles over the almost complex twistor space.

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arXiv2009

Instantons and Yang-Mills Flows on Coset Spaces

We consider the Yang-Mills flow equations on a reductive coset space G/H and the Yang-Mills equations on the manifold R x G/H. On nonsymmetric coset spaces G/H one can introduce geometric fluxes identified with the torsion of the spin connection. The condition of G-equivariance imposed on the gauge fields reduces the Yang-Mills equations to phi^4-kink equations on R. Depending on the boundary conditions and torsion, we obtain solutions to the Yang-Mills equations describing instantons, chains of instanton-anti-instanton pairs or modifications of gauge bundles. For Lorentzian signature on R x G/H, dyon-type configurations are constructed as well. We also present explicit solutions to the Yang-Mills flow equations and compare them with the Yang-Mills solutions on R x G/H.

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arXiv2008

SU(3)-Equivariant Quiver Gauge Theories and Nonabelian Vortices

We consider SU(3)-equivariant dimensional reduction of Yang-Mills theory on Kaehler manifolds of the form M x SU(3)/H, with H = SU(2) x U(1) or H = U(1) x U(1). The induced rank two quiver gauge theories on M are worked out in detail for representations of H which descend from a generic irreducible SU(3)-representation. The reduction of the Donaldson-Uhlenbeck-Yau equations on these spaces induces nonabelian quiver vortex equations on M, which we write down explicitly. When M is a noncommutative deformation of the space C^d, we construct explicit BPS and non-BPS solutions of finite energy for all cases. We compute their topological charges in three different ways and propose a novel interpretation of the configurations as states of D-branes. Our methods and results generalize from SU(3) to any compact Lie group.

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arXiv2008

Bounces/Dyons in the Plane Wave Matrix Model and SU(N) Yang-Mills Theory

We consider SU(N) Yang-Mills theory on the space R^1\times S^3 with Minkowski signature (-+++). The condition of SO(4)-invariance imposed on gauge fields yields a bosonic matrix model which is a consistent truncation of the plane wave matrix model. For matrices parametrized by a scalar ϕ, the Yang-Mills equations are reduced to the equation of a particle moving in the double-well potential. The classical solution is a bounce, i.e. a particle which begins at the saddle point ϕ=0 of the potential, bounces off the potential wall and returns to ϕ=0. The gauge field tensor components parametrized by ϕare smooth and for finite time both electric and magnetic fields are nonvanishing. The energy density of this non-Abelian dyon configuration does not depend on coordinates of R^1\times S^3 and the total energy is proportional to the inverse radius of S^3. We also describe similar bounce dyon solutions in SU(N) Yang-Mills theory on the space R^1\times S^2 with signature (-++). Their energy is proportional to the square of the inverse radius of S^2. From the viewpoint of Yang-Mills theory on R^{1,1}\times S^2 these solutions describe non-Abelian (dyonic) flux tubes extended along the x^3-axis.

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