arXiv subjects

E. Sharpe

Publications and source records attributed to E. Sharpe.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

General aspects of heterotic string compactifications on stacks and gerbes

In this paper we work out some basic results concerning heterotic string compactifications on stacks and, in particular, gerbes. A heterotic string compactification on a gerbe can be understood as, simultaneously, both a compactification on a space with a restriction on nonperturbative sectors, and also, a gauge theory in which a subgroup of the gauge group acts trivially on the massless matter. Gerbes admit more bundles than corresponding spaces, which suggests they are potentially a rich playground for heterotic string compactifications. After we give a general characterization of heterotic strings on stacks, we specialize to gerbes, and consider three different classes of `building blocks' of gerbe compactifications. We argue that heterotic string compactifications on one class is equivalent to compactification of the same heterotic string on a disjoint union of spaces, compactification on another class is dual to compactifications of other heterotic strings on spaces, and compactification on the third class is not perturbatively consistent, so that we do not in fact recover a broad array of new heterotic compactifications, just combinations of existing ones. In appendices we explain how to compute massless spectra of heterotic strings on stacks, derive some new necessary conditions for a heterotic string on a stack or orbifold to be well-defined, and also review some basic properties of bundles on gerbes.

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arXiv2014

Notes on nonabelian (0,2) theories and dualities

In this paper we explore basic aspects of nonabelian (0,2) GLSM's in two dimensions for unitary gauge groups, an arena that until recently has largely been unexplored. We begin by discussing general aspects of (0,2) theories, including checks of dynamical supersymmetry breaking, spectators and weak coupling limits, and also build some toy models of (0,2) theories for bundles on Grassmannians, which gives us an opportunity to relate physical anomalies and trace conditions to mathematical properties. We apply these ideas to study (0,2) theories on Pfaffians, applying recent perturbative constructions of Pfaffians of Jockers et al. We discuss how existing dualities in (2,2) nonabelian gauge theories have a simple mathematical understanding, and make predictions for additional dualities in (2,2) and (0,2) gauge theories. Finally, we outline how duality works in open strings in unitary gauge theories, and also describe why, in general terms, we expect analogous dualities in (0,2) theories to be comparatively rare.

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arXiv2014

Decomposition in diverse dimensions

This paper discusses the relationships between gauge theories defined by gauge groups with finite trivially-acting centers, and theories with restrictions on nonperturbative sectors, in two and four dimensions. In two dimensions, these notions seem to coincide. Generalizing old results on orbifolds and abelian gauge theories, we propose a decomposition of two-dimensional nonabelian gauge theories with center-invariant matter into disjoint sums of theories with rotating discrete theta angles; for example, schematically, SU(2) = SO(3)_+ + SO(3)_-. We verify that decomposition directly in pure nonsupersymmetric two-dimensional Yang-Mills as well as in supersymmetric theories. In four dimensions, by contrast, these notions do not coincide. To clarify the relationship, we discuss theories obtained by restricting nonperturbative sectors. These theories violate cluster decomposition, but we illustrate how they may at least in special cases be understood as disjoint sums of well-behaved quantum field theories, and how dyon spectra can be used to distinguish, for example, an SO(3) theory with a restriction on instantons from an SU(2) theory. We also briefly discuss how coupling various analogues of Dijkgraaf-Witten theory, as part of a description of instanton restriction via coupling TQFT's to QFT's, may modify these results.

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arXiv2013

Elliptic genera of Landau-Ginzburg models over nontrivial spaces

In this paper, we discuss elliptic genera of (2,2) and (0,2) supersymmetric Landau-Ginzburg models over nontrivial spaces, i.e., nonlinear sigma models on nontrivial noncompact manifolds with superpotential, generalizing old computations in Landau-Ginzburg models over (orbifolds of) vector spaces. For Landau-Ginzburg models in the same universality class as nonlinear sigma models, we explicitly check that the elliptic genera of the Landau-Ginzburg models match that of the nonlinear sigma models, via a Thom class computation of a form analogous to that appearing in recent studies of other properties of Landau-Ginzburg models on nontrivial spaces.

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arXiv2013

Analogues of Mathai-Quillen forms in sheaf cohomology and applications to topological field theory

We construct sheaf-cohomological analogues of Mathai-Quillen forms, that is, holomorphic bundle-valued differential forms whose cohomology classes are independent of certain deformations, and which are believed to possess Thom-like properties. Ordinary Mathai-Quillen forms are special cases of these constructions, as we discuss. These sheaf-theoretic variations arise physically in A/2 and B/2 pseudo-topological field theories, and we comment on their origin and role.

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arXiv2013

A few Ricci-flat stacks as phases of exotic GLSM's

In this letter we follow up recent work of Halverson-Kumar-Morrison on some exotic examples of gauged linear sigma models (GLSM's). Specifically, they describe a set of U(1) x Z_2 GLSM's with superpotentials that are quadratic in p fields, rather than linear as is typically the case. These theories RG flow to sigma models on branched double covers, where the double cover is realized via a Z_2 gerbe. For that gerbe structure, and hence the double cover, the Z_2 factor in the gauge group is essential. In this letter we propose an analogous geometric understanding of phases without that Z_2, in terms of Ricci-flat (but not Calabi-Yau) stacks which look like Fano manifolds with hypersurfaces of Z_2 orbifolds.

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arXiv2013

Predictions for Gromov-Witten invariants of noncommutative resolutions

In this paper, we apply recent methods of localized GLSMs to make predictions for Gromov-Witten invariants of noncommutative resolutions, as defined by e.g. Kontsevich, and use those predictions to examine the connectivity of the SCFT moduli space. Noncommutative spaces, in the present sense, are defined by their sheaves, their B-branes. Examples of abstract CFT's whose B-branes correspond with those defining noncommutative spaces arose in examples of abelian GLSMs describing branched double covers, in which the double cover structure arises nonperturbatively. This note will examine the GLSM for P^7[2,2,2,2], which realizes this phenomenon. Its Landau-Ginzburg point is a noncommutative resolution of a (singular) branched double cover of P^3. Regardless of the complex structure of the large-radius P^7[2,2,2,2], the Landau-Ginzburg point is always a noncommutative resolution of a singular space, which begs the question of whether the noncommutative resolution is connected in SCFT moduli space by a complex structure deformation to a smooth branched double cover. Using recent localization techniques, we make a prediction for the Gromov-Witten invariants of the noncommutative resolution, and find that they do not match those of a smooth branched double cover, telling us that these abstract CFT's are not continuously connected to sigma models on smooth branched double covers.

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arXiv2011

Physical aspects of quantum sheaf cohomology for deformations of tangent bundles of toric varieties

In this paper, we will outline computations of quantum sheaf cohomology for deformations of tangent bundles of toric varieties, for those deformations describable as deformations of toric Euler sequences. Quantum sheaf cohomology is a heterotic analogue of quantum cohomology, a quantum deformation of the classical product on sheaf cohomology groups, that computes nonperturbative corrections to analogues of (27*)^3 couplings in heterotic string computations. Previous computations have relied on either physics-based GLSM techniques or computation-intensive brute-force Cech cohomology techniques. This paper describes methods for greatly simplifying mathematical computations, and derives more general results than previously obtainable with GLSM techniques. We will outline recent results (rigorous proofs will appear elsewhere).

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arXiv2011

Sums over topological sectors and quantization of Fayet-Iliopoulos parameters

In this paper we discuss quantization of the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameter in supergravity theories with altered nonperturbative sectors, which were recently used to argue a fractional quantization condition. Nonlinear sigma models with altered nonperturbative sectors are the same as nonlinear sigma models on special stacks known as gerbes. After reviewing the existing results on such theories in two dimensions, we discuss examples of gerby moduli `spaces' appearing in four-dimensional field theory and string compactifications, and the effect of various dualities. We discuss global topological defects arising when a field or string theory moduli space has a gerbe structure. We also outline how to generalize results of Bagger-Witten and more recent authors on quantization issues in supergravities from smooth manifolds to smooth moduli stacks, focusing particular attention on stacks that have gerbe structures.

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arXiv2010

Two-dimensional topological field theories as taffy

In this paper we use trivial defects to define global taffy-like operations on string worldsheets, which preserve the field theory. We fold open and closed strings on a space X into open strings on products of multiple copies of X, and perform checks that the "taffy-folded" worldsheets have the same massless spectra and other properties as the original worldsheets. Such folding tricks are a standard method in the defects community; the novelty of this paper lies in deriving mathematical identities to check that e.g. massless spectra are invariant in topological field theories. We discuss the case of the B model extensively, and also derive the same identities for string topology, where they become statements of homotopy invariance. We outline analogous results in the A model, B-twisted Landau-Ginzburg models, and physical strings. We also discuss the understanding of the closed string states as the Hochschild homology of the open string algebra, and outline possible applications to elliptic genera.

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arXiv2010

Notes on discrete torsion in orientifolds

In this short note we discuss discrete torsion in orientifolds. In particular, we apply the physical understanding of discrete torsion worked out several years ago, as group actions on B fields, to the case of orientifolds, and recover some old results of Braun and Stefanski concerning group cohomology and twisted equivariant K theory. We also derive new results including phase factors for nonorientable worldsheets and analogues for C fields.

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arXiv2010

GLSM's, gerbes, and Kuznetsov's homological projective duality

In this short note we give an overview of recent work on string propagation on stacks and applications to gauged linear sigma models. We begin by outlining noneffective orbifolds (orbifolds in which a subgroup acts trivially) and related phenomena in two-dimensional gauge theories, which realize string propagation on gerbes. We then discuss the `decomposition conjecture,' equating conformal field theories of strings on gerbes and strings on disjoint unions of spaces. Finally, we apply these ideas to gauged linear sigma models for complete intersections of quadrics, and use the decomposition conjecture to show that the Landau-Ginzburg points of those models have a geometric interpretation in terms of a (sometimes noncommutative resolution of a) branched double cover, realized via nonperturbative effects, rather than as the vanishing locus of a superpotential. These examples violate old unproven lore on GLSM's (e.g., that geometric phases must be related by birational transformations), and we conclude by observing that in these examples (and conjecturing more generally in GLSM's), the phases are instead related by Kuznetsov's `homological projective duality.'

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arXiv2007

Non-birational twisted derived equivalences in abelian GLSMs

In this paper we discuss some examples of abelian gauged linear sigma models realizing twisted derived equivalences between non-birational spaces, and realizing geometries in novel fashions. Examples of gauged linear sigma models with non-birational Kahler phases are a relatively new phenomenon. Most of our examples involve gauged linear sigma models for complete intersections of quadric hypersurfaces, though we also discuss some more general cases and their interpretation. We also propose a more general understanding of the relationship between Kahler phases of gauged linear sigma models, namely that they are related by (and realize) Kuznetsov's `homological projective duality.' Along the way, we shall see how `noncommutative spaces' (in Kontsevich's sense) are realized physically in gauged linear sigma models, providing examples of new types of conformal field theories. Throughout, the physical realization of stacks plays a key role in interpreting physical structures appearing in GLSMs, and we find that stacks are implicitly much more common in GLSMs than previously realized.

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arXiv2007

Heterotic compactifications with principal bundles for general groups and general levels

We examine to what extent heterotic string worldsheets can describe arbitrary E8xE8 gauge fields. The traditional construction of heterotic strings builds each E8 via a Spin(16)/Z2 subgroup, typically realized as a current algebra by left-moving fermions, and as a result, only E8 gauge fields reducible to Spin(16)/Z2 gauge fields are directly realizable in standard constructions. However, there exist perturbatively consistent E8 gauge fields which can not be reduced to Spin(16)/Z2, and so cannot be described within standard heterotic worldsheet constructions. A natural question to then ask is whether there exists any (0,2) SCFT that can describe such E8 gauge fields. To answer this question, we first show how each ten-dimensional E8 partition function can be built up using other subgroups than Spin(16)/Z2, then construct ``fibered WZW models'' which allow us to explicitly couple current algebras for general groups and general levels to heterotic strings. This technology gives us a very general approach to handling heterotic compactifications with arbitrary principal bundles. It also gives us a physical realization of some elliptic genera constructed recently by Ando and Liu.

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arXiv2007

GLSM's for partial flag manifolds

In this paper we outline some aspects of nonabelian gauged linear sigma models. First, we review how partial flag manifolds (generalizing Grassmannians) are described physically by nonabelian gauged linear sigma models, paying attention to realizations of tangent bundles and other aspects pertinent to (0,2) models. Second, we review constructions of Calabi-Yau complete intersections within such flag manifolds, and properties of the gauged linear sigma models. We discuss a number of examples of nonabelian GLSM's in which the Kahler phases are not birational, and in which at least one phase is realized in some fashion other than as a complete intersection, extending previous work of Hori-Tong. We also review an example of an abelian GLSM exhibiting the same phenomenon. We tentatively identify the mathematical relationship between such non-birational phases, as examples of Kuznetsov's homological projective duality. Finally, we discuss linear sigma model moduli spaces in these gauged linear sigma models. We argue that the moduli spaces being realized physically by these GLSM's are precisely Quot and hyperquot schemes, as one would expect mathematically.

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arXiv2006

Derived categories and stacks in physics

In this note we review how both derived categories and stacks enter physics. The physical realization of each has many formal similarities. For example, in both cases, equivalences are realized via renormalization group flow: in the case of derived categories, (boundary) renormalization group flow realizes the mathematical procedure of localization on quasi-isomorphisms, and in the case of stacks, worldsheet renormalization group flow realizes presentation-independence. For both, we outline current technical issues and applications.

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arXiv2006

Cluster decomposition, T-duality, and gerby CFT's

In this paper we study CFT's associated to gerbes. These theories suffer from a lack of cluster decomposition, but this problem can be resolved: the CFT's are the same as CFT's for disconnected targets. Such theories also lack cluster decomposition, but in that form, the lack is manifestly not very problematic. In particular, we shall see that this matching of CFT's, this duality between noneffective gaugings and sigma models on disconnected targets, is a worldsheet duality related to T-duality. We perform a wide variety of tests of this claim, ranging from checking partition functions at arbitrary genus to D-branes to mirror symmetry. We also discuss a number of applications of these results, including predictions for quantum cohomology and Gromov-Witten theory and additional physical understanding of the geometric Langlands program.

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arXiv2006

Notes on certain other (0,2) correlation functions

In this paper we shall describe some correlation function computations in perturbative heterotic strings that generalize B model computations. On the (2,2) locus, correlation functions in the B model receive no quantum corrections, but off the (2,2) locus, that can change. Classically, the (0,2) analogue of the B model is equivalent to the previously-discussed (0,2) analogue of the A model, but with the gauge bundle dualized -- our generalization of the A model, also simultaneously generalizes the B model. The A and B analogues sometimes have different regularizations, however, which distinguish them quantum-mechanically. We discuss how properties of the (2,2) B model, such as the lack of quantum corrections, are realized in (0,2) A model language. In an appendix, we also extensively discuss how the Calabi-Yau condition for the closed string B model (uncoupled to topological gravity) can be weakened slightly, a detail which does not seem to have been covered in the literature previously. That weakening also manifests in the description of the (2,2) B model as a (0,2) A model.

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