arXiv subjects

Eran Palti

Publications and source records attributed to Eran Palti.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Anomaly Mediation in Superstring Theory

We study anomaly mediated supersymmetry breaking in type IIB string theory and use our results to test the supergravity formula for anomaly mediated gaugino masses. We compute 1-loop gaugino masses for models of D3-branes on orbifold singularities with 3-form fluxes by calculating the annulus correlator of 3-form flux and two gauginos in the zero momentum limit. Consistent with supergravity expectations we find both anomalous and running contributions to 1-loop gaugino masses. For background Neveu-Schwarz H-flux we find an exact match with the supergravity formula. For Ramond-Ramond flux there is an off-shell ambiguity that precludes a full matching. The anomaly mediated gaugino masses, while determined by the infrared spectrum, arise from an explicit sum over UV open string winding modes. We also calculate brane-to-brane tree-level gravity mediated gaugino masses and show that there are two contributions coming from the dilaton and from the twisted modes, which are suppressed by the full T^6 volume and the untwisted T^2 volume respectively.

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arXiv2010

Froggatt-Nielsen models from E8 in F-theory GUTs

This paper studies F-theory SU(5) GUT models where the three generations of the standard model come from three different curves. All the matter is taken to come from curves intersecting at a point of enhanced E8 gauge symmetry. Giving a vev to some of the GUT singlets naturally implements a Froggatt-Nielsen approach to flavour structure. A scan is performed over all possible models and the results are filtered using phenomenological constraints. We find a unique model that fits observations of quark and lepton masses and mixing well. This model suffers from two drawbacks: R-parity must be imposed by hand and there is a doublet-triplet splitting problem.

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arXiv2010

On hypercharge flux and exotics in F-theory GUTs

We study SU(5) Grand Unified Theories within a local framework in F-theory with multiple extra U(1) symmetries arising from a small monodromy group. The use of hypercharge flux for doublet-triplet splitting implies massless exotics in the spectrum that are protected from obtaining a mass by the U(1) symmetries. We find that lifting the exotics by giving vacuum expectation values to some GUT singlets spontaneously breaks all the U(1) symmetries which implies that proton decay operators are induced. If we impose an additional R-parity symmetry by hand we find all the exotics can be lifted while proton decay operators are still forbidden. These models can retain the gauge coupling unification accuracy of the MSSM at 1-loop. For models where the generations are distributed across multiple curves we also present a motivation for the quark-lepton mass splittings at the GUT scale based on a Froggatt-Nielsen approach to flavour.

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arXiv2010

One-loop Yukawa Couplings in Local Models

We calculate the one-loop Yukawa couplings and threshold corrections for supersymmetric local models of branes at singularities in type IIB string theory. We compute the corrections coming both from wavefunction and vertex renormalisation. The former comes in the IR from conventional field theory running and in the UV from threshold corrections that cause it to run from the winding scale associated to the full Calabi-Yau volume. The vertex correction is naively absent as it appears to correspond to superpotential renormalisation. However, we find that while the Wilsonian superpotential is not renormalised there is a physical vertex correction in the 1PI action associated to light particle loops.

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arXiv2010

AdS_5 Solutions of Type IIB Supergravity and Generalized Complex Geometry

We use the formalism of generalized geometry to study the generic supersymmetric AdS_5 solutions of type IIB supergravity that are dual to N=1 superconformal field theories (SCFTs) in d=4. Such solutions have an associated six-dimensional generalized complex cone geometry that is an extension of Calabi-Yau cone geometry. We identify generalized vector fields dual to the dilatation and R-symmetry of the dual SCFT and show that they are generalized holomorphic on the cone. We carry out a generalized reduction of the cone to a transverse four-dimensional space and show that this is also a generalized complex geometry, which is an extension of Kahler-Einstein geometry. Remarkably, provided the five-form flux is non-vanishing, the cone is symplectic. The symplectic structure can be used to obtain Duistermaat-Heckman type integrals for the central charge of the dual SCFT and the conformal dimensions of operators dual to BPS wrapped D3-branes. We illustrate these results using the Pilch-Warner solution.

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arXiv2010

Aspects of Flavour and Supersymmetry in F-theory GUTs

We study the constraints of supersymmetry on flavour in recently proposed models of F-theory GUTs. We relate the topologically twisted theory to the canonical presentation of eight-dimensional super Yang-Mills and provide a dictionary between the two. We describe the constraints on Yukawa couplings implied by holomorphy of the superpotential in the effective 4-dimensional supergravity theory, including the scaling with α_{GUT}. Taking D-terms into account we solve explicitly to second order for wavefunctions and Yukawas due to metric and flux perturbations and find a rank-one Yukawa matrix with no subleading corrections.

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arXiv2010

On Gauge Threshold Corrections for Local IIB/F-theory GUTs

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 hypercharge flux and will occur in all models realising this mechanism.

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arXiv2009

The central charge of supersymmetric AdS_5 solutions of type IIB supergravity

We show that generic supersymmetric AdS_5 solutions of type IIB supergravity admit a canonical contact structure. This structure determines the central charge of the dual field theory and the conformal dimension of operators dual to supersymmetric wrapped D3-branes. Hence both quantities can be calculated using incomplete information about the solutions, allowing us to prove that they are rational numbers for solutions with a U(1) R-symmetry, in agreement with field theory expectations. We also discuss related Duistermaat-Heckman integrals and localization formulae.

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arXiv2009

Gauge Threshold Corrections for Local Orientifolds

We study gauge threshold corrections for systems of fractional branes at local orientifold singularities and compare with the general Kaplunovsky-Louis expression for locally supersymmetric N=1 gauge theories. We focus on branes at orientifolds of the C^3/Z_4, C^3/Z_6 and C^3/Z_6' singularities. We provide a CFT construction of these theories and compute the threshold corrections. Gauge coupling running undergoes two phases: one phase running from the bulk winding scale to the string scale, and a second phase running from the string scale to the infrared. The first phase is associated to the contribution of N=2 sectors to the IR beta functions and the second phase to the contribution of both N=1 and N=2 sectors. In contrast, naive application of the Kaplunovsky-Louis formula gives single running from the bulk winding mode scale. The discrepancy is resolved through 1-loop non-universality of the holomorphic gauge couplings at the singularity, induced by a 1-loop redefinition of the twisted blow-up moduli which couple differently to different gauge nodes. We also study the physics of anomalous and non-anomalous U(1)s and give a CFT description of how masses for non-anomalous U(1)s depend on the global properties of cycles.

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arXiv2009

Model building with intersecting D6-branes on smooth Calabi-Yau manifolds

We study intersecting D6-branes in Calabi-Yau manifolds that are smooth hypersurfaces in weighted projective spaces. We develop the techniques for calculating intersection numbers between special Lagrangian sub-manifolds defined as fixed loci of anti-holomorphic involutions. We present global Pati-Salam and MSSM-like models that are supersymmetric up to a decoupled hidden sector.

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arXiv2008

WEAKLY-coupled IIA Flux Compactifications

We study compactifications of type IIA string theory on Calabi-Yau manifolds that are mirror to a subset of the type IIB LARGE-volume models. A combination of flux, alpha' corrections and non-perturbative effects stabilises the moduli in a non-supersymmetric AdS vacuum. This vacuum has the feature that the (ten-dimensional) string coupling is exponentially small which can naturally lead to a TeV supersymmetry breaking scale with an intermediate string scale. The AdS vacuum can be uplifted to a dS one through the introduction of D6 branes, and complex-structure modular inflation can be realised.

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arXiv2007

Low Energy Supersymmetry from Non-Geometry

We study a class of flux compactifications that have all the moduli stabilised, a high (GUT) string scale and a low (TeV) gravitino mass that is generated dynamically. These non-geometric compactifications correspond to type II string theories on SU(3)xSU(3) structure orientifolds. The resulting superpotentials admit, excluding non-perturbative effects, supersymmetric Minkowski vacua with any number of moduli stabilised. We argue that non-perturbative effects are present and introduce terms in the superpotential that are exponentially suppressed by the same moduli that appear perturbatively. These deform the supersymmetric Minkowski vacua to supersymmetric AdS vacua with an exponentially small gravitino mass. The resulting vacua allow for low scale supersymmetry breaking which can be realised by a number of mechanisms.

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arXiv2007

Towards Minkowski Vacua in Type II String Compactifications

We study the vacuum structure of compactifications of type II string theories on orientifolds with SU(3)xSU(3) structure. We argue that generalised geometry enables us to treat these non-geometric compactifications using a supergravity analysis in a way very similar to geometric compactifications. We find supersymmetric Minkowski vacua with all the moduli stabilised at weak string coupling and all the tadpole conditions satisfied. Generically the value of the moduli fields in the vacuum is parametrically controlled and can be taken to arbitrarily large values.

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arXiv2006

Aspects of moduli stabilisation in string and M-theory

In this thesis we study compactifications of type II string theories and M-theory to four dimensions. We construct the four-dimensional N=2 supergravities that arise from compactifications of type IIA string theory and M-theory on manifolds with SU(3)-structure. We then study their potential for moduli stabilisation and give explicit examples where all the moduli are stabilised. We also study the effective action for type IIB conifold transitions on Calabi-Yau manifolds. We find that, although there are small regions in phase space that lead to a completed transition, generically the moduli are classically trapped at the conifold point thereby halting the transition.

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arXiv2006

M-theory on seven-dimensional manifolds with SU(3) structure

In this paper we study M-theory compactifications on seven-dimensional manifolds with SU(3) structure. As such manifolds naturally pick out a specific direction, the resulting effective theory can be cast into a form which is similar to type IIA compactifications to four dimensions. We derive the gravitino mass matrix in four dimensions and show that for different internal manifolds (torsion classes) the vacuum preserves either no supersymmetry, or N=2 supersymmetry or, through spontaneous partial supersymmetry breaking, N=1 supersymmetry. For the latter case we derive the effective N=1 theory and give explicit examples where all the moduli are stabilised without the need of non-perturbative effects.

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arXiv2006

The effects of inhomogeneities on the cosmology of type IIB conifold transitions

In this paper we examine the evolution of the effective field theory describing a conifold transition in type IIB string theory. Previous studies have considered such dynamics starting from the cosmological approximation of homogeneous fields, here we include the effects of inhomogeneities by using a real-time lattice field theory simulation. By including spatial variations we are able to simulate the effect of currents and the gauge fields which they source. We identify two different regimes where the inhomogeneities have opposite effects, one where they aid the system to complete the conifold transition and another where they hinder it. The existence of quantized fluxes in related systems has lead to the speculation that (unstable) string solutions could exist, using our simulations we give strong evidence that these string-like defects do not form.

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arXiv2005

Effective action of (massive) IIA on manifolds with SU(3) structure

In this paper we consider compactifications of massive type IIA supergravity on manifolds with SU(3) structure. We derive the gravitino mass matrix of the effective four-dimensional N = 2 theory and show that vacuum expectation values of the scalar fields naturally induce spontaneous partial supersymmetry breaking. We go on to derive the superpotential and the Kaehler potential for the resulting N = 1 theories. As an example we consider the SU(3) structure manifold SU(3)/U(1)xU(1) and explicitly find N = 1 supersymmetric minima where all the moduli are stabilised at non-trivial values without the use of non-perturbative effects.

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arXiv2005

Type IIB Conifold Transitions in Cosmology

We study four-dimensional low energy effective actions for conifold transitions of Calabi-Yau spaces in the context of IIB supergravity. The actions are constucted by examining the mass of D3-branes wrapped on collapsing/expanding three-cycles. We then study the cosmology of the conifold transition, including consequences for moduli stabilization, taking into account the effect of the additional states which become light at the transition. We find, the degree to which the additional states are excited is essential for whether the transition is dynamically realized.

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