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Harald Skarke

Publications and source records attributed to Harald Skarke.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

F-theory, SO(32) and Toric Geometry

We show that the F-theory dual of the heterotic string with unbroken Spin(32)/Z_2 symmetry in eight dimensions can be described in terms of the same polyhedron that can also encode unbroken E_8\times E_8 symmetry. By considering particular compactifications with this K3 surface as a fiber, we can reproduce the recently found `record gauge group' in six dimensions and obtain a new `record gauge group' in four dimensions. Our observations relate to the toric diagram for the intersection of components of degenerate fibers and our definition of these objects, which we call `tops', is more general than an earlier definition by Candelas and Font.

hep-th↗

Enhanced Gauge Symmetry in Type II and F-Theory Compactifications: Dynkin Diagrams from Polyhedra

We explain the observation by Candelas and Font that the Dynkin diagrams of nonabelian gauge groups occurring in type IIA and F-theory can be read off from the polyhedron $Δ^*$ that provides the toric description of the Calabi-Yau manifold used for compacification. We show how the intersection pattern of toric divisors corresponding to the degeneration of elliptic fibers follows the ADE classification of singularities and the Kodaira classification of degenerations. We treat in detail the cases of elliptic K3 surfaces and K3 fibered threefolds where the fiber is again elliptic. We also explain how even the occurrence of monodromy and non-simply laced groups in the latter case is visible in the toric picture. These methods also work in the fourfold case.

hep-th↗

Weight systems for toric Calabi-Yau varieties and reflexivity of Newton polyhedra

According to a recently proposed scheme for the classification of reflexive polyhedra, weight systems of a certain type play a prominent role. These weight systems are classified for the cases $n=3$ and $n=4$, corresponding to toric varieties with K3 and Calabi--Yau hypersurfaces, respectively. For $n=3$ we find the well known 95 weight systems corresponding to weighted $\IP^3$'s that allow transverse polynomials, whereas for $n=4$ there are 184026 weight systems, including the 7555 weight systems for weighted $\IP^4$'s. It is proven (without computer) that the Newton polyhedra corresponding to all of these weight systems are reflexive.

alg-geom↗

Renormalization Group Flow in a General Gauge Theory

The renormalization group flow in a general renormalizable gauge theory with a simple gauge group in 3+1 dimensions is analyzed. The flow of the ratios of the Yukawa couplings and the gauge coupling is described in terms of a bounded potential, which makes it possible to draw a number of non-trivial conclusions concerning the asymptotic structure of the theory. A classification of possible flow patterns is given.

hep-th↗

Towards finiteness without supersymmetry

Some aspects of finite quantum field theories in 3+1 dimensions are discussed. A model with non--supersymmetric particle content and vanishing one-- and two--loop beta functions for the gauge coupling and one--loop beta functions for Yukawa--couplings is presented.

hep-th↗

All Abelian Symmetries of Landau-Ginzburg Potentials

We present an algorithm for determining all inequivalent abelian symmetries of non-degenerate quasi-homogeneous polynomials and apply it to the recently constructed complete set of Landau--Ginzburg potentials for $N=2$ superconformal field theories with $c=9$. A complete calculation of the resulting orbifolds without torsion increases the number of known spectra by about one third. The mirror symmetry of these spectra, however, remains at the same low level as for untwisted Landau--Ginzburg models. This happens in spite of the fact that the subclass of potentials for which the Berglund--Hübsch construction works features perfect mirror symmetry. We also make first steps into the space of orbifolds with $\ZZ_2$ torsions by including extra trivial fields.

hep-th↗

No Mirror Symmetry in Landau-Ginzburg Spectra!

We use a recent classification of non-degenerate quasihomogeneous polynomials to construct all Landau-Ginzburg (LG) potentials for N=2 superconformal field theories with c=9 and calculate the corresponding Hodge numbers. Surprisingly, the resulting spectra are less symmetric than the existing incomplete results. It turns out that models belonging to the large class for which an explicit construction of a mirror model as an orbifold is known show remarkable mirror symmetry. On the other hand, half of the remaining 15\% of all models have no mirror partners. This lack of mirror symmetry may point beyond the class of LG-orbifolds.

hep-th↗

On the Classification of Quasihomogeneous Functions

We give a criterion for the existence of a non-degenerate quasihomogeneous polynomial in a configuration, i.e. in the space of polynomials with a fixed set of weights, and clarify the relation of this criterion to the necessary condition derived from the formula for the Poincaré polynomial. We further prove finiteness of the number of configurations for a given value of the singularity index. For the value 3 of this index, which is of particular interest in string theory, a constructive version of this proof implies an algorithm for the calculation of all non-degenerate configurations.

hep-th↗