Generalized holonomy in String-corrected Spacetimes

Abstract

The quartic-curvature corrections derived from string theory have a specific impact on the geometry of target-space manifolds of special holonomy. In the cases of Calabi-Yau manifolds, D = 7 manifolds of G2 holonomy and D = 8 manifolds of Spin7 holonomy, string theory α′ corrections conspire to preserve the unbroken supersymmetry of these backgrounds despite the fact that the α′ corrections cause the Riemannian holonomy to lose its special character. We show how this supersymmetry preservation is expressed in the language of generalized holonomy for the Killing spinor operator.