Non-geometric Backgrounds Research Articles

(Non-)commutative closed string on T-dual toroidal backgrounds

Abstract In this paper we investigate the connection between (non-)geometry and (non-)commutativity of the closed string. To this end, we solve the classical string on three T-dual toroidal backgrounds: a torus with H-flux, a twisted torus and a non-geometric background with Q-flux. In all three situations we work under the assumption of a dilute flux and consider quantities to linear order in the flux density. Furthermore, we perform the first steps of a canonical quantization for the twisted torus, to derive commutators of the string expansion modes. We use them as well as T-duality to determine, in the non-geometric background, a commutator of two string coordinates, which turns out to be non-vanishing. We relate this non-commutativity to the closed string boundary conditions, and the non-geometric Q-flux.

A Lorentz invariant doubled world-sheet theory

We propose a Lorentz invariant version of Tseytlin's doubled worldsheet theory that makes T-duality covariance of the string manifest. This theory can be derived as a gauge fixed version of Buscher's gauging procedure, in which the left-over gauge field component acts as a Lagrange multiplier. This description can naturally account for fractional linear O(D,D) transformations of the metric and b-field. It is capable of describing non-geometric backgrounds; geometric and non-geometric fluxes are encoded in the doubled anti-symmetric tensor field strength.

Non-geometric background arising in the solution of Neumann boundary conditions

We investigate the open string propagation in the weakly curved background with the Kalb-Ramond field containing an infinitesimal part, linear in coordinate. Solving the Neumann boundary conditions, we find the expression for the space-time coordinates in terms of the effective ones. So, the initial theory reduces to the effective one. This effective theory is defined on the nongeometric doubled space $(q^\mu,\tilde{q}_\mu)$, where $q^\mu$ is the effective coordinate and $\tilde{q}_\mu$ is its T-dual. The effective metric depends on the coordinate $q^\mu$ and there exists non-trivial effective Kalb-Ramond field which depends on the T-dual coordinate $\tilde{q}_\mu$. The fact that $\tilde{q}_\mu$ is $\Omega$-odd leads to the nonvanishing effective Kalb-Ramond field.

Membrane sigma-models and quantization of non-geometric flux backgrounds

We develop quantization techniques for describing the nonassociative geometry probed by closed strings in flat non-geometric R-flux backgrounds M. Starting from a suitable Courant sigma-model on an open membrane with target space M, regarded as a topological sector of closed string dynamics in R-space, we derive a twisted Poisson sigma-model on the boundary of the membrane whose target space is the cotangent bundle T^*M and whose quasi-Poisson structure coincides with those previously proposed. We argue that from the membrane perspective the path integral over multivalued closed string fields in Q-space is equivalent to integrating over open strings in R-space. The corresponding boundary correlation functions reproduce Kontsevich's deformation quantization formula for the twisted Poisson manifolds. For constant R-flux, we derive closed formulas for the corresponding nonassociative star product and its associator, and compare them with previous proposals for a 3-product of fields on R-space. We develop various versions of the Seiberg-Witten map which relate our nonassociative star products to associative ones and add fluctuations to the R-flux background. We show that the Kontsevich formula coincides with the star product obtained by quantizing the dual of a Lie 2-algebra via convolution in an integrating Lie 2-group associated to the T-dual doubled geometry, and hence clarify the relation to the twisted convolution products for topological nonassociative torus bundles. We further demonstrate how our approach leads to a consistent quantization of Nambu-Poisson 3-brackets.

Rotating string in doubled geometry with generalized isometries

In this paper, we first construct a globally well-defined non-geometric background which contains several branes in type II string theory compactified on a 7-torus. One of these branes is called 5^2_2, which is a codimension-2 object and has a non-trivial monodromy given by a T-duality transformation. The geometry near the 5^2_2-brane is shown to approach the non-geometric background constructed in arXiv:1004.2521. We then construct the solution of a fundamental string rotating along a non-trivial cycle in the 5^2_2 background. Although the background is not axisymmetric in the usual sense, we show that it is actually axisymmetric as a doubled geometry by explicitly finding a generalized Killing vector. We perform a generalized coordinate transformation into a system where the generalized isometry is manifest, and show that the winding and momentum charges of the string solution is explicitly conserved in that system.

T-folds, doubled geometry, and the SU(2) WZW model

The SU(2) WZW model at large level N can be interpreted semiclassically as string theory on S^3 with N units of Neveu-Schwarz H-flux. While globally geometric, the model nevertheless exhibits an interesting doubled geometry possessing features in common with nongeometric string theory compactifications, for example, nonzero Q-flux. Therefore, it can serve as a fertile testing ground through which to improve our understanding of more exotic compactifications, in a context in which we have a firm understanding of the background from standard techniques. Three frameworks have been used to systematize the study of nongeometric backgrounds: the T-fold construction, Hitchin's generalized geometry, and fully doubled geometry. All of these double the standard description in some way, in order to geometrize the combined metric and Neveu Schwarz B-field data. We present the T-fold and fully doubled descriptions of WZW models, first for SU(2) and then for general group. Applying the formalism of Hull and Reid-Edwards, we indeed recover the physical metric and H-flux of the WZW model from the doubled description. As additional checks, we reproduce the abelian T-duality group and known semiclassical spectrum of D-branes.

Exotic Branes and Nongeometric Backgrounds

When string or M theory is compactified to lower dimensions, the U-duality symmetry predicts so-called exotic branes whose higher-dimensional origin cannot be explained by the standard string or M-theory branes. We argue that exotic branes can be understood in higher dimensions as nongeometric backgrounds or Ufolds, and that they are important for the physics of systems which originally contain no exotic charges, since the supertube effect generically produces such exotic charges. We discuss the implications of exotic backgrounds for black hole microstate (non-)geometries.

Minkowski vacuum transitions in (nongeometric) flux compactifications

In this work we study the generalization of twisted homology to geometric and nongeometric backgrounds. In the process, we describe the necessary conditions to wrap a network of D-branes on twisted cycles. If the cycle is localized in time, we show how by an instantonic brane mediation, some D-branes transform into fluxes on different backgrounds, including nongeometric fluxes. As a consequence, we show that in the case of a IIB six-dimensional torus compactification on a simple orientifold, the flux superpotential is not invariant by this brane-flux transition, allowing the connection among different Minkowski vacuum solutions. For the case in which nongeometric fluxes are turned on, we also discuss some topological restrictions for the transition to occur. In this context, we show that there are some vacuum solutions protected to change by a brane-flux transition.

Conformal chiral boson models on twisted doubled tori and non-geometric string vacua

We derive and analyze the conditions for quantum conformal and Lorentz invariance of the duality symmetric interacting chiral boson sigma-models, which are conjectured to describe non-geometric string theory backgrounds. The one-loop Weyl and Lorentz anomalies are computed for the general case using the background field method. Subsequently, our results are applied to a class of (on-shell) Lorentz invariant chiral boson models which are based on twisted doubled tori. Our findings are in agreement with those expected from the effective supergravity approach, thereby firmly establishing that the chiral boson models under consideration provide the string worldsheet description of N = 4 gauged supergravities with electric gaugings. Furthermore, they demonstrate that twisted doubled tori are indeed the doubled internal geometries underlying a large class of non-geometric string compactifications. For compact gaugings the associated chiral boson models are automatically conformal, a fact that is explained by showing that they are actually chiral WZW models in disguise.

Non-geometric backgrounds, doubled geometry and generalised T-duality

String backgrounds with a local torus fibration such as T-folds are naturally formulated in a doubled formalism in which the torus fibres are doubled to include dual coordinates conjugate to winding number. Here we formulate and explore a generalisation of this construction in which all coordinates are doubled, so that the doubled space is a twisted torus, i.e. a compact space constructed from identifying a group manifold under a discrete subgroup. This incorporates reductions with duality twists, T-folds and a class of flux compactifications, together with the non-geometric backgrounds expected to arise from these through T-duality. It also incorporates backgrounds that are not even locally geometric, and suggests a generalisation of T-duality to a more general context. We discuss the effective field theory arising from such an internal sector, give a world-sheet sigma model formulation of string theory on such backgrounds and illustrate our discussion with detailed examples.

T-duality, generalized geometry and non-geometric backgrounds

We discuss the action of O(d,d), and in particular T-duality, in the context of generalized geometry, focusing on the description of so-called non-geometric backgrounds. We derive local expressions for the pure spinors descibing the generalized geometry dual to an SU(3) structure background, and show that the equations for N=1 vacua are invariant under T-duality. We also propose a local generalized geometrical definition of the charges f, H, Q and R appearing in effective four-dimensional theories, using the Courant bracket. We then address certain global aspects, in particular whether the local non-geometric charges can be gauged away in, for instance, backgrounds admitting a torus action, as well as the structure of generalized parallelizable backgrounds.

Topological T-duality and T-folds

We explicitly construct the C*-algebras arising in the formalism of Topological T-duality due to Mathai and Rosenberg from string-theoretic data in several key examples. We construct a continuous-trace algebra with an action of ${\mathbb R}^d$ unique up to exterior equivalence from the data of a smooth ${\mathbb T}^d$-equivariant gerbe on a trivial bundle $X = W \times {\mathbb T}^d$. We argue that the `noncommutative T-duals' of Mathai and Rosenberg, should be identified with the nongeometric backgrounds well-known in string theory. We also argue that the crossed-product C*-algebra ${\mathcal A} \rtimes_{\alpha|_{\KZ^d}} {\mathbb Z}^d$ should be identified with the T-folds of Hull which geometrize these backgrounds. We identify the charge group of D-branes on T-fold backgrounds in the C*-algebraic formalism of Topological T-duality. We also study D-branes on T-fold backgrounds. We show that the $K$-theory bundles studied by Echterhoff, Nest and Oyono-Oyono give a natural description of these objects.

Worldsheet theories for non-geometric string backgrounds

We show that twisted doubled tori can be used to construct a general class of worldsheet models describing non-geometric string backgrounds. By employing a first order formulation of interacting chiral bosons, we first refine the analysis on the general conditions of worldsheet Lorentz invariance and then prove that twisted doubled tori provide good duality symmetric backgrounds. Subsequently we apply our general analysis to several examples which enable us to gain new insight on the difference between geometric, locally geometric and genuine non-geometric backgrounds.

Non-geometric string backgrounds and worldsheet algebras

Using worldsheet Hamiltonian methods we derive a charge algebra which generalizes the Courant bracket to include fluxes of general index type. This is achieved by coupling a bi-vector to the Hamiltonian of the Polyakov model. This bracket is useful to describe so-called non-geometric backgrounds and has been discussed in the mathematics literature by Dmitry Roytenberg.

Gauged supergravities from twisted doubled tori and non-geometric string backgrounds

We propose a universal geometric formulation of gauged supergravity in terms of a twisted doubled torus. We focus on string theory (M-theory) reductions with generalized Scherk–Schwarz twists residing in the O ( n , n ) (E 7(7)) duality group. The set of doubled geometric fluxes, associated with the duality twists and identified naturally with the embedding tensor of gauged supergravity, captures all known fluxes, i.e. physical form fluxes, ordinary geometric fluxes, as well as their non-geometric counterparts. Furthermore, we propose a prescription for obtaining the effective geometry embedded in the string theory twisted doubled torus or in the M-theory megatorus and apply it for several models of geometric and non-geometric flux compactifications.

Global aspects of T-duality, gauged sigma models and T-folds

The gauged sigma-model argument that string backgrounds related by T-duality give equivalent quantum theories is revisited, taking careful account of global considerations. The topological obstructions to gauging sigma-models give rise to obstructions to T-duality, but these are milder than those for gauging: it is possible to T-dualise a large class of sigma-models that cannot be gauged. For backgrounds that are torus fibrations, it is expected that T-duality can be applied fibrewise in the general case in which there are no globally-defined Killing vector fields, so that there is no isometry symmetry that can be gauged; the derivation of T-duality is extended to this case. The T-duality transformations are presented in terms of globally-defined quantities. The generalisation to non-geometric string backgrounds is discussed, the conditions for the T-dual background to be geometric found and the topology of T-folds analysed.

Lectures on nongeometric flux compactifications

These notes present a pedagogical review of nongeometric flux compactifications. We begin by reviewing well-known geometric flux compactifications in Type II string theory, and argue that one must include nongeometric ‘fluxes’ in order to have a superpotential which is invariant under T-duality. Additionally, we discuss some elementary aspects of the worldsheet description of nongeometric backgrounds. This review is based on lectures given at the 2007 RTN Winter School at CERN.

Metastable flux configurations and de Sitter spaces

We derive stability conditions for the critical points of the no-scale scalar potential governing the dynamics of the complex structure moduli and the axio-dilaton in compactifications of type IIB string theory on Calabi–Yau three-folds. We discuss a concrete example of a T 6 orientifold. We then consider the four-dimensional theory obtained from compactifications of type IIB string theory on non-geometric backgrounds which are mirror to rigid Calabi–Yau manifolds and show that the complex structure moduli fields can be stabilized in terms of H RR only, i.e. with no need of orientifold projection. The stabilization of all the fields at weak coupling, including the axio-dilaton, may require to break supersymmetry in the presence of H NS flux or corrections to the scalar potential.

Generalised geometry for M-theory

Generalised geometry studies structures on a d-dimensional manifold with a metric and 2-form gauge field on which there is a natural action of the group SO(d,d). This is generalised to d-dimensional manifolds with a metric and 3-form gauge field on which there is a natural action of the group $E_{d}$. This provides a framework for the discussion of M-theory solutions with flux. A different generalisation is to d-dimensional manifolds with a metric, 2-form gauge field and a set of p-forms for $p$ either odd or even on which there is a natural action of the group $E_{d+1}$. This is useful for type IIA or IIB string solutions with flux. Further generalisations give extended tangent bundles and extended spin bundles relevant for non-geometric backgrounds. Special structures that arise for supersymmetric backgrounds are discussed.

Moduli stabilization in non-geometric backgrounds

Type II orientifolds based on Landau–Ginzburg models are used to describe moduli stabilization for flux compactifications of type II theories from the world-sheet CFT point of view. We show that for certain types of type IIB orientifolds which have no Kähler moduli and are therefore intrinsically non-geometric, all moduli can be explicitly stabilized in terms of fluxes. The resulting four-dimensional theories can describe Minkowski as well as anti-de Sitter vacua. This construction provides the first string vacuum with all moduli frozen and leading to a 4D Minkowski background.