Spectrum Of D-branes Research Articles

Exponential BPS Graphs and D Brane Counting on Toric Calabi-Yau Threefolds: Part I

We study BPS spectra of D-branes on local Calabi-Yau threefolds mathcal {O}(-p)oplus mathcal {O}(p-2)rightarrow mathbb {P}^1 with p=0,1, corresponding to mathbb {C}^3/mathbb {Z}_{2} and the resolved conifold. Nonabelianization for exponential networks is applied to compute directly unframed BPS indices counting states with D2 and D0 brane charges. Known results on these BPS spectra are correctly reproduced by computing new types of BPS invariants of 3d-5d BPS states, encoded by nonabelianization, through their wall-crossing. We also develop the notion of exponential BPS graphs for the simplest toric examples, and show that they encode both the quiver and the potential associated to the Calabi-Yau via geometric engineering.

Wall crossing, quivers and crystals

We study the spectrum of BPS D-branes on a Calabi-Yau manifold using the 0+1 dimensional quiver gauge theory that describes the dynamics of the branes at low energies. The results of Kontsevich and Soibelman predict how the degeneracies change. We argue that Seiberg dualities of the quiver gauge theories, which change the basis of BPS states, correspond to crossing the "walls of the second kind." There is a large class of examples, including local del Pezzo surfaces, where the BPS degeneracies of quivers corresponding to one D6 brane bound to arbitrary numbers of D4, D2 and D0 branes are counted by melting crystal configurations. We show that the melting crystals that arise are a discretization of the Calabi-Yau geometry. The shape of the crystal is determined by the Calabi-Yau geometry and the background B-field, and its microscopic structure by the quiver Q. We prove that the BPS degeneracies computed from Q and Q' are related by the Kontsevich Soibelman formula, using a geometric realization of the Seiberg duality in the crystal. We also show that, in the limit of infinite B-field, the combinatorics of crystals arising from the quivers becomes that of the topological vertex. We thus re-derive the Gromov-Witten/Donaldson-Thomas correspondence.

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.

Decompactifications and massless D-branes in hybrid models

A method of determining the mass spectrum of BPS D-branes in any phase limit of a gauged linear sigma model is introduced. A ring associated to monodromy is defined and one considers K-theory to be a module over this ring. A simple but interesting class of hybrid models with Landau-Ginzburg fibres over \( {\mathbb{P}^n} \) are analyzed using special Kähler geometry and D-brane probes. In some cases the hybrid limit is an infinite distance in moduli space and corresponds to a decompactification. In other cases the hybrid limit isat a finite distance and acquires massless D-branes. An example studied appears to correspond to a novel theory of supergravity with an SU(2) gauge symmetry where the gauge and gravitational couplings are necessarily tied to each other.

Phenomenological analysis of D-brane Pati-Salam vacua

In the present work, we perform a phenomenological analysis of the effective low energy models with Pati-Salam (PS) gauge symmetry derived in the context of D-branes. The main issue in these models arises from the fact that the right-handed fermions and the PS-symmetry breaking Higgs field transform identically under the symmetry, causing unnatural matter-Higgs mixing effects. We argue that this problem can be solved in particular D-brane setups where these fields arise in different intersections. We further observe that whenever a large Higgs mass term is being generated in a particular class of mass spectra, a splitting mechanism –reminiscent of the doublet triplet splitting– may protect the neutral Higgs components from becoming heavy. We analyze the implications of each individual representation available in these models in order to specify the minimal spectrum required to build up a consistent model that reconciles the low energy data. A short discussion is devoted to the effects of stringy instanton corrections, particularly those generating missing Yukawa couplings and contributing to the fermion mass textures. We discuss the correlations of the intersecting D-brane spectra with those obtained from Gepner constructions and analyze the superpotential, the resulting mass textures and the low energy implications of some examples of the latter along the lines proposed above.

Bound states inN= 2 Liouville theory with boundary and deep throat D-branes

We exhibit bound states in the spectrum of non-compact D-branes in N = 2 Liouville conformal field theory. We interpret these states in the study of D-branes in the near-horizon limit of Neveu-Schwarz five-branes spread on a topologically trivial circle. We match semi-classical di-electric and repulsion effects with exact conformal field theory results and describe the fate of D-branes hitting NS5-branes. We also show that the bound states can give rise to massless vector and hyper multiplets in a low-energy gauge theory on D-branes deep inside the throat.

Plane waves from double extended spacetimes

We study exact string backgrounds (WZW models) generated by nonsemisimple algebras which are obtained as double extensions of generic D-dimensional semisimple algebras. Even if a suitable change of coordinates always exists which reduces these backgrounds to be the product of the non-trivial background associated to the original algebra and two-dimensional Minkowski, under Inönü–Wigner contraction the algebra reduces to a Nappi–Witten algebra and the corresponding plane wave spacetime, no more factorized, is the Penrose limit of the original background. We construct the spectrum of D-branes for the double-extended background and study their behavior under the Penrose limit. While in general D-branes become singular in this limit, we prove that a class of solutions with a well-defined limit exists and it gives rise to the spectrum of configurations of the contracted model. Therefore, all D-branes of the plane wave background can be obtained as suitable contractions of original ones. We also discuss the Penrose limit at the quantum level and argue that the procedures of contraction and quantization commute.

D-Branes in the Lorentzian Melvin Geometry

We consider string theory on the Lorentzian Melvin geometry, which is obtained by analytically continuing the two-parameter Euclidean Melvin background. Because this model provides a solvable conformal field theory that describes time-dependent twisted string dynamics, we study the string one-loop partition function and the D-brane spectrum. We found that both the wrapping D2-brane and the codimension-one D-string emit winding strings, and this behavior can be traced to the modified open string Hamiltonian on these probe D-branes.

D-branes in nongeometric backgrounds

"T-fold" backgrounds are generically-nongeometric compactifications of string theory, described by T^n fibrations over a base N with transition functions in the perturbative T-duality group. We review Hull's doubled torus formalism, which geometrizes these backgrounds, and use the formalism to constrain the D-brane spectrum (to leading order in g_s and alpha') on T^n fibrations over S^1 with O(n,n;Z) monodromy. We also discuss the (approximate) moduli space of such branes and argue that it is always geometric. For a D-brane located at a point on the base N, the classical ``D-geometry'' is a T^n fibration over a multiple cover of N.

D-brane spectrum and K-theory constraints ofD= 4, Script N = 1 orientifolds

We study the spectrum of stable BPS and non-BPS D-branes in Z_2 x Z_2 orientifolds for all choices of discrete torsion between the orbifold and orientifold generators. We compute the torsion K-theory charges in these D=4, N=1 orientifold models directly from worldsheet conformal field theory, and compare with the K-theory constraints obtained indirectly using D-brane probes. The K-theory torsion charges derived here provide non-trivial constraints on string model building. We also discuss regions of stability for non-BPS D-branes in these examples.

String theory in β deformed spacetimes

Fluxbrane-like backgrounds obtained from flat space by a sequence of T-dualities and shifts of polar coordinates (beta deformations) provide an interesting class of exactly solvable string theories. We compute the one-loop partition function for various such deformed spaces and study their spectrum of D-branes. For rational values of the B-field these models are equivalent to Z_N \times Z_N orbifolds with discrete torsion. We also obtain an interesting new class of time-dependent backgrounds which resemble localized closed string tachyon condensation.

D-branes in [formula omitted] Liouville theory and its mirror

We study D-branes in the mirror pair N = 2 Liouville/supersymmetric SL ( 2 , R ) / U ( 1 ) coset superconformal field theories. We build D0-, D1- and D2-branes, on the basis of the boundary state construction for the H 3 + conformal field theory. We also construct D0-branes in an orbifold that rotates the angular direction of the cigar. We show how the poles of correlators associated to localized states and bulk interactions naturally decouple in the one-point functions of localized and extended branes. We stress the role played in the analysis of D-brane spectra by primaries in SL ( 2 , R ) / U ( 1 ) which are descendents of the parent theory.

Spectra of D-branes with Higgs vevs

In this paper we continue previous work on counting open string states between D-branes by considering open strings between D-branes with nonzero Higgs vevs, and in particular, nilpotent Higgs vevs, as arise, for example, when studying D-branes in orbifolds. Ordinarily Higgs vevs can be interpreted as moving the D-brane, but nilpotent Higgs vevs have zero eigenvalues, and so their interpretation is more interesting -- for example, they often correspond to nonreduced schemes, which furnishes an important link in understanding old results relating classical D-brane moduli spaces in orbifolds to Hilbert schemes, resolutions of quotient spaces, and the McKay correspondence. We give a sheaf-theoretic description of D-branes with Higgs vevs, including nilpotent Higgs vevs, and check that description by noting that Ext groups between the sheaves modelling the D-branes, do in fact correctly count open string states. In particular, our analysis expands the types of sheaves which admit on-shell physical interpretations, which is an important step for making derived categories useful for physics.

Families ofN= 2 strings

In a given 4d spacetime bakcground, one can often construct not one but a family of distinct N=2 string theories. This is due to the multiple ways N=2 superconformal algebra can be embedded in a given worldsheet theory. We formulate the principle of obtaining different physical theories by gauging different embeddings of the same symmetry algebra in the same ``pre-theory.'' We then apply it to N=2 strings and formulate the recipe for finding the associated parameter spaces of gauging. Flat and curved target spaces of both (4,0) and (2,2) signatures are considered. We broadly divide the gauging choices into two classes, denoted by alpha and beta, and show them to be related by T-duality. The distinction between them is formulated topologically and hinges on some unique properties of 4d manifolds. We determine what their parameter spaces of gauging are under certain simplicity ansatz for generic flat spaces (R^4 and its toroidal compactifications) as well as some curved spaces. We briefly discuss the spectra of D-branes for both alpha and beta families.

Supersymmetric Gödel Universes in string theory

Supersymmetric backgrounds in string and M-theory of the Gödel Universe type are studied. We find several new Gödel Universes that preserve up to 20 supersymmetries. In particular, we obtain an interesting Gödel Universe in M-theory with 18 supersymmetries which does not seem to be dual to a pp-wave. We show that not only T-duality but also the type-IIA/M-theory S-duality can give supersymmetric Gödel Universes from pp-waves. We find solutions that can interpolate between Gödel Universes and pp-waves. We also compute the string spectrum on two type IIA Gödel Universes. Furthermore, we obtain the spectrum of D-branes on a Gödel Universe and find the supergravity solution for a D4-brane on a Gödel Universe.

D‐branes, orientifolds and K‐theory

The complete D-brane spectrum in ZZ[squared] orientifolds is computed. Stable non-BPS D-branes with both integral and torsion charges are found. The relation to K-theory is discussed and a new K-theory relevant to orientifolds is suggested.

D-branes, orientifolds and K-theory

The complete D-brane spectrum in $\Zop_2$ orientifolds is computed. Stable non-BPS D-branes with both integral and torsion charges are found. The relation to K-theory is discussed and a new K-theory relevant to orientifolds is suggested.

D-branes and KK-theory in Type I String Theory

We analyse unstable D-brane systems in type I string theory. Generalizing the proposal in hep-th/0108085, we give a physical interpretation for real KK-theory and claim that the D-branes embedded in a product space X x Y which are made from the unstable Dp-brane system wrapped on Y are classified by a real KK-theory group KKO^{p-1}(X,Y). The field contents of the unstable D-brane systems are systematically described by a hidden Clifford algebra structure. We also investigate the matrix theory based on non-BPS D-instantons and show that the spectrum of D-branes in the theory is exactly what we expect in type I string theory, including stable non-BPS D-branes with Z_2 charge. We explicitly construct the D-brane solutions in the framework of BSFT and analyse the physical property making use of the Clifford algebra.

Charged and uncharged D-branes in various string theories

We describe how the D-brane spectra of the various ten-dimensional string theories can be related to general properties of the open–closed duality, encoded in the S and P matrices of the conformal field theory. We also complete the classification and the description of non-BPS branes in these string theories, elucidating their non-Abelian structures and the nature of the corresponding super-Higgs mechanisms. We find that the type 0 theories and their orientifolds have two types of uncharged branes, distinguished by their couplings to the closed string tachyon. We also find that the 0A orientifold has the unusual feature of having charged and uncharged branes with identical world-volume dimensions. We conclude with some comments on fractional branes, elucidating their role in connection with the boundary states of D odd SU(2) WZW models.

D-branes in Melvin background

In this paper we discuss D-branes in the Melvin background and its supersymmetric generalizations. In particular we determine the D-brane spectra in these backgrounds by constructing their boundary states explicitly, where some of the D-branes are supersymmetric. The results sensitively depend on whether the value of magnetic flux in the Melvin background is rational or irrational. For the rational case the D-branes are regarded as the generalizations of fractional D-branes in abelian orbifolds n/N of type-II or type-0 string theory. For the irrational case we found a very limited spectrum. Since the background includes the non-trivial H-flux, the D-branes will provide interesting examples from the viewpoint of the non-commutative geometry.