We introduce and study the notion of a biholomorphic gerbe with connection. The biholomorphic gerbe provides a natural geometrical framework for generalized Kahler geometry in a manner analogous to the way a holomorphic line bundle is related to Kahler geometry. The relation between the gerbe and the generalized Kahler potential is discussed.
We use newly discovered N = (2, 2) vector multiplets to clarify T-dualities for generalized Kahler geometries. Following the usual procedure, we gauge isometries of nonlinear sigma-models and introduce Lagrange multipliers that constrain the field-strengths of the gauge fields to vanish. Integrating out the Lagrange multipliers leads to the original action, whereas integrating out the vector multiplets gives the dual action. The description is given both in N = (2, 2) and N = (1, 1) superspace.
In a previous paper we outlined how discrete torsion can be understood geometrically as an analogue of orbifold U(1) Wilson lines. In this paper we shall prove the remaining details. More precisely, in this paper we describe gerbes in terms of objects known as stacks (essentially, sheaves of categories), and develop much of the basic theory of gerbes in such language. Then, once the relevant technology has been described, we give a first-principles geometric derivation of discrete torsion. In other words, we define equivariant gerbes, and classify equivariant structures on gerbes and on gerbes with connection. We prove that in general, the set of equivariant structures on a gerbe with connection is a torsor under a group which includes H^2(G,U(1)), where G is the orbifold group. In special cases, such as trivial gerbes, the set of equivariant structures can furthermore be canonically identified with the group.
We review a systematic construction of the 2-stack of bundle gerbes via descent, and extend it to non-abelian gerbes. We review the role of non-abelian gerbes in orientifold sigma models, for the anomaly cancellation in supersymmetric sigma models, and in a geometric description of so-called non-geometric T-duals.
We introduce natural deformation classes of generalized Kahler structures using the Courant symmetry group. We show that these yield natural extensions of the notions of Kahler class and Kahler cone to generalized Kahler geometry. Lastly we show that the generalized Kahler-Ricci flow preserves this generalized Kahler cone, and the underlying real Poisson tensor.
The scalars in vector multiplets of N=2 supersymmetric theories in 4 dimensions exhibit `special Kaehler geometry, related to duality symmetries, due to their coupling to the vectors. In the literature there is some confusion on the definition of special geometry. We show equivalences of some definitions and give examples which show that earlier definitions are not equivalent, and are not sufficient to restrict the Kaehler metric to one that occurs in N=2 supersymmetry. We treat the rigid as well as the local supersymmetry case. The connection is made to moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces and Calabi-Yau 3-folds. The conditions for the existence of a prepotential translate to a condition on the choice of canonical basis of cycles.