We relate the low-energy expansions of world-sheet integrals in genus-one amplitudes of open- and closed-string states. The respective expansion coefficients are elliptic multiple zeta values in the open-string case and non-holomorphic modular forms dubbed modular graph forms for closed strings. By inspecting the differential equations and degeneration limits of suitable generating series of genus-one integrals, we identify formal substitution rules mapping the elliptic multiple zeta values of open strings to the modular graph forms of closed strings. Based on the properties of these rules, we refer to them as an elliptic single-valued map which generalizes the genus-zero notion of a single-valued map acting on multiple zeta values seen in tree-level relations between the open and closed string.
We investigate one-loop four-point scattering of non-abelian gauge bosons in heterotic string theory and identify new connections with the corresponding open-string amplitude. In the low-energy expansion of the heterotic-string amplitude, the integrals over torus punctures are systematically evaluated in terms of modular graph forms, certain non-holomorphic modular forms. For a specific torus integral, the modular graph forms in the low-energy expansion are related to the elliptic multiple zeta values from the analogous open-string integrations over cylinder boundaries. The detailed correspondence between these modular graph forms and elliptic multiple zeta values supports a recent proposal for an elliptic generalization of the single-valued map at genus zero.
We calculate the generating functions of BPS indices using their modular properties in Type II and M-theory compactifications on compact genus one fibered CY 3-folds with singular fibers and additional rational sections or just $N$-sections, in order to study string dualities in four and five dimensions as well as rigid limits in which gravity decouples. The generating functions are Jacobi-forms of $Gamma_1(N)$ with the complexified fiber volume as modular parameter. The string coupling $lambda$, or the $epsilon_pm$ parameters in the rigid limit, as well as the masses of charged hypermultiplets and non-Abelian gauge bosons are elliptic parameters. To understand this structure, we show that specific auto-equivalences act on the category of topological B-branes on these geometries and generate an action of $Gamma_1(N)$ on the stringy Kahler moduli space. We argue that these actions can always be expressed in terms of the generic Seidel-Thomas twist with respect to the 6-brane together with shifts of the B-field and are thus monodromies. This implies the elliptic transformation law that is satisfied by the generating functions. We use Higgs transitions in F-theory to extend the ansatz for the modular bootstrap to genus one fibrations with $N$-sections and boundary conditions fix the all genus generating functions for small base degrees completely. This allows us to study in depth a wide range of new, non-perturbative theories, which are Type II theory duals to the CHL $mathbb{Z}_N$ orbifolds of the heterotic string on $K3times T_2$. In particular, we compare the BPS degeneracies in the large base limit to the perturbative heterotic one-loop amplitude with $R_+^2 F_+^{2g-2}$ insertions for many new Type II geometries. In the rigid limit we can refine the ansatz and obtain the elliptic genus of superconformal theories in 5d.
In this work we verify consistency of refined topological string theory from several perspectives. First, we advance the method of computing refined open amplitudes by means of geometric transitions. Based on such computations we show that refined open BPS invariants are non-negative integers for a large class of toric Calabi-Yau threefolds: an infinite class of strip geometries, closed topological vertex geometry, and some threefolds with compact four-cycles. Furthermore, for an infinite class of toric geometries without compact four-cycles we show that refined open string amplitudes take form of quiver generating series. This generalizes the relation to quivers found earlier in the unrefined case, implies that refined open BPS states are made of a finite number of elementary BPS states, and asserts that all refined open BPS invariants associated to a given brane are non-negative integers in consequence of their relation to (integer and non-negative) motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants. Non-negativity of motivic Donaldson-Thomas invariants of a symmetric quiver is therefore crucial in the context of refined open topological strings. Furthermore, reinterpreting these results in terms of webs of five-branes, we analyze Hanany-Witten transitions in novel configurations involving lagrangian branes.
A new approach to the computation of correlation functions involving two determinant operators as well as one non-protected single trace operator has recently been developed by Jiang, Komatsu and Vescovi. This correlation function provides the holographic description of the absorption of a closed string by a giant graviton. The analysis has a natural interpretation in the framework of group representation theory, which admits a generalization to general Schur polynomials and restricted Schur polynomials. This generalizes the holographic description to any giant or dual giant gravitons which carry more than one angular momentum on the sphere. For a restricted Schur polynomial labeled by a column with $N$ boxes (dual to a maximal giant graviton) we find evidence in favor of integrability.
We present perturbative calculation of the width of the energy profile of rigid strings up to two loops in D dimensions. The perturbative expansion of the extrinsic curvature term signifying the rigidity/smoothness of the string in Polyakov-Kleinert action is taken around the free Nambu-Goto string. The mean-square width of the string field is derived for open strings with Dirichlet boundary condition. We compare the broadening of the smooth Polyakov-Kleinert string to the lattice Mont-Carlo data of the QCD flux tube just before the deconfinement point and find a good match at the intermediate and large color source separation.