No Arabic abstract
We propose 4-point S-matrices for three-dimensional F-theory. We will use the twistor formalism to facilitate constructing the amplitude. We write the amplitude in a way such that the F-symmetry (U-duality symmetry) is manifest. The amplitude can be schematically written as $A_{4} = w^{4}/stu$, where $w$ is an analog of the linearized Weyl tensor in F-theory, and $w^{4}$ is a shorthand for the sum of various contractions that can happen between the Weyl tensors. The gauge invariance is actually non-trivial since $w$ is in general not gauge invariant. With the help of the twistor formalism, one can verify that this formula is indeed gauge invariant. The amplitude also reduces to the ordinary 4-graviton amplitude under the reduction to M-theory (which is just 4D supergravity).
We construct a general class of new time dependent solutions of non-linear sigma models coupled to gravity. These solutions describe configurations of expanding or contracting codimension two solitons which are not subject to a constraint on the total tension. The two dimensional metric on the space transverse to the defects is determined by the Liouville equation. This space can be compact or non-compact, and of any topology. We show that this construction can be applied naturally in type IIB string theory to find backgrounds describing a number of 7-branes larger than 24.
In the quest for mathematical foundations of M-theory, the Hypothesis H that fluxes are quantized in Cohomotopy theory, implies, on flat but possibly singular spacetimes, that M-brane charges locally organize into equivariant homotopy groups of spheres. Here we show how this leads to a correspondence between phenomena conjectured in M-theory and fundamental mathematical concepts/results in stable homotopy, generalized cohomology and Cobordism theory Mf: Stems of homotopy groups correspond to charges of probe p-branes near black b-branes; stabilization within a stem is the boundary-bulk transition; the Adams d-invariant measures G4-flux; trivialization of the d-invariant corresponds to H3-flux; refined Toda brackets measure H3-flux; the refined Adams e-invariant sees the H3-charge lattice; vanishing Adams e-invariant implies consistent global C3-fields; Conner-Floyds e-invariant is H3-flux seen in the Green-Schwarz mechanism; the Hopf invariant is the M2-brane Page charge (G7-flux); the Pontrjagin-Thom theorem associates the polarized brane worldvolumes sourcing all these charges. Cobordism in the third stable stem witnesses spontaneous KK-compactification on K3-surfaces; the order of the third stable stem implies 24 NS5/D7-branes in M/F-theory on K3. Quaternionic orientations correspond to unit H3-fluxes near M2-branes; complex orientations lift these unit H3-fluxes to heterotic M-theory with heterotic line bundles. In fact, we find quaternionic/complex Ravenel-orientations bounded in dimension; and we find the bound to be 10, as befits spacetime dimension 10+1.
We consider the construction of a topological version of F-theory on a particular $Spin(7)$ 8-manifold which is a Calabi-Yau 3-fold times a 2-torus. We write an action for this theory in eight dimensions and reduce it to lower dimensions using Hitchins gradient flow method. A symmetry of the eight-dimensional theory which follows from modular transformations of the torus induces duality transformations of the variables of the topological A- and B-models. We also consider target space form actions in the presence of background fluxes in six dimensions.
We compute the leading-color contribution to four-particle scattering amplitude in four-dimensional conformal fishnet theory that arises as a special limit of $gamma$-deformed $mathcal N=4$ SYM. We show that the single-trace partial amplitude is protected from quantum corrections whereas the double-trace partial amplitude is a nontrivial infrared finite function of the ratio of Mandelstam invariants. Applying the Lehmann--Symanzik--Zimmerman reduction procedure to the known expression of a four-point correlation function in the fishnet theory, we derive a new representation for this function that is valid for arbitrary coupling. We use this representation to find the asymptotic behavior of the double-trace amplitude in the high-energy limit and to compute the corresponding exact Regge trajectories. We verify that at weak coupling the expressions obtained are in agreement with an explicit five-loop calculation.
The Tate forms for elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds are reconsidered in order to determine their general validity. We point out that there were some implicit assumptions made in the original derivation of these Tate forms from the Tate algorithm. By a careful analysis of the Tate algorithm itself, we deduce that the Tate forms (without any futher divisiblity assumptions) do not hold in some instances and have to be replaced by a new type of ansatz. Furthermore, we give examples in which the existence of a Tate form can be globally obstructed, i.e., the change of coordinates does not extend globally to sections of the entire base of the elliptic fibration. These results have implications both for model-building and for the exploration of the landscape of F-theory vacua.