arXiv research

We describe mirror symmetry on higher dimensional tori, paying special attention to the behaviour of D-branes under mirror symmetry. To find the mirror D-branes the description of mirror symmetry on D-branes due to Ooguri, Oz en Yin is used. This method allows us to deal with the coisotropic D-branes recently introduce…

We analyze global anomalies for elementary Type II strings in the presence of D-branes. Global anomaly cancellation gives a restriction on the D-brane topology. This restriction makes possible the interpretation of D-brane charge as an element of K-theory.

Introduces D-branes in para-Hermitian geometries using T-duality.

In this lecture I review how a matrix/Azumaya-type noncommutative geometry arises for D-branes in string theory and how such a geometry serves as an origin of the master nature of D-branes; and then highlight an abundance conjecture on D0-brane resolutions of singularities that is extracted and purified from a work of …

D-branes on noncommutative spaces mimic string theory, offering new insights into mirror symmetry.

Analyzes D-branes in string theory backgrounds using advanced cohomology.

This paper shows how to construct anomaly free world sheet actions in string theory with $D$-branes. Our method is to use Deligne cohomology and bundle gerbe theory to define geometric objects which are naturally associated to $D$-branes and connections on them. The holonomy of these connections can be used to cancel g…

In this Part II of D(11), we introduce new objects: super-$C^k$-schemes and Azumaya super-$C^k$-manifolds with a fundamental module (or, synonymously, matrix super-$C^k$-manifolds with a fundamental module), and extend the study in D(11.1) ([L-Y3], arXiv:1406.0929 [math.DG]) to define the notion of `differentiable maps…

We give a world-sheet description of D-brane in terms of gluing conditions on T+T^*. Using the notion of generalized Kahler geometry we show that A- and B-types D-branes for the general N=(2,2) supersymmetric sigma model (including a non-trivial NS-flux) correspond to the (twisted) generalized complex submanifolds with…

In earlier works, D(1) (arXiv:0709.1515 [math.AG]), D(11.1) (arXiv:1406.0929 [math.DG]), D(11.2) (arXiv:1412.0771 [hep-th]), and D(11.3.1) (arXiv:1508.02347 [math.DG]), we have explained why a D-brane in string theory, when treated as a fundamental dynamical object, can be described by a map $\varphi$ from an Azumaya/m…

We prove that the open topological string partition function on a D-brane configuration in a Calabi-Yau manifold X takes the form of a closed topological string partition function on a different Calabi-Yau manifold X_b. This identification shows that the physics of D-branes in an arbitrary background X of topological s…

Constructs noncommutative spaces for D-branes on complex algebraic spaces.

We analyse the moduli spaces of superconformal field theories (SCFTs). For N=2 we find an enhanced moduli space which in geometrical terms corresponds to tori with two independent complex structures. To explain the precise relation with the moduli space of SCFTs on K3 surfaces as described by Aspinwall and Morrison, we…

We consider euclidean D-branes wrapping around manifolds of exceptional holonomy in dimensions seven and eight. The resulting theory on the D-brane---that is, the dimensional reduction of 10-dimensional supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory---is a cohomological field theory which describes the topology of the moduli space o…

Closed strings can be seen either as one-dimensional objects in a target space or as points in the free loop space. Correspondingly, a B-field can be seen either as a connection on a gerbe over the target space, or as a connection on a line bundle over the loop space. Transgression establishes an equivalence between th…

We introduce a new action $S_{standard}^{(ρ,h; Φ,g,B,C)}$ for D-branes that is to D-branes as the Polyakov action is to fundamental strings. This `standard action' is abstractly a non-Abelian gauged sigma model --- based on maps $\varphi: (X^{\!A\!z},E;\nabla)\rightarrow Y$ from an Azumaya/matrix manifold $X^{\!A\!z}$ …

In this note we propose that D-brane charges, in the presence of a topologically non-trivial B-field, are classified by the K-theory of an infinite dimensional C^*-algebra. In the case of B-fields whose curvature is pure torsion our description is shown to coincide with that of Witten.

We study conditions on the topological D-branes of types A and B obtained by requiring a proper matching of the spectral flow operators on the boundary. These conditions ensure space-time supersymmetry and stability of D-branes. In most cases, we reproduce the results of Marino-Minasian-Moore-Strominger, who studied th…

In the Lagrangian approach to 2-dimensional sigma models, B-fields and D-branes contribute topological terms to the action of worldsheets of both open and closed strings. We show that these terms naturally fit into a 2-dimensional, smooth open-closed functorial field theory (FFT) in the sense of Atiyah, Segal, and Stol…

We study the existence of D-brane bound states at threshold in Type II string theories. In a number of situations, we can reduce the question of existence to quadrature, and the study of a particular limit of the propagator for the system of D-branes. This involves a derivation of an index theorem for a family of non-F…

In this paper we show that in some important cases 4-dimensional data can be extracted from superstring theory such that a) the data are 4 Euclidean geometries embedded in standard $\mathbb{R}^{4}$, b) these data depend on NS and D brane charges of some string backgrounds, c) it is of potential relevance to 4-dimension…

We consider the bulk algebra and topological D-brane category arising from the differential model of the open-closed B-type topological Landau-Ginzburg theory defined by a pair $(X,W)$, where $X$ is a non-compact Calabi-Yau manifold and $W$ has compact critical set. When $X$ is a Stein manifold (but not restricted to b…

The goal of this paper is to re-examine D-brane Ramond-Ramond field couplings in the presence of a B-field. We will argue that the generalised geometry induced on the world volume by the B-field results in an important but subtle change on the coupling. In order to explain this, we use the language of differential K-th…

We consider D-branes in string theory and address the issue of how to describe them mathematically as a fundamental object (as opposed to a solitonic object) of string theory in the realm in differential and symplectic geometry. The notion of continuous maps, $k$-times differentiable maps, and smooth maps from an Azuma…

This is the next step of uncovering the relation between string theory and exotic smooth R^4. Exotic smoothness of R^4 is correlated with D6 brane charges in IIA string theory. We construct wild embeddings of spheres and relate them to a class of topological quantum Dp-branes as well to KK theory. These branes emerge w…

We summarize the main results of our investigation of B-type topological Landau-Ginzburg models whose target is an arbitrary open Riemann surface. Such a Riemann surface need not be affine algebraic and in particular it may have infinite genus or an infinite number of Freudenthal ends. Under mild conditions on the Land…

We lay down an elementary yet fundamental lemma concerning a finite algebraicness property of a smooth map from an Azumaya/matrix manifold with a fundamental module to a smooth manifold. This gives us a starting point to build a synthetic (synonymously, $C^{\infty}$-algebraic) symplectic geometry and calibrated geometr…

String backgrounds and D-branes do not possess the structure of Lorentzian manifolds, but that of manifolds with area metric. Area metric geometry is a true generalization of metric geometry, which in particular may accommodate a B-field. While an area metric does not determine a connection, we identify the appropriate…

We establish the Thom isomorphism in twisted K-theory for any real vector bundle and develop the push-forward map in twisted K-theory for any differentiable proper map $f: X\to Y$ (not necessarily K-oriented). The push-forward map generalizes the push-forward map in ordinary K-theory for any $K$-oriented differentiable…

We study massless deformations of generalized calibrated cycles, which describe, in the language of generalized complex geometry, supersymmetric D-branes in N=1 supersymmetric compactifications with fluxes. We find that the deformations are classified by the first cohomology group of a Lie algebroid canonically associa…

Departing from the observation that the Penrose limit of AdS_3 x S^3 is a group contraction in the sense of Inonu and Wigner, we explore the relation between the symmetric D-branes of AdS_3 x S^3 and those of its Penrose limit, a six-dimensional symmetric plane wave analogous to the four-dimensional Nappi--Witten space…

A geometric string solution has background fields in overlapping coordinate patches related by diffeomorphisms and gauge transformations, while for a non-geometric background this is generalised to allow transition functions involving duality transformations. Non-geometric string backgrounds arise from T-duals and mirr…

In this sequel to works D(11.1) (arXiv:1406.0929 [math.DG]), D(11.2) (arXiv:1412.0771 [hep-th]), and D(11.3.1) (arXiv:1508.02347 [math.DG]), we re-examine --- and reformulate when in need --- several basic notions in super $C^{\infty}$-algebraic geometry as guided by the mathematical formulation of Ramond-Neveu-Schwarz…

I consider the semiclassical approximation of the graded Chern-Simons field theories describing certain systems of topological A type branes in the large radius limit of Calabi-Yau compactifications. I show that the semiclassical partition function can be expressed in terms of a certain (differential) numerical invaria…

WZW models are abstract conformal field theories with an infinite dimensional symmetry which accounts for their integrability, and at the same time they have a sigma model description of closed string propagation on group manifolds which, in turn, endows the models with an intuitive geometric meaning. We exploit this d…

We reconsider the problem of U(1) flux and D0-charge for D-branes in the WZW model and investigate the relationship between the different definitions that have been proposed recently. We identify the D0-charge as a particular reduction of a class in the relative cohomology of the group modulo the D-submanifold. We inve…

There are fundamental open problems in the precise global nature of RR-field tadpole cancellation conditions in string theory. Moreover, the non-perturbative lift as M5/MO5-anomaly cancellation in M-theory had been based on indirect plausibility arguments,lacking a microscopic underpinning in M-brane charge quantizatio…

We identify a deformation of the N=2 supersymmetric sigma model on a Calabi-Yau manifold X which has the same effect on B-branes as a noncommutative deformation of X. We show that for hyperkahler X such deformations allow one to interpolate continuously between the A-model and the B-model. For generic values of the non…

In this paper, we present the idea that the formalism of string theory is connected with the dimension 4 in a new way, not covered by phenomenological or model-building approaches. The main connection is given by structures induced by small exotic smooth R^4's having intrinsic meaning for physics in dimension 4. We ext…

In this thesis, we study a class of special Lagrangian submanifolds of toric Calabi-Yau manifolds and construct their mirrors using some techniques developed in the SYZ programme. We present a justification on the conjecture on the mirror construction of D- branes in Aganagic-Vafa [2]. We apply the techniques employed …

It has been shown recently that the geometry of D-branes in general topologically twisted (2,2) sigma-models can be described in the language of generalized complex structures. On general grounds such D-branes (called generalized complex (GC) branes) must form a category. We compute the BRST cohomology of open strings …

We scan for massive type IIA SU(3)-structure compactifications of the type AdS4 x CP3 with internal symmetry group SO(4). This group acts on CP3 with cohomogeneity one, so that one would expect new non-homogeneous solutions. We find however that all such solutions enhance their symmetry group to Sp(2) and form, in fact…

We obtain new supersymmetric flux vacua of type II supergravities on four-dimensional Minkowski times six-dimensional solvmanifolds. The orientifold O4, O5, O6, O7, or O8-planes and D-branes are localized. All vacua are in addition not T-dual to a vacuum on the torus. The corresponding solvmanifolds are proven to be Ca…

For Hitchin's generalised geometries we introduce and analyse the concept of a structured submanifold which encapsulates the classical notion of a calibrated submanifold. Under a suitable integrability condition on the ambient geometry, these generalised calibrated cycles minimise a functional occurring as D-brane ener…

We study topological open string amplitudes on orientifolds without fixed planes. We determine the contributions of the untwisted and twisted sectors as well as the BPS structure of the amplitudes. We illustrate our general results in various examples involving D-branes in toric orientifolds. We perform the computation…

A key open problem in M-theory is the mechanism of "gauge enhancement", which supposedly makes M-branes exhibit the nonabelian gauge degrees of freedom that are seen perturbatively in the limit of 10d string theory. In fact, since only the twisted K-theory classes represented by nonabelian Chan-Paton gauge fields on D-…

A general form for the boundary coupling of a Lie algebroid Poisson sigma model is proposed. The approach involves using the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism in the AKSZ geometrical version, to write a BRST-invariant coupling for a representation up to homotopy of the target Lie algebroid or its subalgebroids. These consid…

A recent paper by Moore and Witten explained that Ramond-Ramond fields in Type II superstring theory have a global meaning in K-theory. In this note we amplify and generalize some points raised in that paper. In particular, we express the coupling of the Ramond-Ramond fields to D-branes in a K-theoretic framework and s…