Exact results for N = 2 compactifications of heterotic strings

1995/05/31 by Shamit Kachru, Cumrun Vafa · 9 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies #hep-th

paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/0550-3213(95)00307-e

published as Nucl.Phys.B450:69-89,1995 · 30 pages, Expansions and Modifications on more potential dual pairs involving K3 fibrations. Version to appear in Nuclear Physics B

arxiv created 1995/08/01 · openalex publication_date 1995/09/01 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02

Abstract

We search for N=2, d=4 theories which can be realized both as heterotic string compactifications on K₃× T² and as type II string compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds. In such cases, the exact non-perturbative superpotential of one string theory is given in terms of tree level computations in the other string theory. In particular we find concrete examples which provide the stringy realization of the results of Seiberg and Witten on N=2 Yang-Mills theory, corrected by gravitational/stringy effects. We also discuss some examples which shed light on how the moduli spaces of different N=2 heterotic vacua are connected.

Citations

• Picard-Fuchs equations and mirror maps for hypersurfaces
• Considerations of one-modulus Calabi-Yau compactifications: Picard-Fuchs equations, Kähler potentials and mirror maps
• No mirror symmetry in Landau-Ginzburg spectra!
• K3-fibrations and heterotic-type II string duality

Cited by

• Evidence for F-theory
• Algebras, BPS states, and strings
• Strong coupling singularities and enhanced non-abelian gauge symmetries in N = 2 string theory
• Heterotic moduli stabilization with fractional Chern-Simons invariants
• Universal hypermultiplet metrics
• Type IIA on a compact Calabi‐Yau and D = 11 supergravity uplift of its orientifold
• The low-energy effective action for perturbative heterotic strings on K3 × T2 and the d = 4 N = 2 vector-tensor multiplet
• N = 2 Type I-heterotic duality and higher derivative F-terms
• Exceptional SW geometry from ALE fibrations