2003/12/24 by B. S. Acharya, Bobby S. Acharya, Sergei Gukov · 2 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Black Holes and Theoretical Physics #Geometric Analysis and Curvature Flows #Geometry and complex manifolds #hep-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.physrep.2003.10.017
published as Phys.Rept.392:121-189,2004 · 94 pages, 13 figures, LaTeX; references added
openalex publication_date 2003/12/24 · arxiv created 2004/12/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
M theory compactifications on G2 holonomy manifolds, whilst supersymmetric, require singularities in order to obtain non-Abelian gauge groups, chiral fermions and other properties necessary for a realistic model of particle physics. We review recent progress in understanding the physics of such singularities. Our main aim is to describe the techniques which have been used to develop our understanding of M theory physics near these singularities. In parallel, we also describe similar sorts of singularities in Spin(7) holonomy manifolds which correspond to the properties of three dimensional field theories. As an application, we review how various aspects of strongly coupled gauge theories, such as confinement, mass gap and non-perturbative phase transitions may be given a simple explanation in M theory.