Stringy instantons and quiver gauge theories

Florea, Bogdan; Kachru, Shamit; McGreevy, John; Saulina, Natalia

doi:10.1088/1126-6708/2007/05/024

Cited by 188 publications

(354 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…As a concrete example, consider placing multiple D-branes at the singular apex of a Calabi-Yau cone, leading to a supersymmetric gauge theory in four dimensions. Some of the resulting gauge theories have metastable vacua in which supersymmetry is dynamically broken [370][371][372][373][374][375][376], while in other cases, such as [377][378][379], there are runaway instabilities in directions parameterized by Kähler moduli [378,380,381]. But even if one finds a configuration of D-branes on a noncompact Calabi-Yau cone leading to a flat space gauge theory that dynamically breaks supersymmetry, establishing that metastability survives compactification is highly non-trivial (but see [374]).…”

Section: Uplifting To De Sittermentioning

confidence: 99%

Inflation and String Theory

2015

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Section: Uplifting To De Sittermentioning

confidence: 99%

Inflation and String Theory

2015

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“…Actually, the non-perturbative gaugino condensate superpotential can be described in terms of 'fractional' 5 D3-brane instantons wrapped on the D7-brane 4-cycle (and with the same worldvolume gauge background). D3-brane instantons which do not have a gauge theory counterpart are dubbed exotic or stringy in the literature [23][24][25][26].…”

Section: Jhep08(2015)032mentioning

confidence: 99%

Transplanckian axions!?

Montero

Uranga

Valenzuela

2015

J. High Energ. Phys.

185

305

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We discuss quantum gravitational effects in Einstein theory coupled to periodic axion scalars to analyze the viability of several proposals to achieve superplanckian axion periods (aka decay constants) and their possible application to large field inflation models. The effects we study correspond to the nucleation of euclidean gravitational instantons charged under the axion, and our results are essentially compatible with (but independent of) the Weak Gravity Conjecture, as follows: single axion theories with superplanckian periods contain gravitational instantons inducing sizable higher harmonics in the axion potential, which spoil superplanckian inflaton field range. A similar result holds for multiaxion models with lattice alignment (like the Kim-Nilles-Peloso model). Finally, theories with N axions can still achieve a moderately superplanckian periodicity (by a √ N factor) with no higher harmonics in the axion potential. The Weak Gravity Conjecture fails to hold in this case due to the absence of some instantons, which are forbidden by a discrete Z N gauge symmetry. Finally we discuss the realization of these instantons as euclidean D-branes in string compactifications.

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“…The relevant Euclidean D-branes in the latter case are those which intersect the space-filling D-branes of a given model, generating a non-perturbative superpotential for the chiral matter fields. The phenomenological consequences of these instanton effects have been recently analyzed in [155][156][157] (see also [158,159]), with the result that they provide new sources for moduli stabilization, generation of µ-terms and neutrino Majorana masses. Just like all the other developments described in this review, instantonic D-branes represent a piece of progress in approaching string theory to particle physics.…”

Section: Final Commentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in D‐brane model building

Marchesano¹

2007

Fortschritte der Physik

154

234

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The state of the art in D-brane model building is briefly reviewed, focusing on recent achievements in the construction of D = 4 N = 1 type II string vacua with semi-realistic gauge sectors. Such progress relies on a better understanding of the spectrum of BPS D-branes, the effective field theory obtained from them and the explicit construction of vacua. We first consider D-branes in standard Calabi-Yau compactifications, and then the more involved case of compactifications with fluxes. We discuss how the non-trivial interplay between D-branes and fluxes modifies the previous model-building rules, as well as provides new possibilities to connect string theory to particle physics. MotivationAs often emphasized in the literature, string theory gained its popularity among physicists in the mid-80's, as it was recognized as an outstanding candidate for a unified theory of all forces in nature. Not only would it incorporate quantum gravity, but also supersymmetry and non-Abelian gauge interactions. With such ingredients it was soon realized that, upon compactification, one could conceive D = 4 N = 1 effective theories remarkably close to natural extensions of the Standard Model [1].Further developments of the theory showed that the set of string theory vacua is quite complex even at a qualitative level. On the one hand we learned that seemingly different vacua could be dual to each other and, in fact, should be considered to be the same. On the other hand, it has been estimated that the set of semi-realistic vacua is enormous. This latter point has recently raised the question of whether string theory can reproduce almost any D = 4 effective theory that one may think of and, in particular, many possible physics beyond the Standard Model. If that was the case, one may drop the classical strategy to focus on a particular string theory model by means of some vacuum selection principle, and instead try to extract physical information out of the ensemble of realistic vacua via an statistical approach [2]. Now, while string theory has proven to be an excellent generator of phenomenologically interesting scenarios, a string vacuum reproducing the physics observed at particle accelerators is yet to be found. Individual vacua analyzed so far not only fail to describe fully realistic D = 4 physics because of some technical details like extra massless particles or unrealistic couplings, but also because of deep conceptual issues like gauge coupling unification, hierarchy problems and supersymmetry breaking. Moreover, recent cosmological observations have slightly changed our perspective on how a semi-realistic vacuum should be obtained and, in general, agreement with cosmological data puts even more constraints on realistic string constructions.Pointing out these facts is not intended to discourage those interested in the field of model building. On the contrary, there has recently been huge progress (some of which the present review is based on) in constructing vacua which are more and more realistic, and we expect much more p...

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Stringy instantons and quiver gauge theories

Cited by 188 publications

References 44 publications

Inflation and String Theory

Inflation and String Theory

Transplanckian axions!?

Progress in D‐brane model building

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