Questions tagged [string-theory]

A class of theories that attempt to explain all existing particles (including force carriers) as vibrational modes of extended objects, such as the 1-dimensional fundamental string.

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Comparison between two volume forms on genus zero Teichmüller space

Consider a sphere with $n$ punctures. If you pick a holomorphic cotangent vector at each puncture, you can canonically construct a holomorphic top form in the corresponding moduli space. (The specific ...
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What is this correspondence between composition algebras over R and superstring theories?

In the page for superstring theory, Wikipedia states: Another approach to the number of superstring theories refers to the mathematical structure called composition algebra. In the findings of ...
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how to derive this elliptic integral?

I am reading the article arXiv: 2207.09961, there are some interesting elliptic integrals, i.e. the formula (3.7) and (3.8). You can also see this image where $p_0(z)=\sqrt{-Q_0(z)}$ and $Q_0(z)=-\...
amon Hsu's user avatar
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Divisor cohomology through spectral sequences

I don't know if it belongs here but anyway, I need to compute arithmetic genus of divisors pulled back from a Fano base space to a bundle (which may or mayn't be trivial) defined through the ...
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NSR superstring as a map of supermanifolds

On one hand, I know that the NSR superstring is described by a map $\Phi: \Sigma \to X$, where $\Sigma$ is a supermanifold with local coordinates $(\sigma,\theta)=(\sigma^0,\sigma^1 | \bar{\theta},\...
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What are "branes", and why do they form a category?

I've been trying to read Kapustin–Witten - Electric–Magnetic Duality And The Geometric Langlands Program recently, as someone whose mathematical interests are in the Langlands program. I have some ...
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Freeman Dyson's approach to string theory [closed]

Context: In celebrating the centenary of Ramanujan's birth, Freeman Dyson presented the following career advice for talented young physicists [1]: My dream is that I will live to see the day when our ...
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Axiomatic string theory?

There have been many proposal of a mathematical definition of Quantum Field Theory, for instance through Wightman or Osterwalder-Schrader axioms. Were there any efforts toward doing the same for ...
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What is known about the cohomology of the U-duality group?

$\newcommand{\Es}{E_{7(7)}}\newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb Z}$Let $\Es$ denote the split form of $E_7$, which is a real Lie group. It can be characterized as the subgroup of $\mathrm{Sp}_{56}(\mathbb R)$ ...
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Enumerative geometry and restricted plane partitions

Donaldson-Thomas theory is an enumerative theory for virtual counts of ideal sheaves (with trivial determinant) of the structural sheaf $\mathcal{O}_{X}$ of some smooth projective manifold $X$. There ...
Ramiro Hum-Sah's user avatar
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Physical Approach to Knot Categorification

Some recent work by Aganagic on knot categorification, Knot Categorification from Mirror Symmetry, Part II: Lagrangians, discusses two categorical approaches to categorification of quantum link ...
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Associating noncommutative geometries to 2D conformal field theories

I have recently been reading a bit about noncommutative geometry and string theory and it looked to be an open question (or at least this was open two decades ago) whether there are constructions ...
Hollis Williams's user avatar
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Lifting in String Theory and QFT

I'm posting this here instead of Physics Stack as my question is on the precise mathematical meaning of a word which is often used in the physics literature. In theoretical physics (especially string ...
Hollis Williams's user avatar
21 votes
4 answers
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Mathematical predictions of AdS/CFT

What sorts of mathematical statements are predicted by the AdS/CFT correspondence? My "understanding" (term used very loosely) is that this correspondence isn't a mathematically rigorous ...
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Holomorphic anomaly at genus 1

For computing instantons contributions from worldsheet torus to target torus, one can evaluate zero modes contribution of genus 1 partition function given by following expression: $$Tr(-1)^FF_LF_Rq^{...
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Perverse sheaves and maximal genus Gopakumar-Vafa invariants

Let $f: X \to Y$ be a proper morphism between complex varieties (the varieties as well as the map may be non-smooth) and let $\phi \in \text{Perv}(X)$ be a perverse sheaf on $X$. Given this data, it ...
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In M-theory, what can hypothesis H tell us that quantization in ordinary cohomology cannot?

In classical field theory, many fields and related objects are described as differential forms. For example, in electromagnetism, the field $F := B - \mathrm dt\wedge E$ is a 2-form, and Maxwell's ...
Arun Debray's user avatar
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Affine Kac-Moody algebra from quantum group exchange algebra

In `Hidden Quantum Groups Inside Kac-Moody Algebra', by Alekseev, Faddeev, and Semenov-Tian-Shansky, a relationship between quantum groups and affine Kac-Moody algebras is shown for the WZW model. ...
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Supersymmetry charge $Q$ as anti-linear and anti-unitary operator

We know the supersymmetry (SUSY) charge $Q$ satisfies the following relation respect to fermion parity operator $(-1)^F$: $$ (-1)^F Q + Q (-1)^F :=\{Q, (-1)^F \} =0 $$ which defines the anti-...
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Spectral Flow Invariance for Calabi-Yau Sigma Models

I am a mathematician who has become interested in some of the mathematics of string theory, of which I am largely ignorant, so please excuse any idiocies in what follows. If $X$ is a Calabi-Yau $d$-...
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References for superhomology

This question concerns topological string theory. It was known sice its outset, that the BRST-cohomology ("observables") of the weakly coupled topological string B-model on a Calabi-Yau ...
Ramiro Hum-Sah's user avatar
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Calabi-Yau structures on dg-categories

A (smooth) dg algebra is called (left) Calabi-Yau if (see for example here) $$ A^! = A[-n]$$ Here we use the inverse dualizing complex $A^!=\mathbf{R}\operatorname{Hom}_{(A^e)^{op}}(A,A^e)$. In ...
Markus Zetto's user avatar
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References for quivers and derived categories of coherent sheaves for a string theory student

I'm a student mostly from physics knowledge hoping to learn about the math involved the string theory paper Topological Quiver Matrix Models and Quantum Foam. Context: The topological string theory ...
Ramiro Hum-Sah's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
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On how to diagonalize a Casimir element

$\DeclareMathOperator\U{U}\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}$I'm trying to read the physics paper Two Dimensional QCD as a String Theory. I'm struggling with my ignorance about ...
Ramiro Hum-Sah's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
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Derive how the level quantization for 3d quantum Chern-Simons theory path integrals?

Let us consider abelian and non-abelian 3d quantum Chern-Simons theory path integrals: abelian Chern-Simons theory on non-spin manifolds --- $$ \int [DA]\exp(i \frac{k}{2\pi} \int_X (A \wedge dA )) ...
annie marie cœur's user avatar
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Anti-symmetric operators for the Dirac or Majorana spinors

In a Zoom lecture given by a mathematical physics professor, if I recalled correctly, he explained that the in 1+1 dimensional spacetime (or 2 dimensions in short), the "action" of fermions (spinors) ...
annie marie cœur's user avatar
19 votes
1 answer
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Anomaly in QFT physics v.s. determinant line bundle

In a quantum field theory (QFT) lecture, a math-physics professor explains the anomaly in physics, say the non-invariance of the partition function of an anomalous theory under background field ...
annie marie cœur's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
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Vafa-Witten invariants for mathematicians

As Richard Thomas has written (we paraphrase just slightly), mathematical physicists Vafa and Witten introduced new "invariants" of four-dimensional spaces in a paper: A Strong Coupling Test of S-...
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Why is the inertia stack of a smooth Deligne-Mumford stacks called inertia?

Let $\mathcal{X}$ be a smooth Deligne-Mumford stack. Then there is an associated stack $I\mathcal{X}$, called the inertia stack of $\mathcal{X}$. Why is the inertia stack called "inertia"? We can ...
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Possible Context for this "Siegel-like" Modular Form Construction?

The following construction of something very nearly a Siegel modular form of degree 2 arose in my research. I'm outside the worlds of automorphic forms and number theory, so I'm wondering if it ...
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2 votes
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L-infinity algebra of deformations of an L-infinity algebra?

From Schlessinger-Stasheff we know that a deformation problem should come with an associated $L_\infty$-algebra, so that gauge-equivalence classes of solutions to its Maurer-Cartan equation (the "MC ...
AlexArvanitakis's user avatar
34 votes
4 answers
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Mathematical uses of string theory

It is widely believed that correctness of string theory as a physical theory will not be decided in the near future. Regardless whether this will turn out to be correct or not, mathematical concepts ...
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Bridgeland stability for restricted Kahler moduli?

Let $X$ be a simply-connected, smooth, projective Calabi-Yau threefold. To my understanding, Bridgeland introduced stability conditions on triangulated categories to give a proper mathematical ...
Benighted's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
656 views

Degree-3 curves on the Calabi–Yau quintic

Robbert Dijkgraaf said,1 concerning the simplest Calabi–Yau space, the quintic: "A classical result from the 19th century states that the number of lines — degree-one curves — is equal to 2,875. ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
195 views

GKO (or coset) construction - all possible highest weights $h$

I am reading the famous paper "Unitary Representations of the Virasoro and Super-Virasoro Algebras" by Goddard, Kent, Olive. From a compact simple Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ and a Lie subalgebra $\...
soap's user avatar
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GKO construction for (Super-)Virasoro algebras

I am reading the paper "Unitary Representations of the Virasoro and Super-Virasoro Algebras" by Goddard, Kent, Olive. In many places, the authors claim results without any justification, or with ...
soap's user avatar
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18 votes
0 answers
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Donaldson-Thomas Theory and "Quantum Foam" for Mathematicians

Let $X$ be a smooth, projective Calabi-Yau threefold. From an algebro-geometric perspective, the Donaldson-Thomas invariants $\text{DT}_{\beta, n}(X)$ are virtual counts of ideal sheaves on $X$ with ...
Benighted's user avatar
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11 votes
3 answers
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Navier-Stokes fluid dynamics, Einstein gravity and holography

There was some activity a while ago, like 10 years ago, string theoreists try to relate the fluid dynamics, for example, governed by Navier-Stokes equation, to the Einstein gravity, and its ...
wonderich's user avatar
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5 votes
0 answers
119 views

GSO projection and $H^d(M, \mathbb{Z}_2)$

This follows up the comment which suggests that asking the later 2nd part of subquestion in "GSO (Gliozzi-Scherk-Olive) projection and its Mathematics" as a new different question GSO (...
wonderich's user avatar
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7 votes
0 answers
227 views

GSO (Gliozzi-Scherk-Olive) projection and its Mathematics?

GSO (Gliozzi-Scherk-Olive) projection is an ingredient used in constructing a consistent model in superstring theory. The projection is a selection of a subset of possible vertex operators in the ...
wonderich's user avatar
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11 votes
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The Grassmannian Gr(2,8) and an E7 surprise

Are there any mathematical explanations for the following surprising facts? $$\int_{Gr(2,8)} c_{\text{top}}(TX(-2)) = 6556 = \frac{1}{2} \deg(E_7/P(\alpha_7)) + 1,$$ and $$\int_{Gr(2,6)} c_{\text{top}}...
Richard Eager's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Manifolds with negative dimension – Definition, References

Does the concept of differential manifold with negative dimension make sense, in differential geometry? If yes, how is it defined? Do you have any reference to recommend? My problem was born in ...
MathDG's user avatar
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Open-closed string correspondence

Recently, after many years of searching for the right source, I came across the excellent lecture by Aspinwall, "Some Applications of Commutative Algebra to String Theory", in Eisenbud's Festschrift. ...
user6419's user avatar
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Moduli spaces for the TCFT map $HH(L) \to GW(X)$

Let $L$ be a Lagrangian submanifold of a closed symplectic manifold $X$. What I gather from Costello (see specifically $\S$2.5 there), is that one expects to have a morphism of closed TCFT's $\tag{1}...
Just Me's user avatar
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3 votes
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Localization of the pushforward in equivariant cohomology

I am reading Nekrasov's paper and in page 2 he considers the $G \times T^2$ equivariant cohomology of the (compactified) moduli space $\tilde{M_k}$ of $U(N)$ instantons on $\mathbb{C}^2$. Here $G$ ...
Marion's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
328 views

SYZ conjecture for varieties of general type or Fano

Let $X$ and $Y$ are Calabi-Yau varieties and mirror to each other. Then from HMS the Fukaya Floer category of Lagrangian intersections in $X$, is equivalent to bounded derived category of coherent ...
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11 votes
1 answer
796 views

Large Complex Structure Limit of Calabi-Yau family and uniqueness of limit

Let $\mathcal X$ be a smooth complex manifold of dimension $n+1$. We say $\mathcal X \to ∆$ is a large complex structure limit if and only if it’s maximal unipotent degeneration . $T: H^n(\mathcal ...
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7 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is the relation between BRST quantization and gauge fixing quantization

To quantize gauge field, one usually use gauge-fixing procedure and then plus ghost field, my question is what the relation between BRST quantization and gauge fixing quantization is? Because it seems ...
Hao Yu's user avatar
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7 votes
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Integrality of the mirror map -- non-GKZ examples? Counterexamples?

The mirror map in mirror symmetry is the change-of-variables between the natural coordinatizations on the two mirror sides and is typically a highly-complicated transcendental function (indeed, should ...
Arnav Tripathy's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
778 views

How to construct the mirror partner of a blowup?

Question: Let's assume we have a pair $(X,\check{X})$ that are mirror dual to each other in the sense of Homological mirror symmetry (EDIT: this does not have to be CY n-folds, but can also be a Fano ...
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