New supersymmetric string moduli spaces from frozen singularities

We reexamine the question of quantum consistency of supergravities in eight dimensions. Theories with 16 supercharges suffer from the anomalies under the action of its discrete modular groups. In minimally supersymmetric theory coupled to Yang-Mills multiples of rank l with the moduli space given by SO(2, l)/(U(1) × SO(l)), the existence of a counterterm together with the requirement that its poles and zeros correspond to the gauge symmetry enhancement imposes nontrivial constraints on the lattice. The counterterms needed for anomaly cancellation for all cases, that are believed to lead to consistent theories of quantum gravity (l = 2, 10, 18), are discussed.

Section: Jhep06(2024)064mentioning

confidence: 99%

Consistency of eight-dimensional supergravities: anomalies, lattices and counterterms

Lao,

Minasian

2024

Unifying the 6D $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = (1, 1) string landscape

Fraiman

Freitas

2023

We propose an organizing principle for string theory moduli spaces in six dimensions with $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = (1, 1), based on a rank reduction map, into which all known constructions fit. In the case of cyclic orbifolds, which are the main focus of the paper, we make an explicit connection with meromorphic 2D (s)CFTs with c = 24 (c = 12) and show how these encode every possible gauge symmetry enhancement in their associated 6D theories. These results generalize naturally to non-cyclic orbifolds, into which the only known string construction (to our awareness) also fits. This framework suggests the existence of a total of 47 moduli spaces: the Narain moduli space, 23 of cyclic orbifold type and 23 of non-cyclic type. Of these only 17 have known string constructions. Among the 30 new moduli spaces, 15 correspond to pure supergravity, for a total of 16 such spaces. A full classification of nonabelian gauge symmetries is given, and as a byproduct we complete the one for seven dimensions, in which only those of theories with heterotic descriptions were known exhaustively.

On the string landscape without hypermultiplets

Baykara,

Hamada,

Tarazi

et al. 2024

In this work we study interesting corners of the quantum gravity landscape with 8 supercharges pushing the boundaries of our current understanding. Calabi-Yau threefolds compactifications of F/M/type II theories to 6, 5 and 4 dimensions are the most prominent examples of this class, and these always lead to a universal hypermultiplet coming from the volume/string coupling constant. We find new examples of asymmetric orbifold constructions which have no hypermultiplets in 4 or 5 dimensions and no neutral hypers in 6d. We argue that these theories can also be obtained by going to strong coupling/small volume regions of geometric constructions where a new Coulomb branch opens up and moving in this direction freezes the volume/string coupling constant. Interestingly we find that the Kodaira condition encountered in geometric limits of F-theory compactifications to 6 dimensions is violated in these corners of the landscape due to strong quantum corrections. We also construct a theory in 3 dimensions which if it were to arise by toroidal compactifications from 5d, it would have to come from pure $$ \mathcal{N} $$ N = 1 supergravity with no massless scalar fields.