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arXiv · 2309.15152

On the String Landscape Without Hypermultiplets

Zihni Kaan Baykara·Yuta Hamada·Houri-Christina Tarazi·Cumrun Vafa
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Abstract

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 that there are 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 ${\mathcal N}=1$ supergravity with no massless scalar fields.

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Zihni Kaan Baykara, Yuta Hamada, Houri-Christina Tarazi, Cumrun Vafa. 2023-09-26. On the String Landscape Without Hypermultiplets. https://arxiv.org/abs/2309.15152

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