Recent developments in heterotic compactifications

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in heterotic string compactifications, including quantum cohomology, swampland issues, and compactifications on stacks and gerbes, highlighting new theoretical developments and constructions.

Contribution

It summarizes three key areas of progress in heterotic string theory, introducing new methods and addressing theoretical challenges.

Findings

Progress in heterotic quantum cohomology computations

Identification of potential swampland issues in heterotic strings

Development of heterotic compactifications on stacks and gerbes

Abstract

In this short review, we outline three sets of developments in understanding heterotic string compactifications. First, we outline recent progress in heterotic analogues of quantum cohomology computations. Second, we discuss a potential swampland issue in heterotic strings, and new heterotic string constructions that can be used to fill in the naively missing theories. Third, we discuss recent developments in string compactifications on stacks and their applications, concluding with an outline of work-in-progress on heterotic string compactifications on gerbes.