M-theory on Calabi-Yau Five-Folds

TL;DR

This paper explores the compactification of M-theory on Calabi-Yau five-folds, deriving the resulting N=2 super-mechanics theories, analyzing moduli, flux effects, and supersymmetric vacua with explicit calculations and superpotential formulations.

Contribution

It provides the first explicit reduction of M-theory on Calabi-Yau five-folds, including bosonic and fermionic terms, and constructs the one-dimensional effective action with super-space formulation.

Findings

Derived the 1D effective action from 11D M-theory on five-folds.

Identified moduli in 2a and 2b super-multiplets, including zero-modes.

Established the superpotential and conditions for supersymmetric vacua.

Abstract

We study the compactification of M-theory on Calabi-Yau five-folds and the resulting N=2 super-mechanics theories. By explicit reduction from 11 dimensions, including both bosonic and fermionic terms, we calculate the one-dimensional effective action and show that it can be derived from an N=2 super-space action. We find that the Kahler and complex structure moduli of the five-fold reside in 2a and 2b super-multiplets, respectively. Constrained 2a super-multiplets arise from zero-modes of the M-theory three-form and lead to cross-couplings between 2a and 2b multiplets. Fermionic zero modes which arise from the (1,3) sector of the 11-dimensional gravitino do not have bosonic super-partners and have to be described by purely fermionic super-multiplets in one dimension. We also study the inclusion of flux and discuss the consistency of the scalar potential with one-dimensional N=2 supersymmetry and how it can be described in terms of a superpotential. This superpotential can also be obtained from a Gukov-type formula which we present. Supersymmetric vacua, obtained by solving the F-term equations, always have vanishing vacuum energy due to the form of this scalar potential. We show that such supersymmetric solutions exist for particular examples. Two substantial appendices develop the topology and geometry of Calabi-Yau five-folds and the structure of one-dimensional N=2 supersymmetry and supergravity to the level of generality required for our purposes.