Geometries, Non-Geometries, and Fluxes

TL;DR

This paper develops a framework using F-theory/heterotic duality to analyze non-geometric heterotic compactifications, revealing their prevalence and constructing novel dual solutions with fluxes that preserve supersymmetry.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach to study non-geometric heterotic compactifications and constructs four-dimensional solutions with unique flux configurations and dual descriptions.

Findings

Non-geometric compactifications are as common as geometric ones.

Constructed four-dimensional solutions with non-standard fluxes.

Found dual descriptions in type IIB and M-theory preserving supersymmetry.

Abstract

Using F-theory/heterotic duality, we describe a framework for analyzing non-geometric T2-fibered heterotic compactifications to six- and four-dimensions. Our results suggest that among T2-fibered heterotic string vacua, the non-geometric compactifications are just as typical as the geometric ones. We also construct four-dimensional solutions which have novel type IIB and M-theory dual descriptions. These duals are non-geometric with three- and four-form fluxes not of (2,1) or (2,2) Hodge type, respectively, and yet preserve at least N=1 supersymmetry.