Worldsheet instantons and (0,2) linear models

TL;DR

This paper investigates the stability of heterotic string compactifications using (0,2) gauged linear sigma models, revealing conditions under which instanton corrections affect supersymmetric vacua.

Contribution

It identifies when a vanishing theorem applies to (0,2) models, providing a method to find consistent heterotic backgrounds.

Findings

Generic models often evade the vanishing theorem.

Constructed a subclass of models where the theorem holds.

Generated an extensive list of stable heterotic backgrounds.

Abstract

We study the stability of heterotic compactifications described by (0,2) gauged linear sigma models with respect to worldsheet instanton corrections to the space-time superpotential following the work of Beasley and Witten. We show that generic models elude the vanishing theorem proved there, and may not determine supersymmetric heterotic vacua. We then construct a subclass of linear models for which a vanishing theorem holds, generating an extensive list of consistent heterotic backgrounds.