(0,2) Landau-Ginzburg Theory

TL;DR

This paper explores the relationship between (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg models and Calabi-Yau sigma-models, revealing new phases, stability phenomena, and topology change mechanisms in string theory.

Contribution

It demonstrates that (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg models can be viewed as phases of gauge theories and uncovers novel features like different quantum symmetries and topology changes.

Findings

(0,2) models can have different quantum symmetries from (2,2) models.

A phenomenon in the Landau-Ginzburg phase helps understand Calabi-Yau stability.

New topology change mechanisms are identified in (0,2) models.

Abstract

A large class of (0,2) Calabi-Yau $\sigma$-models and Landau-Ginzburg orbifolds are shown to arise as different ``phases'' of supersymmetric gauge theories. We find a phenomenon in the Landau-Ginzburg phase which may enable one to understand which Calabi-Yau $\sigma$-models evade destabilization by worldsheet instantons. Examples of (0,2) Landau-Ginzburg vacua are analyzed in detail, and several novel features of (0,2) models are discussed. In particular, we find that (0,2) models can have different quantum symmetries from the (2,2) models built on the same Calabi-Yau manifold, and that a new kind of topology change can occur in (0,2) models of string theory.