N=1 Dual String Pairs and Gaugino Condensation

TL;DR

This paper investigates specific heterotic string models with nontrivial quantum dynamics, exploring gaugino condensation effects and their dual descriptions, potentially linking to non-supersymmetric string compactifications.

Contribution

It provides a dual description of gaugino condensation effects in heterotic string theories, connecting quantum dynamics to geometric nonsupersymmetric compactifications.

Findings

Dual superpotential arises at tree level on the type II side

Models exhibit supersymmetry breaking via gaugino condensation

Potential link to non-supersymmetric string compactifications

Abstract

We study a class of four-dimensional N=1 heterotic string theories which have nontrivial quantum dynamics arising from asymptotically free gauge groups. These models are obtained by orbifolding 4d N=2 heterotic/type II dual pairs by symmetries which leave unbroken products of nonabelian gauge groups (without charged matter) in a ``hidden sector'' on the heterotic side. Such models are expected to break supersymmetry through gaugino condensation in the hidden sector. We find a dual description of the effects of gaugino condensation on the type II side, where the corresponding superpotential arises at tree level. We speculate that the conformal field theory underlying the type II description may be related to a class of geometrical nonsupersymmetric string compactifications.