Point-like Instantons on K3 Orbifolds

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of stable degenerations to analyze the moduli space correspondence between F-theory and heterotic string compactifications, focusing on point-like instantons at singularities on K3 surfaces.

Contribution

It applies stable degeneration techniques to both E8 x E8 and Spin(32)/Z2 heterotic strings, deriving properties of nonperturbative instanton physics on K3 surfaces.

Findings

Derived properties of point-like instantons at A-D-E singularities

Simplified the moduli space mapping between F-theory and heterotic strings

Provided insights into nonperturbative physics of instantons

Abstract

The map between the moduli space of F-theory (or type II string) compactifications and heterotic string compactifications can be considerably simplified by using "stable degenerations". We discuss how this method applies to both the E8 x E8 and the Spin(32)/Z2 heterotic string. As a simple application of this method we derive some basic properties of the nonperturbative physics of collections of E8 or Spin(32)/Z2 point-like instantons sitting at A-D-E singularities on a K3 surface.