Recent results in four-dimensional non-perturbative string theory.pdf

a r X i v : 0 7 1 0 .4 9 3 1 v 1 [ h e p - t h ] 2 5 O c t 2 0 0 7 ITP–UU–07/57 SPIN–07/43 SPHT–T07/136 Recent results in four-dimensional non-perturbative string theory 1 Frank Saueressig 1,2 1 Service du Physique? Theorique?, Orme des Merisiers, CEA/Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France 2 Institute for Theoretical Physics and Spinoza Institute, Utrecht University, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands E-mail: Frank.Saueressig@cea.fr Abstract. We review recent progress in understanding non-perturbative instanton corrections to the hypermultiplet moduli space in type II string compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds. 1. Introduction In recent years it has become clear that non-perturbative effects are an important ingredient for building semi-realistic models connecting string theory to four-dimensional low energy physics. A setup where one might hope to understand such effects in detail is type II string theory compactified on a Calabi-Yau threefold (CY). In this case the low energy physics is captured by a N = 2, d = 4 supergravity action and it is conceivable that the constraints coming from string dualities and supersymmetry suffice to determine the perturbative and non-perturbative corrections to the low energy effective action (LEEA), cf. Figure 1. The classical LEEA can be obtained by carrying out a Kaluza-Klein reduction of ten- dimensional type II supergravity on a CY. The resulting massless modes organize themselves into a supergravity multiplet, nV vector multiplets (VM) and nH hypermultiplets (HM). N = 2 supersymmetry implies that the total moduli space M of these theories factorizes into a local productM = MVM?MHM where MVM and MHM are parameterized by the scalars of the VM and HM, respectively. Furthermore, MVM must be special Ka?hler, i.e., there is a holomorphic prepotential F from which the Ka?hler potential K on MVM can be derived. The hypermultiplet sector MHM has to be quaternion-Ka?hler which generically implies that the metric on MHM