Geometric Approaches To Quantum Fields And Strings At Strong Couplings

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Degree type
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Graduate group
Physics & Astronomy
Discipline
Subject
CFT
quantum fields
string theory
Physics
Funder
Grant number
License
Copyright date
2021-08-31T20:21:00-07:00
Distributor
Related resources
Author
Rochais, Thomas
Contributor
Abstract

Geometric structures and dualities arise naturally in quantum field theories and string theory. In fact, these tools become very useful when studying strong coupling effects, where standard perturbative techniques can no longer be used. In this thesis we look at several conformal field theories in various dimensions. We first discuss the structure of the nilpotent networks stemming from T-brane deformations in 4D N=1 theories and then go to the stringy origins of 6D superconformal field theories to realize deformations associated with T-branes in terms of simple combinatorial data. We then analyze non-perturbative generalizations of orientifold 3-planes (i.e. S-folds) in order to produce different 4D N=2 theories. Afterwards, we turn our attention towards a few dualities found at strong coupling. For instance, abelian T-duality is known to be a full duality in string theory between type IIA and type IIB. Its nonabelian generalization, Poisson-Lie T-duality, has only been conjectured to be so. We show that Poisson-Lie symmetric sigma-models are at least two-loop renormalizable and their beta-functions are invariant under Poisson-Lie T-duality. Finally, we review recent progress leading to phenomenologically relevant dualities between M-theory on local G_2 spaces and F-theory on locally elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau fourfolds. In particular, we find that the 3D N=1 effective field theory defined by M-theory on a local Spin(7) space unifies the Higgs bundle data associated with 4D N=1 M-theory and F-theory vacua. We finish with some comments on 3D interfaces at strong coupling.

Advisor
Jonathan J. Heckman
Date of degree
2021-01-01
Date Range for Data Collection (Start Date)
Date Range for Data Collection (End Date)
Digital Object Identifier
Series name and number
Volume number
Issue number
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Journal Issue
Comments
Recommended citation