Classification of base geometries in F-theory

F-theory is a powerful geometric framework to describe strongly coupled type JIB supcrstring theory. After we compactify F-theory on elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds of various dimensions, we produce a large number of minimal supergravity models in six or four spacetime dimensions. In this thesis, I will describe a current classification program of these elliptic Calabi-Yau manifolds. Specifically, I will be focusing on the part of classifying complex base manifolds of these elliptic fibrations. Besides the usual algebraic geometric description of these base manifolds, F-theory provides a physical language to characterize them as well. One of the most important physical feature of the bases is called the "non-Higgsable gauge groups", which is the minimal gauge group in the low energy supergravity model for any elliptic fibration on a specific base. I will present the general classification program of complex base surfaces and threefolds using algebraic geometry machinery and the language of non- Higgsable gauge groups. While the complex base surfaces can be completely classified in principle, the zoo of generic complex threefolds is not well understood. However, I will present an exploration of the subset of toric threefold bases. I will also describe examples of base manifolds with non-Higgsable U(1)s, which lead to supergravity models in four and six dimensions with a U(1) gauge group but no massless charged matter.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Wang, Yinan, Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Washington Taylor.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/119116

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/119116