Abstract
In this paper we consider a class of exactly solvable closed string flux backgrounds that exhibit non-commutativity in the closed string coordinates. They are realized in terms of freely-acting asymmetric ℤ N -orbifolds, which are themselves close relatives of twisted torus fibrations with elliptic ℤ N -monodromy (elliptic T-folds). We explicitly construct the modular invariant partition function of the models and derive the non-commutative algebra in the string coordinates, which is exact to all orders in α′. Finally, we relate these asymmetric orbifold spaces to inherently stringy Scherk-Schwarz backgrounds and non-geometric fluxes.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C.-S. Chu and P.-M. Ho, Noncommutative open string and D-brane, Nucl. Phys. B 550 (1999) 151 [hep-th/9812219] [INSPIRE].
V. Schomerus, D-branes and deformation quantization, JHEP 06 (1999) 030 [hep-th/9903205] [INSPIRE].
N. Seiberg and E. Witten, String theory and noncommutative geometry, JHEP 09 (1999) 032 [hep-th/9908142] [INSPIRE].
F. Ardalan, H. Arfaei and M. Sheikh-Jabbari, Mixed branes and M(atrix) theory on noncommutative torus, hep-th/9803067 [INSPIRE].
F. Ardalan, H. Arfaei and M. Sheikh-Jabbari, Noncommutative geometry from strings and branes, JHEP 02 (1999) 016 [hep-th/9810072] [INSPIRE].
F. Ardalan, H. Arfaei and M. Sheikh-Jabbari, Dirac quantization of open strings and noncommutativity in branes, Nucl. Phys. B 576 (2000) 578 [hep-th/9906161] [INSPIRE].
D. Lüst, T-duality and closed string non-commutative (doubled) geometry, JHEP 12 (2010) 084 [arXiv:1010.1361] [INSPIRE].
R. Blumenhagen and E. Plauschinn, Nonassociative gravity in string theory?, J. Phys. A A 44 (2011) 015401 [arXiv:1010.1263] [INSPIRE].
R. Blumenhagen, A. Deser, D. Lüst, E. Plauschinn and F. Rennecke, Non-geometric fluxes, asymmetric strings and nonassociative geometry, J. Phys. A 44 (2011) L5401 [arXiv:1106.0316].
R. Blumenhagen, Nonassociativity in string theory, arXiv:1112.4611 [INSPIRE].
C. Hull, A geometry for non-geometric string backgrounds, JHEP 10 (2005) 065 [hep-th/0406102] [INSPIRE].
J. Shelton, W. Taylor and B. Wecht, Nongeometric flux compactifications, JHEP 10 (2005) 085 [hep-th/0508133] [INSPIRE].
A. Dabholkar and C. Hull, Generalised T-duality and non-geometric backgrounds, JHEP 05 (2006) 009 [hep-th/0512005] [INSPIRE].
C. Hull and B. Zwiebach, Double field theory, JHEP 09 (2009) 099 [arXiv:0904.4664] [INSPIRE].
D. Andriot, M. Larfors, D. Lüst and P. Patalong, A ten-dimensional action for non-geometric fluxes, JHEP 09 (2011) 134 [arXiv:1106.4015] [INSPIRE].
D. Andriot, O. Hohm, M. Larfors, D. Lüst and P. Patalong, A geometric action for non-geometric fluxes, arXiv:1202.3060 [INSPIRE].
E. Kiritsis and C. Kounnas, Dynamical topology change, compactification and waves in string cosmology, Nucl. Phys. Proc. Suppl. 41 (1995) 311 [gr-qc/9701005] [INSPIRE].
E. Kiritsis and C. Kounnas, String gravity and cosmology: some new ideas, in Trieste 1995, 1st International Four Seas conference (1995) 165 [gr-qc/9509017] [INSPIRE].
K. Narain, M. Sarmadi and C. Vafa, Asymmetric orbifolds, Nucl. Phys. B 288 (1987) 551 [INSPIRE].
K. Narain, M. Sarmadi and C. Vafa, Asymmetric orbifolds: path integral and operator formulations, Nucl. Phys. B 356 (1991) 163 [INSPIRE].
J. Scherk and J.H. Schwarz, Spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry through dimensional reduction, Phys. Lett. B 82 (1979) 60 [INSPIRE].
J. Scherk and J.H. Schwarz, How to get masses from extra dimensions, Nucl. Phys. B 153 (1979)61 [INSPIRE].
B. Wecht, Lectures on nongeometric flux compactifications, Class. Quant. Grav. 24 (2007) 773 [arXiv:0708.3984].
A. Flournoy, B. Wecht and B. Williams, Constructing nongeometric vacua in string theory, Nucl. Phys. B 706 (2005) 127 [hep-th/0404217] [INSPIRE].
A. Flournoy and B. Williams, Nongeometry, duality twists and the worldsheet, JHEP 01 (2006) 166 [hep-th/0511126] [INSPIRE].
T. Buscher, A symmetry of the string background field equations, Phys. Lett. B 194 (1987) 59 [INSPIRE].
M. Roček and E.P. Verlinde, Duality, quotients and currents, Nucl. Phys. B 373 (1992) 630 [hep-th/9110053] [INSPIRE].
A. Giveon and M. Roček, Generalized duality in curved string backgrounds, Nucl. Phys. B 380 (1992) 128 [hep-th/9112070] [INSPIRE].
A. Giveon, M. Porrati and E. Rabinovici, Target space duality in string theory, Phys. Rept. 244 (1994) 77 [hep-th/9401139] [INSPIRE].
C. Hull, Global aspects of T-duality gauged σ-models and T-folds, JHEP 10 (2007) 057 [hep-th/0604178] [INSPIRE].
A. Dabholkar and C. Hull, Duality twists, orbifolds and fluxes, JHEP 09 (2003) 054 [hep-th/0210209] [INSPIRE].
C. Hull and R. Reid-Edwards, Flux compactifications of string theory on twisted tori, Fortsch. Phys. 57 (2009) 862 [hep-th/0503114] [INSPIRE].
K. Aoki, E. D’Hoker and D. Phong, On the construction of asymmetric orbifold models, Nucl. Phys. B 695 (2004) 132 [hep-th/0402134] [INSPIRE].
N.J. Hitchin, The geometry of three forms in six-dimensions and seven-dimensions, J. Diff. Geom. 55 (2000) 547 [math/0010054] [INSPIRE].
N.J. Hitchin, Stable forms and special metrics, math/0107101 [INSPIRE].
N. Hitchin, Generalized Calabi-Yau manifolds, Quart. J. Math. Oxford Ser. 54 (2003) 281 [math/0209099] [INSPIRE].
M. Gualtieri, Generalized complex geometry, D. Phil. Thesis, Oxford University, Oxford U.K. (2004) [math/0401221] [INSPIRE].
S. Ferrara, C. Kounnas and M. Porrati, N = 1 superstrings with spontaneously broken symmetries, Phys. Lett. B 206 (1988) 25 [INSPIRE].
C. Kounnas and M. Porrati, Spontaneous supersymmetry breaking in string theory, Nucl. Phys. B 310 (1988) 355 [INSPIRE].
S. Ferrara, C. Kounnas, M. Porrati and F. Zwirner, Superstrings with spontaneously broken supersymmetry and their effective theories, Nucl. Phys. B 318 (1989) 75 [INSPIRE].
C. Kounnas and B. Rostand, Coordinate dependent compactifications and discrete symmetries, Nucl. Phys. B 341 (1990) 641 [INSPIRE].
I. Antoniadis, G. D’Appollonio, E. Dudas and A. Sagnotti, Partial breaking of supersymmetry, open strings and M-theory, Nucl. Phys. B 553 (1999) 133 [hep-th/9812118] [INSPIRE].
I. Antoniadis, E. Dudas and A. Sagnotti, Supersymmetry breaking, open strings and M-theory, Nucl. Phys. B 544 (1999) 469 [hep-th/9807011] [INSPIRE].
E. Kiritsis and C. Kounnas, Perturbative and nonperturbative partial supersymmetry breaking: N = 4 → N = 2 → N = 1, Nucl. Phys. B 503 (1997) 117 [hep-th/9703059] [INSPIRE].
I. Antoniadis, C. Bachas, C. Kounnas and P. Windey, Supersymmetry among free fermions and superstrings, Phys. Lett. B 171 (1986) 51 [INSPIRE].
I. Antoniadis, C. Bachas and C. Kounnas, Four-dimensional superstrings, Nucl. Phys. B 289 (1987) 87 [INSPIRE].
C. Angelantonj, R. Blumenhagen and M.R. Gaberdiel, Asymmetric orientifolds, brane supersymmetry breaking and nonBPS branes, Nucl. Phys. B 589 (2000) 545 [hep-th/0006033] [INSPIRE].
R. Blumenhagen, L. Görlich, B. Körs and D. Lüst, Asymmetric orbifolds, noncommutative geometry and type-I string vacua, Nucl. Phys. B 582 (2000) 44 [hep-th/0003024] [INSPIRE].
M. Melvin, Pure magnetic and electric geons, Phys. Lett. 8 (1964) 65 [INSPIRE].
G.W. Gibbons and K.-i. Maeda, Black holes in an expanding universe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104 (2010) 131101 [arXiv:0912.2809] [INSPIRE].
J. Russo and A.A. Tseytlin, Constant magnetic field in closed string theory: an exactly solvable model, Nucl. Phys. B 448 (1995) 293 [hep-th/9411099] [INSPIRE].
J. Russo and A.A. Tseytlin, Exactly solvable string models of curved space-time backgrounds, Nucl. Phys. B 449 (1995) 91 [hep-th/9502038] [INSPIRE].
J. Russo and A.A. Tseytlin, Heterotic strings in uniform magnetic field, Nucl. Phys. B 454 (1995) 164 [hep-th/9506071] [INSPIRE].
M. Serone and M. Trapletti, String vacua with flux from freely acting obifolds, JHEP 01 (2004) 012 [hep-th/0310245] [INSPIRE].
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
ArXiv ePrint: 1202.6366
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Condeescu, C., Florakis, I. & Lüst, D. Asymmetric orbifolds, non-geometric fluxes and non-commutativity in closed string theory. J. High Energ. Phys. 2012, 121 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP04(2012)121
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP04(2012)121