Description of a class of superstring compactifications related to semi- simple Lie algebras (Q1093193)

The authors construct new examples of Calabi-Yau spaces (Ricci-flat Kähler manifolds). Their method consists in taking quotients of the 3- dimensional complex tori of semisimple Lie-algebras of rank 6 by finite symmetry group actions. The ``orbifolds'' thus obtained are then ``desingularized'' by algebraic geometrical tools. The complete list of such configurations arising from the action of so-called Coxeter transformations (certain subgroups of the Weil group acting on the torus) is given. For every manifold the Euler characteristic (turning out to be multiples of 24) and the fundamental group are calculated. These topological invariants acquire direct physical significance in superstring compactification schemes [\textit{P. Candelas}, \textit{G. Horowitz}, \textit{A. Strominger} and \textit{E. Witten}, Nucl. Phys. B 258, 46-74 (1985)]. The same is true for the intersection indices of 4- dimensional surfaces in the Calabi-Yau spaces (Yukawa couplings), which are calculated for one of the spaces and most of which are found to vanish.