Sign choices for orientifolds

DOI10.1007/S00220-020-03831-ZMaRDI QIDQ2200487zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Pedram Hekmati, Michael K. Murray, Richard J. Szabo, Raymond F. Vozzo

Publication date 22 September 2020

Published in Communications in Mathematical Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1905.06041

zbMATH Keywords

stringtwistorfour-dimensional orientifold

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Applications of differential geometry to physics (53Z05) String and superstring theories in gravitational theory (83E30) Spinor and twistor methods in general relativity and gravitational theory; Newman-Penrose formalism (83C60)

Abstract: We analyse the problem of assigning sign choices to O-planes in orientifolds of type II string theory. We show that there exists a sequence of invariant $p$-gerbes with $pgeq-1$, which give rise to sign choices and are related by coboundary maps. We prove that the sign choice homomorphisms stabilise with the dimension of the orientifold and we derive topological constraints on the possible sign configurations. Concrete calculations for spherical and toroidal orientifolds are carried out, and in particular we exhibit a four-dimensional orientifold where not every sign choice is geometrically attainable. We elucidate how the $K$-theory groups associated with invariant $p$-gerbes for $p=-1,0,1$ interact with the coboundary maps. This allows us to interpret a notion of $K$-theory due to Gao and Hori as a special case of twisted $KR$-theory, which consequently implies the homotopy invariance and Fredholm module description of their construction.

Recommendations

• T-duality for orientifolds and twisted KR-theory
• \(K\)-theory, reality, and orientifolds
• String theory on elliptic curve orientifolds and \(KR\)-theory

Cites work

• K-THEORY AND REALITY
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• T-duality for orientifolds and twisted KR-theory
• Triples, fluxes, and strings
• Unoriented WZW models and holonomy of bundle gerbes
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Cited in

(3)

• `Real' Gerbes and Dirac cones of topological insulators
• Sign choices for M. Kontsevich's formality
• A note on real line bundles with connection and real smooth Deligne cohomology

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