Theory HEP Seminar

Heterotic Torsional Backgrounds, Threshold Corrections and Mock Modular Forms

Dan Israel

IAP

Heterotic compactifications with torsion stand among other types of flux compactifications as the worldsheet theory behind them can be handled a priori with standard methods. As a preliminary step towards their understanding, I will discuss some non-compact, local models whose conformal field theory description can be found. In this framework, I will present the computation of one-string-loop corrections to the gauge couplings. An interesting mathematical tool used for this study is the theory of mock modular forms, which appear also in the computation of supersymmetric black-hole entropies.