GUTs and Exceptional Branes in F-Theory

          @misc{ pirsa_08040017,
            doi = {10.48660/08040017},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/08040017},
            author = {Beasley, Chris},
            keywords = {Quantum Fields and Strings},
            language = {en},
            title = {GUTs and Exceptional Branes in F-Theory},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2008},
            month = {apr},
            note = {PIRSA:08040017 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }
          

Abstract

F-theory compactifications on Calabi-Yau fourfolds provide one way to obtain N=1 supersymmetric grand unified models of particle physics from string theory. With this motivation in mind, I will consider F-theory on a particularly simple class of local Calabi-Yau fourfolds, for which a low-energy analysis based upon topological gauge theory is valid. For these models, I will explain how the geometry of the fourfold determines the spectrum of massless charged matter and the effective superpotential in four dimensions. If time permits, I will also discuss the relation between certain surface operators in gauge theory and brane recombination in F-theory.