Hyperconifold Singularities and Transitions

Mon, 29/04
12:00
Rhys Davies (Oxford) String Theory Seminar Add to calendar L3
I will discuss a class of isolated singularities, given by finite cyclic quotients of a threefold node (conifold), which arise naturally in compact Calabi-Yau threefolds. These singularities admit projective crepant resolutions, and thereby give rise to topological transitions between compact Calabi-Yau spaces. Among the interesting properties of such 'hyperconifold transitions' is that they can change the fundamental group, and are related by mirror symmetry to familiar conifold transitions. Having established these mathematical properties, I will briefly discuss some applications, as well as the physics of type IIB string theory compactified on a space with a hyperconifold singularity.