Generalising G2 geometry: involutivity, moment maps and moduli

Abstract: Understanding the geometry of flux backgrounds of string theory and M-theory is an important problem in phenomenology. Most attempts at this require studying backgrounds according to torsion classes, or treating the flux perturbatively through moduli stabilisation. However, in both cases we either lose analytic tractability by losing the integrable G-structures that characterise the fluxless backgrounds, or we get only approximate results for small flux. In this talk we will show that generic flux backgrounds can be described by integrable SU(7) structures in exceptional generalised geometry. These structures have properties reminiscent of conventional complex structures, being described by an involutive subbundle of the generalised tangent bundle, and a vanishing moment map. Using this structure we will be able to find the exact moduli of broad classes of flux backgrounds. This description of flux backgrounds also provides a new interpretation of G2 manifolds, which may have interesting links with geometric invariant theory and new exceptional Hitchin functionals.

HEP - theory

Audience: researchers in the topic

Exceptional geometry seminar series

Series comments: This is an online seminar series focusing on new developments in exceptional field theory, generalised geometry and their applications.

See sites.google.com/view/egseminars/ for more details and instructions on how to join the meetings.