On α' corrections in N=1 F-theory compactifications

TL;DR

This work identifies two α'^{2} corrections to the 4d, N=1 F-theory effective action arising from the 11d supergravity R^4 term, showing a base-volume correction tied to the seven-brane intersection and a 4d higher-curvature term, both controlled by Kahler moduli and surviving the M-theory to F-theory lift. In the F-theory limit they derive corrected base volumes and R^2 couplings, analyze their impact on the 4d Kahler potential and coordinates, and demonstrate that a no-scale structure can be preserved at linear order with specific parameter choices. The weak-coupling Type IIB interpretation links the volume correction to the D7∩O7 intersection volume and the higher-curvature term to D7/O7 DBI actions, with special backgrounds where corrections vanish, and notes potential additional corrections from backreaction. Overall, the paper provides a concrete, moduli-controlled mechanism by which α' corrections modify the Kähler sector of 4d N=1 F-theory vacua, with implications for moduli stabilization and phenomenology in these compactifications.

Abstract

We consider N=1 F-theory and Type IIB orientifold compactifications and derive new α' corrections to the four-dimensional effective action. They originate from higher derivative corrections to eleven-dimensional supergravity and survive the M-theory to F-theory limit. We find a correction to the Kahler moduli depending on a non-trivial intersection curve of seven-branes. We also analyze a four-dimensional higher curvature correction.