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Compact T-branes

Fernando Marchesano, Raffaele Savelli, Sebastian Schwieger

TL;DR

This work addresses whether compact T-branes can be embedded on compact Kähler four-cycles and how global T-brane data interact with Kähler moduli. It introduces a global framework for T-branes, highlighting non-harmonic flux as essential data encoded by a global function on the surface and deriving a curvature-dependent no-go for non-negative Ricci curvature. It then analyzes stability walls for coincident and intersecting 7-brane configurations, showing that T-branes can decay into non-supersymmetric states or split into supersymmetric constituents depending on topological data and mode spectra. The results constrain viable flux/quasi-local models in IIB/F-theory compactifications and have implications for F-theory GUT model building, while opening directions for poleful generalisations and α′ corrections.

Abstract

We analyse global aspects of 7-brane backgrounds with a non-commuting profile for their worldvolume scalars, also known as T-branes. In particular, we consider configurations with no poles and globally well-defined over a compact Kähler surface. We find that such T-branes cannot be constructed on surfaces of positive or vanishing Ricci curvature. For the existing T-branes, we discuss their stability as we move in Kähler moduli space at large volume and provide examples of T-branes splitting into non-mutually-supersymmetric constituents as they cross a stability wall.

Compact T-branes

TL;DR

This work addresses whether compact T-branes can be embedded on compact Kähler four-cycles and how global T-brane data interact with Kähler moduli. It introduces a global framework for T-branes, highlighting non-harmonic flux as essential data encoded by a global function on the surface and deriving a curvature-dependent no-go for non-negative Ricci curvature. It then analyzes stability walls for coincident and intersecting 7-brane configurations, showing that T-branes can decay into non-supersymmetric states or split into supersymmetric constituents depending on topological data and mode spectra. The results constrain viable flux/quasi-local models in IIB/F-theory compactifications and have implications for F-theory GUT model building, while opening directions for poleful generalisations and α′ corrections.

Abstract

We analyse global aspects of 7-brane backgrounds with a non-commuting profile for their worldvolume scalars, also known as T-branes. In particular, we consider configurations with no poles and globally well-defined over a compact Kähler surface. We find that such T-branes cannot be constructed on surfaces of positive or vanishing Ricci curvature. For the existing T-branes, we discuss their stability as we move in Kähler moduli space at large volume and provide examples of T-branes splitting into non-mutually-supersymmetric constituents as they cross a stability wall.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 12 sections, 99 equations, 1 figure, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Global aspects of T-branes
  3. T-branes and non-harmonic fluxes
  4. The Hitchin Ansatz
  5. Generalising the Ansatz
  6. A no-go theorem
  7. T-branes and stability walls
  8. Coincident branes
  9. Intersecting branes
  10. Conclusions
  11. 4d interpretation of flux non-harmonicity
  12. Examples of wall crossing for coincident branes

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Different possibilities of decay into non-BPS constituents as a T-brane constructed from two intersecting D7-branes crosses a stability wall.