Conifolds and geometric transitions

Mar, 2007
62 pages
Published in:
  • Rev.Mod.Phys. 8012 (2008) 1419-1453
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Abstract:
Our intention in this article is to review known facts and to summarise recent advances in the understanding of geometric transitions and the underlying open/closed duality in string theory. We aim to present a pedagogical discussion of the gauge theory underlying the Klebanov--Strassler model and review the Gopakumar--Vafa conjecture based on topological string theory. These models are also compared in the T-dual brane constructions. We then summarise a series of papers verifying both models on the supergravity level. An appendix provides extensive background material about conifold geometries. We pay special attention to their complex structures and re-evaluate the supersymmetry conditions on the background flux in constructions with fractional D3-branes on the singular (Klebanov--Strassler) and resolved (Pando Zayas--Tseytlin) conifolds. We agree with earlier results that only the singular solution allows a supersymmetric flux, but point out the importance of using the correct complex structure to reach this conclusion.
  • review
  • string model
  • string: open
  • string: closed
  • duality
  • space: Calabi-Yau
  • geometry: algebra
  • Seiberg-Witten model
  • M-theory
  • transition: geometrical