Topological Heterotic Strings and (0,2) Mirror Symmetry

A workshop at the Erwin Schrödinger International Institute for Mathematical Physics

Vienna, June 20-24, 2011

Organizers

Jacques Distler
Johanna Knapp
Maximilian Kreuzer
Ilarion Melnikov

This workshop is made possible with support from the Erwin Schrödinger Institute and the ESF activity "Interactions of Low-Dimensional Topology and Geometry with Mathematical Physics (ITGP)."

SYNOPSIS
Mirror symmetry, an isomorphism of two superconformal field theories (SCFTs), has lead to remarkable insights in mathematics and physics. Mirror symmetry for SCFTs with (2,2) worldsheet supersymmetry is by now well understood. SCFTs with only (0,2) supersymmetry constitute an active area for current research, particularly in the context of heterotic string theory. (0,2) mirror symmetry will be crucial in exploring the mathematics and physics of this rich set of theories.

To investigate these matters, the workshop will bring together a group of experts on toric geometry, (2,2) mirror symmetry, special geometry, heterotic compactifications, and (0,2) sigma models. The five day workshop will consist of seminars that will aim at describing the current state of the art and the important unresolved questions. There will also be plenty of time for informal discussions and collaborations aimed at the unsolved problems.
A SKETCH OF THE PROGRAM TOPICS
- Moduli spaces of (0,2) sigma models/SCFTs
- Topological heterotic strings and rings
- (0,2) mirror symmetry
- Half-special geometry
- Instanton corrections and numerical invariants
- Heterotic strings at higher genus
- Non-geometric heterotic compactifications
The Maximilian Kreuzer Memorial Conference, June 25-June 28

As some of you may know, Max Kreuzer passed away on November 26, 2010. Immediately following our workshop there will be a memorial conference at ESI to commemorate him and his work. For more information, please follow the link above.

CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS

Allan Adams (MIT)	Jock McOrist (DAMTP)
Katrin Becker (Texas A&M)	Ilarion Melnikov (MPI for Gravitational Physics)
Melanie Becker (Texas A&M)	Ruben Minasian (CEA/Saclay)
Ralph Blumenhagen (MPI for Physics)	Stefan Groot Nibbelink (LMU)
Philip Candelas (U Oxford)	Callum Quigley (U Chicago)
Alan Carey (Australian National U)	Thorsten Rahn (MPI for Physics)
Huai-Liang Chang (Hong Kong U)	Emanuel Scheidegger (U Augsburg)
Anda Degeratu (MPI for Gravitational Physics)	Savdeep Sethi (U Chicago)
Xenia de la Ossa (U Oxford)	Eric Sharpe (Virginia Tech)
Jacques Distler (UT Austin)	Meng-Chwan Tan (National U Singapore)
Ron Donagi (UPenn)	Bernhard Wurm (MPI for Gravitational Physics)
Benjamin Jurke (MPI for Physics)	Roberto Zucchini (U Bologna)
Johanna Knapp (IPMU/ TU Wien)

PROGRAM

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
09:00 - 09:30	welcome
09:30 - 10:30	Rahn	Melnikov	QSC I	Adams	Degeratu
10:30 - 11:00	COFFEE
11:00 - 12:00	Zucchini	McOrist	QSC II	FREE	open slot
12:00 - 14:00	LUNCH			DAY	closing
14:00 - 15:00	K. Becker	Sethi	Tan
15:00 - 15:30	COFFEE				COFFEE
15:30 - 16:30	M. Becker	Nibbelink	Distler

We will have a workshop dinner on Wednesday evening.

Here is a PDF of the schedule.

LIST OF TALKS

A partial list of talks may be found here.
CONTACT
For further information about the workshop please contact Ilarion Melnikov, whose email takes the simple form FirsName.LastName at aei.mpg.de