Topics in Two-Loop Superstring Perturbation Theory

Abstract

In this contribution to the Proceedings of the Conference on Analysis, Complex Geometry, and Mathematical Physics, an expository overview of superstring perturbation theory to two loop order is presented to an audience of mathematicians and physicists. Recent results on perturbative supersymmetry breaking effects in Heterotic string theory compactified on Z_2 \times Z_2 Calabi-Yau orbifolds, and the calculation of the two-loop vacuum energy in these theories are discussed in detail, and the appearance of a new modular identity with respect to Sp(4,Z)/Z_4 is reviewed.

27 pages, 5 figures, Dedicated to D.H. Phong on the occasion of his 60-th birthday; version 2 includes minor changes and added references in section 11

References in corpus (5)

• Modular Forms and Three Loop Superstring Amplitudes
• Superstring scattering amplitudes in higher genus
• Higher genus superstring amplitudes from the geometry of moduli spaces
• Two-Loop Superstrings VII, Cohomology of Chiral Amplitudes
• Superstring measure and non-renormalization of the three-point amplitude

Cited by in corpus (3)

• Matching the $D^6{\mathcal{R}}^4$ interaction at two-loops
• Gauge Invariant 1PI Effective Action for Superstring Field Theory
• Two-loop Yang-Mills diagrams from superstring amplitudes