Conifold Transitions in M-theory on Calabi-Yau Fourfolds with Background Fluxes

Understand

We consider topology changing transitions for M-theory compactifications on Calabi-Yau fourfolds with background G-flux.

• The local geometry of the transition is generically a genus g curve of conifold singularities, which engineers a 3d gauge theory with four supercharges, near the intersection of Coulomb and Higgs branches.
• We identify a set of canonical, minimal flux quanta which solve the local quantization condition on G for a given geometry, including new solutions in which the flux is neither of horizontal nor vertical type.
• A local analysis of the flux superpotential shows that the potential has flat directions for a subset of these fluxes and the topologically different phases can be dynamically connected.