Quotients of the conifold in compact Calabi-Yau threefolds, and new topological transitions

The moduli space of multiply connected Calabi-Yau threefolds is shown to contain codimension-one loci on which the corresponding variety develops a certain type of hyperquotient singularity. These have local descriptions as discrete quotients of the conifold, and are referred to here as hyperconifolds. In many (or possibly all) cases such a singularity can be resolved to yield a distinct compact Calabi-Yau manifold. These considerations therefore provide a method for embedding an interesting class of singularities in compact Calabi-Yau varieties, and for constructing new Calabi-Yau manifolds. It is unclear whether the transitions described can be realized in the string theory.

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Published 1 January 2010