Geometric singularities and spectra of Landau-Ginzburg models

Abstract

Some mathematical and physical aspects of superconformal string compactification in weighted projective space are discussed. In particular, we recast the path integral argument establishing the connection between Landau-Ginzburg conformal theories and Calabi-Yau string compactification in a geometric framework. We then prove that the naive expression for the vanishing of the first Chern class for a complete intersection (adopted from the smooth case) is sufficient to ensure that the resulting variety, which is generically singular, can be resolved to a smooth Calabi-Yau space. This justifies much analysis which has recently been expended on the study of Landau-Ginzburg models. Furthermore, we derive some simple formulae for the determination of the Witten index in these theories which are complimentary to those derived using semiclassical reasoning by Vafa. Finally, we also comment on the possible geometrical significance ofunorbifolded Landau-Ginzburg theories.