Heterotic strings on $(K3\times T^2)/\mathbb{Z}_3$ and their dual Calabi-Yau threefolds

Abstract

In this paper we study compactifications of the ${\cal N}=2$ heterotic $E_8\times E_8$ string on $(K3\times T^2)/\mathbb{Z}_3$ with various gauge backgrounds and calculate the topological couplings in the effective supergravity action that arise from one-loop amplitudes. We then identify candidates for dual type IIA compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds and compare the heterotic results with the corresponding topological string amplitudes. We find that the dual Calabi-Yau geometries are $K3$ fibrations that are also genus one fibered with three-sections. Moreover, we show that the intersection form on the polarization lattice of the $K3$ fibration has to be three times the intersection form on the Narain lattice $\Gamma^{1,1}$.