Fluxes, moduli fixing and MSSM-like vacua in Type IIA String Theory

Abstract

We review some of the features of Type IIA compactifications in the presence of fluxes. In particular, the case of $T^6/(\Omega (-1)^{F_L} \sigma)$ orientifolds with RR, NS and metric fluxes is considered. This has revealed to possess remarkable properties such as vacua with all the closed string moduli stabilized, null or negative contributions to the RR tadpoles or supersymmetry on the branes enforced by the closed string background. In this way, Type IIA compactifications with non trivial fluxes seem to constitute a new window into the building of semi-realistic models in String Theory.