Extremal Transitions in Heterotic String Theory

Abstract

In this paper we study extremal transitions between heterotic string compactifications, i.e., transitions between pairs (M,V) where M is a Calabi-Yau manifold and V a gauge bundle. Bundle transitions are described using language recently espoused by Friedman, Morgan, Witten. In addition, partly as a check on our methods, we also study how small instantons are described in the same language, and also describe the sheaves corresponding to small instantons.