We show how two topologically distinct spaces-the Kahler K3 x T^ 2 and the non-Kahler T^ 2 bundle over K3-can be smoothly connected in heterotic string theory. The transition occurs when the base K3 is deformed to the T^ 4/Z_2 orbifold limit. The orbifold theory can be mapped via duality to M-theory on K3 x K3 where the transition corresponds to an exchange of the two K3's.

We study the quantum sheaf cohomology of flag manifolds with deformations of the tangent bundle and use the ring structure to derive how the deformation transforms under the biholomorphic duality of flag manifolds. Realized as the OPE ring of A/2-twisted twodimensional theories with (0,2) supersymmetry, quantum sheaf cohomology generalizes the notion of quantum cohomology. Complete descriptions of quantum sheaf cohomology have been obtained for abelian gauged linear sigma models (GLSMs) and for nonabelian GLSMs describing Grassmannians. In this paper we continue to explore the quantum sheaf cohomology of nonabelian theories. We first propose a method to compute the generating relations for (0,2) GLSMs with (2,2) locus. We apply this method to derive the quantum sheaf cohomology of products of Grassmannians and flag manifolds. The dual deformation associated with the biholomorphic duality gives rise to an explicit IR duality of two A/2-twisted (0,2) gauge theories.

In [LL-Y1, III: Sec. 5.4] on mirror principle, a method was developed to compute the integral \int_ {X} ^{st} e^{H\cdot t}\cap {\mathbf 1} _d for a flag manifold $ X=\Fl_ {r_1,..., r_I}({\Bbb C}^ n) $ via an extended mirror principle diagram. This method turns the required localization computation on the augmented moduli stack $\bar {\cal M} _ {0, 0}(\CP^ 1\times X) $ of stable maps to a localization computation on a hyper-Quot-scheme $\HQuot ({\cal E}^ n) $. In this article, the detail of this localization computation on $\HQuot ({\cal E}^ n) $ is carried out. The necessary ingredients in the computation, notably, the \int_ {X} ^{st} e^{H\cdot t}\cap {\mathbf 1} _d -fixed-point components and the distinguished ones \int_ {X} ^{st} e^{H\cdot t}\cap {\mathbf 1} _d in $\HQuot ({\cal E}^ n) $, the \int_ {X} ^{st} e^{H\cdot t}\cap {\mathbf 1} _d -equivariant Euler class of \int_ {X} ^{st} e^{H\cdot t}\cap {\mathbf 1} _d in $\HQuot ({\cal E}^ n) $, and a push-forward formula of cohomology classes involved in the problem from the total space of a restrictive flag manifold bundle to its base manifold are given. With these, an exact expression of \int_ {X} ^{st} e^{H\cdot t}\cap {\mathbf 1} _d is obtained. Comments on the Hori-Vafa conjecture are given in the end.

Witten's gauged linear sigma model [Wi1] is one of the universal frameworks or structures that lie behind stringy dualities. Its A-twisted moduli space at genus 0 case has been used in the Mirror Principle [LLY] that relates Gromov-Witten invariants and mirror symmetry computations. In this paper the A-twisted moduli stack for higher genus curves is defined and systematically studied. It is proved that such a moduli stack is an Artin stack. For genus 0, it has the A-twisted moduli space of [MP] as the coarse moduli space. The detailed proof of the regularity of the collapsing morphism by Jun Li in [LLY: I and II] can be viewed as a natural morphism from the moduli stack of genus 0 stable maps to the A-twisted moduli stack at genus 0.

Let Λ be a numerical semigroup, C⊆An the monomial curve singularity associated to Λ, and T its tangent cone. In this paper we provide a sharp upper bound for the least positive integer in Λ in terms of the codimension and the maximum degree of the equations of T, when T is not a complete intersection. A special case of this result settles a question of J. Herzog and D. Stamate.