Double-scaling limit of heterotic bundles and dynamical deformation in CFT

We consider heterotic string theory on Eguchi-Hanson space, as a local model of a resolved A I singularity in a six-dimensional flux compactification, with an Abelian gauge bundle turned on and non-zero torsion. We show that in a suitable double scaling limit, that isolates the physics near the non-vanishing two-cycle. a worldsheet conformal field theory description can be found. It contains a heterotic coset whose target space is conformal to Eguchi-Hanson. Starting from the blow-down limit of the singularity, it can be viewed as a dynamical deformation of the near-horizon fivebrane background. We analyze in detail the spectrum of the theory in particular examples, as well as the important role of worldsheet non-perturbative effects. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.