Calabi-Yau Orientifold Hypersurfaces and their F-theory Uplifts

Bjoern Hassfeld (U of Wisconsin)

Jul 16. 2026, 11:00 — 12:00

We present an algorithm that constructs Calabi-Yau threefold orientifolds and their FF-theory uplifts to elliptically-fibered Calabi-Yau fourfolds, embedded in toric varieties at codimension one and two respectively. The resulting Calabi-Yau fourfolds arise from triangulations of 6d6d reflexive polytopes -- which our method constructs from orientifold data -- and are smooth away from isolated terminal singularities. For many of our fourfolds, the construction of the mirror manifold is immediate, enabling the computation of fourfold periods, and thus the seven-brane superpotential. We present multiple examples that demonstrate these capabilities. Our algorithms work with CYToolsCYTools and are available through a GitHub repository.

Further Information
Venue:
ESI Boltzmann Lecture Hall
Associated Event:
The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Toric Geometry: Bridging Mathematics, Computation, and String Theory (Thematic Programme)
Organizer(s):
Magdalena Larfors (Uppsala U)
Gary Shiu (U of Wisconsin-Madison)
Harald Skarke (TU Wien)
Michael E. Stillman (Cornell U, Ithaca)