Colliding singularities in F-theory and phase transitions Original Research Article

We study F-theory on elliptic Calabi-Yau three-folds near colliding singularities. We demonstrate that resolutions of those singularities generically correspond to transitions to phases characterized by new tensor multiplets and enhanced gauge symmetry. These are governed by the dynamics of tensionless strings. We also find new transition points which are associated with several small instantons simultaneously shrinking to zero size.